New Barrel/ 357 mag

[Poolman]

Hey I just got off the phone with H&R and am going to send a rifle back to have a head space problem fixed. While on the phone I asked if they still had any .357 barrels left and they said yes.
Question-- who of you has one and what do you think of it.
Thanks.

[bajabill]

like it, made it into a max. 

I like that I can shoot 38sp for cheap, and if I want to load and shoot more powerful rounds, make some 357max.  I dont think I will shoot much 357 mag however.  THe rounds are not extremely cheap, and if Im going to go thru the efforts to reload, it will be the bigger maximum catridge.   The 38sp is really a nice shooting experience.  No recoil at all, and dont even need to wear earplugs if you dont want to.

[Poolman]

Thanks for the reply. I've hunted Michigan deer for years with my GP100 357mag. Its always done fine for me. I've got a 7yr old that wants to hunt as soon as he's leagal. I think the 357 would do him nice.
Any thoughts on 357 maximum and who does that rechamber job on handi's.

[quickdtoo]

Many here have done their own 357mag to max, not much to reaming it, you just need a T-handle, the reamer can be rented from 4D or any smith could do it for about $50 or so.

Tim


http://www.4-dproducts.com/display.php?group=Pistol+Calibers

[darat100]

Everyone needs a Max.  However, mine and several others I have talked to have a problem.  If you just load everything in Max cases, there is no problem.  However, if you try to shoot from 38  or 357 mag cases, my POI changes around 2 inches.  Still wouldn't sell mine for twice what it costs.  Awesome caliber.

[MSP Ret]

My .357 Mag would shoot .360 DW's right from the factory. It is now a .357 Max also and I would not get rid of it either. They are great and fun guns....<><....

[Datil]

 I would NOT get rid mine for money, I rewamed it to Maxie myself took
 about 15 minutes. Watch a man ream one at P. Dog shoot last June
 under a SHADE tree. use chuck from a drill. lke2 hunt never has reported how it shoots.
 I just Max brass in mine mostly. Marv.

[jbtazgrabber]

used the 357 max 4 a lot of years had great results ....till i ran into a 150 lb deer..once  mine are not h&r barrels so i cant tell how they shoot....however i can say the max is a blast to shoot......my 7 year old has one...we didnt see a doe on the youth hunt for him to try out on. but he did get his first deer with my huntsman last week> rifle season open in a couple weeks he will be taking his 357 max rifle to shoot a deer i load some mid range 38 to let him shoot and enjoy it...then i put in 357 mags for him to hunt with..of corse he dont know ther any different.. he is only 60 lbs and 7 years old ill save the maxs for a rew years down the line...plus the gun weights less than 5 lbs with scope.....another plus 4 the max is i used mine to kill tree rats during the summer with light 38s to keep in practice  for deer season..........after the big one got away i went to a 445 super mag.<44 CAL. MAX>it is the best deer killer i ever used....the  357 max is now second.......just my 2 cents ..jb

[Duckdog]

I have one and it's a real tack driver with 158 gr Lee LFN cast bullets.  Jagged hole groups at 50 yards off of a rest are real common with this barrel.  I did not have any luck with the Lee 158 gr SWC though.  Well, I sould'nt say bad luck, as 2" groups at 50 yds aren't too bad, but compared to the other groups, it doesn't seem as good.

I actually got this barrel for my wife to use deer hunting, but she really took a liking to my 45 LC survivor.

It sure is a good deal when you can convince your wife that your buying more guns and barrel for her sake.

[Paul5388]

I just keep mine as a standard .357 Mag.  If I need something bigger, I switch to a .35 Rem or .35 Whelen.  I kinda like the .35 calibers!  Like MSP said, it does shoot .360 DWs, but I don't gain a whole lot from doing that.  I can shoot 250 gr cast out of the Mag as easy as I can shoot them out of .360 DW.  It shoots around 1" at 100 yards, so it's accurate enough for the task at hand. 

[hellacatcher]

Datil that was Jimmy who reamed the 357 to a max. He reamed mine the last year. At a 100 yrds I can have 180 gr bullets touching. Droped three deer with it last year. They never took a step when hit. It is by far the best handy I have. Like you I won't be getting rid of mine. 38's shoot the worse then it gets better next 357 mag, 360 DW and last the max's are the best. The worst thing I remember about like2 hunts is Jimmy hit a hard  peice of steel remember he joked about the ball bearings.

[Smokin Joe]

Like it.

Turned the first into a MAX.

Turned the second into a .356 Winchester.

[v8r]

I love my .357 Mag,I shot it today with some Remington UMC 38 special +p ammo.I have to tell you mine shoots 357 and 38 equally well.I took it hunting after Christmas last year,but didn't see any whitetail only Mule deer.Texas whitetail seems to be scarce,  and the size of dogs compared to the whitetail in Georgia.I was impressed by the mule deer though, they are huge.

[mt3030]

...I was impressed by the mule deer though, they are huge.

Yes, Sir, they can get some size on them. This very average one fell to my Ultra 25.06 some years ago. And I understand how you guys feel about your 357s. I'm watching for another right now.