.357 Maximum reloading question:

[alan in ga]

Shot my MGM 18" .357 Max barrel today. 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. 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.

[stimpylu32]

For my Handi rifle I just run them down about 1/2" or so , just enough to get a good bullet grip and call it good . Depending on the powder & bullet most times I don't even bother with a crimp either .
 
stimpy

[alan in ga]

Any favorite bullets/powders? I've got an 8 lb jug of AA1680 I use in my 17 Ackley Hornet so it was nice to see it works well in this Max. Don't worry about posting the powder weight/load, I'll go to the website data manual for the specifics if you'd rather not post a load. If I were to gun hunt again [I've been bow only for about 7 years but still would gun hunt if the chance happened] what bullet do you like? I like experimenting with jacketed pistol bullets and have friends that had very good success with 158 grain bullets. I would use the JSP though, not the hollow point version like I shot this morning - it was all I had to load with last minute.

[stimpylu32]

Alan
 
So far I've been working with H110 and 2400 for most jacketed loads and Trail Boss for the heavy cast stuff - 180g and heavier up to 220g .
 
stimpy

[alan in ga]

I've got some cast bullets, solid base and gas checked versions, and some Hornady  158 gr swaged lead SWCs that I've paper patched through a .358" bullet sizer die. Got some Hornady 200 Spire points left over from .358 Win. days, probably 'kickers' in the Contender.

[tnpaul12]

25 gr of 1680 is what I use with 180gr bullets and get great groups and also have take deer with it. This also  with a MGM barrel like yours.