Author Topic: a .357 maximum is born (Read 1199 times)

jkkj · « **on:** January 31, 2013, 03:01:45 PM »

First post so hello all. I have lurked about on and off since 06. I recently bought a .357 with plans to maximize it. With the unavalability of brass right now I had put the project on the back burner. Yesterday I wondered into a local gun shop and low and behold they had a box of original remington 357 maximum ammo for sale. When I asked for it the salesman looked at me like I was crazy. This evening I got my hands on a correct size drill bit. It was somewhere between a 3/8 and 25/64 but it was not marked. When I calipered it I thought it was a little big, but it slid easily in to the chamber depth. In minutes the job was done by hand. It was cold and dark but the first two shots out of the gun at 50 yards measured .064 center to center. I only have a 4 power on it and thought I had completely missed the paper with the second shot. I was thinking I had killed a perfectly good gun until I retrived the target. I am really pumped about this thing right now.

Dinny · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2013, 04:55:59 PM »

Drill Bit? That's a new one on me. The reamer isn't expensive to rent and it provides a throat to boot.

Thanks, Dinny

Spanky · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:02:19 PM »

Are you serious about the drill bit??

Spanky

OR-E-Gun Bill · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:10:47 PM »

Sounds like there will be a big run on the size V letter drill bits.

Bill

craigster · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2013, 06:28:35 PM »

Can't say l would have done it that way. But hey, sounds liked it worked.

squirrelslayer · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2013, 10:55:10 PM »

Kudos man! I wouldn't have even thought of trying that but really theres no reason why it wouldn't work. I'm only a couple down on the wait list for the max reamer so I'll hold out. I'm gunna ream my contender first but hope to get my hands on a .357 barrel for my handi soon.

petemi · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2013, 12:57:23 AM »

What happens to the leade

hoytcanon · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2013, 01:50:26 AM »

Quote from: jkkj on January 31, 2013, 03:01:45 PM

This evening I got my hands on a correct size drill bit. It was somewhere between a 3/8 and 25/64 but it was not marked. When I calipered it I thought it was a little big, but it slid easily in to the chamber depth. In minutes the job was done by hand.

Yikes! Eeek! Wow! etc...

jkkj · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2013, 02:13:10 AM »

I'm with you hoytcanon. I did not put the measured size because I did not want to contribute to someone elses stupidity. Mine is enough of a burden.

The bit came from a bunch my father had collected from work between 25 and 50 years ago. Many have no markings.

YRUpunting? · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2013, 02:32:13 AM »

Fascinating. Could you post some closeup pictures of the shot brass?

woody1071 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2013, 02:57:40 AM »

The guy at the store that sold you the ammo must have sensed something when he looked at you like you were crazy

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2013, 03:20:33 AM »

I would be curious as to the chamber dimensions. Is there a throat at all? In a machining situation, drill bits are typically used to bore the hole a little smaller than the finished diameter and using a reamer to finish the job. Drill bits usually do not drill a hole that is perfectly round and usually rougher than a reamer can do. But on the other hand, if it shoots well and the cases are not damaged (stretched too far or have ridges and are easily extracted).

Good Luck and Good Shooting

Dinny · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:43:41 AM »

Quote from: jkkj on February 01, 2013, 02:13:10 AM

The bit came from a bunch my father had collected from work between 25 and 50 years ago.

Profino Industries?

Quote from: petemi on February 01, 2013, 12:57:23 AM

What happens to the leade

The throat/lead would probably be gone depending on depth of the cut. Pressures are probably really high.

Thanks, Dinny

gcrank1 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2013, 07:30:53 AM »

OMG!, I repeat OMG!!.......did I say OMG!!!
OK GC1, TAKE A BREATH..........
Everybody who respects their firearms and honest workmanship
DO NOT DO THIS
DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING THIS

Ive calmed down now and do recognize that you posted this in jest, and it worked, you got a rise outta me

!
But somebody with less understanding and experience might actually believe this and try it.
There is a good reason chamber reamers do not look like drill bits.

