.357 Maximum...ok now...question?

[alan in ga]

Shot my MGM 18" .357 Max barrel today [I know, pistol forum, but pertinent to the chambering]. Shot great and am glad to know this barrel WILL shoot accurately. Shot a 2" 5 shot 100 yard group with random book load of 25.0 gr/1680/158 Hornady JHP. This with 8X Leupold and a somewhat incorrect target for the power/crosshairs of this scope. Shot with Harris bipod [not a good forend rest and I will set up better next time now that I know it is capable!]. Pressures appear very mild.
NOW, do you Maximum handloaders neck size or full length size your cases for a single shot Contender/Encore barrel? I've neck sized straight wall cases  before but only for rifle or single shot barrels [not revolvers]. I like to work brass 'minimaly' and now that these cases have been fired in a single shot/chambered gun, and seem to easily 're-enter' the chamber when spun [checking for ecentricity], seem to be candidates for neck sizing only - or sizing the portion of the case that will hold the bullet [I know the case doesn't have a specific 'neck'].
What think? Quit worrying about the details and run it all the way into the carbide die, or just pretend it's a rifle round and size maybe a half inch back from the neck?? Thanks for your thoughts.

[sirsloop]

If I were you, and this was the only gun that you have that shoots .357 Max... I would partial resize the brass and seat the bullet so its like 10 thousands off the rifling.  You can even go as far as indexing your brass so you always shoot with it oriented one way in the barrel.  I do this with my .204 Ruger barrel with great results.  The bullets are too long to fit into a box magazine, etc, but I'm loading them one at a time in the Encore.  The platform really is a cartridge tinkerers dream.

[cwlongshot]

I have always FL resized... (Since late '80's)  BUT I have a couple different guns so chambered...

Try it and see what you get? My only worry, would be getting it into the wrong chamber, but if you only have one...

Good luck,
 CW

[tc scout]

I don't think you would gain any accuracy by neck sizing a straight walled cartridge or extend the life of the brass.
But you never know, give it a try.  I have always full length sized mine for my contender and H&R.

[curteric]

I've done it both ways and don't see any difference. I have 2 Contender barrels and a Dan Wesson so I keep brass separate for all three.

[sirsloop]

I would give it a shot at least.  I full length resize my .357 magnum, but i'm loading them in a revolver and shoot IDPA/USPSA competitions.  Different ballgame there.  It *should* make a difference as you are holding the round in the center of your chamber by the butt end.  Maybe the rim in these rounds natrually holds the round centered?

[alan in ga]

I loaded up 20 rounds late last nite to be able to shoot this MGM barrel for the first time [up at 5 am to get to the range before it got hot/humid today]. I'm curious as to the throat and just how far out I can seat different bullets to reach the lands. Will try next. I put only a light crimp on the case/bullet canelure, as I was not sure how the case full [about] of 1680 would like a crimp or not. Lots of tinkering to be done yet but it sure wants to shoot!
It's the only Max in the house at present so I'll try neck sizing a bit. Had two different H&R/Handi rifles in Max and decided to go the T/C route instead.

[45-70.gov]

my contender  MAX  and 2 hadis  were reamed the same day
would these chambers be identical??


i have always just resized...as a ruetine process..never gave it any thought
that was just part of the decapping
now  i have a universal decapper
i have thought about not sizing at all
i flare as little as needed with cast
then crimp


if they chamber  why size at all

[alan in ga]

Why size at all? To give good bullet tension by the case neck. Most powders burn better, or get more consistent burn if the bullet is 'held' firmly. Just crimping doesn't seem to give enough tension. That's my understanding anyway.

[sirsloop]

I VERY lightly crimp my .357 magnums and I'm shooting H110 out of a revolver.  I've shot five rounds, measured the 6th and its the same COL.  If you're using powder like that, you should just use SP magnum primers and load em hot.  Heck you're shooting a single shot here so you could even crimp a touch less.  I know where you are coming from with a heavy crimp and powder burn, but I think that's at least partially aimed at people shooting revolvers and having bullets move forwards due to recoil.  That may also be aimed at people trying to ignite H110 or something similar with non-magnum primers.

[alan in ga]

measured the 5 shot group this morning...1.75" ctc. I'm going to put a higher magnification scope on, try seating some bullets into the throat, and neck size. The fired cases enter/exit the chamber with no drag at all.
Also going to set up the bench rests/sandbags next time since this MGM barrel looks like it is outdoing me! Thanks to the previous owner from GB that sold it to me! I'm glad I jumped and offered the asking price!

[Steve P]

I size only enough of my max brass to hold the bullet.  Avoids the stretching in the middle of the brass and the "coke bottle" effect you get when full length sizing.  )( 
 
I use profile crimp and good roll crimp on all of my 357 ammo.  Never used a magnum pistol primer, but do have loads using WSR primers and some loads with Rem 7 1/2 rifle primers. 
 
Steve  

[Sixgun]

Try 28gr 1680.  AA ballistian says you cannot put too much 1680 in a 357max case.  Also for meat use a flat point.  Remington 158 gr or xtp flat point 158 gr with 28 gr 1680 give me 2175 fps from a 10 inch contender.  Groups are under 2 inches at 200 yd, from a rest.  Meat damage is minimal and will penetrate a bull elk clear through at 100 yd.  This is a mild load but you cannot seat to the canalure. 
Sixgun

[alan in ga]

I was only putting in 25 gr/1680 but it comes about to the base of the bullet. Thanks for the info. I've not made it back to the range to use bench rest set up to 'really' test this barrel. Will have better target for the 8X scope setting, and something better than the Harris swivel bipod and a too small sand bag at the rear that I was using!