357 max with imr 4227 questions

the 357 max should use small rifle primers. the best shooting heavy bullet I found in a TC super 14 was the Speer 180 grain flat point rifle bullet

I should add that as long as you are using a single shot rifle for the 357 max you don't have to limit yourself to 4227 powder. it will work just fine but I think that H-110/ WW-296 might be a little better with the heavier bullets

Cast bullets in a magnum are going to lead the bore pretty good unless you use gas checks. Jacketed might be a better choice

I have the same rifle I had chambered in 357 Max.
As I remember I loaded a jacketed 158gn over H110.
Don't remember the amount of grains, but it shot good.

It's been years since I worked up any loads for it, I ran it over a chrono at the time and all I remember is the bullets were moving very fast....

I need to play with it more, I just moved on to other things.
You know how it goes.


TxD

I use a Sierra 170 Flat Point jacketed bullet in mine in front of H110. Always use a small rifle primer. This bullet works good on deer and bear. The maximum is a great cartridge, you will love it.

I have a buddy who let me shoot his. It surprized me so I made him give me 5 cartridges to give 100 yards a try. 4" group with 5x scope in a TC with 10" barrel! I was impressed. I will try yo get up with him to see what his combo was.
Good luck, Catpop.

Seabeeken said:

Cast bullets in a magnum are going to lead the bore pretty good unless you use gas checks. Jacketed might be a better choice

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That is incorrect...
If the bullet is correctly sized for the barrel and the lube is correct you will get little to no leading. The proper bullet hardness also helps. BTW, the hardest bullet isn't always the best bullet to prevent leading. You are more likely to see leading with a bullet that's too hard than too soft.

I shoot plain base 18 BHN alloy cast bullets in a 30-30 in excess of 1,600 fps with no leading at all. (from Missouri bullets) I wonder how our grandparents put food on the table before gas checks and jacketed bullets were invented? Somehow I never read anything about leading problems back then...

What will you be doing with this gun? Knowing that will help in bullet recommendations.

As for the primers, DO NOT use a standard small pistol primer in the .357 Max. The pressures will stress the limits of the thinner cup of that primer. Like said above, a SRP is recommended for that cartridge since the SAAMI pressure limits are 40,000 PSI. Actually I've seen some data calling for a small rifle magnum primer. A shooting buddy of mine likes Remington 7 1/2 primers and those are the primers used by Hodgdon for their .357 Max load data.

In the .357 Max loading 4227 isn't a bad choice. You lose very little velocity compared to H110 and you also lose some of the excessive flash H110 produces.

4227 is a very good powder for cast bullets in the Maximum. Check out Beartooth Bullets. They have a 180gr, 200gr and 210gr that seat shallow for their weight; maximizing (excuse the pun) powder capacity. Never use pistol primers in the Maximum unless you are downloading with powders like Unique or Trail Boss.

badbowtie said:

Myself and my wife will mainly use it for deer hunting. I am just having a hard time actually finding some bullets to actually use in stock.

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You can shoot a good 158gr bullet for Deer. See if you can find the 158gr Nosler JHP bullet. It's a good tough and accurate bullet for magnum use. They are in stock at Midway USA in the 250 piece bulk pack.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/54...-hollow-point-box-of-250?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Nothing wrong with Hornady XTP bullets or Speer Deep Curl bullets either. For deer you can use lighter bullets in the 140gr to 160gr class.
http://www.midwayusa.com/find?sortby=1&itemsperpage=96&newcategorydimensionid=20517

Seabeeken said:

Cast bullets in a magnum are going to lead the bore pretty good unless you use gas checks. Jacketed might be a better choice

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Not if using a bullet of the proper fit and alloy. I shoot bullets in the 12-18bhn range in magnum handguns all the time.

badbowtie said:

I really like them 158gr Nosler JHP bullets will them work good for a 357 max for deer. Just seems light I figured atleast 180 to 200 I even looked and seen midway has some heavier lead bullets also. I am not sure I need to order tomorrow to get something coming for sure.

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If you're looking for a good lead bullet buy some 180gr Cast Performance bullets. They happen to be gas checked but that's not why I like them. They are very accurate and have a huge meplat.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...wide-flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I know most reloaders think they need a 180gr or 200gr bullet in a .357 Mag/.357 Max but why? Hunters have been shooting deer with 100gr, 130gr,and 150gr bullets forever and they do a good job. A .357 Max with a 150gr bullet is very close in performance to a 30-30 w/150gr bullet.

ArchAngelCD said:

If you're looking for a good lead bullet buy some 180gr Cast Performance bullets. They happen to be gas checked but that's not why I like them. They are very accurate and have a huge meplat.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/19...wide-flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I know most reloaders think they need a 180gr or 200gr bullet in a .357 Mag/.357 Max but why? Hunters have been shooting deer with 100gr, 130gr,and 150gr bullets forever and they do a good job. A .357 Max with a 150gr bullet is very close in performance to a 30-30 w/150gr bullet.

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Have you seen this bullet yet?

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=201&category=5&secondary=&keywords=

Missouri has always specialized in more range bullets but I think that one has real potential. They sell it coated too.

ljnowell said:

Have you seen this bullet yet?

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=201&category=5&secondary=&keywords=

Missouri has always specialized in more range bullets but I think that one has real potential. They sell it coated too.

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Actually, I didn't see that bullet even though I usually buy from Missouri Bullets.
Thanks...

Badbowtie,

You said you have 100 brass cases coming. If it's a public site, where are you getting them? I have 50 cases a forum member kindly sent but would like to get more.

Jeff

Never mind. Just ordered some 357 Max brass from Natchez. I'll make a separate post about it.

Jeff

badbowtie said:

I actually looked at missouri website and did not see the uncoated or coated ones I really like them pugnose bullets how you guys think they will work on deer.

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I would imagine they would work quite well.

Widener's has the Nosler Partition 180 grain hollowpoints, $20/50 count in stock. I had read these are being discontinued. Bought a few boxes to try in my T/C Encore, these may be a decent deer option to load.

The cheapest option for jacketed is Armscor 158gr FMJ. It's as accurate a bullet as I've ever shot at 100yds with my Max 13" Contender. More accurate than XTP's. They can be had for 14-16 cents each.
I also shoot 180gr gas check and 200gr discontinued Speers.

4227 is as good a powder as there is for the Max, unless it be AA1680 which I've never tried but seen impressive data and testimony concerning it.

Load data is available online.....search for Accurate powder reloading data. Don't trust some stranger on the internet.

I didn't know Missouri Bullets had those 357 Pugnose bullets. They are the first flat base bullets I've ever seen them offer. Kudos to them.
Flat base bullets sure make a noticeable difference in accuracy in magnum calibers especially out past 25 yards.

I run 180 and 200 grn lead bullets in my Maxes and have no issues. I do use rifle primers and IMR4227 pretty much exclusively. I believe my 200 grns Leads were Penn but now I get them from Lasercast. No leading to really speak of and accuracy is great.