Author Topic: .357 mag chambering options (Read 594 times)

Nobade · « **on:** June 08, 2005, 03:57:20 PM »

I just got my 357 mag barrel back from NEF today. Wow, what's up with the stupid chamber? I made a cast of it - no indication where the case ends and the throat starts. At least .550" of forcing cone. Neat. My first thought was .357 Max, or maybe 35-30-30 AI or 35-30-40 Krag or who knows. What are folks' favorite chambers for these barrels that will clean up the mess the factory makes and be useful?

JPH45 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 08, 2005, 04:41:50 PM »

Now that you've seen, you know. The 357 Max is the common rechamber. Seems to do quite well. Several are shooting the 360 DW without doing anything to the chamber. The rechambers you mention will all do well, if you wanted more than the 357 Max, I'd suggest going to the 356 or 358 Winchester. Either will do what the Max does and will get above what those you mention will do. Try the Max, it may be all you are looking for. You can always step up.

mt3030 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 08, 2005, 05:34:41 PM »

I have a 357 barrel being fitted right now. As soon as it arrives, it's going to be rechambered to 357 Harret Long. (30-30 case opened up to 357)

Wally

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #3 on:** June 09, 2005, 03:39:40 AM »

MT3030 I sure would like a report on that 357 Herret when you get it done. It should be a super accurate rifle,and I'm considering the same thing. Digger

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** June 09, 2005, 04:52:59 AM »

Try shooting it first. Mine shoots great with even that funny chamber.

mt3030 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 09, 2005, 05:05:30 AM »

Bob: Have plenty of 357 Mag rifles. This is going to be just for S&G.

Quick: Awhile back you quoted a post from another forum discussing the 357 Harrett Long. Can't find it now. Do you remember or can you repost for Nobade?

Wally

quickdtoo · « **Reply #6 on:** June 09, 2005, 05:31:40 AM »

This one from AR...?

Quote

I have had 3 NEF Handis in 357 Max..two were rechambers done by SSK and one is a factory chambered barrel. They are indeed handy rifles and I enjoy them much. I also had a 357 barrel rechambered to .358 Bullberry which is the full length 30-30 case necked to 35 cal and improved. I can also use 375 Win cases or 38-55 Win cases to form the round. Some call this round the 357 Herret LONG. It is a good performer from the Handi-rifle and is very accurate with 180-200gr bullets. Drops deer quite handily also. I have a 12 inch contender barrel in this chambering as well and it has given me DRT performance on about 30 deer. The nice thing about it is the versitility of using either heavy rifle bullets or light weight pistol bullets with equal accuracy. Pretty useful chambering. A rechamber to the Herret round would work nicely as well

JPH45 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 09, 2005, 01:26:56 PM »

Quote from: quickdtoo

This one from AR...?

Quote
I have had 3 NEF Handis in 357 Max..two were rechambers done by SSK and one is a factory chambered barrel. They are indeed handy rifles and I enjoy them much. I also had a 357 barrel rechambered to .358 Bullberry which is the full length 30-30 case necked to 35 cal and improved. I can also use 375 Win cases or 38-55 Win cases to form the round. Some call this round the 357 Herret LONG. It is a good performer from the Handi-rifle and is very accurate with 180-200gr bullets. Drops deer quite handily also. I have a 12 inch contender barrel in this chambering as well and it has given me DRT performance on about 30 deer. The nice thing about it is the versitility of using either heavy rifle bullets or light weight pistol bullets with equal accuracy. Pretty useful chambering. A rechamber to the Herret round would work nicely as well

Is part of that BS? Seems tha I remember that JDJones aka SSK Industries won't work on a Handi, considers them junk......read beneath him...... and he won't have anything to do with one, the 358 Bullberry is nothing new, a 30-30 AI necked up to 35. The 356 Winnie will walk all over it, the 358 winnie most definately will. Now the 35-303 or 35-40 or 35-54R will make nice wildcats, It is possible to take a 35 Remington reamer run it in a bit deep, and use 303 brass and have a wildcat that uses standard dies. I had a page saved on this sometime back but my computer puked so I lost it. It is an interesting concept though. I think this was from the yahootalk page the Perklo runs (ran? is he still doing that page?)

mt3030 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2005, 01:52:09 PM »

Tim:
Thank you. That was the one I was looking for.

JPH45:
It's not about performance, so what rounds will "walk all over it" doesn't matter. My 358 Norma really walks!!! My RMEF 35 Whelen isn't a bad walker either. I want a rimmed round that is in the 35 Rem class, for 180 to 200 gr loads for whitetail. (Ya, I know about the 357 Max. Already have one.) I love the 30-30 case and have a life-time supply. I hope to find a 'smith with the original 35/30-30 reamers, not improved anything. Also have an old Marlin lever in 32 Winchester Special with a shot-out barrel. That's another canidate for the 35/30-30.

Wally

Paul5388 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2005, 02:12:35 PM »

That's the same thing I always said about the .35 Whelen. Also, brass and dies sure are easier to come by if you go the Whelen route.

I guess this is always what happens when I wait a couple of hours to post after I write something. Oh well, I think I'll try some cast Keith 170 gr in my Whelen tonight.