My Ruger #3 .357 Max project

[CamoWhamo]

Hi All,

I just picked up my Ruger #3 from the gunsmith.
It has been re-barrelled and chambered in .357 Maximum with a 22" Lothar Walther barrel.
The scope mount and rings are from S&K. The Scope is Leupold VX-II 4x33.

The factory fore end was shortened at the step where the barrel band was and rounded slightly.

The next part of the project is to sand back the wood and re-finish with Tru-Oil.

232648

[missionary5155]

Good Day Sir
That sounds like s good project for these warmer months. Should make a dandy Roo Rifle.

[gewehrfreund]

Very nice. It should make for a fun and useful rifle. I have a TC Contender carbine with a 357 Max barrel; I need to shoot that a lot more next year.:rolleyes:

Those S&K bases and rings are first class; I have a set on a No. 1 270 Win.

[NSB]

Very nice rifle. You're going to have a lot of fun with it, developing loads and hunting. I have two and they are both very accurate and deadly on medium sized game. Probably one of my favorite caliber choices.

232656232657

[quilbilly]

You are going to love that caliber. It is one of the most versatile around. I also have a T/C carbine in that caliber and have used it for close in deer (173 gr SWC-PB @ 1350 fps), close in black bear hunting (160 gr SWC-GC @ 1850 fps), and plinking (155 gr. RN-PB @ 1150 fps) for many years. It shoots 357 Mag loads well and have heard but not tried 38 Sp. loads as well).

[rfd]

i have a henry single shot in .357mag for target/steel use only and have been contemplating reaming out to .357max, wondering how it would work out at steel plate distances well beyond 100 yards and out to 400 yards. sounds like the added powder charge would increase velocity with 160 grain hi-teks, but wondering what that'd do for consistent accuracy?

[pertnear]

Nice, VERY nice! Good looking rifle & interesting caliber. Can't wait to hear how it shoots. I have a Ruger #1, #2 & #3. They are my favorite rifles. I like the way your scope mount fits the custom barrel. This is always a point of contention on a Ruger SS re-barrel. You choices are Ruger barrel blocks or the Ruger bridge base, both of which require the new barrel to match the original contour. The S&K mount looks like a great solution!

[cabezaverde]

I wonder if JES could rebore a number 3?

[NSB]

i have a henry single shot in .357mag for target/steel use only and have been contemplating reaming out to .357max, wondering how it would work out at steel plate distances well beyond 100 yards and out to 400 yards. sounds like the added powder charge would increase velocity with 160 grain hi-teks, but wondering what that'd do for consistent accuracy?
Accuracy on any .357 rifle, mag or max, has a lot to do with the bullet and barrel twist. As good as the .357max is, it's not a 400 yard gun. With the right bullet and load it will shoot 2.0" at 200 yards and I've seen guys shoot them out to 300 yards, but there aren't many bullets that shoot well at that distance. It's dropping like a rock when it gets out that far also. I've played with some pointed bullets and the BC is there, but the case capacity isn't. I'ver personally been thinking about getting another MGM bbl, or a Bullberry, with a 1:14 to play around with some heavier bullets for hunting. Better penetration without excessive expansion. However, the law of physics comes in to play and velocity starts to drop off and case capacity is soon used up.

[eck0313]

How is the eye relief with that 4x Leupold? I have a #3 in 375 Win that is a great CB shooter, but I can’t quite find a scope/mount combination that provides proper eye relief for the scope. I’ve started to consider a “scout” scope for the 6” eye relief, and just try to move the scope as far forward as I can.

[CIC]

Nice rifle! I have 2 357 max rifles but neither are that nice. I really like this caliber in a rifle. I never had a chance to try the Hornady SSP bullets but that used to be the thing for a max rifle I am told.

[rking22]

Nice rifle, I like No3s but have never found one when I had the craving and money at the same time. On the scope, I have found the Burris Compacts to have a workable eye relief and mount well in the low Ruger rings. That is on No1s, asuming the No3 to be the same. My 4570 No1 wears a Burris Compact 4x and fits very well.

