.357 Max

[buckey]

   Hi there guy's I'm new here and could use some help. I have a TC Encore with a 15 inch MGM bull barrel in .357 Max. Been pushing 180 gr Remington pistol bullets with Lilgun to 2100fps with decent groups. What I want to know is has any one used 180 gr rifle bullets like Speer or Hornady sell in their Max's. I plan on using this gun for deer only here in Michigan. Need to know if they will expand out to 150 yds, also any good advice on shooting an Encore pistol.  Thank's   Buckey

[tn_junk]

My favorite heavy jacketed bullets are the Hornady 180 SSP and the Hornady 200 Grain RN.
I now shoot the 180 SSP exclusively (as far as heavy jacketed bullets). I use these in roughly 20% of my loads.
About 80% of the time I shoot 140 grain JSP at about 2300 FPS and 190 Grain Cast at about 1800 fps.

alan

[Lone Star]

Hi there guy's I'm new here and could use some help. I have a TC Encore with a 15 inch MGM bull barrel in .357 Max. Been pushing 180 gr Remington pistol bullets with Lilgun to 2100fps with decent groups.

Welcome Bucky!  You may want to back off the load you are using, it is well over max in any published manual with a 14" barrel - an extra inch won't add very much.  The highest velocity I could find was with AA1680 for just over 1950 fps.  Your pressures are almost guananteed to greatly exceed those for which the cartridge was designed.  An extra 150 fps will not mean much in the field.  Just a word of caution...

The Speer 180FN is a great rifle bullet but expansion is more limited than more appropriate handgun bullets.  The best bullet test I have read on these bullets is here:

http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/35remington/35rempart2.html

The 180 does expand well at 150 yards when launched at 2380 fps from rifles.  At a more sane 1900 fps I would not trust it when better bullets are available.  The Hornady 180 SSP has a long track record of excellent game performance in the Maxi. 

.

[Lloyd Smale]

what id try is some 200 grain rem corelocks if you can find them.

[buckey]

   
Thanks for the replys on bullet choice for the .357 Max. The Lilgun load I use is below what Hornady shows in their manual. Primers show no sign of pressure, still round at the edges. When I called Hornady too ask about 180 gr SSP, They said it might not open up at extended ranges, and I don't know since I haven't used it on game. Would love too use the 180 SSP, but need to hear from you guys that use the Max to hunt with.       Thanks   Buckey

[Lone Star]

...The Lilgun load I use is below what Hornady shows in their manual.

How do you know it gives 2100 fps?  The velocity seems way too high.  (BTW, primers are a poor tool to use to estimate pressures in the range you are dealing with.)

I hunted caribou in Alaska with a buddy who used the 180 SSP in his 10" Maxi and it opened up fine on two bulls between 100-125 yards.  Did you read the article I linked to - it shows the 180 SSP working great at 200 yards from a MV of 2300 fps.  If you are actually getting 2100 fps, then your velocity at 150 will be very close to the 200 yard velocity in the linked tests.

 
.

[buckey]

 Lone Star, Thanks for the info. I get my MV from using 2 Pro Crono's at 6 feet from muzzle. My MGM barrel was sent back to have them put .200 more free bore so that might be some of the difference.Fired cases show no signs of pressure with some cases having been fired 8 and 9 times, primer pockets are still tight and almost fall out after firing.I read  up on the bullet notes, don't know what 200 fps less might do. Mike Bellm's web site has some great reading on the Max and bullets used. Mike talks about the 180gr SSP alittle, but not much.  Thanks Buckey

[Catfish]

I`ve shot deer with 170 gr. Sierra JHP`s and they fail if you hit heave bone. I`ve also killed several with 158 gr. Hornady XYP`s, but am very carefull to only take double lung shots. With eather of these bullets they usually run 30 to 50 yrds., but you have to becarefull of bullet placement. I`ve been think of going to hard cast gas checked bullets, or at least try them.

[tatonka]

I took  a whitetail last year with a 357 max in t/c contender carbine (16"). Bullet was a Hornady SSP 180 gr. loaded with LiL Gun to 2200 fps. Groups 1 1/2" @ 100 yards. Shot was taken at 150 yards with good expansion and penetration. I used to hunt with a 10" contender in 357 max. Took several deer from 50 to 125 yards - all clean kills. Good shooting!

[Badnews Bob]

The SSPs shoot well out of my Handie rifle but oddly enuff the 180gr Hornady XTPs of my own 180gr hard cast shoot better, I forget the FPS on the SSPs but the HC are making 2100fps with 22 grains of IMR4227, It also shot the 200gr Hornady JRN .35 Rem bullets very well but I don.t have any experience with them on game. The LBT style 180gr WFNGC puts'em down with authority thou.

[buckey]

Been playing with Win 296 and 180gr Remington bullets but not real sure whats going on. Groups look good at 100yds but velocity will range between 1800 and 1950 for 5 shot groups, ES is just to high. Been putting heavy crimp on new trimmed brass, all power charges are weighed. Remington 180gr bullet looks good for deer, anybody use them ? Might stick with Lilgun and 180 xtp, so far powder   and bullet to beat.   Buckey