Author Topic: 357maximum Loads (Read 574 times)

Neutron · « **on:** January 12, 2004, 05:39:59 PM »

Lost control at a gunshow last weekend and now own a contender carbine in 357 Max. It has a 24 inch barrel, I know that is kinda long for the caliber but it was there. Anyhow I was wondering if anyone has data on Lil gun powder with 158 and 180 grain bullets in the 357 max? Also if anyone has info on best powder for a long barrel in this caliber. I am thinking AA1680 might be pretty good but an article I read about 5744 leaving unburned powder in a 14" barrel got me thinking it might be pretty good in a longer one. Thanks.

Dragon31 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2004, 06:34:45 PM »

Neutron:

I'm a real fan of the Max in a 14 inch barrel and can attest to the fact that it is an excellant deer cartridge. I think that you are lucky in finding a 24 inch barrel I have not seen one that was reasonable priced and I have been looking.
As to loading. I bought a 1000 cases from Midway maybe 10 years ago and I understand they still have them. I use regular .357 Mag dies in a single stage press. I used a near full case of AA 1680 for powder but switched over to military surplus WC 680 and could tell no difference in accuracy (my barrel is not super accurate, just good enough to kill deer). I buy 180 gr Reminton JHP in bulk at Midway and they have killed a fair share of deer but in the pass few years I have been hunting with the Hornady 180 gr SSP. It has a better BC and I needed it this year (I killed a 120 class buck at 30 feet) bullet took out the shoulder joint and the top of both lungs, it did not exit.
Getting 1800+ feet per sec is not real difficult in the 14 inch barrel. Small rifle primers are a must for the pressure you are generating, I use winchester primers. In a 24 inch barrel you should crack 2000 feet per second with a 180 grain bullet with out trying. I tried lil gun but did not have a lot of time to play with it and may want to go back to it this summer when I have the time.

Nobade · « **Reply #2 on:** January 13, 2004, 01:32:59 AM »

I second the WC680 choice. I use it at 25.0gr. Lightly compressed under a RCBS 200gr. cast rifle bullet in my 10 inch barrel. Use rifle primers, and it's fast and accurate. Kind of rude in a 10 inch, but ought to be nice in a 23". Note this load has the bullet seated pretty far out of the case due to the bucket throat on my TC barrel. If yours is throated properly you'd have to seat the bullet deeper and back off the powder charge. Also note WC680 is slower than AA1680, so don't interchange the two.

Neutron · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2004, 05:13:44 AM »

I will keep my eye open for 680 but I heard it is discontinued.
I have only loaded rifle cartidges in bolt actions and I have never bothered to crimp. Is it important to crimp the 357 max loads in the contender or if the bullets seem to be held onto pretty well is crimping not critical?

Dragon31 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2004, 11:18:07 AM »

Neutron:

Jeff Bartlett in Owensboro, Ky has WC 680 listed on his Web site. $56.00 per 8 lb jug. Jeff's a nice guy to deal with not to mention a super shot.

PaulS · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2004, 06:28:11 PM »

The 357 maximum is one of the best straight wall cartridges that God ever made! I have three - one in a 10 1/2 inch revolver (Seville); one in 14 inch (a Contender) and one in 24 inch (an SKS conversion bolt). My brother has a revolver and a 24 inch Contender carbine. The most accurate bullets we have found are the 180 grain rifle bullets by Speer and Hornady. The rounds don't work in pistols unless you reduce the powder charge and seat the bullets to an OAL of 1.99". Seated long they will do all of 1850 fps with sub MOA groups using AA1680, WW680, or H110.

PaulS