357 mag, 357 max 350 legend

[bigted]

I am contemplating a rebore on my 223 Encore barrel.

In love with the 357 mag as it does all with some range limitations. Like the positive case spacing of the rimmed case. Plenty of useable boolit molds as well as plenty of copper bullets.

The 357 max is all that plus a bit of more power available. Still has that positive rimmed case.

Enter the 350 Legend. A bit longer even yet than the max and uses all the same bullets/boolits. Thing that messes with my brain is the rimless case. Means that the round headspaces on the mouth of the case? The question mark is because I simply do not know whether it does or does not. No rim to headspace on.

What is YOUR impressions of this array of choices and why? This will be a small to medium game singleshot in a nice light carbine that is scoped. My likes run to the 357 calibre and so this is my group of choices. Recoil figures in as does inherent accuracy. So figured I would begin a post to discuss others choices and the why of your choice.

Thanks all. Look forward to your reply's and opinions.

[Fitz]

I had a ruger#3 in 223 rebored to 350 legend best thing i ever done went from a so so 2inch at a 100yd. to a 3/4 inch at a 100yd.

[Daekar]

I chose to go with 357mag because handloading means you can extract more power out of 357mag than normal by doing things like seating bullets past normal OAL, it allowed me to simplify things. One type of brass for revolvers and rifles, bullets that work with all of them, and easy to get (normally) brass. I ordered 1000pcs from Starline and doubt I will ever have to buy more, they just keep on working without splitting.

I love the ability to go from sub-38spl power to 30-30 power with the same case.

[Tatume]

The 357 Rem Mag is very flexible, and very accurate. The 357 Max and 35 Rem Rimmed are excellent cartridges also, and produce more velocity with heavier bullets. I have, like, and use all three.

[NSB]

Ted, I’ve been a 357mag fan for over fifty years. In fact, I spent about forty years handgun hunting only for deer and I shot a LOT of deer with a handgun. Over fifty with the 357mag alone. A few years ago I bought a 357max barrel for my Encore and it’s one of the best toys I’ve ever owned. It’s like shooting the .357mag on steroids. I’ve have two MGM 357max rifle barrels and a Winchester Low Wall reamed out to .357max. Last season I shot two deer at a lasered 189 yards and got them both. It’s easily a 200 yard gun. One bbl I got from MGM was a 1:20 twist, my second was a 1:16. Don’t get the 1:20, it’s not enough for heavier bullets. One thing you’re a bit off on is that the mag, max, and Legend all use the same bullets. The Legend is actually a 9mm bullet and selection is limited. Also, if you reload the Legend is not ballistically better than the max. That’s marketing promo based on factory rounds made for handguns back in the days of silhouette. Hand loading puts the max ahead of the Legend. Here’s a pic of one of three nearly identical five shot groups from my 20” max barrel at just over a hundred yards taken at my camp range. This is NOT a wallet group, it’s done most of the time.
Attachment 283551

[35isit]

Get a .357 max. Mine is just as accurate with .357 mag brass as it is with max brass. Get a one in fourteen twist.

[P Flados]

How about the option in the middle.

If you plan to use jacketed bullets for hunting, I recommend considering the 360 Dan Wesson.

Long loaded 357 Mag should still be accurate in the 360 and are great for fun shooting. Many Max shooters (myself included) find poor accuracy with magnum cases.

Get one batch of 360 brass from Starline for ammo to be loaded hot. Based on the Encore being ok for the 270, up to 65,000 psi is Ok. The ballistics of a hot 360 DW are in the same ballpark as 55,000 psi loads from a 357 Max (this is over SAAMI) or the 350L.

FYI, I am not so sure a 223 rebore is assured to work out for a Mag or Max. For a rebore, the larger 350L chamber is a plus. Selling the 223 and buying a MGM barrel to your specifications is much less risky.

[cwlongshot]

Get a .357 max. Mine is just as accurate with .357 mag brass as it is with max brass. Get a one in fourteen twist.

