Finally Got the Max Up and Running!

[OSOK]

Well, it has taken me a lot longer than I wanted, but I finally got everything I needed to start loading .357 max ammo for the TALO Trapper. Here in The Natural State (Arkansas), reloading supplies are scarce, and no one wants to carry anything related to the Max. When you ask for Accurate 1680 they just look at you funny, so I had to go with H110. I don't own or have access to a chronograph so I can't give velocities, but a maximum load of H110 under a Remington 158 grain JHP will stack the bullet's up in just under an inch at 100 yards. I'll start working up some loads for the Hornady 180 grain SSP this evening. I am REALLY liking this little rifle, and can't wait until my granddaughter is old enough to start shooting it. With .38 specials it just make a noise, with .357 magnums it recoils about like a lightweight .22, and with the .357 max it still recoils less than a H&R .410!

[bikerbeans]

osok,

Congrats!  I have the 357 Maxi Trapper also and it shoots the 158 & 180 grain HP/XTPs over H110 very well.  No velocity data for you yet, but I have a new chrony on order.

BB

[cwlongshot]

GREAT NEWS!!!

 AA1680 is a good powder, but its NOT THE only powder!!  Its what I prefer, but if you have a load with H110 that's under an inch your shooing as or more accurately than my AA1680 load. Generally the 110/269 will produce nearly the same velocities as AA1680 will.

The only thing I will say is if your hunting big game with the 158's try to stay with broad side lung shots and avoid bones. It will be a fragile projectile at maxi attainable velocities. Even 357 MAG out of a rifle can be fragile if its a hollow point.

Good luck,
 CW

[zoner]

sounds like you're right where you need to be with your 158gr/H110 load. Try it with a JSP bullet

[OSOK]

Thanks everyone!
I'm happy with the H110 so far, and it will be a good powder for my .44's as well, which is why I settled on it from the choices I had.
The 158 grain bullet's are going to be my "Watch that Armadillo explode" rounds. If my rifle likes 180 grain SSP's they will be my deer rounds.
CW, the secret to the small groups is that I used a target with a 2 inch black circle for the bullseye...just about the exact size of the area the crosshairs in the 2.5x scope cover at 100 yards.
I didn't get to shoot any of the 180 SSP's this evening due to having to work late...I hate it when work gets in the way of the serious stuff!
Some of the best fun I've had with this gun/cartridge combo so far has been showing the loaded max rounds to the guys at work. Most people have never heard of the max, and when they see the little torpedo it just blows their mind. Sometimes I feel sorry for the non-handiholics!

[OSOK]

Well, I finally got to work up my load using the 180 grain SSP and H110.  Accuracy was the same as for the 158 grain JHP's, and so was point of impact.
I'm either really lucky or the .357 max is an awesome round! Either way I'm really loving this little rifle!
My only regret is that I didn't get everything together until after rifle season closed...November can't get here soon enough!

[zoner]

the same POA and POI for 158 AND 180 gr loads is a durn good thing

[HogFan]

OSOK,

   Where are you located at in AR? I am C. AR, and Ft. Thompson's and Gander Mountain both have plenty of reloading items. Grnated they are not as cheap as you can get online, but they do have the items.

[OSOK]

Hogfan, I'm in Batesville. I go to both places every time I'm down that way for physical therapy. Ft. Thompson never has the powder or bullet's I'm looking for, and I've never seen powder at Gander. We have one shop here that carries reloading supplies, just a limited selection.

[dave29]

What is that little scope you have on there? I am looking for something small like that for mine.

[OSOK]

It's a BSA 2.5x20.

[torpedoman]

how is the accuracy with 38spl and 357 mag now that it has been reamed?

[dave29]

It's a BSA 2.5x20.

That's what I thought, thanks. 

[OSOK]

Accuracy with the .38's opened up a little, but not much. .37 mags are shooting just as tight as ever. But, all my shooting with both of those has been with factory ammo, and the .38's are 125 gr. +P's. I had a few old 158 gr. RNL .38's laying around, and they seemed to do much better, but I didn't fire them on paper. Shooting at rocks on the hill they were hitting about 2 inches below the max rounds.
I am happy with the BSA. It has plenty of eye relief and is clear. A bigger scope would likely gather more light, but I wanted to keep it compact and more in line with the looks of the rifle.

[gcrank1]

Maybe Gander has the powder locked up and you have to ask? Even so, around here they are pretty pricey, but if you need it now....

[mechanic]

My hunting load this past year with the max was with H110 and 180gr. XTP's.  That's the only 180gr. in stock when I bought, and to be honest, I had doubts about it.  I walked up a small deer at 60 yds or so, and shot too far ahead, made a high shoulder shot that broke the upper part of the leg, and exited the opposite shoulder taking bone out with it.  Pretty much destroyed the front portion of the deer.  I am convinced that it will be ok now for heart / lung shots. 

I get less than an inch 3 shot groups with this combo, but it begins to open up after the 3rd. shot.  This is preferable to my 280, which places the first shot 4" higher than follow ups....work to do here......(of course I'm supposed to make the 1st one count)
Ben