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Offline lnewby

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357 maximum help
« on: February 08, 2009, 04:05:13 PM »
Have a chance to buy a contender from a friend of mine, it's got a 10" 357 maximum barrel on it. Not sure if I'm interested,  believe there is no more factory ammo. I handload but am looking for information. Is there anybody using this cartridge anymore or is it soon to be obsolete?  Help me decide.
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Offline Nate C

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #1 on: February 08, 2009, 04:24:40 PM »
If you handload you're probably ok.  Remington still lists brass for sale from time to time (midway is out at the moment, but you can find it if you look around).  .358 bullets of course are easy to get from < 100 gr all the way up to 250gr...

I do not believe there is any 357 max factory ammo available.

It's not elegant, but you can get by with using 357 mag dies for reloading. 

If I were to find one for a good price I'd pick one up.

Nate
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #2 on: February 08, 2009, 04:36:37 PM »
GBO sponsor Reed's sells 357Max ammo, Dan Wesson factory ammo is still available also.

Tim
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Offline sk330lc

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #3 on: February 08, 2009, 04:42:58 PM »
The 357 Max is a Great round. It's great For Deer and Just fun to Shoot. As for Factory ammo I think Buffalo Bore ammo Still makes some 180gr Lead loads for it. Hand loading Is the way to go, Buy about 500pcs of Brass and you will be set for Life. Go for it You'll Like It. If not List it In the classifieds and get you Money back.  
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Offline Dezynco

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #4 on: February 08, 2009, 04:47:18 PM »
It seems to me that the 357 Max still has a very good fan club in the Contender crowd.  I think that most revolvers went the way of the dinosaurs!  The neat thing about a 357 max barrel is that you can also shoot 357 Magnum and 38 Specials in it also.  You can load it with Hornandy's 180 grain spire points (180gr SP/SSP) to get a little more velocity.  I would jump on one if it came my way at a good price!
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2009, 04:51:01 PM »
If BB made it at one time, they musta dropped it, not listed now, Reed's and DW ammo is all I've ever found.  :-\

Tim

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm
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Offline tc scout

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2009, 12:21:30 AM »
IMHO, To fully enjoy the 357 Max and its versatility one has to reload.

It is a great caliber and fun to shoot from deer to varmints.
Best barrel I ever bought for my contender.
                                 
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Offline Hopalong7

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2009, 01:24:12 AM »
Another Max fan here.  Among all time Contender barrels, the Max is probably in the top five.  It is easy to reload. .357Mag dies work just fine.  Good results are usually obtained with the heavier .357-.358 bullets(both jacketed and cast) and AA1680 is probably the most popular  powder.  In the Contender it was my first and still my favorite straight-wall, pistol type cartridge. Currently I only have three barrels(10", 14", and 21") chambered for it.
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt  :D
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Offline sk330lc

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #8 on: February 09, 2009, 01:56:44 PM »
Tim,
It was Grizzly I was thinking Of . I knew it was at least a Big Animal.

 http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=3&categoryId=20253&categoryString=653***691***
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #9 on: February 09, 2009, 02:35:16 PM »
Yeah, I found that earlier today, there's a 357max thread in the H&R forum, a very popular topic. ;D  Here's another article by Hobie on the 357Maxi Carbine, he did one on the pistol too, but the link I have is no longer valid.  :-\

Tim

http://home.comcast.net/~parslowb/2006/02/blog-post_01.html
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Offline blhof

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #10 on: February 09, 2009, 03:13:45 PM »
I'm another fan of the 357Max.  I've got both a Dan Wesson and a 14" Contender barrel for that caliber and both have taken whitetails out to 100yds with LBT cast lfn's. I scored 2000 rounds of unprimed nickel brass on Ebay awhile back, when they allowed such.  Both gun shoot cloverleafs at 100 yds from the bench.
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Offline lnewby

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #11 on: February 11, 2009, 07:09:49 PM »
Thanks for all the good information,it seems the 357 max has a devoted following. So many different cartridges and so little time. The gentlemen who owns this contender has decided to keep it but has asked me to work up a load for him for deer hunting. I told him I would be happy to.    Thanks
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Offline Steve P

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #12 on: February 12, 2009, 07:01:18 AM »
Start at about 20 grains of AA1680 with a good 200-210 grain bullet and small rifle primer.  I have 3 max's and all three like AA1680 loads in the 20-21.0 grain area.  There is another sweet spot with more powder, but I did not stick with it as it was more than necessary to take silhouette animals out to 200 meters.  In my opinion, if it will take down a 60 lb steel ram at 200 meters, it will drop a deer.

Steve :)
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Offline crisisbill

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2009, 08:37:24 AM »
Count me in as a 357 Max fan, I have used it in New York and Penn for deer with great results. 3 years ago I took it on a wild boar hunt and it did great!
I reload but also found a lot of Remington factory ammo that I bought up at a yard sale, 25 boxes for 5 bucks a box.
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Offline ourway77

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Re: 357 maximum help
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2009, 01:04:40 AM »
I have a 14" inch Coyote Barrel in 357 Max and it is a fantastic shooter with 180 Grain Hornady XTP Bullets, I also use Remington Bulk 180 Grain that is also a fine bullet. I bought 2000 when they had a terrific sale on them. I mainly bought them for plinking, but found them very accurate and I did get one nice Buck with them, 70 yards dropped like a bad habit, but  he got up and ran 30 yards and down again. I will highly recommend the barrel and with the sale on can't go wrong could alway sell it later for what yo paid for it. I haven't heard of the caliber being dicontinued? That being the case just stock up on Brass as all the other components will still be available. Lou
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