.357 Maximum

[Yellowseven]

Hello Everyone, I am hoping to get recommendations for .357 maximum load data. Manuals, links, pdfs, articles, anything. It is not present in any of my manuals.

I am hoping to shoot this bullet from Arsenal.

http://arsenalmolds.com/bullet-molds?product_id=175&limit=99999999999

Thanks all in advance! I am off to read about 30 pages of the .41 mag thread.... again lol.

[NSB]

https://www.shootersreference.com/reloadingdata/357-maximum/ this will get you started. The most used manual, the Lyman, has data.

[Steve E]

If you haven't been here this is some great reading also.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_357Max.pdf

https://www.bellmtcs.com/

I have been shooting the Maxi for many years. The 'standard' bullet is the 180 grain (cast or J word). For the me Hodgon Lil'Gun is the go to powder but I have also had good results with IMR4227, AA1680. I am about to start a test run with CFE Black and 180 gr bullets. For me the best performance of J word bullets has been the 180 Gr XTPHP and cast boolits has been a Ranch Dog Group buy 180 grain with a gas check. Hope this helps, there will be plenty of people along with a lot more experience than I have with it.
I think the Group Buy was from Lee but I may be mistaken, it's been a while since I hadthat mold out.

Steve.......

[wolfwing]

The Max shines with 180 and heavier bullets. What are you shooting this in? The twist rate will matter. If it is a 357 Magnum re-reamed to Max, your twist might be too slow for anything over 180gr. When Dan Wesson offered this, they also offered the standard 1:18.75 and a faster 1:16" twist barrels. I think TCs are 1:14", but their 357 Mag is slower (either 18.75 or 16?? IDR). WW680 powder will be the best, AA1680 is similar. With lighter bullets the usual 110/296/4227/9 will work.
I have data, just let me know the platform.

[NSB]

292827
Here’s a load I took two deer with last year at a measured 189 yards. I have gotten equal results using Viht 110 and 120. This is using a MGM 20” 1:16” twist bbl. I have owned three .357max rifles and the 1:16 is the best twist to use. The 1:20” just didn’t pan out as well. I have several pages of loads tried off the bench using about every powder and bullet you can think of. So far this load is the most accurate on a very consistent basis. I rate accuracy first and velocity second. Gotta hit them to kill them. I’ve got quite a few with the max., and it’s a very nice gun if used within its actual practical range. I consider that to be 200 yards maximum. Yes, you can hit and kill them further out but the bullet doesn’t work as well that far out. Most of what I shot was shot with Hornady XTP’s until I tried out the Speer HotCores.

[Yellowseven]

Thank you Steve. Was the Ranch Dog from Mp molds, noe, or arsenal?

[Yellowseven]

The Max shines with 180 and heavier bullets. What are you shooting this in? The twist rate will matter. If it is a 357 Magnum re-reamed to Max, your twist might be too slow for anything over 180gr. When Dan Wesson offered this, they also offered the standard 1:18.75 and a faster 1:16" twist barrels. I think TCs are 1:14", but their 357 Mag is slower (either 18.75 or 16?? IDR). WW680 powder will be the best, AA1680 is similar. With lighter bullets the usual 110/296/4227/9 will work.
I have data, just let me know the platform.

The gun Is a Ruger Blackhawk 7 1/2 inch barrel.

I am certainly will to search out a new mild if there is a preferred bullet type / weight. For powders right now I have unique, h110, 4227, hs6, and lil gun.

[wolfwing]

Your 165gr should be close to the 158s
158gr =25gr-27.5 WW680, 22.5-25 AA1680, 22.5-24.9 H-110, 21.5-23.5 IMR4227
170gr= 21-23.5 AA1680
180gr = 23.5-26.5 AA1680, 23-25 WW680, 19.5-21 H110, 19-21 IMR4227, 22-24 IMR 4198. (reduced = 16-18 SR 4759)
200gr = 19.5-21.5 AA 1680 or WW 680, 19-21 H110, 17-19 IMR4227
220gr = 19.5-21.5 WW 680, 19-21 H110, 17-19 IMR 4227, 14.5-16.5 2400

IMR 4227 and 2400 run 100-200 fps slower across the board than 680/1680 and H 110.

The Ruger had a reputation for flame cutting the top strap. I don't know if this is overblown or not. Some revolvers wear a ">" shaped piece of metal between the barrel and top strap to help reduce this.
Lil Gun looks like a good powder too along with AA 5744 and possibly RL 7 with the heavies.

