Is 357 maximum as good as I’ve read?

[204shooter]

Hi all,

Living in Ohio I can use straight wall cartridges in rifles for deer hunting. I have a 44 mag rifle that I am using now but looking to add to my arsenal. Mike Bellm speaks eloquently on the virtues of the 357 maximum and I am really intrigued by this round. I have a TC contender that I am wanting to convert to a 357 maximum rifle. I guess what I want to know is does anyone else have imput on this round or should I consider a 450 bushmaster? The Ruger ranch is calling my name too. And no I can’t get both, not now anyway.

Thanks

 

[MrMajestic]

I run one in a Contender with a 24" MGM barrel. Remington 180 gr. Semi-jacketed HP's at 2100 fps using Lil'Gun. 2" groups 100 yards from the bench. It's a150-200 yard whitetail round. My Son killed a buck with it at 30 yards. Made a mess of the internals and only went 20 yards..

 

[swd]

I run one in a Contender with a 24" MGM barrel. Remington 180 gr. Semi-jacketed HP's at 2100 fps using Lil'Gun. 2" groups 100 yards from the bench. It's a150-200 yard whitetail round. My Son killed a buck with it at 30 yards. Made a mess of the internals and only went 20 yards..

It sounds like it runs close a 30/30 with a little more frontal area. It should put them on the BBQ nicely!

 

[rockhound78]

I rechambered a Ruger #1 from 357 mag to 357 max. I can get 2300fps with a 180 cast, but I also push them pretty hard at times.

 

[rr2030]

I have a gen 1 TC Contender in .357MAX 10" barrel I used for IHMSA in standing class. With the proper bullet in the 180 to 200 gr. weight something similar to Speer .35 Caliber .358" Diameter Hot-Cor 180 Grain Soft Point. I would not hesitate to use it on Deer out to 200 yards +. For the 200 meeter Rams I used .358 rifle bullets And why convert to rifle? I have taken Deer with my 10" Contender in 30-30 using a zero power red dot, easy carry in a bandolier holster, up and down stands is a breeze. Drops em in their tracks. A used .357MAX barrel and sight may leave you with enough $$ left over for a rifle?

 

[snert]

I know its not legal in OH, but i used a 357 Herrett for a long time in NY. 180 grain SSP bullet, lots of 4198, 14 inch TC with 2x Leupold. I took 19 deer with it. Longest was 167 yards. Shortest about 15 feet (which turned into a long trail cause I shot it as it ran past one handed, John Wayne style and got a liver hit) All the rest were about 97 yards....yes, about 13 or so deer from the same stand, deer standing behind or next to the same viburnum bush in a pasture...just seemed to stop there feeling safe..

A 35 cal bullet at 1800 or a little more does a number on them. But remember, these are not CREEDMORES! They are more like GUNSMOKE.

 

[snert]

If I were you, i would just get the Ruger...lots of cash involved in a barrel for the TC, and a limited resale if you don't want it.

 

[MQ1]

For awhile I had a Timberwolf Carbine in .357 that we hand loaded to .357 Maximum levels. I was not overly impressed with it. The accuracy was marginal, and although I shot alot of groundhogs with it, I didn’t have it long enough to shoot deer, so I have no cool stories to report.

I’ve had alot of fun hunting with a .44 mag (pistol and rifle) in Ohio. If you don’t mind misfit cartridges, you may want to consider a .444 Marlin...essentially a .44 Maximum. Same bullets, different brass, and a lot more powder. You can load it mild to wild and everything in between.

Last day for bow hunting Ohio tomorrow (for me). Hopefully I can connect on one of the brusiers that were just out of range today...

MQ1

 

[sawcarver]

I live in Michigan and have the straight wall thing too. I think the 357 Max is the best solution. I have four of them, and have killed deer everywhere from 25 yards to 400 yards with them. Between me and my kids there has been probably 30 deer harvested with them. The majority of the kills are between 150-250 yards. Recoil is mild and you can spot your own shots, I think that is a huge advantage over a 450BM, 444, or the like.

I have one 1-20t barrel the rest are 1-14t With the 1-14t I use Cutting Edge's 150 Raptor bullet, running at 2350 FPS They are devistating on deer. In the 1-20 I use 158gr XTPs running at 2400fps. All four guns will run MOA out to 300 and the cutting edges will stay on a 8" plate at 600.

If I were to get another barrel for all around use. I would get a 1-14t 18" (or 20 if you dont plan on using it as a pistol) The max seems to be gaining a lot of traction and I dont think you would ever have an issue selling the barrel if you lost interest in it.

The cutting edge bullets are pricey (they have a 25% off sale right now) but so are shotgun slug and muzzle loader supplies. Starline is also making 357 Max brass now too

I love my maxs

 

[JSH]

357 max has one of the best resale records out there. Don't like it you can turn it quick and easy.
IMHO, go custom. Factory throats are more like a forcing cone, done to keep pressures down, does zero for accuracy.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

357 max has one of the best resale records out there. Don't like it you can turn it quick and easy.
IMHO, go custom. Factory throats are more like a forcing cone, done to keep pressures down, does zero for accuracy.

And has since been dropped by everyone except TC.. Yes I had one..