[CamoWhamo]

How is the eye relief with that 4x Leupold? I have a #3 in 375 Win that is a great CB shooter, but I can’t quite find a scope/mount combination that provides proper eye relief for the scope. I’ve started to consider a “scout” scope for the 6” eye relief, and just try to move the scope as far forward as I can.

Eye Relief with the FX-2 4x33 is almost just enough. Ideally i would've liked a little bit more, but it's usable as is.

I also have an FX-3 6x42 and that scope has the ideal eye relief, but it spoilt the look and balance of the rifle IMO and 6x doesn't match the caliber.

[GARD72977]

Lothar Walther barrel should be very accurrate. Can't wait for range report.

[Ben]

My Ruger #1 that I sent JES for reboring .
12 day turnaround.
Twist is 1 - 15. 3 groove rifling.
Rebored from a .222 Rem to 357 Max by JES.
The bore in this rifle is smooth , bright, and free of any tight spots with a tight patch.
It is a super accurate rifle !

https://i.imgur.com/Gp5Rvsn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TH8ULqt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z8SkO4T.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Pdtt1Cs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CBwmvHW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fjdfFj2.jpg

[rfd]

Accuracy on any .357 rifle, mag or max, has a lot to do with the bullet and barrel twist. As good as the .357max is, it's not a 400 yard gun. With the right bullet and load it will shoot 2.0" at 200 yards and I've seen guys shoot them out to 300 yards, but there aren't many bullets that shoot well at that distance. It's dropping like a rock when it gets out that far also. I've played with some pointed bullets and the BC is there, but the case capacity isn't. I'ver personally been thinking about getting another MGM bbl, or a Bullberry, with a 1:14 to play around with some heavier bullets for hunting. Better penetration without excessive expansion. However, the law of physics comes in to play and velocity starts to drop off and case capacity is soon used up.

the level of consistently accurate grouping i'd be after isn't that small. the henry s/s .357mag has a 1:16 twist and has worked reasonably well with an acme 160gr rn hi-tek @ 100 and 200 yds on a 10" steel plate. though i haven't tried the .357mag on it yet, the 400yd plate is 16" and a hit on it anywhere would still be a hit :)

232690

[NSB]

the level of consistently accurate grouping i'd be after isn't that small. the henry s/s .357mag has a 1:16 twist and has worked reasonably well with an acme 160gr rn hi-tek @ 100 and 200 yds on a 10" steel plate. though i haven't tried the .357mag on it yet, the 400yd plate is 16" and a hit on it anywhere would still be a hit :)

232690

If it were simply a "fun" project, I'm sure you could hit the steel plate pretty regularly. I guess I wasn't thinking about it that way. I was thinking more along the lines of killing deer sized game at that distance. I've got some steel plates and I think I'm going to hang them out there and see what the hit percentage is. I've never tried it, but I've got some loads developed that would probably hit the plate most of the time even though the KE is probably getting down pretty low out there. Heck, I shot silhouette for many years and didn't eat any of them :p

[cabezaverde]

My Ruger #1 that I sent JES for reboring .
12 day turnaround.
Twist is 1 - 15. 3 groove rifling.
Rebored from a .222 Rem to 357 Max by JES.
The bore in this rifle is smooth , bright, and free of any tight spots with a tight patch.
It is a super accurate rifle !

https://i.imgur.com/Gp5Rvsn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TH8ULqt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z8SkO4T.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Pdtt1Cs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CBwmvHW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fjdfFj2.jpg


I wonder if this would work on a .223 #3. Would 357 Max clean up the chamber?

[Jedman]

CamoWhamo, You have a rifle I would love to have, The 357 Max is a favorite of mine also.
I have a Martini Cadet , a Davenport falling block, and a handi rifle in the Maximum.
The only advice I would like to give you is don't sand back the finish when you refinish the wood.
Use a chemical stripper and mostly steel wool as sandpaper removes too much and it really shows when a stock has been over sanded.
You have in my mind the perfect rifle.

