357 maximum-350 legend

[gmitchell]

I’ve been wanting a 357 maximum in ruger Blackhawk for a while now. My son just got a levper action in 350 legend. Can any tell me if there’s any difference between the 2. Did the 357 maximum get renamed 350 legend?

 

[rickiesrevenge]

They are different. The max is rimmed. The 350 isn't. I'm sure there are plenty of other differences.

 

[sawcarver]

The max
.357 bullets
Case length 1.6"
Straight case
Rimmed
40,000 psi
Case capacity 34 gr of water

The legend
.355 bullets
Case length 1.71"
Slight taper on case
Rimless
50,000 psi
Case capacity 36.5 gr of water

That being said the last two deer seasons my family has taken lots of deer with both and they both are performers. The 357 max gets the nod if we are shooting longer distances (300 plus) but that is only because of the 150gr cutting edge bullets I'm loading in the max. If cutting edge came out with a .355 raptor then the legend could really reach out there

 

[Hunter max-4]

I’ve been wanting a 357 maximum in ruger Blackhawk for a while now. My son just got a levper action in 350 legend. Can any tell me if there’s any difference between the 2. Did the 357 maximum get renamed 350 legend?

Who is making a 350L lever gun?

 

[Twicepop]

That Blackhawk in .357 Maximum was a very short lived gun. It was stopped when Ruger or someone discovered flame cutting of the top strap above the barrel/cylinder gap. They tried fixing it with a (I think it was either titanium or stainless steel insert) but the Jeanie was already out of the bottle and they were dropped. Dan Wesson mad some revolvers chambered for this round, but their few and far between. Thompson Center used to and maybe still do offer barrels for the Contender in this chambering. Mike Bellm does conversions to either 357 Max or 350 Legend on 357 Magnum Contender barrels or Henry 357 single shot rifles.

 

[rockrat]

IIRC, people were running 125gr bullets as fast as they could thru the Maximums which accelerated the flame cutting. If they would have stuck with 158gr and higher weight bullets, we might still have the Max in production or at least produced for more years. IIRC, someone on the Ruger forum posted that Ruger destroyed 5,000 Max. frames, and if you send a Max gun to Ruger for repair, you won't get it back.
Had a D/W 357 max. I ran in IHMSA. Shot well, but seemed to really eat barrels.
Take a Max. rifle and run it hotter and you can get surprising performance, nipping at lower Legend performance. People really liked their NEF 357 mag. guns they rechambered to 357 max.

 

[State Director]

As an interesting tidbit of information, if the gunwriters had continued running hot loads in the .357 max, they would have found that flame cutting stopped at a depth of about .030". Ruger knew that, but the damage was already done. The barrel/cylinder gap on a Ruger Max is about .0015". That tight tolerance really accelerates the gasses which causes flame cutting. I have seen a .44 mag with flame cutting as well.
I used my max in IHMSA silhouette competition extensively during the mid to late 1980's when I was IHMSA Michigan State Director. I used a 200gr. spire point rifle bullet at 1300fps. with great success and very little top strap flame cutting.

 

[Intell]

I love my Max. It’s a 16” Encore barrel threaded for a suppressor.
It pushes .358 dia 200g Sierra round nose at 2250 fps and will touch holes at 100 if you can hold it still. It’s a hammer on deer, and easy to carry.

 

[JayHHI6818]

Last two years I have shot 3 deer with 357 Max with Hornady 180 gr XTP @ 1940 fps!

 

[Old Navy]

I used my max in IHMSA silhouette competition extensively during the mid to late 1980's when I was IHMSA Michigan State Director. I used a 200gr. spire point rifle bullet at 1300fps. with great success and very little top strap flame cutting.

I shot one in IHMSA back in the day also with jacketed .35 caliber rifle bullets also. I am old so my memory is a little rusty but I seem to remember they cut the strap to a certain depth and then stopped. You could barely see mine. I think Ruger's problem was the gap was to wide. The Dan Wesson didn't have that problem. It had a gap under .002" . My .357 came with a feeler gauge to allow for readjustment if needed or when switching to a different barrel length. Wish I never sold it.

