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Author Topic: Which barrel(s) to keep?  (Read 671 times)

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Offline Bug

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« on: January 31, 2005, 01:50:13 AM »
I recently fell into a real deal on three Contender barrels, that was too good to pass up. So now I think I have too much overlap in what's at hand. Care to share opinions on what to keep?
 I am into 10" bull barrels, right now, so that is what these are. I have a .357 Mag barrel, a .357 Max barrel, and a .357 Herrett barrel.
 The Mag barrel is a great shooter, and does a fine job with cast bullets, which are my personal preference. Also I have a couple thousand mag brass.
 The Max barrel is nice. Though I don't have but 25 cases right now, another 250 is on the way from MidSouth. It didn't show me anything outstanding, with the initial load of 22gr H-110, over a Speer 158 gr soft point, but that isn't unusual, for a first try. I fully expect it to get betterwith some more load development.
 The .357 Herret barrel I bought WAS a 14-inch. I had it sold to a friend who likes that length, until he found he had one in 10". That FORCED me to trade, instead of selling it outright :)  My bud had 15 or so rounds for the Herrett. I have no idea on the load, just that the bullet looked to be a 150 or 158gr hollow point. It did shoot a bit better group than the Maximum, but there again, with more loading it should get better. FWIW, I have a BUNCH of .30-30 brass, and don't mind the case forming.
 I just think this is too much overlap in the .357 bore. I hate to part with the Mag barrel, as I have plenty brass, and it shoots, i.e. it is a known entity . I have been wanting a Max barrel for quite a while, but I think the Herrett will do whatever the Max will, plus a bit more. Then there is the brass issue with the Max. Right now, I'm leaning toward selling the Max, and keeping the Mag and Herrett.
 Y'all share your your thoughts, as I may not have considered everything. Oh yeah, finances dictate I sell one of these barrels to recoup part of the $ I spent on the three.  :cry:  What 'chall thank???
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Offline wheelgun

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #1 on: January 31, 2005, 02:09:14 AM »
Thats a tough one.You can sell the mag and shoot the mag ammo in the max But then you have the herrett and max which are real close in some loads.I would sell.....the mag barrel.Man that was a tough one I can,t make that decision so I just keep all of them.I like the 35 bore I have a 357mag,357-44BD,357 max,357 herrett,35 rem.Another thing the max and herrett work better with the heavier bullets 180-200 grain in my opinion.
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Offline Hopalong7

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2005, 03:18:56 AM »
Bug, I've had all three for a long time and, have often thought how silly it was( just can't NEED all three ).  Well, I've still got'm and ain't anywhere close to letting go any of 'm.  Logic(which we all know doesn't apply to TC's anyway) would suggest to keep the little and biggest ones and get rid of the Max OR keep the Max and sell the other two.  IF you really want to thin'm down, you'd better do it quick, cause if you start playing with'm I betcha' you'll keep all three.  I agree with Wheelgun, go to heavier bullets, especially in the Max and Herret.  GOOD SHOOTIN',  Walt  :grin:
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Offline Bug

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2005, 03:27:56 AM »
THANKS A LOT!!! (sarcasm) You guys really know how to help! :)  :)  :)
 Seriously, you do make some good points. Do you think that chamber ringing/cutting and freebore/bullet jump would be an issue when firing Mag ammo in a Max chamber? Something else I thought about....
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Offline Gregory

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2005, 07:34:20 AM »
I did a similar thing years ago, bought a complete armour alloy contender with two barrels a 357 Max and 357 Mag.  I sold the mag barrel to recoup some of the purchase price then found out that TC does not recommend firing 357 Mags out of a 357 Max (chamber ringing was the problem).

The 357 Max is one of my favorite barrels and I bought several hundred new RP cases so I'm set.

I don't personally care for the case forming chores of the Herrets so in my case I know which of your barrels I'd be selling.
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Greg

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Offline skb2706

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2005, 09:24:23 AM »
Use the .357 max for trade bait...........you can always have the magnum punched out to a max for less than $100.
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Offline rickyp

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #6 on: January 31, 2005, 11:13:28 AM »
the max brass is somewhat hard to find and it is a little pricey.
357 mag brass is very cheep and easy to come by
while the 357 herrett brass is a hassle to form (unless you are into that thing like I am) the 30-30 is cheep and easy to find. the  biggest draw back is getting the forming and loading dies.


since the mag barrel shoots so well, I would keep the mag and the 357 herrett has the edge in power over the 357 max I would keep that one too.

One thing you did not say was what you intend on doing with the barrels.
IF you want to hunt with them check the state, county and town laws that you may be hunting. some places you can only use a straight walled case above a cert en power.
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Offline Racepres

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #7 on: January 31, 2005, 11:57:39 AM »
Ditch the max... Well that's what I did ... the mag shoots super, fun too ... the herrett will handle any serious hunting situation, and has no peer when firing for effect (I call mine the 357 fireball) Just another opinion ... Marty
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Offline Gregory

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #8 on: January 31, 2005, 12:11:51 PM »
Quote from: rickyp
One thing you did not say was what you intend on doing with the barrels. IF you want to hunt with them check the state, county and town laws that you may be hunting. some places you can only use a straight walled case above a cert en power.

 
Good point rickyp.  Here in Illinois case length must be <1.4" for bottlenecked to be legal for deer.  No restriction on straight walled case length.
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Offline fyrepowrx

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2005, 12:23:17 PM »
I am something of  barrel horder myself... i have the the .357 Mag, plus a .357 Max, a .357 Bain & Davis, a .35 Rem & a .358 JDJ...  as much as it pains me to admit i could get by with about a third of the barrels i have. I guess if i were trying to decide which to cut loose, it would depend on what i was going to do with the barrels...like Racepres said, the .357 Mag barrel is more pleasant to shoot, and the Herrett outruns the Max when it comes to pure horsepower.

i have owned 3 .357 Max barrels over the years, and none have been as accurate as either the .357 mags or the Bain & Davis. The max is a great round but it seems to be more picky in finding an accurate load combination... at least in the barrels i have messed with.
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Offline Catfish

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Which barrel(s) to keep?
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2005, 03:26:16 PM »
I`ve got a good shooting .357 mag and a good shooting .357 max. If I had to part with one it would definately be the mag. My max. is a 15 in. Bullberry the shoots moa groups with several different bullets and max. loads of Win.-296 powder. It`s just alot better deer gun.
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