Author Topic: 357 Max and current bullet choices (Read 3737 times)

bprice · « **on:** March 26, 2013, 05:42:39 PM »

I just bought a 357 max off of ebay and bought about 100 rounds of 357 max brass cases for it. I lack dies and bullets. This barrel was one that was once a 357 mag barrel and chambered to 357 max by a popular gun smith if it makes any different on bullet choices. I heard that I can use 357 mag dies for 357 max. Are there certain dies I should look at that will allow me to seat "pointed" bullets better than others? The bullet choices I have are based on midway usa limited stock. I would like one single bullet I can punch paper with and also hunt hogs/deer with. Max shot will be 100 yards. The choices are:

Hornady LEVERevolution Bullets 38 Caliber (357 Diameter) 140 Grain Flex Tip eXpanding Box of 100

Hornady LEVERevolution Bullets 358 Caliber (358 Diameter) 200 Grain Flex Tip eXpanding Box of 100

Hornady InterLock Bullets 35 Caliber (358 Diameter) 180 Grain Spire Point Single Shot Pistol Box of 100

Speer Hot-Cor Bullets 35 Caliber (358 Diameter) 180 Grain Flat Nose Box of 100

What do you think guys?

bprice · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2013, 05:47:15 PM »

Also this will be in a 10 inch barrel..

cudatruck · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2013, 07:29:04 PM »

speer

Lon371 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2013, 08:30:20 PM »

I like the 180ssp hornady and the speer

cwlongshot · « **Reply #4 on:** March 27, 2013, 12:12:55 AM »

Quote from: bprice on March 26, 2013, 05:42:39 PM

I just bought a 357 max off of ebay and bought about 100 rounds of 357 max brass cases for it. I lack dies and bullets. This barrel was one that was once a 357 mag barrel and chambered to 357 max by a popular gun smith if it makes any different on bullet choices. I heard that I can use 357 mag dies for 357 max. Are there certain dies I should look at that will allow me to seat "pointed" bullets better than others? The bullet choices I have are based on midway usa limited stock. I would like one single bullet I can punch paper with and also hunt hogs/deer with. Max shot will be 100 yards. The choices are:

~~Hornady LEVERevolution Bullets 38 Caliber (357 Diameter) 140 Grain Flex Tip eXpanding Box of 100~~

Hornady LEVERevolution Bullets 358 Caliber (358 Diameter) 200 Grain Flex Tip eXpanding Box of 100

Hornady InterLock Bullets 35 Caliber (358 Diameter) 180 Grain Spire Point Single Shot Pistol Box of 100

Speer Hot-Cor Bullets 35 Caliber (358 Diameter) 180 Grain Flat Nose Box of 100

What do you think guys?

Steer clear of the 140 FTX on big game, too fragile besides I was never able to get any good accuracy in either of my Maxis or even magnums... STRANGE too as all other FTX have been VERY accurate!

Don't over look the 170 Deep Curl or 158 XTP FP bullet either. BOTH work EXCELLENTLY on deer!!!

Of your choices, hands down the 180SSP! The Speer 180 may be a bit tough for your shorter barrel, works well from a carbine length.

I like AA1680 powder, but people do well with H110/296 and even Lil Gun and RL7. Your gonna love it as a deer gun!

Most 357MAG dies will work just fine for the MAXI. I altered my own seater to seat spitzers just fine. Maybe a call or email to your die maker will get you a correct seater stem.

CW

bprice · « **Reply #5 on:** March 27, 2013, 05:29:51 PM »

Looks like the 180ssp is the way to go from the current selection. Now just got to decide on the limited selection of dies to find which one is the best.

sk330lc · « **Reply #6 on:** April 01, 2013, 01:43:40 PM »

Don't over look the 180gr Hornady XTP or the Hornady 158gr XTP-FP. both good bullets on deer.

atm · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2013, 06:40:39 PM »

Honady # 3505

wallacem · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2013, 04:56:40 AM »

I never liked the heavier bullets in the Maxi. I settled on the 158 jhp as being the best all around choice for me. I even use the Speer 140grjhp for deer. It just seems to put them on the ground faster than others. I also use H110 powder. Wallacem in Ga.

eclarsen · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2013, 11:15:35 AM »

Info on a web site run by a gunsmith that reams 357mag to 357max sez that pointy bullets may not expand well on deer size game. No experience with them myself.

