357 Maximum

[dfletcher]

I am considering adding a short rifle barrel to my T/C Encore collection. The barrel will be about +16" and no more than 18" with light contour. I'm considering the 357 Maximum, mostly because others speak so well of it. I already reload for the 35 Remington and wonder, does the Maximum do anything the old 35 Remington can't? I neck resize the 35 Remington then seat, Maximum is a straight wall & uses carbide - 35 Remington requires inside neck lube, Maximum requires none but case mouth flaring is an extra step, right?

This is strictly a range rifle, 100 yds or so for fun. I'd like to use lead once in a while.

Given same barrel maker (MGM) is there any reason to get one over the other? Accuracy, economy in reloading?

[Divernhunter]

Range use at 100 yards either will be just fine. The 35Rem will allow you heavier bullets and bullets designed for pistol rounds(357mag and max).

Lube the necks with graphite or lube when sizing then tumble off the lube is easy and no hassle. Chamfering the inside also helps seating the bullets---especially flat bases ones.
Yes you would need to flare the 357max. Then need to crimp or at least remove the flare with a crimp die. You could also shoot 237mag in a 357max barrel.
You could shoot lead out of either but would need to reduce speeds to prevent leading and poor accuracy.
Actually the 35rem can do things the 357max cannot. Otherwise it really is a toss up and personal choice.----or get both.
Good luck and have fun

[Capt.Dunsel]

I am considering adding a short rifle barrel to my T/C Encore collection. The barrel will be about +16" and no more than 18" with light contour. I'm considering the 357 Maximum, mostly because others speak so well of it. I already reload for the 35 Remington and wonder, does the Maximum do anything the old 35 Remington can't? I neck resize the 35 Remington then seat, Maximum is a straight wall & uses carbide - 35 Remington requires inside neck lube, Maximum requires none but case mouth flaring is an extra step, right?

This is strictly a range rifle, 100 yds or so for fun. I'd like to use lead once in a while.

Given same barrel maker (MGM) is there any reason to get one over the other? Accuracy, economy in reloading?

35 Remington is easy and cheap to find brass , 357 Max not so much.
Got both , they each have the pros and cons . ( have both in both)

18 inch barrel in both are great and get the most out of both , when loaded to their liking. 14" in handgun in both are equal , at least in mine .

I found 180 gr to be best in both . Again in mine .

They both can shoot 220 gr bullets , 35 Rem can take up to 250 gr.

Why not get both eventually ?

[dfletcher]

Thanks for the above.

I may end up getting both eventually. I'm leaning towards the Maximum now with the light, short barrel and maybe keeping the bullets lighter, or slower lead. The 35 Remington with heavier stuff can give a good pop, I have the 14" Contender barrel and an old Rem 141 and the 200, 250 definitely let you know they're there.

[lostinsurf]

I have both the contender Max handgun barrel 12" and the Encore Max rifle barrel in 28". Both are accurate and the recoil is manageable; harder than a 357 Mag but much less than a 44 mag.

Flies straight out to 100+ and hits hard. The reloading is easy with 4227. I choose to run the contender about 1600fps and the encore about 1900fps.

An added bonus is that you can shoot any 38 special or 357 magnum in the guns as well ! The TC is great fun.

You should see the Dan Wesson Forum and the Ruger Forum for excellent Maximum advice and counseling.

[dfletcher]

I visited HandloadData.com, feel free to correct me where I'm wrong -

The 357 Maximum out of a rifle length barrel can do 110 and 125 grain jacketed up to about 2,300 and hardcast lead, about 158 or so, around 1,600 fps. I see LaserCast listed, which I like. Is there a particular weight that works best in jacketed and lead?

I'd buy an expander & a seater die for the Maximum case specifically, carbide set for 38/357 will work fine, right?

[Junkie]

As a wild idea, I've heard of people taking 5.56 cases, trimming them at the neck, fireforming them to almost straight walled, and loading them with either .355 or .357 bullets depending on the barrel they're using, calling it 355/357 Rimless Max.

