I just read that they are discontinuing the 357 mag. bbl. I bought one of these last fall and (other than the obscenely long throat) I love it.
I am a cheap b@st@rd! The reasons I like the 357 bbl are the following:
I can use 11 grains of powder to make holes very close together at 100yds.
Buying 158gr. jacketed bullets by the sack is cheap!
Buying 158gr. lead bullets by the box is cheaper!
I have a lot of SR primers that I've bought at gun shows to burn up.
I enjoy casting, and the 357 lends itself well to lead slinging.
With the light loads I shoot (11.0 grains of Acc#9) my brass lasts forEVer!
I can load several hundred rounds in an hour or so on my Dillon progressive press.
The brass is amongst the cheapest around -when I do have to replace it.
I don't have to mess with lubing cases -i.e. carbide dies
I can shoot the same loads in my TC 357 mag bbl. in Hunter field pistol silhouette.
It is low recoil, so I can shoot all day.
I've mounted a palm-rest on my rifle as I do a lot of Awf Hand practice with it.
Being the cheapo I am, I'm curious...
Has anybody tried to get an unchambered rifle bbl from NEF???
I'd like to buy one and chamber it myself in 32 (.308) H&R Magnum. This would be right up my alley, as I have the bbl for my TC as well, and have found a huge supply of .30 jacketed lightweight "plinkers", as well as having a Lyman 115gr GC spitzer mould, and an RCBS Carbide sizer for the 32 (.308 ) H&R Magnum.
If such a thing was possible, would anybody here care?