 

[Woofie]

I have a Dan Wesson 8" revolver in .357 Maximum with an unused spare barrel. How old is it? Well I imported it to the UK before I moved to the US in the mid-80s. We in the ILRPSA (International Long Range Pistol Shooting Assoc -- a UK body) found them very effective and accurate. Hornady 200 grainers and H4227 were the components of choice back then, although the options would be much wider today. *If* I recall correctly the pistols came with a 0.002" feeler gauge to set the barrel, not the larger (0.006"?) that DW typically used. It is a very accurate pistol, I doubt I have shot it in 25+ years. Still have IHMSA headstamped plated cases though, dies, and I am pretty sure some Remington factory ammo, but I'd have to dig deep top find them.

 

[Old Navy]

I have a Dan Wesson 8" revolver in .357 Maximum with an unused spare barrel. How old is it? Well I imported it to the UK before I moved to the US in the mid-80s. We in the ILRPSA (International Long Range Pistol Shooting Assoc -- a UK body) found them very effective and accurate. Hornady 200 grainers and H4227 were the components of choice back then, although the options would be much wider today. *If* I recall correctly the pistols came with a 0.002" feeler gauge to set the barrel, not the larger (0.006"?) that DW typically used. It is a very accurate pistol, I doubt I have shot it in 25+ years. Still have IHMSA headstamped plated cases though, dies, and I am pretty sure some Remington factory ammo, but I'd have to dig deep top find them.

Before you reload those cases measure the length. I have some of those and they are shorter than the Max case. Don't know if they were made that way or someone cut them down to get the cannelure grove in the right place for 180 grain bullets.

 

[Bruce A.]

I ran both IHMSA and NRA centerfire pistol Metallic Silhouette competition matches at Atglen Sportsmens Club in PA very early on. When Elgen Gates introduced the 357 Supermag, commercially named the 357 Max, I bought the Dan Wesson Revolver. I shot competition and hunted with that Revolver. Over the years I took three whitetail and one mule deer running exposed lead tip 180 gr spitzer .358" diameter rifle bullets. Longest shot was on the mule deer at 200 yds.

All the deer dropped in couple of steps. All shots were through and through except on the muley. That bullet stopped against bone in the opposite side shoulder.

The round never failed to take down the metallic Ram even in a low belly or leg shot. A hit like that with the 357 Mag left the silhouette standing.

At the time there was demand to convert the Marlin rifle, originally chambered in 357 mag, to the maximum cartridge. Many said the pressures were too high forgetting that the same rifle had been chambered in centrifuge rifle cartridges. Lot of people tried and many ruined rifles were created. But the gunsmiths who knew what they were doing created a rifle that cycled like clock work. I was late to that conversion and did mine about 10 years ago. The conversion is more accurate than it was in 357 mag. . .and the rifle still cycles and fires the 38 special and the 357 Mag.

I like having a six-gun and a lever rifle chambered in this very accurate and effective cartridge. In the Thompson Contender, Mike Bellm has made the 357 Maximum a very long range tack driver.

 

[C_Ackley]

At the time there was demand to convert the Marlin rifle, originally chambered in 357 mag, to the maximum cartridge. Many said the pressures were too high forgetting that the same rifle had been chambered in centrifuge rifle cartridges. Lot of people tried and many ruined rifles were created. But the gunsmiths who knew what they were doing created a rifle that cycled like clock work. I was late to that conversion and did mine about 10 years ago. The conversion is more accurate than it was in 357 mag. . .and the rifle still cycles and fires the 38 special and the 357 Mag.

I guess it depends on which levergun you're starting with. I remember hearing/reading about a 357 Max conversion on a short action 1894 Marlin. The lever throw had to be lengthened considerably so the bolt cleared the cartridge, custom carrier installed, etc. Even then, it wasn't a reliable feed according to the owner. Making guns, like a model 92, meant to feed 1.6 inch cartidges feed nearly 2 inch ones is basically not worth the effort.
Starting a 357 Max conversion with a longer action Win 1894 or Marlin 336 is a piece of cake, but you REALLY have to want that companion cartridge with your sixgun because there's always the perfectly adequate 35 Remington.

 

[bobcat93]

If you ask me the Millennials are at it again!, same product, different packaging..if your a man worth your salt you shoot the 357 max.
If you drink Starbucks coffees you probably shoot the 350 Legend...
Hahahaha....that is my take on the differences between cartridges..