Obviously wildcatting is more work than buying brass, but 5.56 brass is essentially free. You'd also need to make some changes to the bolt (or whatever it's called on a TC)/extractor too.

[dfletcher]

As a wild idea, I've heard of people taking 5.56 cases, trimming them at the neck, fireforming them to almost straight walled, and loading them with either .355 or .357 bullets depending on the barrel they're using, calling it 355/357 Rimless Max.

Obviously wildcatting is more work than buying brass, but 5.56 brass is essentially free. You'd also need to make some changes to the bolt (or whatever it's called on a TC)/extractor too.

I use 300 AAC brass to make "works good enough" 351 WSL brass for my Winchester 1907. Actually, 357 Max brass is the most often used 351 WSL substitute case.

Anyway, I ordered a 17.5", medium contour (.700) barrel in 357 Max from MGM for my Contender frame. MGM had a fair number of ready made, heavy contour Encore barrels in 21" to 24", but I'd like this to be light & handy. Unlike Encore I don't have alot of Contender barrels and the frame I have has an outstanding trigger. I figure the lighter barrel goes with the smaller frame, I intend to use mostly 110 & 125 grain bullets and the occasional lead.

[dfletcher]

I have both the contender Max handgun barrel 12" and the Encore Max rifle barrel in 28". Both are accurate and the recoil is manageable; harder than a 357 Mag but much less than a 44 mag.

Flies straight out to 100+ and hits hard. The reloading is easy with 4227. I choose to run the contender about 1600fps and the encore about 1900fps.

An added bonus is that you can shoot any 38 special or 357 magnum in the guns as well ! The TC is great fun.

You should see the Dan Wesson Forum and the Ruger Forum for excellent Maximum advice and counseling.

I assume the Contender and Encore can be loaded, with respect to this cartridge, to the same level, correct? I've looked through the data and see no difference in load levels.

[rromeo]

35 Remington is easy and cheap to find brass , 357 Max not so much.
Got both , they each have the pros and cons . ( have both in both)

18 inch barrel in both are great and get the most out of both , when loaded to their liking. 14" in handgun in both are equal , at least in mine .

I found 180 gr to be best in both . Again in mine .

They both can shoot 220 gr bullets , 35 Rem can take up to 250 gr.

Why not get both eventually ?

You have that backwards. 35 Rem is about $0.80/ case and only Hornady sells it now. 357 Max is $0.25-35 from Jamison or Starline

[Jimmy's]

I traded my 357 Max for a 375 Win. Good trade!

[Capt.Dunsel]

You have that backwards. 35 Rem is about $0.80/ case and only Hornady sells it now. 357 Max is $0.25-35 from Jamison or Starline

Well , since I can make 35 Remington cases out of 30/06 or .308 cases they are cheaper ( .25 a case about cheaper if found once fired ) but can't get 357 max brass in my area , in my case the 35 rem is cheaper .

[dfletcher]

Well , since I can make 35 Remington cases out of 30/06 or .308 cases they are cheaper ( .25 a case about cheaper if found once fired ) but can't get 357 max brass in my area , in my case the 35 rem is cheaper .

Interesting to know on the 35 Remington from 308 - is it a simple neck size up, then fire form? I've never had a problem finding the 35 Remington but using 308 is a good option.

[rromeo]

It's more involved than just a neck up, but not terrible. http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/re...win-cases.html

[Flouncer]

My experience with inside neck lube, graphite, flare etc is different. Never bothered with it. In any cases, straight wall or bottle. I simply use a Lee case mouth trimmer and some care with clean cases. Lee Carbide dies. My Lone Eagle with a 14-inch barrel has shot touching holes at 100 yards with H110 and AA1680 with Sierra 180g flat base hunting bullets @ 1880 fps. Right out of the Speer manual, perfect right out of the book.