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Author Topic: 357max at the range for the first time  (Read 1365 times)

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Offline jeff223

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357max at the range for the first time
« on: December 31, 2004, 11:14:08 AM »
the weather broke here in Michigan,it was in the 50s today,so i took off for the range with my new 357max contender.i was very pleased with the outcome to say the least.at 50yds this Contender will group under an inch with a max load of Winchester 296 and a Speer 180gr flat nose bullet.these bullets are more like  semi spitzer bullets than a flat nose bullet.first bullet i tried and i have reached sucess.if i had more than a 2 power scope on this barrel the groups would of been even smaller yet.i am very happy with this gun and im sure kicking myself in the ass for not getting into this Contender game 20 years ago :-D
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Offline Graycg

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #1 on: December 31, 2004, 11:59:22 AM »
Welcome to the max fraternity....ain't no better round for a stubby contender barrel!  I've been happy with H110, 4227, 1680, 680 and RL7.  I've been very happy with any bullet I put on top of these powders.

good luck, regards,
 graycg
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Offline Gregory

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #2 on: December 31, 2004, 12:20:05 PM »
I really like the 357 MAX.  I've got some cast bullet loads all set for a range trip myself.   This caliber has become my primary deer gun here in Illinois.
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Offline buckeye509

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357 Max
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2004, 01:53:45 PM »
I recently aquired a 10" 357 Max barrel and have yet to shoot it. I am going to be reloading ammo for it soon. I have RCBS carbide 38/357 dies.  BTW, got some real nice 180gr cast with gas checks from this guy on ebay "shootingamigo" he can be emailed at jmperch@aol.com . The price was fair and they appear to be of top quality.

Any tips would be appreciated, especilly regarding die set up. Using RCBS S/S and RCBS 38/357 carbide dies.
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Offline Steve E

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2004, 05:16:20 PM »
Looks like you done got bit by the bug. As Graycg said just about any bullet works with the Maxi. I really like Hodgon Lil'Gun in all my Maxi loads. It's the same or almost the same as H110. One of the most accurate bullets I ever shot in mine was the Remington 150gr Spire Points. Too bad they quit making them. I think one of our fellow posters had some made up a while back, but I don't think he has any left. Keep shooting.

                                             Steve E.............
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Offline mugs

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #5 on: January 01, 2005, 04:48:52 AM »
To all you 357 Max. fans if you haven't read it yet there's a good article by Glen E. Tryxell on the 357 Max. at  WWW.LASC.US
Mugs
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Offline mugs

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #6 on: January 01, 2005, 04:53:35 AM »
That's Glen E. Fryxell, sorry about that.
Mugs
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Offline skb2706

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #7 on: January 01, 2005, 06:22:06 AM »
You won't have any trouble loading your max with 38/357 RCBS dies. You may have to cheat the primer pin out a bit to get the old primers out without too much belling of the case mouth. Another thing your may want to do is call RCBS and tell them you want the seating punches for pointed bullets and round nose bullets.....the one that comes with standard 38/357 dies is flat or nearly so. It will mash the tips of round nose bullets and spitzers.
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Offline buckeye509

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357 Max
« Reply #8 on: January 01, 2005, 12:19:32 PM »
Great link and article. Thanks for the tips.
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Offline Jim S

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357 Max & LG
« Reply #9 on: January 01, 2005, 03:14:01 PM »
Steve what loads are you using with your 150 gr bullets and LG?  Iuse 22.5/H4227/150Sp/Rem 7.5 primer for <1"@75 yards. I have a couple hunderd of the 150 I bought off a friend in Alaska that was getting rid of his stock. One of my favorite bullets for the 357 Herrett also. I have not shot anything with my max but have with the Herrett with the 150 doing 2100 and they work well out of it.
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Offline mag41vance

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2005, 01:21:21 PM »
Have you tried any cast bullets with the .357 max?
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no x now!