 

[perry42]

For IHMSA competition I used a 10" TC in 357max with a cast bullet & gas check that weighed 205gr for rams it was very accurate with more than enough knock down power. For large feral pigs and deer it would be more than adequate.

perry42

 

[snert]

For awhile I had a Timberwolf Carbine in .357 that we hand loaded to .357 Maximum levels. I was not overly impressed with it. The accuracy was marginal, and although I shot alot of groundhogs with it, I didn’t have it long enough to shoot deer, so I have no cool stories to report.

I’ve had alot of fun hunting with a .44 mag (pistol and rifle) in Ohio. If you don’t mind misfit cartridges, you may want to consider a .444 Marlin...essentially a .44 Maximum. Same bullets, different brass, and a lot more powder. You can load it mild to wild and everything in between.

Last day for bow hunting Ohio tomorrow (for me). Hopefully I can connect on one of the brusiers that were just out of range today...

MQ1

LAtest Handloader magazine shed a lot of good light on the 444.

 

[snert]

I live in Michigan and have the straight wall thing too. I think the 357 Max is the best solution. I have four of them, and have killed deer everywhere from 25 yards to 400 yards with them. Between me and my kids there has been probably 30 deer harvested with them. The majority of the kills are between 150-250 yards. Recoil is mild and you can spot your own shots, I think that is a huge advantage over a 450BM, 444, or the like.

I have one 1-20t barrel the rest are 1-14t With the 1-14t I use Cutting Edge's 150 Raptor bullet, running at 2350 FPS They are devistating on deer. In the 1-20 I use 158gr XTPs running at 2400fps. All four guns will run MOA out to 300 and the cutting edges will stay on a 8" plate at 600.

If I were to get another barrel for all around use. I would get a 1-14t 18" (or 20 if you dont plan on using it as a pistol) The max seems to be gaining a lot of traction and I dont think you would ever have an issue selling the barrel if you lost interest in it.

The cutting edge bullets are pricey (they have a 25% off sale right now) but so are shotgun slug and muzzle loader supplies. Starline is also making 357 Max brass now too

I love my maxs

I Learn something (and in this case a lot) every day. Great post, thanks

 

[sawcarver]

Oh one more thing to add, I have found not crimping is best for accuracy. I'm sure that's not a shock to anyone but the question comes up a lot with the max

 

[JSH]

And has since been dropped by everyone except TC.. Yes I had one..

Let's see, dropped by everyone, Ruger Blackhawk, Dan Wesson and Thompson Center.

Ruger and DW dropped it for top strap cutting. Not an issue with a TC or closed breach system.

An FYI a legend majority of the top strap cutting was from folks that did not listen or pay attention to things. Launching light bullets with large amounts of powder was a major reason for strap cutting.
And to the revolver side, the strap cutting only went so far and then stopped. I know of no breakage caused from the cutting.

I have three of them. Two were shot with 170-200 grain bullets neither has any more top strap erosion than any other Ruger I own. Round count on the 10" BH is well over 10K.

So I take your comment as sarcasm or slight of knowledge. As those were the top three to chamber this, with a sprinkle of others.
And I am not sure TC if even offering a 357 Max from the factory. So you can say no one offers it as a factory chambering.

 

[rr2030]

For many years I had saved a great article by one of the magazines about the returning interest in the MAX. I just went there and the article is no longer available, too bad it was very interesting. It at one point referenced the top strap cutting issue and the research pointed to ammunition, specifically lighter bullets and poor powder ignition. Apparently the erosion was NOT by flame but by the top strap being blasted with unburnt and partially burnt powder. The erosion ceased after a few thousandths of an inch. The same phenomena affected the forcing cone. I have not read the article in at least a year, but thats one of the stand outs I got from it.

OP is not using the round in a revolver, so to me the negative points are irrelevant and misleading. As far as the round not being offered by any rifle manufacturers I don't see that as an indication of the cartridges worth. Who form a non custom smith offers 6 dasher, 6 BRX, and many of the popular discipline specific chamberings ?

The .357 MAX is a great cartridge and will perform well within its limitations. Any Deer you would take with a .44 magnum or 30-30 you could take with the MAX.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Let's see, dropped by everyone, Ruger Blackhawk, Dan Wesson and Thompson Center.

Ruger and DW dropped it for top strap cutting. Not an issue with a TC or closed breach system.

An FYI a legend majority of the top strap cutting was from folks that did not listen or pay attention to things. Launching light bullets with large amounts of powder was a major reason for strap cutting.
And to the revolver side, the strap cutting only went so far and then stopped. I know of no breakage caused from the cutting.

I have three of them. Two were shot with 170-200 grain bullets neither has any more top strap erosion than any other Ruger I own. Round count on the 10" BH is well over 10K.

So I take your comment as sarcasm or slight of knowledge. As those were the top three to chamber this, with a sprinkle of others.
And I am not sure TC if even offering a 357 Max from the factory. So you can say no one offers it as a factory chambering.

I didn't elaborate because It doesn't matter.. Barrels may be available from other TC independant makers, but not TC.. I am well aware of the top strap issues.. Sarcasm? No. just facts.. Slight of knowledge? Not even close.. Next time you feel like you really need to try and make someone look stupid, don't..

 

[Flouncer]

I have a Lone Eagle in .357 Rem Max. 14-inch barrel, with integral brake. I had one, 3-shot touching hole group at 100 yards off bags with the 180g Speer 358 rifle bullet and a shiat load of Hodgdon 110 powder. PM me if interested in sale. Includes dies and brass. It chrono'd at around 1850 fps.

 

[gemihur]

The problem child is always the one in the middle