I use bullets with large meplat--158 and 180 Hornady XTP soft points and LBT 180's. Given your choice of bullets, I'd use the Speer 180

cwlongshot · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2013, 12:56:58 PM »

Quote from: eclarsen on June 10, 2013, 11:15:35 AM

Info on a web site run by a gunsmith that reams 357mag to 357max sez that pointy bullets may not expand well on deer size game. No experience with them myself.

I use bullets with large meplat--158 and 180 Hornady XTP soft points and LBT 180's. Given your choice of bullets, I'd use the Speer 180

I can tel you unequivocally, that a Hornady SSP 180 has proven slightly FRAGILE on deer sized game when impacting bone at 2200 fps. I have used it probably a dozen times and every time I get the same results. Seeing this gives me the ability to make a edjucated decision on its ability to expand as a normal big game bullet at a few hundred fps lower. (IE firing form a shorter barrel) On a lucg shot, I get quarter PLUS sized exits, on spine or front shoulder shots I get pieces exiting . Its still my top choice for deer sized game with this caliber.

The SPEER 180 on the other hand is tougher and at the same 2200 fps hold together on bones and expands to a nice mushroom on lung shots. Again I know this from the many deer I have shot with it. Small dime sized entrance and nickle to quarter sized exits are the norm. IMHO it is a good choice for sure!

Large meplat bullets for hunting in calibers like this work very well and are also a good choice.

CW

tc scout · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2013, 03:15:22 PM »

I used the SSP 180 Gr. bullet one season. Shot 2 deer with it and was not impressed with the results even though both were recovered.
Just did not go down as fast as I would have liked.
Have since switched to 180 Gr. XTP's and never looked back. Some people have good results with the SSP, I did not get much expansion on lung shots. Some have had good luck with Remington 180 Gr. HP's, they were not real accurate for me. H110 is my choice for powder.

Iowa Fox · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2013, 07:05:05 PM »

180 gr Cast bullets is all that I shoot out of my Max barrel's. I tried 210 gn cast but did not like them. 158 gr cast would not give me the knock down performance I was looking for. My max dies are RCBS carbide and they came with three different seating stems. One of them is for pointed bullets.

Spokerider · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2013, 05:53:52 AM »

180gr hard cast gas checked, is what I shoot from a .357 max carbine, and would be the first go-to boolit for the contender and hunting.
Lil gun and H110 have both worked well, with the edge going to Lil gun for more velocity.

cudatruck · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2013, 08:36:21 PM »

Check out sierra's 180FPJ. 180 grain full profile jacketed. I think it is supposed to be a silhouette bullet for shooting steel but it's flat pointed with a "soft" point. Neat bullet and shoots quite well in our gun. Have not tried it on game.

shot1 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 12, 2013, 02:01:48 AM »

Don't have a Max but do use the 180 Hornady XTP in a 10" 357 mag Contender with 13.5 grs H110. Out to 107 yards, which is a far away I have shot a deer with it, It expands perfectly but holds together and kills well. Just put it where it is supposed to go and you will be pleased.

parisite · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2013, 05:11:01 AM »

Yes, don't overlook 180gr gas check silhouette bullets. You can find them very well worth the money online.

Just got in a MGM 13" Max barrel a month ago, love it!

I think most 357 Max data you can find from my experience, is very conservative.

Graybeard · « **Reply #17 on:** November 26, 2019, 04:48:25 AM »

Steve E · « **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2022, 10:28:35 AM »

For jacketed bullets I have used Hornady 180 gr XTP HP's for years with super results in all my Maxi's.

Steve.........

orerancher · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2022, 12:15:25 PM »

Lee 358-200RF GC, in My 357max and 35Herrett...

gypsyman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 30, 2023, 05:04:49 PM »

Accuracy will depend on twist rate. Didn't see what it might be, always had better accuracy in .357mag, and max if using heavier bullets, twist was 1-16 or better yet, 1-14 twist.