Jedman

[Beerd]

Nice, VERY nice! Good looking rifle & interesting caliber. Can't wait to hear how it shoots. I have a Ruger #1, #2 & #3. They are my favorite rifles. I like the way your scope mount fits the custom barrel. This is always a point of contention on a Ruger SS re-barrel. You choices are Ruger barrel blocks or the Ruger bridge base, both of which require the new barrel to match the original contour. The S&K mount looks like a great solution!

"Ruger #2", I had to look that one up. Apparently a #3 restocked with #1 wood.
..

[Good Cheer]

My Ruger #1 that I sent JES for reboring .
12 day turnaround.
Twist is 1 - 15. 3 groove rifling.
Rebored from a .222 Rem to 357 Max by JES.
The bore in this rifle is smooth , bright, and free of any tight spots with a tight patch.
It is a super accurate rifle !

https://i.imgur.com/Gp5Rvsn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TH8ULqt.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/z8SkO4T.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Pdtt1Cs.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CBwmvHW.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/fjdfFj2.jpg

Now by golly that there's what a boolit needs to look like.

[pertnear]

"Ruger #2", I had to look that one up. Apparently a #3 restocked with #1 wood.
..

Yes, it's a #3 with #1 wood. Years ago I bought a Ruger #3 at a gun show for $350. It had been rebarreled with a fly-rod diameter Apex barrel in .270 Win. The scope bases were kinda "bubba-ed" on but it shot pretty fair & was solid. My only complaints were that the 6.5 lb (w/scope) had hideous recoil & the little light weight rifle chambered in such a high intensity cartridge was very particular about how you held it or where you rested the forend. Just recently I had it rebarreled & I restocked it in #1 wood. It shoots fantastic! Even with a 22" varmint weight barrel it is as handy a WT deer rifle as ever in 6.8mm SPC.
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[murf205]

I wonder if JES could rebore a number 3?

CamoWhamo, that is one neat little rifle. Post the pics of the finished product. cabezaverde, JES is a real journeyman at reboring. He rebored a 30-06 Browning BAR to 338-06 when I couldn't get anyone else to touch it. The inside of the barrel looks like a mirror and it shoots better than it ever did as a factory '06.

[Ben]

I wonder if this would work on a .223 #3. Would 357 Max clean up the chamber?

Yes, I believe it would clean up the 223 just fine.

[Drm50]

I've got four #3s and scope situation is driving me nuts. I've got a Weaver K10 on the 223. It has a
long enough tube to position for eye relief. On one 375w I have a Burris 2x8 Signature/ posi lock, the
only other scope I have that has enough tube for eye relief. All I have is Weaver bases and had to use extended rings on Burris. I would like to have low power scopes on 375s & 45/70. If I use a K3
the scope end up flush with front ring. I'm afraid recoil will bust the lens bushing mounted that way.
I have Leupold & Weaver 4x & 6x but don't want that much scope on them. I had a Burris compact 6x and traded it off because I didn't like the field of view. I have a Redfield 4x sitting on the 45/70 but it's not been shot. One thing that does help on the 3s are the stock extenders that look like recoil
pads, adds 1" to the pull. Really helps with having to hunch up on the scope.

[CamoWhamo]

Yes, it's a #3 with #1 wood. Years ago I bought a Ruger #3 at a gun show for $350. It had been rebarreled with a fly-rod diameter Apex barrel in .270 Win. The scope bases were kinda "bubba-ed" on ......
232713

pertnear, that just about sums up why this project started. I bought the rifle used. It had been re-barrelled with a pencil weight barrel in 6mm-222 and had a scope mount that was allegedly done by a gunsmith with a good reputation here in Aus but it was terrible and way out of alignment.


I like the way your scope mount fits the custom barrel. This is always a point of contention on a Ruger SS re-barrel. You choices are Ruger barrel blocks or the Ruger bridge base, both of which require the new barrel to match the original contour. The S&K mount looks like a great solution!

