Author Topic: .357 mag barrel (Read 2071 times)

midwayraider · « **on:** February 10, 2007, 02:02:41 PM »

i sent my reciever and stock to H&R today to get it fitted for a .357 mag barrel . anyone have any feedback on this caliber in a handi ?

Pharmboy · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:19:49 PM »

Oh Man,
Are you sure you want to go down that road? Next thing you know, you'll want a Max. Then you'll want, want want.

Pharmboy

P.S. Refuse to take the medication!!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:22:25 PM »

It'll make a great donor barrel for a .35 Remington rechamber, right MSP!!

Tim

MSP Ret · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:23:26 PM »

it is one of the best and it is really a do-all caliber. I have never met or heard of anyone that did not like thiers. Most if not all H&R .357 Mag barrels will chamber and shoot .360 Dan Wesson ammo just as they come so if you want or need a little more "Oomph!" than the .357 Mag you can try those if you don't want to ream it out to .357 Max. Do you have any idea how many more .357 Barrels they had left? I wonder if they will continue to manufacture them and have them available as accessory barrels or they are just selling out that special run they made a while ago (2004)? I would think if that was the case they would either be almost out or would have been out by now. Anyway I am sure you will like that barrel, try shooting it with .38 Specials and see the fun you will have!!!....<><....

MSP Ret · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:29:26 PM »

Ooops!, our posts crossed in cyberspace Quick!! Yes it could make a nice donor for a .35 Remington but I would not suggest doing that to your only .357 barrel. The .357 barrels are such a nice platform for fun shooting and small and mid size game hunting, all the way up to Whietail deer with the proper load at reasonable distance that your only .357 should not be sacrificed. I still have my original .357 that has been reamed out to a max but looked and looked and finally found another barrel that was going to be sent in to be rechambered to my long desired .35 Remington Handi. It's a long story but "Pharmboy" has that barrel now and I got his .357 Mag to send out. It is now in the waiting line to be rechambered to my .35 Remington....You will like the .357, they are great!!!....<><....

Pharmboy · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:46:31 PM »

I say ream it to a .357 Max and then you can shoot .38 Special, 357 Magnum and 357 Max. You get into reloading and be a "WILDCATTER" all in one fowl swoop. Some folks say that their guns shoot better after a ream job. Some of you Ol' GEEZERS know what I'm talkin about. HA HA

Pharmboy

MSP Ret · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:50:09 PM »

Hi Pharmboy, nice to see your post. How is the Max doing? Your Mag is in line at the smiths and waiting to be transformed into a .35 Remington....<><....

P.S. you forgot the .360 Dan Wesson (.360 DW) which is in between the .357 Mag and .357 Max in length...I really think .38 Special Mid Range Wadcutters are a great fun and squirrel load for the gun....<><....

Datil · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2007, 02:51:11 PM »

Welcome yo the wonder world of handi=holics and GBO forums.
As soon as I got my 357 Mag, I reamed it out to a Maximum.
Never looked back, made a great round. Good Luck Marv.

midwayraider · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2007, 03:35:13 PM »

HOW HARD IS IT TO REAM ONE OUT TO THE 357 MAX ? IS IT SOMETHING I COULD DO ? OR DOES IT REQUIRE A GUN SMITH

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2007, 05:20:10 PM »

Reaming one out is about the easyest thing you can do, except shooting it as it is. I have two .357 handie barrels one has been reamed out, Did it myself like most of the guys here.

Great shooting rifles and fun to, if you reload you really got it licked, If you don't .357/.38s are probably one of the easiest to learn how on, And yes mine shoots DW .360s well to.

You'll like it, but only if you like to shoot.

db22 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 11, 2007, 05:43:44 AM »

My Handi frame went out last week for a .357 barrel. I'm afraid to call CS to see if there are any left -- I'll just cross my fingers and live in hope. On the optimistic side, I noted that .357 is still listed on the barrel program web page, even after the price hike (to $87.00 plus fitting and shipping). Maybe they decided to make another run of barrels, considering how popular it is among us Handi cranks.

I guess I'll choose a .30-'06 barrel if I receive the dreaded email asking me for a second choice. I have a bucket filled to overflowing with once-fired brass, and a set of dies, but I haven't owned an ought-six for ten years.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #11 on:** February 11, 2007, 06:15:08 AM »

Well what are you waiting for db?, with the good old 30-06 and a .357 brought to Max dimensions you are ready for anything in the good old U.S. of A.!!!!. I say make the call and go for it, you save the extra shipping charge also, both ways!!! that is $20-$25 bucks right off the top of the cost of the "06 barrel ....<><....

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #12 on:** February 11, 2007, 01:25:12 PM »

Can you say ENABLELERS....

Datil · « **Reply #13 on:** February 11, 2007, 02:01:16 PM »

Badnews Bob Just where did you come up with this word?
ENABLELERS Marv

cowboyup453 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 11, 2007, 03:04:45 PM »

Im pretty sure they are still making them. When I got mine bout 6 months ago they had just got them in.

midwayraider · « **Reply #15 on:** February 11, 2007, 03:41:25 PM »

when i called CS friday the lady didn't say anything about not having any .357 barrels. i sure hope they have them ....got my hopes up. i want to put a red dot sight on it and pop some bushy tails with some .38 wad-cutters. if by some chance they don't have them how are the 30/30 barrels ?

midwayraider · « **Reply #16 on:** February 11, 2007, 03:53:57 PM »

i didn't know anything about the price change . i just bought my rifle about two months ago and there was a order form in the box and the prices were $82.00 plus shipping and fitting . wonder if i need to send them $5 or will they honor the order form $:-\$

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #17 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:29:03 PM »

I made it up you can do that on the net.

