Author Topic: 357 Super Mag OAL? (Read 753 times)

unspellable · « **on:** July 08, 2004, 04:53:52 AM »

I have plenty of 357 Maximum loading data lying around but I've some how managed to lose track of my 357 Super Mag loading data.

The 357 Maximum has a case length of 1.605 inch as opposed to the 357 Super Mag case length of 1.610 inch, not a great difference, but the 357 Super Mag has anOAL enough greater than the 357 Maximum's 1.990 inch to make a difference. I've lost track of what the maximum OAL is supposed to be.

Any body here have the OAL for the 357 Super Mag or any loading data specifically for the 357 Super Mag as opposed ot the 357 Maximum?

sixguntec · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2004, 07:16:08 AM »

I don't know uf you found your Super Mag data or not, but I found in one of my books 2.220" for the Super Mag cartridge with a 200 gr sp or fmj. If you are still looking for data let me know and I will dig deeper. Hope this helps.

Mark

RollTide · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2004, 05:18:28 PM »

It doesn't seem that the load data would be any different between the Supermag and the Maximum except where compressed loads are approached due to powder used and/or a long heavy bullet being used. I have never reloaded for the 357 Supermag/Max, so I don't know how often compressed loads become a problem.

Roll Tide

unspellable · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2004, 02:34:18 AM »

You can put any 357 Maximum load in a Super mag case, the latter being 0.005 inch longer makes little difference.

The real difference is that the Super Mag was intended to work with heavier bullets. In the maximum the shorter OAL forces the heavy bullets to be seated deeper and reduces the powder room.

I went shooting a while back with a guy who had a Ruger 357 Maximum. My Dan Wesson Super Mag cylinder was longer and some of my loads were too long for the Ruger.

Both cartridges have been victims of the undeserved bad press the 357 Maximum received when it came out. Remington's factory load was hard on the gun but I never heard of anybody having any trouble with handloads which says Remington could have improved their factory load. In fact, for all I know they did so.