Lothar Walther offer barrels in various contours including a few different rugers. I got the No1B contour so i can be drilled and tapped to match the factory. Now i can use the S&K mount, a EGW rail or even a No1 Rib if i desired one.

[pertnear]

There is a big problem with rebarreling a Ruger #3. If you have an intact condition rifle, they are too valuable to alter! LOL

Great project & good shooting!

[curioushooter]

Hey, does that JES rebore 357 MAX rifle eject or just extract the case?

[CamoWhamo]

Time for an update on the rifle.

So far I've shot 125 cast loads through the rifle and the results have been less than i hoped.
I have tried 180gn gas checked molds from Saeco and NOE, both using 2400 powder. 14.5gn & 15gn loads chronographed at 1630fps and 1734fps.
Both of these didn't shoot very well at all. Groups were averaging 4" at 55yd with one group at 2".

I went home and did a cerrosafe cast of the bore and checked the twist rate. The barrel is .357 with a 1:18.7" twist.

Curious to see if the twist was too slow for the 180gn bullets I loaded some Lee .358-158-RF in front of 8gn Unique and tried them.
Groups were more consistent but still no better than 2" at 55yd. Chronographed velocity was 1463fps which is probably too fast for those (slightly) bevel-based bullets.

So then i loaded some Speer 158gn JHP in front of 18gn 2400. These were travelling at 1970fps and produced many sub 1" groups. One group was a ragged one-holer that was just 5/16".

So the rifle shoots fantastic with jacketed bullets but cast has been disappointing so far.

I'm mulling over whether to purchase a 158gn gas check mold to see if i can improve things.

[rfd]

interesting! maybe try paper patching?

[Skipper]

What alloy are you using? I had a 357 Max on the H&R Handi Rifle platform that loved .358" Lyman #2 alloy bullets lubed with liquid alox.

[NSB]

Your twist rate is too slow for bullets weighing over 158g. The ideal twist rate would be 1:16 or a 1:14 for this cartridge. I've owned many .357 guns over the years in both rifle and handgun. I've had several custom built for me and in each case the gunsmith who built them used both of those twist rates. I have an 1:20 MGM barrel that shoots lights out with about any bullet 158g and under. When I get up to the "heavy" bullets, the groups begin to open up. Sometimes quite a bit, like you're seeing. I have found a few heavy jacketed loads that were "decent", but very few....and they weren't stellar. I'm talking at best sub 2" at one hundred yards. My 158g will shoot sub moa at that distance with a several select jacketed loads. You're also going to have to cut the speed down to get tighter groups with cast bullets in this cartridge. You may get some anecdotal reports of getting great accuracy at high velocity with this cartridge using cast bullets, but I've never seen it. If you'd like a wealth of info on this cartridge, go visit Dave Whites forum on this subject. He's spent more time with this cartridge than about anyone other than Bellm. He'll also answer any questions you might have if you call him.

[rfd]

yes, 1:20 is slow. with my .357mag henry s/s and with its 1:16 i can shoot moa with a 160 grain BBI hi-tec.

[TCLouis]

See if you can find a small supply of 358156 and see what it will do for ya.

[CamoWhamo]

See if you can find a small supply of 358156 and see what it will do for ya.

I've got an RCBS 38-158-SWC on order which is very similar. I hope to have it in a couple of days.


What alloy are you using? I had a 357 Max on the H&R Handi Rifle platform that loved .358" Lyman #2 alloy bullets lubed with liquid alox.

My alloy is 94% lead, 3% tin an 3% antimony.
Lube is a blend of 80% LBT Blue Soft and 20% Lyman Orange Magic. I add the OM to firm up the Blue Soft in the hot weather here.

I've got some 45-45-10 an both Powder and Hi-Tek coatings to try as well.

I've put 50 jacketed through it so far. It has shown the potential to be very accurate.

I have since tried the Saeco 180's again and the groups were tighter but not as good as jacketed.

[parisite]

I have a 13" MGM 357 Max barrel on my Contender handgun. Great shooter at 100yds.