357 max handi rifle

[Nobade]

This little rifle just plain RIPS with paper patched bullets! I have a 215gr. BRP mould that throws a dual use bullet at .351". You can either use it as is in a 348 win, or paper patch it up to .359" for 35 caliber guns. Loaded to just engrave the rifling, about .400" into the case, and charged with enough Lil' Gun to fill the case to the base of the bullet, my Handi (rechambered from 357 mag) is going a little faster than 2000 fps and will pile all its shots into one little group at 200M on our steel gong. No pressure signs at all, nice round primers and the cases fall out of the chamber. Going to paper patching with this rifle has opened up a whole new level of power available to me and made it a very serious hunting rifle. I don't think you could get away with loading jacketed bullets this hot, nor do I see any need for them since they're not going to do anything that this bullet won't do.

[rdlange]

Very interesting.  Please tell us what paper you used, how many wraps, lube, etc, so we can try it also.

Be Well...

[alan in ga]

....still shooting this bullet?...I got a .357 Max MGM 18" barrel recently and have not wrapped a bullet in a while. Sounds like you found a great combination.
I thought about biting the bullet...guess I should say 'wrapping' the bullet and getting a 23" 45/70 for light 250 grain SWC Speer bullets. I've had some good success with this commercially 'ready to wrap to .460" ' bullet for .458 bores.
Might just try your load in my .357 Max barrel instead.

[Nobade]

Yep, still shooting this bullet in all my 35 cal barrels - 357 mag Contender, 357 Max Handi, 356 Rimless Marlin 336, 358 win Rem 700, 35X30-30 rolling block. It works quite well in all of them. Sadly, BRP is no longer in business but Tom at Accurate Molds can cut something very similar. A fairly long nosed bullet at .351" with small "tumble lube" type grooves.

I have since started using 15# green bar computer paper for patching, and find it is exceptionally useful for patching bullets to use with smokeless powder. It adds .012" and can be sized somewhat after patching so gives a large useful range of sizes.

I hadn't seen the post by rdlange, so sorry for no reply. Patched as normal - two wraps, ends almost butting together with no overlap, lube is vaseline/beeswax mix applied with fingers. Really any wax type lube works -  Johnsons, car wax, shoe polish, whatever. It just needs to not soak through the patch and glue it to the bullet.

There are lots of special loading tricks for PP bullets to make them work. If anybody cares you can PM me and I'll be glad to share. Now that jacketed bullet costs and availability is getting so "interesting", I suspect we will start seeing more interest in paper patching. Time will tell...