Re-chamber 357 Magnum to Question

[GrampaMike]

I have read about all the conversions from 357 Magnum to 357 Maximum on this forum over the last few months.  And even that a “Handi” used to be offered as a 357 Maximum, but I was wondering… how about re-chambering 357 Magnum to 357 Herrett?  All are rimmed cases.  I think the muzzle velocities out of a 14” barrel and 180 gr. bullets are approx: 357 Magnum (1300), 357 Maximum (1700), 357 Herrett (2100) and 35 Remington (2000).  If these estimates aren’t close, please forgive me.  I do not know the SAAMI pressure limits of each.  I don’t have the cartridge drawings of each so I don’t know if the Herrett would clean up the Magnum chamber.  Also don’t know what kind of ejector/extractor problems there might be.  If it were doable this would satisfy the people that wanted 35 Remington ballistics.

[quickdtoo]

357 Maxi velocities in a Handi are over 2000fps, approaching that of the 35 Rem depending on bullet weight. The problem with the Handi is the twist rate is too slow to utilize the heavier bullets if that is your goal.

Tim

http://stevespages.com/page8d.htm

[Ditchdigger]

I'm getting only 2000 fps with my super 14 barrel,but I can get 2350 fps with the 158gr. bullets. and 30 grs. of H 4227( max load in my book)in my 357 Herret. It should make a super whitetail gun, and the 125's and 140's really honk on. Digger

[GrampaMike]

Quick:  Just used the 180 gr. bullet weight for comparing the four different cartridges.  If lighter bullet weights would work better, than great.  Does that mean this is a good or bad idea, or plain just would not work?

[quickdtoo]

The 180s are great, it's when you get over 200gr that they don't shoot so well. Many here had entertained the idea of a rechamber to 35 Whelen or 35 Rem wanting to shoot bigger bullets, but because of the slow 1:18¾" twist rate, it was decided what's the point if it shoots the 200gr and smaller bullets just fine like it is anyway.

FWIW, my reamed mag to 357max shoots the 170gr JHP Dan Wesson ammo inside 2" at 100yds.... :wink:

Tim

[JPH45]

Actually I have done a fair bit of shooting with a 250 grain cat bullet from my 357 Maximum. I'm only pushing it at 1300 fps or so, but I have no stabilization problems what ever. I cannot help but think that with jacketed bullets, the 1:18 will do just fine as they are typically shorter for weight than is a cast bullet of the same weight. 180's, 200's and 220's shoot just fine as well. 280's or heavier would likely give trouble.

I am pretty seriously thinking of the 357 Herret myself. The one advantage it has over the Maximum, is that it will give you a completely new throat. I'm not convinced that the Maximum reamer cleans up all the old throat of the factory butcher job. I suspect more and more that mine is still oversize in diameter, it is going to take getting some cerrosafe to tell the tale.

These three cartridges are essentially ballistic twins, operating at different pressure levels for each case. The advantage of the 35 Herret over the 35 Remington is that being based on the 30-30, there is no extractor work to be done. The 35 Rem is an odd ball case, nothing else is the same, and being rimless it would require special fitting of an extractor.

I think the 35 Herret is an exellent choice, but it can only be used with 35 Herret ammo. The nice thing about the 357 Max is that 38 Special and 357 Magnum can still be used in the chamber.

[Ditchdigger]

From all I've read it the reloading mags.about the 357 Herrets is the accuracy of the cartridge. Bob Milek once killed a elk with a 140 bullet at 175 yds. with it according to his writings in one of the Noslers books. My contender witn a 2 pr. scope with shoot the 158 gr.XTP's into 3/4" at 100 yds when I do my part. That's with 28 gr. of H 4227 at 2250 fps.It should make a very accurate rifle.   Digger