This has been my experience and would be my choice as well.

The legend isnt as well suited to a single shot.

I have all of these. I have hunted up to deer with the Mag I have hunted deer and pigs with the Maxi taking more animals than both others combined. But I have also been hunting it since the late 1980's.
The legend is of coarse new and most powerful but a bastard dia and bullets appropriate are o ly trickling in. Where I to do this Id go Maximum. If I was to choose the Legend Id do it on a proper .357/.358 bore.

The Mag as great as it is isnt even a choice. Because it can be shot in the Maxi and as stated in my experience ist 100% as good a shooter.

CW

[dverna]

I am a big .357 Mag fan, and like the fact it is easy to reload from mild to full house loads. For plinking and target shooting that is all I need. You did not say if the gun will be used to hunt deer/bear, but if that is in the mix, I would go with the .357 Max.

If the Max is not accurate enough for plinking/target shooting using .38 Spl or .357 Mag brass, you can always stay with Max brass...it will last so long at reduced pressure loads that any cost savings are marginal.

I see no advantages to the Legend for a reloader

[bigted]

All great points. Am leaning towards the 357 Max as there are 3 or 4 cartridges available to shoot in a Max chamber.

38 Colt, 38 Spcl, 357 Mag and 357 Max. I would bet that outta these, just about any animal from a wabbit to black bear could be harvested within the range constriction.

The max pressures would not be more than what chamber pressures are for full house 223 Rem chamber. The chamber cut should clean up the 223 chamber and the short 18 inch barrel will leave plenty meat for the rifled punch out. I live rite here around 30 miles from Cottage Grove ... home of Jes Reboring shop. Might have a trip to talk this through with him.

[uscra112]

Depends a LOT on the chamber reamer the 'smith uses. Proper throating is key, the case length really is secondary in a single shot..

[cwlongshot]

I have a rebore of his & a good friend has a number of them ALL VERY GOOD shooters!

CW

[Tatume]

All great points. Am leaning towards the 357 Max as there are 3 or 4 cartridges available to shoot in a Max chamber.

More. Don't forget 360 DW, with length intermediate between 357 Mag and 357 Max.

[Ben]

My 357 Max. started life as a Ruger # 1 chambered in .222 Rem.
JES rebored the rifle to 357 Max. A super nice conversion. It shoots 38 Spec., 357 Mag. and the MAX equally well.

My grandson Trevor asked about shooting my 357 Max, Ruger # 1.
I don't think he is ready for " full tilt loads " just yet out of this one.

However , I have an accurate " mild load " for him to shoot.

[cwlongshot]

More. Don't forget 360 DW, with length intermediate between 357 Mag and 357 Max.

Its a nice case to have on hand if you have a maxi. If by chance the throat is short its handy for that intermediate length to make things easier. My Savage 24v maxi has such a chamber. Some if my favorite bullets dont fit well. But I use DW cases and work up to exactly what I want velocity wise. This is not to say hot loads. Most of my lead is mid teens in velocity. (14-1700 fps)

Beauty rifle Ben and Tervor is becoming quite the marksman!!

CW

[Ben]

He loves it.

[Meatpuppet]

Go with the 357 Max in the Encore. MGM makes abarrel with longer leed that can take a 2.3 OAL... You can get some serious performance out of that.

[Texas by God]

Bolt head modification and feeding rimmed rounds from the magazine need to be considered. The .357 AR wildcat might be a good candidate for this conversion.

It's too early. I read "Encore" and thought "Venture"....... never mind..... I vote .357 Max!
Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

[CSA]

Hello, How are you guys justifying the cost of a MGM 357 Max. barrel when you can buy a complete gun cheaper? Even if it is in a different caliber such as the 350 Legend or 450 bushmaster.

[Tatume]

Cheaper doesn't mean better. My barrels are Bullberry, which are certainly not cheap, but are worth every penny.