Those who shoot .357 Maxi barrels.

[boojum]

Do you shoot jacketed or cast bullets? And how is accuracy with each?

[Badnews Bob]

I use both and it will shoot sub MOA with either.

[revbc]

Like Bob said...................

Ranch Dog's and 180gr xtp's

good enough for me

[cwlongshot]

Personally I have never shot a bullet (From my maxi barrels) that I was unable to get the accuracy that satisfied me.

I like the Speer 170GDSP, Speer 180SP, Hornady XTP180, Hornady XTP 158FP and Hornady 180SSP. I also very much like the looks of Bobbys 190RD WFNGC bullet, just haven't shot them yet. (Thanks Bob!!)

For powders, 1680, 296, H110, Lil Gun and the 4227 twins.

For primers Small Rifle MAGNUM and STANDARD. I prefer Remington and CCI.

CW

EDIT: Once you can, try the search we have a long love affair with this caliber and there are many many informative posts for a number of people. Be sure you reserve time and grab a coffee.

[petemi]

I shoot the Hornady 180 XTP and the 180 SSP.  I don't shoot cast in the Maxi, but it is all I load in .38s.  I seldom shoot .357 Mags in them, but when I do it's the 158 gr. XTP load I use in my Blackhawk.  As said before, there's nothing I've found that won't shoot well in the Maxis.

Pete

[Dinny]

Accuracy with both cast and jacketed bullets will depend greatly on your chamber. My chamber is long and the only bullet I found to shoot well is the 200gr FTX loaded long. I have tried a few cast loads but was unable to seat them out long enough for decent accuracy. I recommend rechambering with the GBO rental reamer.

Thanks, Dinny

[gcrank1]

Mine is still Mag as Im shooting mostly sub-sonic with cast bullets, but have loaded up some snotty, long seated jacketed to see what it would do. I can get low end 357Max performance that way. My heaviest jacketed have been the std. 158gr. soft point revolver bullets though the lonnggg throat can take more. My lightest jacketed was some 115gr. 9mm pistol bullets take worked fine too.
As to cast, my chamber is such that with mixed headstamp brass I can use a maximum dia. of .360 (extractor barrel), but a .359 would be ideal in fully fire-formed brass (this is the way it is done to determine what dia. to use). I have used 148ish gr. WC's thru 170ish gr. SWC's and at sub-sonic they are quiet and pleasant; I call them my CB 357 loads. Ed Harris uses the same (google him up and/or see here: http://guns.connect.fi/gow/ed.html) and they basically replaced my 22RF this last year in the depths of 'the shortage'.
Do not try to use .357 dia. cast bullets unless you enjoy getting leading out of a barrel. Softish lead .358 may be OK with fast powders as they may bump up enough, but I recommend you go straight to .359 and do not resize cases that are fired in your chamber, just decap, slightly flare, recap, powder charge, seat a bullet and go.
I do not have a bug hole group pic to show, just can tell you it goes where it is pointed everytime as long as I do not mess up.
FWIW, the 357Max RIFLE chamber reamer available here has the right leade angle to improve the bullet entry into the rifling and reports of improved accuracy are many. If I needed the extra case capacity I would certainly do it. Thus far having loads and cases that fit both my revolver and rifle suits me fine.

[Bayway]

Usually cast bullets that are sized properly. Mine go around .359.If I shot jacketed I would probably go with the rifle bullets since they are .358.

[boojum]

Thanks for the replies. I tried the search function but it says "I.m not allowed."

[Badnews Bob]

I don't think you will be able to use the search until Matt gets the lost post restored.

[quickdtoo]

Thanks for the replies. I tried the search function but it says "I.m not allowed."

The forum search is only enabled for GBO Supporters, Subscribers, senior members, moderators and admin, has been for about a year due to bot activity bogging down the server. Use a good search engine and include gboreloaded.com as a keyword. I use google all the time, I seldom use the forum search unless I'm looking for a specific post by a forum member.

Tim