YRUpunting? · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2013, 03:50:15 PM »

This post started with a drill bit and now Mike Bellm's website is posted.

I predict it will get go off the rails further, what it will be I have no idea.

jkkj · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:09:38 PM »

<img src="https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/images/jkkj/cases.jpg" alt="image hosting by https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/" />

It is not as clear as I hoped for. The case measures out .001 smaller at the end than it does toward the back, and the bullet does drop in with no force. There are a couple of scrapes on the end of the case, like the roughness in the new area has scraped it as it has came out. Again not difficulty exstracting either. You can see them but not feel them with your fingernail. I will probably buy a finish chamber reamer to clean it up.

I'm not a professional internet sqabbler so I probably will not respond to this thread again. I appreciate the honest oppinions and I will continue to watch the brass for signs of to much pressure.

jkkj · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:13:33 PM »

https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/images/jkkj/cases.jpg

https://www.gboreloaded.com/mhp/images/jkkj/tartgets.jpg

cudatruck · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2013, 04:14:25 PM »

this guy is serious... he lengthend the .357 chamber with a DRILL BIT! Hey man, gotta hand it to ya, very ballsy, ballsy indeed. I would not have had the stones to try that, but if it works for you go for it.

gcrank1 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2013, 05:54:31 PM »

After some 40 years of experience Ive seen a bunch, including some well messed up chambers from drill bits.
It IS your rifle, do with it as you wish. Maybe you have skills I dont appreciate as you havent given your credentials or experience in modifications, or maybe you got lucky, it does happen.
Buying a finish reamer now may or may not clean it up, but you could donate it to the GBO H&R reamer pool afterward to be used like the current 357Max reamer is for members.
Or, you could try the split dowel and some sandpaper to polish out the forward end a bit.
I breezed thru that link and if I understood it correctly the author advocated for accuracy doing a chamber with a reamer that makes a neck/throat to support the bullet tail upon exit from the case. It would seem your does not, but if the groups continue to be satisfactory to you then good for you. We all want holes in the right place.
Might I suggest that the caveat,"dont try this at home" disclaimer may have been a good idea when straying so far from the accepted methodology?

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #19 on:** February 01, 2013, 06:58:49 PM »

Quote from: -Dinny on February 01, 2013, 04:43:41 AM

The throat/lead would probably be gone depending on depth of the cut. Pressures are probably really high.

Thanks, Dinny

my other post disappeared into the ether

when I've looked at all the specs on the Handi, and tried a Max brass in mine, I'd guess I could use a .380 reamer to do this very thing.

the long cone style leade tapers from 0.380 to 0.358 in, what over 0.400 inch?

according to my math (albeit a bit rusty) you would have to extend the chamber to 1.617 to get to a leade of 0.362" max diameter at the mouth.
with a maximum brass length of 1.605, you'd still have a leade of 0.3627 More than enough.

pressures would be unchanged

Why would this concern you?

this is no different than extending a neck of a bottle neck cartridge to deepen it a bit.

what am I missing?

jedman · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2013, 01:56:57 AM »

If it works OK with the ammo you are using leave it alone and enjoy it. If you handload or try other ammo that will not chamber because of the throat / leade get yourself a # 7 taper pin reamer and slowly ream until there is no contact with the bullet. You can find them on E bay for around $ 10 or less usually.
Jedman

Shu · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2013, 04:54:49 AM »

Goes to show there is more than one way to skin a cat!!!

I don't see a thing wrong here guys. Obviously he took some measurements and put alot of thought into what he was doing. I guess if he said he used a boring bar on a lathe and just did some hogging that would have been ok. Yes, his methodology is a bit different but there were NO pressure excurrsions or any other ill effects. I think it was a gutsy yet innovative way to get from point A to point B.

Yes, a .380 reamer will work also, but don't tell anyone. A $10 reamer or bit in this case might hurt feelings of guys who paid more to have their guns done.