357 Max. Reloading 158 grain Fury bullet 300MP powder.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Stonechucker

Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2021
Messages
40
So I am getting back into reloading after more than 20 years. I did a very limited amount when I was in my late teens and early twenties. I was just notified tonight that Midway had the Lee reloading kit I was looking for back in stock, and I jumped on it. I have some 158 grain fury soft points coming, along with some 300MP powder. I settled on that powder as it was the only one I could find in stock, although I have heard some good things about it with 357 Max. There is no load data on the Max. In that powder, but there is 357 mag. Data. I did see someone say it is good to start at the max. 357 magnum load and slowly work up from there, looking for high pressure signs as you go. The rifle I am shooting is a TC Encore with a 20 inch MGM barrel. Any thoughts or suggestions about reloading this combo. I am also curious to know if I should crimp or not. My ultimate goal is to have an accurate round that shoots as close to 2400fps as possible. I think I will get a 3 set of dies. If I have understood correctly a die set that works for the 357 mag. Will work for the Max. Any help this Newbie can get would be greatly appreciated.
 
I don't know much about .357 Maximum, other than it's a longer .357 Mag with a MAP of 40K psi.

I've used 300-MP in .357, .41, and .44 mag. It's a slower powder than H110/W296, and from all the load data I've compared, the charge weight is always slightly higher with 300-MP. I think you can see where I'm going with this line of thought.

Yes, crimp.
 
Working up a load on a strait wall case looking for pressure is not a safe plan. Email the powder manufacturer, and see if someone can run your setup through quickload for a estimate. I dont have any book data handy but I will see what I can dig up.
 
I settled on that powder as it was the only one I could find in stock, although I have heard some good things about it with 357 Max. There is no load data on the Max. In that powder, but there is 357 mag. Data.

Was there any data from the “good things” people you found?

From one of my books, it looks like top end max data is below start for maximum.

A96BF9DA-3E7B-493F-AD3B-6B42F531F014.jpeg 34868417-C356-4DB1-810F-80D08BE26BA5.jpeg
 
So I just got finished emailing with Mike Bellm who is the king of the Maximum. Mike took a look at the 300MP burn rate and said it looks like it should work. He did say to start at 357 mag. maximum loads or slightly higher, then take it to when you see a small amount of cratering in the primer then back it down a touch. I think this is the way I will start. I will try to update progress after I get all my components in.
 
I did the same thing with my 445 Super Mag and 2400 powder (there is NO data for this combination)...be very careful! Work up in .1gr increments and WITH a chronograph....Don't try to do this without a chronograph, you'd just be "driving by Braille"....
 
I will be very careful, and yes I have a chronograph. I have seen a few other folks work up loads with this powder, but I know all guns are different so I will work slow. I do trust Mike so I feel good about taking his advice.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top