finally got to shoot the 357 maximum!

[cudatruck]

Went to the range this weekend with a couple of rifles. Finally got to shoot the 357 handi with actual 357 maximum ammo. it almost sounds and recoils like a rifle! almost. with 38 specials it sounds and feels like a daisy BB gun. We were hitting soda cans and small water bottles at 100 yards pretty consistant. one taget at 100 grouped 2in right and about 4 in low with 357mag but was dead on with the maximums. five shots in about a 3 inch area. all in all a very good afternoon.

[LaOtto222]

Fun, aren't they? So versatile! I shoot my Handi 357 (Max) more than any other Handi I have. It sets right next to my back door for any occasion, be it a marauding raccoon, misguided woodchuck, bumbling skunk, chewing chipmunk or just fun shootin'  


Good Luck and Good Shooting

[petemi]

LaOtto, I do the exact same thing.  I'm feeding two of them, Patty's and mine.  It seems as though we're always either shooting them or loading for them.  I buy cast bullets for the .38s 1000 at a time.  The odd thing is that I seldom shoot magnums.  It's either the .38s or the Maxis.

Pete

[LaOtto222]

I keep 38 Special cases with Hornady wad cutters over 3.0 grains of bullseye loaded in mine (about 900 fps). I buy them in 250 count boxes and keep a couple on hand at all times. They seem to cover any thing that comes in the back yard, that shouldn't, but just in case, I have maximums in my stretchy ammo carrier on the stock. Mine is zeroed for the wad cutters and Maxis shoot about 2" high at 30 yards. I have a couple mags too, but like you I seldom use them.


Good Luck and Good Shooting

[cudatruck]

two inches high at 30 , where does that impact at 100? what load are you shooting in the max? I am trying H-110 behind 158 xtp 140 ftx and sierra 180fpj.

[petemi]

I'm shooting the 158 gr. XTP over H110 for a 2000+ fps load.  I'm sighted in dead on at only 75 yards just now with the Maxi because I have a predator problem which I think will be resolved at that range.    After that's over with, I'll move it back to 100 yards.  Probably an inch high.  I've also loaded the Hornady 180 gr. SSP over W296 which should produce 1975 fps.  I can't say for sure because I have not shot or chronyed them yet.  Hope to do so within a day or two.  My wife's maxi is sighted in for .38s at 50 yards because that's what she mostly shoots.  I'm somewhat confused about POI with the .38s and the Maxis.  It seems to me, in the past, the .38's shot high at close range.  At 75 yards, they were low.  I need to play with that some more.

Pete

[cudatruck]

What i am searching for is a light 38 load that will hit poa at 30 yards and have the maxi's hit same poa at 125 yards. that would b my ideal.

[gcrank1]

Just -0- your 38 load at the close distance you want 'em at, then find out where that drops the Maxi's at distance (then try to remember it ).

[LaOtto222]

gcrank1 is right. I zero the 38 wad cutters in at 30 yards and then saw were my max loads shoot in relation at 30 yards. I now keep my shots under 50 yards. When I have shots that are beyond 50 yards, I have other guns that I use. Remember I have it set up as a back yard gun with a 2.5 long eye relief scope. I even have a powerful LED light attached for the after dark critters. When I had the Maxi's zeroed at 100 yards, the 38 wad cutters would hit the dirt in front of the target at 50 yards. So I zeroed the wad cutters and then have an educated guess at the Maxi loads - about 2 inches at 30 yards.


Good Luck and Good Shooting