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357 Max question

Adam in WI

Practically lives here
Evening folks. First time loading for a 357 Maximum and I thought I'd ask for opinions. I'm loading jacketed bullets for a Contender and I'm wondering if it's absolutely necessary to flare the mouths, or can I simply chamfer and expand like rifle rounds? I didn't intend to crimp unless the consensus says to. Loading 180 grain xtps with with either H110 or 2400.
 
Evening folks. First time loading for a 357 Maximum and I thought I'd ask for opinions. I'm loading jacketed bullets for a Contender and I'm wondering if it's absolutely necessary to flare the mouths, or can I simply chamfer and expand like rifle rounds? I didn't intend to crimp unless the consensus says to. Loading 180 grain xtps with with either H110 or 2400.
IF you can easily seat the bullet without crumpling the case mouth or shaving the bullet, you should be fine. With the Contender, a light (just to iron out any belling) should work for you. Different if you were shooting a revolver and trying to keep bullets in the cylinder in place under recoil of course, but you shouldn't have a problem.
 
The case mouths don't need to be flared for jacketed bullets. The bullet bases have a slight bevel to allow seating. Straight walled pistol cases are the only cases I crimp used in my contenders. And it's a light crimp
 
Well, I got impatient and curious... I tried a few rounds with just expanding and it seemed like those bullets practically jumped into the cases, even without a flare. Soooo... I loaded a handful of rounds without any expanding. Just a light chamfer. Using Hornady dies with the sliding bullet guide I was able to start them, and rotate after they started to keep them straight. They look about like every other straight pistol round I've loaded. Should be good enough to get me aquatinted with the T/C
 
For revolvers, a crimp is absolutely essential because of the recoil effect on unfired round and the tendency for the bullet to move upon recoil which is not an issue with a single shot Contender. However, in my experience, a roll crimp produces the best accuracy especially with slow burning powders and heavy jacketed bullets.

I am surprised that you can seat bullets without a slight flare on the case mouth. If it can be done without affecting concentricity or distorting the case, then there is no reason to flare it. I have loaded thousands of 357 and 38 specials for over 50+ years and I have also had slightly flare the case mouth.
 
I agree with everything K22 said. Also, don’t shoot reduced loads with slow burning pistol powders like H110, 296 and 4227. Weird things can happen. For reduced loads Unique works well.
 
Loading the 357 Super Mag, I do not call it a Max, for a simgle shot does not require any crimp at all. But if you must crimp, seat first and then use a taper crimp untill the case is straight only, as a separate stage or station. I expanded the mouth my cases just enough to start the base. You will find the best accuracy without a crimp, just increase the heat of the primer. I mostly shoot 200 grain very hard cast bullets or the Rem 200 RN. The 200 Rem was deigned for the 35 Rem cartridge and the SM will like that bullet.
With 296/H-110 (same) use small rifle primers at least. You should do the same with AA #9. I use 205m Federals with H-110 in the single shots. Cruising ptessure on the SM was designed to be 50k psi. Flattening primers starts about 55k, a TC will definitely load up to flatten primers. . The SMs, all, were originally designed on a TC frame by Elgin Gates, the 357 SM was done using two 357 Mag cases silvered soldered together, got one shot per case. Only used to prove the theory.
Steve Vogel Executive VP Ruger sent me two of the first SRM guns. I have owned SM guns since well before there was any ammunition, since, I have owned a few SMs including Contenders, BFs, Merrills, Martinis, Sevilles, El Daradoes, and a dozen 357 SM Dans made by Seth Wesson, also 445s and 3755s and these 3 custom guns, I built. including the revolver on a SM frame.

May help to know that the 357 SM case has the same case capacity as the 7 BR, 6 BR or the 7 TCU. It can, in a single shot, use the same powders. All you need do is work up the load.

L is the walnut Martini 357 SM, M. is the Maple 357 SM Martini, R. is the DW SS 357 SM / 30 cal
 

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As I recall, Maximum was Ruger, super mag was Dan Wesson’s label.
Crimp, I would let the target tell me what it likes.
I prefer a 170-185 class bullet in mine. Jacketed or cast. I have had my best luck with 4227.
If you can find any info that David Bradshaw wrote the on the 357 Maximum it is the gospel and final word as far as I am concerned. He worked with Ruger through the whole thing.
 
My experience from many years ago shooting a TC and a Dan Wesson revolver in IHMSA matches. I found that when loading 296, H110 and 4227 the round needed a moderate to heavy crimp for better accuracy.
Yep I remember about heavy crimp on those powders from back in the day
and not using reduced loads
 
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I played a bunch with crimp and heavy kickers.

In the end I got better ES/SD by crimping compared to no crimp.

Close up, little difference on target. At distance, there was a noticeable difference.

That is when I started trimming all my accuracy minded handgun brass to ensure the exact same OAL and crimp for each shot.
 
Try AA 1680. Speer 12 lists 25-27 grains, compressed maximum for their 180 hunting bullet and it peaks at over 1800 fps.
 

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