Hi,
I have a 10" T/C Contender in 357 Maximum and I was wondering if anyone has loaded heavy weight cast bullets in this type setup. It's been awhile since I've shot this particular gun and I remember that it was kind of particular, it liked the 200gr. Speer TMJ. I was just at the Leadhead Bullet website and saw a gas checked 205 gr lead bullet and thought it looked promising. Has anyone gone down the cast bullet path with this caliber?
Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff,

I use that LeadHeads bullet in my .357 Max. My load is 17 gr. H4227 and I get 1600 fps. However, my barrel is a 21" so I'm not helping you much. However, the bullets are great. Good shooting.

Yes, absolutely. The best bullet for the application is the Lead Heads 30-200G, weighs close to 205grains. Load it with 4227 or N120 and you have a superbly accurate round, if your barrel is a good one.
PS: I sell them or you can get them direct from Lead Heads.
I use the bullet in my 360 and get contender accuracy from a wheelgun.
Start around 18.5gr and work up from there, I like 20gr of VV N120.
Mr. DW

Hobie, Hobie, sell me your barrel. Or how about a 7-30 Waters barrel for it?

I got one of them from TC same price, must have been about same time. But I wasn't into the carbines at that time and I dumb-ass sold to an associate for what I paid for it. He sold it for a large profit no doubt. You'll notice I didn't say 'friend'. I am going to order one from the Custom Shop. I'm thinking 21" is the right length; what do you think?

Scrounger,

Love mine. Best balance in this bore size seems to be a bull barrel about 22" long.

I load the mentioned bullet and the Hornady 180 gr. SSP. I also use the 205 GC in a special load of 2.5 gr. Unique. All three loads are usable with the same sight setting.

The cartridge will equal the factory Winchester .35 Remington fodder. Of course that's handloading the Max and factory loads for the .35 Rem. Its a good barrel and I like it.

Want to hear more about this as your project moves along...

I am shooting a mould i designed to resemble the 200 grain RCBS bullet; however I can cast mine with soft lead noses. Actual weight with linotype body and pure lead nose is 193grains. I have used a max load of 21 gr H4227 for 1802 fps and 21 gr of H110 for 1730 fps. Yes these are hot, I found this data in the big yellow book of reloading for the Contender for 200gr jacketed bullets and I worked up to this point. This bullet is gas checked and leaves zero leading. From a 10" 6-groove barrel that I had rechambered to 357 max I get 1.25" groups any day of the week. The one hog I shot was out as fast as anything I've used or witnessed, did not recover bullet. The mould was made by Mountain Moulds...excellent product and fine man to deal with.

No experience with this caliber, but I've always thought that a lever carbine with 20" barrel would be about perfect for this round. The cartridge's length seems too long for the Win 92/Marlin 94 actions, and maybe too short for reliable function in the Win 94/Marlin 336 series. That last problem could change with a heavy boolit "seated long", maybe--but the bolt face and extractor would need some modification.

No wonder you guys all use the T/C's and #1's for the 357 Max......it prevents insanity.

What would be super-neat would be a Mini-14 rebarrelled in this caliber with a 10 shot single column magazine. The action and magazine length would be perfect.

The 357 Max is a real nice in a old H&R topper. I also have a 14" T/C I reload for. I have shot up to 245 gr boolits out of both. One of these days I will try some heavier ones. Orygun

I had a custom one made by virgin valley, 10" stainless tube. The only bullet I shot out of it was a 200 gr WFN from a ballisticast mold. I tried H-110, and found that at max levels, or maybe a tad over I got extreme verticle stringing. I then changed to AA 1680, and found that with compressed loads, it provided good accuracy, and pleasing 1800-1900 fps. I don't recall what the charge weights were, but you can't fit enough 1680 in the max to hurt it with 200 gr cast bullets.

Hindsight/scrounger, let's do it. I'll go halves with ya'. The straigt-up 357 maggie would be more logical, though. Brass everywhere so you don't have to pick it up. A Dillon application. ... felix

I'm shooting an H&R rechambered to .357 Max and 212 Lyman GCs. WW-680 and AA-5744 both worked great. I got a jug of the surplus 680 a few weeks ago but have not dipped into it yet.