357MAX short vs long

[joatmon]

I want a MAX and have a 10" Contender 357 barrel but would a super 14 be enough better to hold out for?

Thanks Aaron

[Hamish]

14" is definitely more for better,,,,,,

With a 10" barrel, you can do anything you want to with the .357 magnum. My load is a 230 grain flat point at 1450 fps in the magnum with a 10" barrel for deer hunting. I could go at least 200 fps faster, but best accuracy in my barrel was at that speed.

I seriously doubt that the Max can better the Mag in a 10 inch barrel.

[Tatume]

I had Mike Bellm rechamber a 10" T/C 357 Magnum barrel to 357 Maximum. Accuracy and muzzle velocity were both substantially improved.

[Hamish]

Well there you go! Actual experience trumps conjecture every time,,,,,,

[rking22]

Hamish is the 230 your using the NOE RD design? I have one of those in a PB that I want to try in 357 but data is way scarce.
I've considered rechambering my 357mag 10in to max but I've got a Herrett so I'm leaving the 357 as is, plenty loud as is :)

[Hamish]

No sir, it's the original HM2 35 Thor from the Group Buy that I Honcho'd. The NOE version came later when HM2 shut down. My understanding is that Al's is very close.

I had every intention of rechambering my Mag to Max back then but Max brass was absolutely unobtanium so I decided to see what I could wring out of it as-is.

Data was very scarce when I started looking and ended up finding some very old revolver loads meant for bowling pin shoots and worked up from there in the Contender. 110/296 work pretty well but I prefer 2400. (I started at about 10 grains and ended up stopping at 16 and settled upon 14.4 ) 1450 fps with a 235 grain hammer, zeroed for 150 yards does anything and everything I ask of it.

The funny part is I've since latched on to a 14" Max barrel and brass if I can ever get around to doing the load work,,,,,,.

[Hamish]

I had Mike Bellm rechamber a 10" T/C 357 Magnum barrel to 357 Maximum. Accuracy and muzzle velocity were both substantially improved.

Tatume,

I would very much like to hear about the loads involved. I've had a couple of 180's and 200 gr. designs put back to play with between the two chamberings.

[Tenbender]

If you only punch paper , 14" would be good. If you hunt can you justify the extra weight and bulk ? Not me. A 10" is more than good from 0 to 125 yrds or so with a point blank hold. If your going to shoot more than 125 then a pistol might not be the smart weapon.
Just my 2 cents.

[joatmon]

Thanks, think I'll keep the 10" as is and keep looking for a 14" for the max.
Aaron

[quilbilly]

I have a contender carbine in 357 max and love it. It is incredibly versatile from cat sneeze to as heavy as I tolerate the recoil vibration with the 200's. If you run across a 357 mag Contender carbine, you might also consider having it turned into a 357 max by Mike Bellm. Of course, I have plenty of hoarded 357 max brass but 357 mags also shoot well in that barrel.

[BAGTIC]

General rule of thumb is that the load that produces the highest velocity in a long barrel will also produce the highest velocity in a short barrel