My latest .357 Max Handi and some other deer killers

[randy_68]

I had two Handi rifles chambered in .357 Max but recently sold my Thumbhole laminate one so I could put together my Apex in .357. It is shown here at the top with the .50 ml barrel and my walk around .357 Max Handi. I love this little Handi rifle since it is so light and easy to carry and is deadly accurate. It is topped with a Simmons 4x with diamond reticle. My Apex is going to be my treestand gun as it is a little longer and heavier. I also carry my .357 S&W 686 for close shots out of the tree.

[LaDano]

Very nice guns. I'm really interested in building one. How is it on whitetail or hoggs?

Thanx

[cwlongshot]

Very nice guns. I'm really interested in building one. How is it on whitetail or hoggs?

Thanx

The maxi with a good bullet is excellent for close to middle range big game.

A good handload will net you almost 2400 fps from a rifle barrel using a 180g bullet. That's better than the 30/30 and right there with a 35 Remington.  Both known performers for deer and hogs.

I did say appropriate bullets mostly for hogs as if your shooting them in the shoulders reg HP "pistol" bullets are not gonna cut it! We like the Hornady 180 XTP and 180 SSP. Personally I prefer the 180, but the newer 200 FTX shows PROMICED as would a good cast slug of the same weight.

Randy,
Looks great. I love the Maxi too!

CW

[LaDano]

That's what I wanted to hear. I'm picking up a nice SB2 in 270/with 3x9 leaupold. I'll build the 357max on that.

Thanx

[randy_68]

In both my Handi's I always shot 180 gr SSP over AA1680.  We shot them out to 200 yards off the bench and shot 3" groups with 9 power scope. I would keep my deer shots under 150 though, but that's just me.  Between my buddy's and mine we only shot a couple of deer but both were DRT. I shot a big doe at 45 yrds and she only made a jump and went down right there. My buddy shot his at 90 yrds and hit it just below the spine. It left a hole you could amost put your fist in. Pretty impressive wound channel to say the least. I also shot a groundhog with the 180 XTP at 2200 fps and blew the top half of it away.
My newest one, the CVA has a slower twist and is set up for 158 gr bullets so I will be using the 158 gr XTP/FN over H110. Shoots awesome so far.

[cwlongshot]

Does the CVA wear a aft mkt barrel? Or is is re bored?

What twist did you go for? 1:16 or 18?
Curious for the reasoning. I read your other post. "He who shall not be named" owned it and used it for testing I think I read.

The std 1:14 works wonderfully for all weights including the 280g lead I shoot outta my Whelen.

I have and used and also like this FN XTP bullet but will say the maxi can
Propell it above its designed operating velocities. It does a pretty good job even at 2000+ but will begin to fail above 2300 (you should be able to get almost 2500 if yours is like mine)

I think if I was forced to stay with 158/60 gr bullets I would look hard at a good WFNGC cast slug.

I'm interested to hear how well it shoots. My good friend bought this gun in a BP muzzle loader
As I was quite I pressed.

CW

[randy_68]

I bought the CV as a BP ML back in 2009 when they first came out. I had a .243 barrel for it but ended up selling it and bought a .223 Savage for my coyote gun instead. The ML shoots awesome with BH209.
   The .357 barrel is a complete custom bull barrel from "the guy" and is bored with a 1:20 twist for the 160 grain and lighter bullets. The reason I went ahead and bought it is the price was very reasonable, considering what a new one from scratch would cost me, I got it for about half price.  I figured I could still kill a deer with 158 gr bullets instead of 180 gr.  The FN/XTP's are shooting right at 2400 and are very accurate in this barrel.
   I have never shot a deer past 75 yards in over 30 years of hunting so I'm not as worried about the longer range shots.  I like to get up close and personal when I shoot one .  It's nice to know if I have the opportunity that my gun will do it. I do practice all the way out to 200 but would not consider shooting a deer that far with the max in either gun. Just my thing.

[cwlongshot]

Normally I would agree 100% with limiting the distance with the maxi. I also limit my shots with it to 125-150 from the muzzle...  BUT, IF I needed to use the Maxi for 200 to say 225 yards, I would absolutely, load it with the XTP FP bullet in 158g with the highest vel with accuracy I could load to. With this, I would be very confident in bringing home the venison. 

1:20 huh... Wow thats quite a a bit slower than the "norm"... Wonder what was his thinking... As we know the gen accepted standard is 1:14, but some makers use 1:18 with others 1:14 or even 1:12! Also, we all know the standard 357 mag loading is 158 grains...

Even the factory chambered Maximums reflect the same twists with 1:14, 1:16 and 1:18 for Dan Wesson.

Please start a range report once you get to shooting it!

CW

[quickdtoo]

H&R/NEF('87 and later) 357 Barrels are 1:15½" or 1:18¾" per the FAQs, most being reported as 15½", both of mine are, never seen a 1:14" reported here that I remember, the H&R Inc(pre '87) barrels may be different. 

Tim

[jaysouth]

Randy,
I was ready to write a check and order a CVA Apex in .223 first thing tomorrow.  However, I bought a Handi in .223 at a gun show today.  $175 private sale walking up and down the aisles
How do you compare Apex to Handi?  There has to be a difference give the price range, but what do you think about each one.
 
Thanks.