who loads 357 maximum?

[Gallahad]

I'm wondering how fast you can safely push a 180 jacketed bullet out of a 12" contender? Without destroying brass, and with whatever powder. Give me an example of a 180 gr. load in a contender.

[PaulS]

Gallahad,

My Contender is a 14 inch but here is the fastest 180 grain load I have ever fired and it is very close to a maximum chage so start a grain or so lower and work up.

Speer 180 gr FN rifle bullet
22.4 grains of H110
CCI Small rifle primer (#400)
Remington brass case
Seat the bullet in the cannelure with a good crimp
Velocity 1867 fps, Std Dev. 12 fps, maximum spread 31 fps
shoots cloverleaf groups at 50 yards and is very consistant in 40 to 85 degree temps.

This load is too long for revolvers but it is a good load in my Contender. I have a slightly slower load that shoots really good groups in my brother's and my Contenders and a straight pull bolt carbine conversion I made from an SKS.

[Gallahad]

lee's 2nd edition of modern reloading lists a 26.5 load of ACCURA 1680 behind a 180 gr. jacketed bullet, For 1986 fps.  Since this was a revolver load, I figured a Thompson reloading manual might have loads a little hotter than this. But Iv'e never seen a contender loading manual. I was hoping one could go as far as getting over 2000 fps.  Is that a wild dream?

[Reed1911]

2000FPS? Not safely in a 12" barrel. The Accurate loads from the  contender manual show 26.5g of 1680 to produce 1986FPS in a 14" barrel. Accurate Arms is well known for overstating the velocities.

[MF]

I use a 180 grain Hornady SSPB in front of IMR 4227. It runs out at 1600 fps. I got more muzzle energy/velocity with H-110 but the 4227 was more accurate. My .02.  Mike

[Gallahad]

Hey MF,  At that velocity, 1600fps,  do those pointed bullets open up on deer? Seemed kinda slow for the job to me, thats why I was looking for higher velocities. but maybe Im wrong, so whats up with that? Do they open up?

[billjoe]

Gallahad- here's a bullet from this last deer season shot from a 10" barrel using 20.5Gr IMR4227 at 60 yards.  The bullet went through the right side, through the heart, broke the left shoulder and stopped just below the skin on the left side.  He went 20 feet and fell over dead.

This is my most accurate barrel I own of the deer hunting calibers.

I think placement is critical, as with any bullet, but expansion seems to be pretty good.

bj

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[Gallahad]

Wow! I am impressed. thats good expansion, and thats about 1600fps too right? What kind of distance can you reliably shoot with that load? What kind of pressure does it generate? I was told 40000 psi was a contenders limit, and I don't want any frame streching. sorry for all the questions :lol: but thank you, this is valuable info to me!  

[jeff223]

billjoe what boolit is that?hornady 180gr ssp bullet?

my best and fastest load for my 357max is the Speer 180gr flat nose over a max load (23gr) of w296.never shoot a deer with it but its a very accuracte load in my barrel

[Steve P]

I use a moderate load of 1680 with a 210 grain cast bullet out of a 10" barrel.  Chronographs at @ 1348fps with sd of about 5.  If I do my part, with open sights, I can put 10 shots into group the size of baseball hat at 200 meters.   I would not be afraid to shoot a deer with it, as I have seen what it does with 60 lbs of steel.  

You do not need excessive velocities to get what you seek.  Just an accurate bullet, performing properly at the speed you push it.

Steve  

[Gregory]

I have taken four deer with this load and all have dropped within sight (and I have to say this with a smile because one was hit too far back and ran 170 yds before dropping, lucky for me it was in an open field.)

The load:
20.0 gr W296 / 180 Hornady XTP in a 10" barrel and 1600 FPS.

This guy dropped within 30 yds:

[MF]

Yep, they open up. My load is the same as billjoes, 20.5 grains of IMR 4227. The sspb(single shot pistol bullet) has a thinner jacket than a rifle bullet and was designed to open up at pistol velocities. Mike

[Gallahad]

Steve P,  
 
I completly agree with your statement. I guess assumed that at pistol velocities, all bullets mentioned would be pretty much usless past 75-100 yds max.(without setting your sights for that range only) Mainly because of bullet drop.  Im sure that hat sized group would tighten up dramatically with a scope, but Im curious as to if you can shoot the load at 200 yds, and take your next shot at 20-30-40 yds, and still hit without messing with the sights?  In other words, how far will this cartridge shoot, before the bullet drops say 2-3"? Hope that question makes sense
 

[billjoe]

I never chronographed my load, but the TC Contender Reloading Manual says that 20.5Gr IMR4227 should run about 1600FPS.  They list max load at 21.5, 1650fps.  A little faster would be nice, but changing powders would be necessary.  The manual shows W680 at 23.8gr/1800fps from a 10" barrel.  You'd gain a little more in a longer barrel.

4227 seems accurate enough to me that I'm not sure I need the extra speed.  I can hit MOA for a 100yrds with it and where I hunt, my most likely shot is well under that.

bj

[sticker]

Well, y'all welcome to the world of the 35 caliber! It's been written about in several older magazines and holds true to just about everyone who's ever used one on game....it seems to be a magic bullet and or bore size! I've shot deer and varmits with everything from 38 special to the mighty (in my shoulders opinion) 35 whelen. Max being on of my very faves... Bullets in the 140-200 gr range don't really seem to be velocity sensitve...as long as you don't go too fast. If I was going to hunt deer with a max then I'd use a heavy pistol bullet sucha as the 170 gold dot from speer. But the older round nose of the same weight will also do the job, depending on the size of the game you are trying to dispatch. Our deer in Arkansas (northwest) run rather light so I'll opt for the lighter jacketed pistol genre. You can overtax some of the bullets meant for lower vel. rounds such as useing Seirra 200 gr roundnose in Whelens, but works as planned in max or Herret. If I was going to use on fpr either Id find a good 180 rn. as I don't usually stretch my pistol shootin' much past 100-150 yds. It all boils down to I loove the 35 pistol or rifle![/i][/b]