If the bullet has 2 crimp grooves, I'd seat to the second if your cylinder will allow it. I have a US Sporting Arms Seville and a Dan Wesson. Took an antelope at 57yds with the Seville about 10 years ago. I used a 180 JHP (Horn or Rem, I forget). I remember the hunt, while crawling thru the high grass, I came to within 8" of a skunk!! It waddled off w/o a blast! I continued crawling with my heartbeat at 120db in my ears, until the antelope detected me. I don't know if the antelope heard the grass moving or my heartbeat from almost being blasted by the skunk!

[cwlongshot]

I did most everything I needed hunting with the discontinued Hornady 180g SSP and aa1680
Powder.

Today I shoot a MP 358-200HP and H4227.

CW

[tazman]

The Hodgdon data site has data for 165 grain bullets in that cartridge. https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

Oddly, they have no posted data for a rifle in that cartridge.

[Coa878]

Joined just for this thread, just received my 20" MGM .357 Maximum barrel for my TC Encore. i have some 358315 Cast up coated and gaschecked. now trying to find load data powders i own that i think should work are Bluedot/2400/enforcer/h110/5744/buffalo rifle/4227. i shoot cast boolit silhouette matches need to drop rams at 200 Yards

[lak]

24" MGM Max, 1-14 twist. Seems to likes the RCBS 200 over the RCBS 180 Sil. with 1680

[Rapier]

H-110 at 17 grains work up 1/2 grain at a time, your max should be at or near 20 in a rifle. Make sure you use small rifle primers. The 357 Super Mag (Max if you must) cruses at 50k. Load it like a rifle not a handgun. I have two 357 SM rifles and use H-110/296 with the 200 RCBS, plain base and GC molds.
Saeco makes the RCBS plain base mold, discontinued by RCBS. This bullet works great for a nose down powder coat, with no gas checks.

[NSB]

The Hodgdon data site has data for 165 grain bullets in that cartridge. https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center?rdc=true&type=53

Oddly, they have no posted data for a rifle in that cartridge.
Tazman, all the load data I’ve seen so far in any of my manuals and on line shows the same data for handguns and rifles. Stand alone data for rifles just isn’t listed for the max or the mag…..at least not on the major data sites. Where it is listed, it’s the same data in both places. I’ve found data on forums that is different, but that’s to be used at your own risk (I sometimes use it, but from sources that provide test data).

[Jim22]

I have had three firearms in .357 MAX. Two were TC Contenders, a 10" and a 14" for IHMSA in the 80's and early 90's. Now I have a Henry single shot that was rechambered from .357 Mag. It shoots the Lee 200 grain gas check boolit into an inch and a half at 100 yards with VV N110. That was off the bench with a high power scope. If I hunt with this rifle I will use an old Redfield 1-4X variable scope. Right now it has a receiver sight and the factory fron bead that is awfully large.

In order to get those groups with the Lee boolit I sort the boolits by weight within one grain. Don't do that and the groups get big. And I use small rifle primers.

Jim

[tazman]

Tazman, all the load data I’ve seen so far in any of my manuals and on line shows the same data for handguns and rifles. Stand alone data for rifles just isn’t listed for the max or the mag…..at least not on the major data sites. Where it is listed, it’s the same data in both places. I’ve found data on forums that is different, but that’s to be used at your own risk (I sometimes use it, but from sources that provide test data).

I would expect the load data to be the same for both.
I was hoping to see some velocity data for the rifle. I would think there would be a substantial difference in velocity.

[cwlongshot]

I can tell you that my favorite load with AA1680 & a 180 SSP bullet. Was clocking 2100+ from a 22" and is down almost 1900 from my 17.5" barrel.
I have t yet chrono graphed it from My 24" Savage 24.

CW

[Stephen Cohen]

I also use H110 which I believe s also H4227 or 2205 in Australia, I have used a little more that Rapier suggested but consider it a good place to start. I agree with others that 180s were made for the max. I have tried 140gr 158 gr and 180gr XTPs in my maximum 21'' barreled Rifle. The max is a fine rifle and is capable of some pretty good velocities, I have driven the 180gr XTP at a little over 2,100 fps and 158s a couple hundred more. Given the danger of trying to hot rod without working up from a safe point I wont give loads in open forum but you will get there I am sure. Regards Stephen