I am getting ready now to hunt deer in Delaware this winter. I am going to use a Contender with a 12" hunter barrel in 357 Maximum. The load I plan to use is 25.5 grains of 1680, with a Hornady 180 grain SSP bullet and Federal 205M primers. I have been reloaded off and on for 25 years, this is the first time I have loaded 357 Maximum. Can you tell any thing about this load? Good, Bad or Ugly. Thanks Oldsnow.

I found with my 10" 357 max that you simply couldn't fit enough 1680 in the case to cause pressure problems, and trust me I tried. I did manage to get 1900+ fps with a 200 gr cast bullet.

I did find 1680 needs to be compressed before it shoots accurately.

I use H110 in mine with a 158 jsp kills deer real good. I get 2150 out of my 14 inch.

Thanks guys. Oldsnow

I did find that H-110 acts funny with the heavier bullets, but should be ideal with the ~160 grainers. 1680 is the cats meow for the heavy bullets in the max.

Is the 357 Max a legal cartridge for Delaware? The letter of the law is confusing to me how they mix calibers and cartridges in defining what is legal.

Section 1. Amend §704, of Title 7, Delaware Code by adding thereto a new subsection "(g)" to read as follows:
"(g) Except as set forth herein, no person may use a handgun in the pursuit, taking or attempted taking (hunting) of protected wildlife. A handgun as described herein may be used for the pursuit, taking and attempted taking (hunting) of deer on privately owned lands situated south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and those lands within the State owned by the State of Delaware so designated for this purpose by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, at its discretion, under the following conditions: (1) the handgun shall be limited to revolvers and single shot pistols with a minimum barrel length of 5.75 inches and not exceeding 12.5 inches and chambered for and using straight-wall handgun ammunition in .357 magnum, .41 caliber, .41 magnum, .44 caliber, 44 magnum, .45 caliber, .454 caliber, .480 caliber or .50 caliber and using open sights, metallic/mechanical, optical or telescopic sights; (2) the handgun must be carried openly on a sling or in a holster and not concealed; (3) to be used during a separate six (6) day season to begin on the first Saturday in January through the second Saturday in January."

I'm not a lawyer, but I'd suspect that .357 max would be legal.

Its diameter equals the .357mag, and power level near equals the .44mag.

I think the law's prime concern is making sure the hunter uses a cartridge powerful enough to cleanly take game.

I would contact a local game warden or the state DNR .
That way ypu can be sure.

I have used my 14" 357 Max barrel to take several deer.

I have used both the Hornady # 3505 180 gr SSP bullet and the # 35771 180 gr XTP -HP

I am now loading Hodgon Little Gun .
I have shot 296 , H 110 , 1680 , #9 and H4227 ,every powder has produced usable groups.

I just like change .

Johnch

quote:

Originally posted by knight0334:
I'm not a lawyer, but I'd suspect that .357 max would be legal.

Its diameter equals the .357mag, and power level near equals the .44mag.

I think the law's prime concern is making sure the hunter uses a cartridge powerful enough to cleanly take game.

When I first moved to Illinois handgun case length had to be less than 1.4", so I used 357 Mags out of my 357 Max. I'm not sure what logic (if any) states use to define legal cartridges.
Illinois has modified their law so at least my Maximum is legal now.

quote:

(1) the handgun shall be limited to revolvers and single shot pistols with a minimum barrel length of 5.75 inches and not exceeding 12.5 inches and chambered for and using straight-wall handgun ammunition in .357 magnum, .41 caliber, .41 magnum, .44 caliber, 44 magnum, .45 caliber, .454 caliber, .480 caliber or .50 caliber and using open sights, metallic/mechanical, optical or telescopic sights; (2) the handgun must be carried openly on a sling or in a holster and not concealed; (3) to be used during a separate six (6) day season to begin on the first Saturday in January through the second Saturday in January."

Here in Delaware we have to shoot the calibers listed. The case length has a nothing to do with it, as long as it is straight walled.

quote:

Originally posted by oldsnow:

quote:

(1) the handgun shall be limited to revolvers and single shot pistols with a minimum barrel length of 5.75 inches and not exceeding 12.5 inches and chambered for and using straight-wall handgun ammunition in .357 magnum, .41 caliber, .41 magnum, .44 caliber, 44 magnum, .45 caliber, .454 caliber, .480 caliber or .50 caliber and using open sights, metallic/mechanical, optical or telescopic sights; (2) the handgun must be carried openly on a sling or in a holster and not concealed; (3) to be used during a separate six (6) day season to begin on the first Saturday in January through the second Saturday in January."

Here in Delaware we have to shoot the calibers listed. The case length has a nothing to do with it, as long as it is straight walled.

oldsnow,
How do you read the law? Is the 357 Max legal?

The way I read the law is, any caliber from 357 magnum to 50 caliber is legal. As long as it is a straight walled case.

thats how I read it too