Author Topic: Want to shorten 357 maxi for youngster. Legal overall length? (Read 835 times)

clearwater · « **on:** February 09, 2011, 05:46:20 AM »

The 357 maxi is too heavy for my son for offhand shooting/ hunting. Found a smith who will
cut the barrel to 16 1/2" and tap for a front site. Will use a Williams peep in the back.

I have ordered a youth stock, and want to know if the overall length would still be legal?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2011, 05:47:13 AM »

Overall length minimum is 26".

Tim

Tencubed · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:17:53 AM »

You might consider having that bbl Magna-Ported to reduce muzzle jump and be ready for a lot of muzzle blast even without the porting.

I've got a 45-70, which I know is a lot bigger cartridge, in a 16" bbl and the muzzle really comes up.

Mike

Spanky · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:19:36 AM »

Not trying to sound like a jerk here but if he can't hold up a 7 pound rifle then maybe he isn't ready to be hunting. You have to hold up the rifle to aim it and you have to aim it to make good shots so...... $:-\$
Don't take this wrong... I think all kids should have the opportunity to get into the woods and hunt... but only when they're ready.

Spanky

Slowhanddd · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2011, 11:52:31 AM »

I sure wouldn't muzzle tame it.The blast will make him jump.I had one rifle that was.Sold it to the first guy that was interested.The maxi isn't bad in the recoil department any way.I plan on putting my Grand son behind mine.And he's a little snot for 13.Just my 2 cents and probably not worth half that.Slow

bikerbeans · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:15:59 PM »

I have a Talo 357 that I Maxed and I don't think it has much muzzle blast or jump. If the muzzle blast or muzzle rise is an issue he could shot 38 spc or 357 mags out of it. I know folks that kill deer with factory 125 grain HPs out of 6" barrel revolvers so a lighter load would work in your Maxi.

Don't you love it when we answer questions that you did not ask?

BB

gendoc · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:28:54 PM »

heck, when my grandson wasa 9 or ten.... we cut down a 45/70 to (iirc) 18" an he used a homemade shoot'n stick

... he drop tha first doe that stuck'er head out tha tree line. next day he flopped a 8 point dead in his tracks. tha stick lasted till he figured out he cud handle wifout it.
prolly bouta week... once they feel tha blood flow'n....they'll hold upa 03A3

after 4 years he still totes that rifle today and hesa gud wifit too

Spanky · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2011, 12:37:44 PM »

Quote from: gendoc on February 09, 2011, 12:28:54 PM

once they feel tha blood flow'n....they'll hold upa 03A3

+1 to that
It's funny how they get lighter when there's a deer in front of 'em.

Spanky

clearwater · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2011, 01:13:31 PM »

Quote from: Spanky on February 09, 2011, 06:19:36 AM

Not trying to sound like a jerk here but if he can't hold up a 7 pound rifle then maybe he isn't ready to be hunting. You have to hold up the rifle to aim it and you have to aim it to make good shots so...... $:-\$
Don't take this wrong... I think all kids should have the opportunity to get into the woods and hunt... but only when they're ready.

Spanky

Glad I'm not married to you. Don't really need opinions about things you are ignorant about.

A 9 pound rifle for him is like 28 lb rifle for me. If I can get it down to 6 lbs
and make it more fun for him, maybe he will keep the sport up.

AA080 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2011, 01:48:36 PM »

Sounds like you are on the right track to get his gun lightened up! Have you thought about one of them skeleton stocks?

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2011, 02:57:38 PM »

I built my Grandson an ultra lite 357 max, he used it this deer season quite successfully. Dropped a nice 8 pt. It weighs about 5 1/2 lbs with a2 4/4 scope .He shoots it very well with full bore 357 loads without even noticing the recoil. Kids adapt very quickly, shorten the bbl to 16" get a synthetic youth stock , a low power compact scope and go for it. I tapered the barrel to reduce weight but fluting will work also.

jason045 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2011, 06:12:09 PM »

Ive got a maxi for my 9 year old son that has a 16.5"barrel and a synthetic youth stock set. It is just a shade over 30" (iirc) so no problems on length there. My dad, his pawpaw, also fluted the barrel for him and reduced the weight by over 1 1/2 pounds. It has a really nice feel to it now and it balances right around the hinge pin area. Very easy for him to shoot, even offhand.

petemi · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2011, 02:08:59 AM »

My 16.5 inch Maxi is on a BC Carbine stock. It doesn't muzzle jump or blast seriously. A kid could practice with .38s and mags. With .38s, it's not much more than a .22. IMHO, it's a great rifle for a kid to start out with......and keep. I've seen folks giving kids semi-auto .22s and a brick of ammo and they never learn to SHOOT. They just chuck a lot of bullets around. The Handis have made me a better hunter and marksman.

Pete

Spanky · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2011, 02:17:46 AM »

Quote from: clearwater on February 09, 2011, 01:13:31 PM

Quote from: Spanky on February 09, 2011, 06:19:36 AM
Not trying to sound like a jerk here but if he can't hold up a 7 pound rifle then maybe he isn't ready to be hunting. You have to hold up the rifle to aim it and you have to aim it to make good shots so...... $:-\$
Don't take this wrong... I think all kids should have the opportunity to get into the woods and hunt... but only when they're ready.

Spanky

Glad I'm not married to you. Don't really need opinions about things you are ignorant about.

A 9 pound rifle for him is like 28 lb rifle for me. If I can get it down to 6 lbs
and make it more fun for him, maybe he will keep the sport up.

I'm not trying to ruffle your feathers and I'm certainly not ignorant on the matter. I take my nephew hunting all the time and he's turning out to be quite the hunter. I'm speaking common sense whether folks want to admit it or not. If a youngster can't physically hold up a rifle then how can they shoot it properly? Simple answer is they can't. Like I said... all kids should have the opportunity to spend time in the woods hunting but only when they're ready.
Now if you want to lighten up the rifle for him so he can shoot it you could try a youth synthetic stock or maybe a Tamer stock. With the barrel cut down and a light stock set it might work out OK for him. I don't know what you plan on using for optics but I have a couple Simmons 2.5x20 scopes and they work real well and are lightweight. Like Doc said... you could try using some shooting sticks or a bipod to help him aim the rifle. It'll take a few tweaks but I'm sure you can get it set up so he can shoot it accurately and properly.

Spanky

Vic49 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2011, 02:38:04 AM »

First of all I am not in favor of off hand shots at game by anyone let alone a young man. I started my Grandsons out with light loaded .50cal. muzzleloaders and they either shot off sticks in a blind or off a rest out of a tree stand. They now hunt with .44mag handis but still use a rest for any shots they take. Off hand shots in the heat of the moment are too iffy and I-we have to much respect for the animal we are hunting to take anything but the best possible shot.