Especially if your to stupid to do a spell check like I are.

greyling · « **Reply #18 on:** February 11, 2007, 04:39:11 PM »

any ideas what shipping and fitting might run me? more in the $20 or the $50 range? (I suppose I could call and ask, but I bet they are currently closed and I'm thinking about it now)

quickdtoo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 11, 2007, 05:02:09 PM »

Return shipping and fitting fees are listed on the order forms, $10 shipping per firearm and $15 fitting per barrel.

Tim

http://hr1871.com/Support/accessoryProgram.aspx

db22 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2007, 12:48:42 AM »

MSP Ret: the frame I sent off last week is my only Handi frame (so far) -- my intention is to have it barreled for .357, and then acquire another rifle in .30-'06. One frame for rimmed calibers equipped with an aperture sight, and a second one for rimless rounds equipped with a low-mounted scope after performing Quick's hammer-bob. The only thing holding me back is funding for this little battery of rifles.

Midwayraider: When I sent my Handi frame in last week, the web site still listed standard re-barreling at $85. When I sent my Pardner frame in for a muzzleloader barrel in December, the price listed was $82. It's now $85, but I expect them to honor the payment I sent at the time. I'll be ticked off if they don't!

midwayraider · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2007, 10:33:06 AM »

hey db22 , no fear my man. i called CS today at 9:30 am, they told me they have plenty of .357 barrels . i also told the lady i talked to that i was about $3 short on my payment.the order form i sent in said the barrels were $82.00 , she said they were $85.00 she told me not to worry about the $3

db22 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2007, 02:35:52 PM »

WOOHOO!! Thanks, Midwayraider! Now all I gotta do is wait .. .. and wait . . . and . . .

midwayraider · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2007, 02:53:40 PM »

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT !

Paul5388 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2007, 05:55:24 PM »

I used some of the cut down Max cases yesterday with 18.5 gr of Alliant 2400, 125 gr Golden Saber and a CCI 400. 2174 fps MV, 1312 ft lbs ME

The old 125 gr Sierra JHC load I used in my "new" M28-2 (1982 vintage DuPont SR 4756 in .357 Mag brass) clocked 2078 fps MV and 1199 ft lbs ME. With the new 2004 vintage IMR SR 4756, it clocked 2074 fps MV and 1194 ft lbs ME.

15.0 gr of Alliant 2400 in .357 Mag brass with a 170 gr 358429 and CCI 500 clocked 1706 fps MV and 1099 ft lbs ME.

All of these were shot with just a taper crimp in a standard .357 Mag chamber. A roll crimp may develope a little more velocity, but I think accuracy wouldn't be as good.

Maybe it'll quit raining so I can shoot 19.0 gr of 2400 in the cut down Max cases. That should get me over 2200 fps.

Maybe the longer brass with a healthy dose of SR 4756 will get me up to 2300 fps.

backstrap · « **Reply #25 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:26:01 AM »

Whats the diffrance in the 357mag and the 357 max never herd of a 357 max??

quickdtoo · « **Reply #26 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:36:32 AM »

The Max case is .315" longer than the Mag.

Tim

db22 · « **Reply #27 on:** February 13, 2007, 02:16:31 PM »

Paul 5388: Do you have a recommendation for a .357 Mag deer load? I was thinking the 180-grain Hornady XTP over a maximum charge of 2400 or Lil Gun. Is SR 4756 still made?

On the subject of crimps: do you have a separate die for a taper crimp? I think my Lee dies only make a roll crimp. In a single-shot rifle using a jacketed bullet, is a crimp required at all? Thanks!

Paul5388 · « **Reply #28 on:** February 13, 2007, 03:55:01 PM »

DB,

The load I use is way over maximum in any of the newer manuals. The Alliant 2400 load of 15.0 gr is still being published, which is just the Keith load that's been used since the 1930's. A 170 gr Keith at 1700 fps should be more than sufficient for deer. I have clocked the same Keith bullet with 13.5 gr of 2400 in .38 Special brass at 1750 fps. I don't see any difference in the Alliant 2400 I use and what was reported for the old Hercules 2400.

The Lee dies will produce a modified taper crimp if they were manufactured after 1986, even so, I still use a separate taper crimp die set to just take out the flare/bell from the expanding die. I use a Lee Cast Iron Classic Turret, but I used a separate crimping die even when I was using my Rock Chucker.

There is sufficient bullet pull with a taper crimp, as is seen in semi-auto loads. Sometimes excessive roll crimp actually lessens the bullet pull. Since we're dealing with single shots, there's no need to worry about bullet creep or bullet set back from recoil.

db22 · « **Reply #29 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:32:56 PM »

Thanks, Paul! Loads duly entered in my notes. By "Keith load", do you mean a gas-checked lead bullet? I always have 158 grain cast lead SWCs on the bench for my .38s (one of the reasons I wanted a .357 Handi). I imagine leading becomes a problem if you push those revolver bullets too hard. I keep Alliant American Select on hand for trap loads, and have already assembled a test run of twenty .357 rounds using 6 grains of Am. Select under the standard bevel-base 158 lead SWC. Ought to be a good practice/plinker. In two months or so, my rifle will arrive and the weather here in Wisconsin will allow some range time to enjoy it. We'll see how much lead gets left in the bore.