357 B& D,,,,,experience with?

[alan in ga]

is is worth investing in > I've wanted one for years but never talked to anyone with one. Is there 'anything' it will do that the 357 Mag or Max won't do?
thanks guys, Alan in GA.

[Dave2of5]

I wouldn't mess with that particular conversion - especially when you can get the .357 Herret. Better cases and much better performance. Same packages. If you are going to reform cases anyway, that's the way I would go particularly in the Contender. I was interested in that cartridge for years but then I got my Herret. I am a BIG fan of the.357 Herret.

If it were me - of the choices you listed I would opt for the .357 Max.

However - IF you really WANT the B&D, go for it!

Just my 2cts.

Dave

[Graycg]

Depends on your needs,
   I love max and will take it over both Herrett or B&D, because I can use carbide dies, no case forming and the Max is much better with cast bullets, especially heavy ones because you don't have to worry about deep seating below the shoulder as you do on herret and especially so on short neck of B&D.  If you are only going to shoot pistol bullets, the B&D is ok, efficient and powerful, but you will run into troubles with rifle bullets and deep seating again.  Given my druthers, I'd strongly recommend the Max over both others.  I still have a Herrett and sold off the B&D, just for your reference.

regard,
  Graycg

[Steve E]

Each person has their likes so here is mine, in the reloading manuals the 357 B&D just barely bests the 357 Max, in the real world who knows. I really like the B&D, cases are easy to form, one pass in the resizing die. Most loading data for the B&D goes up to 158 gr. bullets, the Max and Herrit show heavier bullets. I do have some data for 180 gr bullets in the B&D. That said my preference is for the 357 B&D, mild recoil, easy to form, accurate and can easily take Whitetail. My barrel is a Bullberry 12 Bull and is much more accurate than me. I am currently having a Marlin rebarreled to 357 B&D.

                                        Steve E.......

[wheelgun]

I have the Herrett,Max,35 rem and 357 BD all 10" tubes except for 35 rem.I like them all but if had to line them up favorite to less favorite,
357Herrett 35 Rem,357 Max ,357 BD.The B&D has never inpressed me but it is okay for the up close stuff and mine WILL NOT shoot anything over 158 grains period.

[Dragon31]

I think Graycg pretty well summed it up.  The .357 BD may have some advantages in a lever action but the ease of loading the .357 Max and what it will do in a Contender I believe off set any advantage in a single shot.  A friend, with a .357 BD, and I discussed this when I wanted to step up a notch from my .357 Mag barrel.  I was think of 35 Remington and he advised against it and encouraged me to purchase the .357 Max, I've never been sorry.  The Max, in a 14 inch barrel is an excellant white tail deer cartridge with a 180 gr Hornady SSP or a 180 Remington JHP bullet, pushed by a full case of WC 680 (I use rifle primers).  There is still plenty of Max case available and in a pinch you can shoot mag and special cases in the same barrel, although I wouldn't do it on a regular bases. I have 4 contender frames and 6 different caliber barrels.  The Max is the only barrel that never comes off its frame.

[Javelina]

Hello Alan In GA,

You may want to give some consideration to the 358 GNR.  There's more information at the following URL (no, I'm not connected with Gary Reeder in any way!):

http://www.reedercustomguns.com/information/GNR_cartridges.htm

Basically, it's a 445 Supermag case necked down - if you don't want to be undergunned in the 357 area, this is a good one.  Some really big animals have been killed easily with this one - it's accurate too.

Safe and good shooting to you!  I hope you enjoy whatever your final choice is!  

Javelina

[RonF]

I really like my .357 B&D, but it's in a Merrill, not a Contender.  The Contender custom shop barrel I had was very nice and a good shooter, but it had a short and tight throat and I could not load the 180 pistol bullets out to get a reasonable amount of the powder (AA 1680) I wanted to use for the velocities I wanted.  It would not even chamber a .358 bullet no matter now short seated.  The Merrill has a very generous throat and this is not a problem with it.  Forming this case is much less effort than the Herrit, and performance is not that much less in my view.  It is about the equal of the .357 Max which obviously requires no forming and is indeed better with cast bullets.  Unfortunately, some folks say Max brass is getting a bit scarce - I wouldn't know, as I don't have a barrel in that caliber, preferring the B&D in the shorter lengths and the .35 Rem on 14" and carbine configurations.  Surely, .44 Mag brass is not going to get scarce, and one pass into the FL sizing die with no trimming doesn't strike me as overly much trouble.  Just my half nickel....

RonF

[OLDMAN]

Is there a reason that the 357 B&D cannot be chambered for bullets heavier than 180 grain.

[Graycg]

This is a great string... I have a 358 Bellm on the way, 35 rem, 357 Herrett and 4 maxes of different lengths as well as a plain jane old 357 mag...I think I might want a B&D again after all...it'll will never replace my  max's but we all need toys.  358 GNR....hmmmm....any other picks in the .35 bore?  .356 GNR?  35 Winchester?  Anyone got any other ideas?

man I just love these 35's!!!

regards,
 Graycg

PS- Max brass isn't at all tough to get, Midway or Midsouth have tons of them.

[RonF]

OLDMAN, I think it will depend on how generous and long your leade is.  My Contender just wouldn't accept a long bullet without excessively deep seating, and the neck was tight so it didn't like .358 bullets.  My Merrill, on the other hand, has a more generous neck and leade, so it's fine with 180 gr bullets.  I believe it should do fine with 200 gr round nose ones, too, but I haven't tried it; the 180 does all I need and will have less recoil.  What recoil it does have is plenty for the grip design of the Merrill!!!

RonF

[RadioTech]

I had a 10" .357 magnum Contender barrel rechambered for the .357 B&D nearly 25 years ago.  I have found that the throat in this barrel is longer than in the factory barrels.  The work was done by the Bain and Davis Gunshop in California.
The 140-158 gr. bullets will chronograph at over 2000 fps, the drawback is that they were designed to expand at a much lower velocity and at 2000 fps will disintegrate on metal plates or bone.
I personally load the 180 gr. .358 dia Speer flat point designed for the .35 Remington.  It has a short neck from base to cannelure and won't fit converted revolvers due to the overall length.  Using 20 grains of WW-296 this bullet chronographs at 1600 fps from my 10" barrel.
Overall it isn't too hard to shoot, isn't hard to load, and works for me.
I am currently experimenting with the Hornady 180 gr. bullet, it has two cannelures and by using the lower cannelure fits my long throated barrel.  I'm interested to see what it does in the field.

[RonF]

The 180 Hornady SXT you are considering did a great job for me last fall on a button buck.  It was running about 1650 fps I think - need to check my notes to be sure.  At these velocities I believe it would be better for deer than the 180 Speer FP.  That one would be better at somewhat higher velocities, I feel.

RonF