357 Magnum vs MAXIMUM

[renaissance]

Just got a .357 MAXIMUM Barrel for my TC contender carbine.

It of course will take: 357 MAX, MAG, and/or 38 Spl

Loaded up some MAXIMUM Cases ( new Remington Brass) with 180 grain HP Semi Jacketed and 21 grains of H110
Dont have a Chrony, but the data says it should fly at ~ 1900 fps @ the muzzel.

I also built some 357 MAGNUM ( 158 grain SP semi-jacketed and 6.1 of Tightgroup)

Sighting the Contender in at 25 yards with the 357 Magnum, I found that the MAXIMUM printed ~9 inches LOW.

I am guessing that the slower 357 Magnum, stayed in the barrel longer and got more "lift" from the recoil driven rise of the barrel

BUT........

NINE Inches !!......???

 

[Brian Williams]

You can also shoot the 360 Wesson, a round between the Mag and the Max.

Nine inches sounds like a lot, but you might be gripping the max loads harder and controling the recoil more.
I wonder where 38 spec will fall.

 

[Hobie]

I've some experience with the .357 Max Contender carbine. I wrote a short article on my personal experience. In my gun the top charge of Lil'Gun under a 200 gr. jacketed RN shoots to the same POA at 25 yards as does 2.5 gr. of Bullseye under a 200 gr. cast in .38 Special cases. Handy small game load when deer hunting.