What happened to the .357max?

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It's still an interesting caliber. Never saw a need for one, but.... :)

Some number of the Rugers have gone outa print. Linebaugh did a conversion for a while to make the Ruger Maximums into a five shot gun in either .500 or .475 Linebaugh Long calibers, possible when you have the longer cylinders. Hopefully folks saved the barrels and cylinders, for later restoration, after their carpal tunnel heals. :rolleyes:
 
Sakes alive

Never seen a thread resurrected after 2 years.
Well, I have everything now to go, the contender, the brass, tons of loads to try, just need that barrel. Gonna have a custom done in a 14" length octagon. Rumor has it that Remington has this brass heading for the chopping block, so I got 500. figure that will last me.
 
Okiecruffler,

When you decide to start filling those 500 soldiers;
I've had very good sucess with Hornady's 180 gr XTP, JHP (35771). Start with 17.0 grains H110 and work up. Use small rifle primers. COL 1. 890
Now go knock down a ram.

Take Care
 
What happened to the .357 Maximum?

Here it is, a year later, and I've yet to see Winchester get off their duffs and chamber a Model 94 levergun for me. :D

That S&W X-frame .357 Max idea, hmmm... ;)
 
.357Rem. Max.

Yeah, I got another Ruger Blackhawk Maximum a while back. It's about to become a really nice Bisley Blackhawk in .414 Super Mag. It'll be alot easier to pack in a holster than the larger DWs in the same caliber I've got. ;)
 
I screwed up when the Ruger 357 max first came out. One of the gunshops had them under retail price.I looked at them and decided I could to get one later.Right after that Ruger discontinued them.Needless to say I never got one. I see them used once in awhile but they are trying to get enough for a plush retirement selling them.If I had only known.

Ruger Redhawk
 
Great round

Growing up my father had a Centender chambered in 357 max. He used Hornady 158 xtp if I remember right. I remember shooting the gun and watching people get up and move down 2 tables on either side due to the concision. My father used it for hunting Deer and a few hunts for Snowshoe hares for fun. A bit over kill. That is the only gun I have ever seen it chambered in and until 2 years ago I never talked to anyone that ever had seen one. It was the first pistol I had ever shoot and would love to get my hands on anything chambered 357 max.
 
Wonder if someone will resurrect this thread again in 2009? Kinda funny that it came up again since I got my 357max barrel a couple of weeks ago. Decided to go with a simple 10 inch bull, then put a red dot on top. I've only been able to shoot 158gr jhp and cast SWCers thru it since I don't have a heavier mold, but WOW. At 50 yrds it'll throw as many shots as I care to shoot into a 2 inch group, with a nice piece of glass I'm betting it would do better. recoil isn't near what the same rig in 44 mag runs. Almost my favorite barrel, almost.:D
 
Don't know how available ammo is, but there is no problems when
used in the Contenders. Ruger stopped making them when they
could not figure out how to control a kind of gas cutting erosion
on the front part of the upper frame. Manage to shoot a friend's
and he pointed out the start of frame cutting action. Never heard
of a failure, but did see that ugly black mark that grew with use:confused:
 
Wonder if someone will resurrect this thread again in 2009?
Click to expand...
Heh. :D It's like the Olympics.

There was a fine article on the ol' .357 Max in the most recent Handloader magazine. (Is it me, or is Handloader consistently more sophisticated and informative than the average gunzine?)

Author implied that two problems sank the round commercially: (1) measured velocities of factory ammo were way below published claims, particularly with lighter bullet weights; (2) the "flame cutting" problem, which the author said was real, but was somewhat exaggerated - i.e., no, it wasn't going to cut right through your top strap!

Fair enough, but even a little visible flame-cutting would freak me out.

He also had an interesting technical explanation of why the Max was so rough on forcing cones -- again, light-bullet loads were the biggest offenders. The powder charge would fail to combust fully by the time the bullet cleared the barrel-cylinder gap, so you'd have some unburned powder grains being sprayed against the forcing cone, creating a "sandblasting" effect.

Still, it's an interesting critter. With heavy (170 gr +) bullets, and in a rifle (or a closed-breech handgun like a Contender), it could be neat.
 
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I fully intend to use mine with big heavy (180+) bullets, may even load some rifle type pointy bullets:evil:. But I have a box or 2 of 125gr jhp, I think I may even have some 110gr bullets around here some where. Might be interesting to see just how fast I can push one. From what I've heard, light bullet accuracy out of the contender barrels was pretty poor, but this is no normal barrel.
 
.357Rem Max

I have T/C G2 14"- and Dan Wesson 8" barrels. Because I am reloader, can make "cowboy loads" with VihtaVuori N-32C and copperpladet cast bullets.Strong ones with N-110- or N-120 powder. 123gr bullet goes with T / C easy over 2600 fts. I use only 158- and 180 gr bullets..K.W.
 
I still say that if Marlin or Winchester would have gotten behind this with a slick little lever they would have flown off the shelves. The numbers out of a 10 inch barrel are damned impressive, out of a 16 they should be something indeed. I do know a few folks who have reemed handi rifles to max length, apparently it takes about 3 1/2 turns, and they seem quite happy with them. Another round you don't hear anything about is the 360 dan wesson. I used those out of my 357mag contender for a while since the chamber was cut so long. Alot of potiential there too.
 
Heck, a 357 mag out of an 18.5 inch Marlin is a great 100 + yard gun, what would a 360 wesson or 357 max do. I would go for that in a heart beat.
I have seen (online) a conversion to 360 wesson and the reports about that are quite impressive.
 
Yup. You can shoot .38 special, .357 mag and .357 Max outta the same gun.
Which is why I just bought one
Click to expand...

You can shoot 38spl and 357mag ammo, but you well get a build up of lead in the machined step of the cylinder, if bad enough it well keep a the max brass from fully seating. DW does not recommend using 38/357 ammo in the max, in fact they say not to.
As far as flame cutting the top strap, on mine it went about .025 deep and stopped. I no longer load 125gr bullets to 2000fps. A very enjoyable gun to shoot.
PICT0003Medium.jpg
 
I just sold a Wichita 357 Super Mag which shoots the 357 max ammo... hello of a whitetail handgun...
 
Heck, a 357 mag out of an 18.5 inch Marlin is a great 100 + yard gun, what would a 360 wesson or 357 max do. I would go for that in a heart beat.
Click to expand...

Brian...Think of what a neat, handy package that'd be in a 16-inch Trapper at about 5 pounds. In that barrel length, it would probably be as good as the .30-30 round out to a hundred yards. I've clocked factory 170s in my old .30-30 Trapper at a tick over 1900 fps. A .36/180 at 1700 wouldn't give up much to it...
 
You know, when you mentioned the use of the MAX in the X-frame I felt a warm tingle...you could make an 8 rounder in the X-frame...Smith if you're reading this, build it, I think you'd see some sales. Talk about a whitetail slayer...
 
Easy, I look at the ballistics and the potiential ballistics. Like right now I'm quite fond of the 460, even tho I'll never own that one.
 
.357 Rem Max14"-barrel

One my favour load T/C G2 is; Lapua E 367 SJF 158gr, VihtaVuori N-110 20,8gr, 2115 fps. It makes 3/4" groups / 109,36 yds with carbine stock and 4x rifle scoup . I shall never to shoot .38 spl or .357 mag cartridges. I use always own cases. I have silencer too and make loads with VihtaVuori N-32C powder.
 
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