357 MAX bbl

[old coach]

I want to rechamber a 357 mag to the MAX . Who can do the work,I have been told it is a simple job? Also what is a fair price for the work?

[Racepres]

I suspect that you could sell the 357 bbl and buy a max, and save money, over a rechamber job on an existing bbl. Unless you do it yerself.  Someone out there wants your 357bbl, knowing that it can really make the old 357 sing!!.. If you are in love w/ this particular barrel I would simply send it to mag-na-port, or JDJ, or I think that a board sponsor, REED, can do it also... HTH,  MV.

[Sixgun]

The best way to get a 357 max is to re-chamber a 357 mag.  That way you can true up the bore and get rid of the long throat and the forcing cone that TC uses on its barrels.  

I know that this name is not liked on this sight but Mike Bellm can do a good job of re-chambering for you.  He is pretty busy so it may take awhile but you wil have an accurate barrel after the job is done.
 
I'm sure there are others who can do just as good or better work but I don't know who they are.

Sixgun

[PaulS]

If you rechamber your 357 mag barrel just make sure that you start your reloads on the low side. The 357 Max bore diameter is .358 and you 357 Mag bore diameter is .357 you will have higher than normal pressures in the tighter bore especially when using the .358 bullets made for the Maximum and rifles.
One other thought is that if your chamber is on the large size of normal the new chamber may have a ring where the old chamber ended when the new chamber is cut. That ring may cause premature brass failure at the pressures produced by the Maximum rounds.

[handirifle]

coach
Talk to the guys on the H&R/NEF centerfire rifles forum here at GB's.  A LOT of them have rechambered the 357 mag hany barrels to the Max.  It is a 10-15 min do-it-yourself job.  None of them have had any issues with overpressure loads going by the manuals.

All of them report a HUGE increase in performance though.  Good luck.

[waynemorgan]

i had a guy in oklahoma city do my 10 inch 357 mag ,cost me $40.00 but that was 8 years ago

[PaulS]

coach
Talk to the guys on the H&R/NEF centerfire rifles forum here at GB's.  A LOT of them have rechambered the 357 mag hany barrels to the Max.  It is a 10-15 min do-it-yourself job.  None of them have had any issues with overpressure loads going by the manuals.

All of them report a HUGE increase in performance though.  Good luck.

I only had problems with mine when I approached the very maximum loads and loads using the Speer .358 diameter rifle bullets. Pressure signs showed up long before they do in my factory chambered barrels that are .358 diameter.
I am not saying don't do it i am just saying to be sure and work your loads up carefully - the main symptom I have is cases getting sticky.