Offline jeff223

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #11 on: January 10, 2005, 01:39:56 PM »
no cast yet RV.i do plan on it sometime in the spring.
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Offline Robert

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cast are great
« Reply #12 on: January 10, 2005, 04:00:24 PM »
I have had a blast with my Max with all the way up to Lyman 280-290 cast bullets.  Whomp....The Max was what I settled on for a project barrel to shoot reduced load/big bullets in straight-walled cases.  An extra bonus is that it is so awesome with hot loads and light bullets, especially xtp's.  I am also having fun with my homemade jacketed flat-soft-points.
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Offline jeff223

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2005, 04:07:48 PM »
Robert were you useing your max for hunting?what XTPs were you useing the 158 or 180gr?
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Offline Robert

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158's
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2005, 05:16:43 PM »
I was using 158's.  I keep a few of them around for safekeeping.  I am also heading toward a similar bullet with my swagging die.  It wont be as pretty as the XTP's but they have a really good hollow-point.
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Offline Steve E

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #15 on: January 13, 2005, 09:19:10 AM »
JimS
   
        Sorry about taking so long to answer, I looked in my load data sheets and my notebook of fired targets and can't find the info on the Lil Gun which p*&$#s me off. I usually don't loose all the data. That means I'll have to start over myself. The best powders in my Maxi have been Win 296 and Hodgon Lil Gun. I think Win 296 and H110 are suppossed to be the same or close to the same powder. But use the respective info for each power listed in the manuals.  I hope someone gets Remington to makes a run of the 150's again. That would be my Whitetail bullet. The 5th Edition Hornady Manual list a 160 gr. bullet with a starting load of 19.3 gr. of Lil Gun to a MAX load of 24.2 grs. I went from there with my 150 Rem. Spire point bullets. Hope that helps.

                                                   Steve E.......
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Offline sawfish

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2005, 10:30:11 AM »
8) WW-296 and Lil Gun are NOT the same powder.  I think you might be confusing Lil Gun and H-110.  Pressures are much lower (generally speaking) with Lil Gun than with H-110, but in some instances it lacks the accuracy of H-110.

Some (if not all) of the lots of H-110 are surplus WW-296.  There is also WC-820 which is a surplus powder that loads and shoots just like 296/110.  Not trying to be a smart A--.  Just did not want someone to get hurt, or disable their gun.

At one time Midway carried two different R-P 158 gr. HP bullets in .38/357 caliber.  One was made specifically for the Max and had a slightly different profile and a smaller HP cavity.  They are considerably tougher than the standard 158 JHP 38/357 bullet.  It has been some years since I ordered some, and I am not sure if there are any left.  

I have tried a number of different bullets in my .357 Maximums, but seem to have better luck with the CPBC 180 and 200 gr bullets.  I tried the Nosler 180 Partitions, but for some reason pressures were unusually high.  Just be sure you are using the correct primer.  As previously mentioned the R-P 7 1/2 is pretty much the gold (no pun intended) standard for this cartridge.

The Maximum will pretty much do most everything the .35 Remington and the .357 Herrett will do in a Contender, but without the aggravations of poor extraction and extensive case forming.  Good luck.
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Offline Steve E

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #17 on: January 20, 2005, 08:24:18 AM »
Yea Sawfish I did mean H110 and Win 296 being the same or almost the same powder. That is why I always include the warning to use with their respective data listings. So far Lil Gun has been the best powder in the Maxi for me. Seems to be less temp sensitive to me also.

                                      Steve E........
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Offline sawfish

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #18 on: January 20, 2005, 10:02:29 AM »
:) Steve,  Thanks.  Have you ever tried AA-1680.  I tried this in a Seville Revolver (10.5") and got a horrendous muzzle flash.  For some reason, I did not notice the same thing in my RPM.  Have you had this experience.  I am going to switch to WC-82O on my next loading session.  FYI, there was a real nice article on the Max in an issue of Handloader last year.  Regards.
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Offline Steve E

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #19 on: January 22, 2005, 08:37:47 PM »
Sawfish
I haven't tried the AA powder in the Maxi. About the only AA powder that I have any use for is AA5744 in my 45/70 Rolling Block. I did try some
No.5 I think it was in one of my pistols several years ago and I believe some AA3100 in a couple of rifles about the same time. I guess they are all good powders, I just have had good luck with other powders before I got to them. I think the Maxi would shoot good with anything you poured into it.

                                               Steve E........
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Offline Gregory

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357max at the range for the first time
« Reply #20 on: January 23, 2005, 02:56:33 AM »
I've tested AA1680, 296, and IMR4227 in my Max all with the Hornady 180 XTP.

I found 4227 to be very accurate but very low velocity.  AA1680 and 296 gave loads of good accuracy with high velocity.  I settled on 296 for my hunting loads because I have a 4 lb container of it.

You can find load data for AA1680 here:
http://www.accuratepowder.com/loaddata_caliber_handgun_standard.htm
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