357 Maximum test

[DWD445]

Got the new Dan Wesson to the range yesterday, indoor. No one there at 2;15 ?? So we had the whole range for a while.
Sorry got no pics, just a shreaded target [if you want to see it] But OMG, Jamison 357 Max 158gn JHP rounds I got from Midway for about a buck a round. Mike was standing behind me loading his 45 and felt the shock wave !! My face blew back , but VERY little recoil and accurate !! DA or SA. I asked the counter guy how bad it was out there ?? I had it in my bag w/I came in, so he didn't see it, but did w/they did FT a few days ago.
He said "If I didn't know who and what was shooting, I'da came in looking for a HP rifle !!!

[JEBar]

glad you've found a round that works for you .... I'd never heard of Jamison 357 Max 158gn JHP's so I looked them up ===> http://www.midwayusa.com/product/823776 ... -box-of-20 <=== according to their specs they have a muzzle velocity of 1200 fps .... $1.00 a round, is on the high end for ammo and with the volume of shooting we do, is priced out of our pocketbook .... if you look at the specs on a range of 357 Maximum ammo, you will see muzzle velocities ranging from just over 1800 fps to just under 2000 fps .... can't speak directly to the cost of 357 Maximum but for many years we've run our 357 Remington Magnum handloads using 158 grain Nosler JHP's pushed by 14.8 grains of Winchester 296 out of our GP100's with a 6" barrels producing muzzle velocities of 1500+ fps .... buying from Midway, our Noslers cost us $.18 each, add in primers and powder brings us into the (best guess) $.25 +/- a round category .... with the same bullets used, I suspect the cost of 357 Maximum reloads would be about the same .... our sons have deer hunted with our loads since the '80's and they have proven to be highly capable of bringing them down .... with the 357 Maximum being even more powerful, it should do a great job

[RetiredSeabee]

Man that is a beauty!

[Henry88]

Man that is a beauty!

x2 RS

If a Colt Python and a Smith & Wesson had an over sized offspring...............

[DWD445]

Man that is a beauty!

x2 RS

If a Colt Python and a Smith & Wesson had an over sized offspring...............

And if a frog had wings.....
Thanks Guys
Now on the ammo,JEBar, I am finally ready to start reloading. My pardner Mike got the press off his bro after bro had gotten div. and moved back w/elderly mother. Just found THEM and got 'em here yesterday !! All I need now is primers, powder and lead. will be using 180gn for 357 Max !!
Recommended to prevent flame cutting the top strap. And 158gn for 38 & 357 Mag. Then there's the Henry 44 and DW 445, both 240gn .429, got lots O brass, but need more 357 Max. I think I can use same powder in all.
Funny thing about those Jamison rounds, I saw Midway's Muzzle vel. also, check this out, same ammo and I saw it elsewhere too. 1825fps
https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product ... e=&from=fn
I needed brass anyhow and the only other places I know of, is Reeds or Black Dog for live ammo for 357 max or 445 SM, Both around 2.00rd !!
Here's my loading cave Oh and the LEE press had 9MM dies in it !!

[JEBar]

looking forward to following your progression in developing loads for the 357 Max .... as noted, it is a round that I know next to nothing (actually, most probably even less ) about .... will your Dan Wesson fire regular 357 rounds

[DWD445]

looking forward to following your progression in developing loads for the 357 Max .... as noted, it is a round that I know next to nothing (actually, most probably even less ) about .... will your Dan Wesson fire regular 357 rounds

Yes, you can use 357 Mag or 38 spl. Did see a lot of side flame w/357 Mag at barrel gap. I need to get a large frame ba. wrench and adj. gap to .002".
Now I'll do my best to splain Super Mags in short. DW made them [Elgin T. Gates, mainly] to compete in IHMSA shooting at 100 and 200 meters.
They needed a handgun round w/enough power at those ranges to knock down metallic targets. So E.T.G. came up with a stretched out case for more powder and a larger frame/cylinder to accept the longer round. Cases are 1.610" in .357, .375, .414 and .445. .375 ammo very $$$ and brass hard to get,the rest are a Magnum case lengthened to 1.610". Last week a ETG marked SS 414 sold on GB for $6335.00 and another is over $3000.00 now !!
Here's a pic of 357 Mag & Max and 44 Mag & 445 SM rounds [not every trip to the range type of guns, just FUN]

[JEBar]

expensive indeed .... with what has to be such a large profit markup, it might be worth a call to Starline to see if they have any desire to produce 357 Max casings .... the worse they can do is say no

[seak89]

If you fine a H&R 357 mag rifle you can cut chamber longer to 357max. The H&R is my brides do it all hunting rifle. I use the 170gr cast performance bullet and thinking about a 200gr. Its at least equal to and with heavier bullet beats the old 30-30. The H&R with the sb2 frame are plenty strong enough.

[DWD445]

looking forward to following your progression in developing loads for the 357 Max .... as noted, it is a round that I know next to nothing (actually, most probably even less ) about .... will your Dan Wesson fire regular 357 rounds

A little follow up. Did get most everything but H110, which I'll be using in SM rds. 357 Max and 445 SM.
Got some CFE pistol powder and made 50 rds of 357 mag today !!! First time ever reloading . Made one last night and fired it. Me and my DW lived
I'll post on the reloading forum from here on about Max & SM loads. BTW I have no chrono or high tech stuff. Just target tests
Wife and I went to range last night and She shot the 357Max pretty good. That gun is SUPER accurate !!
Me and my P99. I got a vid I'll try to load later of wife and 357Max

[tx gunrunner]

I loved my Ruger SBH and Encore in 357 max . Both gun loved 180 gr .Hornady and IMR4227 . I got them for pig hunting here in Tx and my health stopped that . Love your reloading bench . It looks the same as mine , I used mine for over 20 yrs .

[Hunter5567]

I've loaded with H4227 in 357 Max in a Ruger Maximum. It is less erosive than ball powders being an extruded powder and still get high velocity. I used mainly Hornady 180gr XTP bullets. Also used to have a Dan Wesson, H&R Handirifle, and T/C Contender in 357 Max. FInally decided a 44 mag will do anything it could do with 180gr bullets in handguns and shoot heavier bullets also. You don't have problems with flame cutting in the Contender or H&R rifle and I used mainly H110/W296 in those.

[tx gunrunner]

1680 Accuracy has been proven the best powder for the 357 max for speed and accuracy . IMR 4227 is my second choice .

Flame cutting is only a problem with ball powder and light weight bullets with large cylinder over .003 gap . . And it stop after it goes so deep and nothing to worry about .

[Hunter5567]

I picked up a H&R Handirifle in 357 at a local pawnshop about 2 weeks ago. I beleive it has been rechambered in 357 Max. I loaded some 357 Mag brass with the 180gr bullet seated out and barely in the case and it would chamber. I making some pseudo Max loads by seating the bullet till .200 is in the case which gives the same powder capacity as a 357 Max loaded cartridge. Found the data on this website: http://www.metalsmithpro.com/357MagnumRifle.htm . Shoots great with this load but I need a scope on it. It's getting too hard see the bullseye past 50 yards on targets to line up the sights. I use 1" orange dots from 0 to 300 yards.
I am shooting 20gr of IMR4227 in my 357 Mag/Max loads and Hornady 180gr XTP bullets with CCI Small Rifle Mag primers in the H&R rifle.
As always start 5-10% less for any loads posted. These were safe in my guns.