Contender 357 Max 15" Results

[rimfire]

Traded for a SS Foxridge 357 Max barrel a little while back and just got out with my first handload.  With IMR4227, CCI450 and 180 XTP seated out to the second cannelure I shot 5 shots into 1" at 81 yards off of the front of my truck standing.  First 4 went into 3/4", but I pulled the last one.  81 yards was the max distance I had to work with on my makeshift "range" with all of the snow here yesterday or I would have shot at 100.

Its funny, but I had heard so much about the T/C tapered throat issues with this caliber I was not expecting much, but for the rest setup I was using with the first load I tried I was pretty happy with the results.  I expect I can get this into 1" at 100 yards based on these results.

I hope to use this on the next "Lets get a deer with a new handgun/caliber every year attempt in November of '09." 

[tc scout]

Hi rimfire, Glad to hear your Max is performing well. I also have a custom shop 15" Max contender, have been completely satisfied with this barrel.
 
In fact I shot my first deer with a handgun this year with the Max.

I did have one question about your reloads: I noticed you said you seat out to the second cannelure.
I am asking because Hornady's  7th edition for the 180 XTP states a C.O.L. of 1.890, this puts it at the first cannelure.

I use H110 and 2400 for my reloads and the powder is not compressed when seated to a C.O.L. of 1.890 in the top cannelure.

 Just wondered if I was missing something.    Thanks, Ken         

[rimfire]

I figured since the throat was so long I would seat it out as far as I could.  It shot so well I think I will continue to so so.  Hornady probably said use the other cannelure because they did not know what gun you were shooting it in and they wanted to make sure it was not too long.  Plus seating deeper raises the pressure so if it is safe at that depth it will be safer with the bullets seated farther out like I am.  It is possible to work up a safe load seated long that would not be safe seated short.  The reverse is not true.

I look forward to trying this on a whitetail.

What is your load?

[tc scout]

I know that it is not a problem to seat out in a contender and seating down can raise pressure. Sometimes accuracy can be improved by moving the bullet closer to the rifling. I was not questioning the safety of your load, just to inquire about accuracy.

The C.O.L. that I was referring to is from the TC only 357 Max loads in the Hornady handbook.

The load that I was using last year for hunting was 18.5 grs of H110 under a Hornady 180gr SSP with a CCI 400 primer. Accuracy was decent, but I think it could be much better. I was not impressed with this bullet on deer, although it only went 50 yds.

Further testing this summer will be with 180 gr. XTP's and 180 gr. Remington HP's. I have not determined yet if my barrel likes the .357 or .358 bullets.
I did not test XTP's last year in 180gr but did shoot some 158gr XTP's with very good groups. I will not be using any more SSP's for deer.

That's one of the nice things about the max, there is a lot of different loads to try.
Heck, I'm even playing with 110 and 125gr varmint loads, can't wait to see how those shoot.

[rimfire]

Shot this gun again yesterday from a better rest, but in some high winds.  180 XTP seated long again, 20 grains of IMR4227  [1 grain more than before] than I was shooting before.  Profile Crimp.  This is still not a max load from the resources I have seen.  Note I am shooting a magnum rifle primer as recommended in several books for when you might shoot at very low temps.  10F is not unheard of during deer season around here.

It shot under 7/8" for 3 shots at 100 yards with a 2-7 Burris.  First two shots at 125 yards actually touched, but third pulled out almost 2".  I am pretty sure it was me.  I was getting flinchy due to pain in my elbow unrelated to shooting, but aggravated by shooting.

I was still very happy with the way this shoots.  Out to 150 yards I think it will work fine on Whitetails and it kicks less than my other deer handguns.  Loads look cool with that XTP seated long also!

[blhof]

I got a factory 14" Max barrel that came on a pawnshop frame that was way discounted because of the barrel; the clerk told me that the barrel was usless as they don't make the round anymore.  I took it home and introduced it to my Dan Wesson 357max.  I shoot LBT 200gr gas checked cast LFN's seated also on the 2nd canelure, originally to get the shortest jump to the forcing cone in the revolver.  They produced great groups in the revolver and equally impressive groups in the Contender.

[Lon371]

blhof

I just bought a 14" .357 max barrel. Was wondering what your powder load is you were using? Also hae you hunted deer with it? Thanks

Lonny

[blhof]

I've been using H4227 since I bought my 1st 357max, I lucked into an 8 lb can that had been opened at a gun shop that was having a big sale and got it at a severly reduced price.  Even though it had been opened it still weighed over 8 lbs with a very thin plastic can.  It seems to be the preferred powder for the heavy bullet loadings and I couldn't beat the price til I ran out and had to replace it at four times the price of my original can.  It's accurate and fairly clean burning, and both the IMR and H 4227 are now the same burn rate, and found in quantities here.  I have got deer with both my DW and Contender in the Max with the 200gr bullets, one at 35yds; bang-flop through and through, the other 130 yds and bang-one jump flop. Both were mature does of average weight for Ky.

[rimfire]

I just got my barrel after deer season this year so I have no experience with hunting with it yet.  I plan to remedy that in November.

Anyone with any actual chrono results using IMR 4227 and a 180 grain bullet out of a Contender?  I plan to chrono this when it warms up a little.  I have it sighted in 2.5" high at 100 yards based on expected velocity around 1625fps [a guess based on lots of data comparisions, but I could be off].  This should put me 3" low at a little over 150 yards.