Mr. Walker,



I was looking back through the posts on the .357 Max and re-read your post. I'm frankly AMAZED that you got this performance from this load in a Contender 10".

Quote:

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180gr. Hornady HP/XTP, powdered with 23.0gr. of H110, and chronographed an average of 1950fps.

The crimp is moderate at the first cannalure from the base of the bullet.

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I find it amazing because I worked up to the max book load and got very hard extraction. This was with the 180 SSP which has less bearing surface than the 180 XTP. In addition, I've got the advantage of 11" (that's eleven inches) of barrel. Some barrels might be faster than others, but this is simply amazing to me. Guess I already said that...

Speer does list a maximum load of 22.5 grains of H110 behind a Hornady 180 SSP. The test barrel was 14" and obtained a velocity of 1820 fps.

I suppose given all the different variables such as brands of primers, powders lot burn rates one could achieve a higher velocity then advertised in the manuals.

Has anyone tried the following powders? SR 4759, XMP 5744, Reloader 7, and AA 1680 for 180 SSP's These are the four main powders I intend to try first with my load data workup because I have them in stock.

Finally, there is a old time cartridge called the 38 Ballard Extra Long. Dimensionally it is identical to the 357 Maximum. One of my manuals lists a load of 6 grains of Unique behind a 150 grain cast bullet for this cartridge. Anyone tried this load?

7-30 Waters

Speer lists a load for the Hornady 180 gr. SSP? May I ask which manual and page?



Still 1820 in a 14" is a long ways behind 1900+ in a 10"...



I would not bother with any but the AA1680. You can also use up to 23 gr. of Lil'Gun with the 180 gr. SSP. Work up! I could use it but it was on the ragged edge of acceptability due to pressure and so I dropped back to 22 gr. of Lil'Gun. Some people like RE-7 but I don't. SR4759 and XMP 5744 seem a waste of time to me.



I tried 6 gr. of Unique with a swaged 158 gr. but was unimpressed. It would make a good small game load IF it is accurate in your gun. I think a harder cast bullet would work better. For my own use, I would want that bullet to look substantially different from any other bullet I use in "full-power" loads.

Hobie: The data I quoted you was from "The Complete Reloading Manual for the T/C Contender", from Loadbooks USA. Same company who prints the reloading manuals for single cartridges. The last print date in my manual was 1995 so I am not sure which Speer manual they copied it from. It is however an actual photocopy of the page from the Speer manual.



The manual lists data from Hornady, Nosler, Sierra, Speer, Lyman, RCBS, Accurate Arms, Hodgdon and Hercules for the 357 Maximum. If you or anyone is interested in photocopies of this information I would gladly share it.


7-30 Waters

I DID HOWEVER MISQUOTE MYSELF. THE LOAD FROM THE SPEER MANUAL WAS FOR THE SPEER 180 GRAIN FLAT-SP. SORRY FOR THE CONFUSION

I have the fourth edition, 1997. Barrel length is 14" W296 max charge is given as 23 gr. and H110 max charge is given as 22.5 gr. (the difference in lots as these are the same powder). 1881 and 1820 fps are the respective muzzle velocities given. Far cry from 1950 fps in a 10" barrel.

BTW, in MY 21" barrel 21 gr. is the max allowable and the average mv is 1970 with either the 180 gr. SSP OR the Speer FP (which I originally got for use in my .35 Rem barrel). Now 1970 in a 21" is a logical progression at max charge from the 14" but 1950 fps in a 10" is illogical. Not to say it didn't happen, but some other circumstance is in play.

Hornady shows (in the same manual), 20.9 gr. of W296 with the 180 gr. SSP which is VERY close to my actual experience. Their top MV of 1700 fps in a 10" is also logical. To get 250 fps from 2 gr. more of powder is illogical.

I'm just trying to figure this out. The other poster said he used a 10" barrel, 23 gr. of H110 and the 180 gr. XTP for 1950 fps. Perhaps I should refer to the chronograph topic for an explanation!

I've got a 10" Armour Alloy Contender 357 Max and with the 180

Hornady XTP crimped in the lower cannelure:

21.0 gr 296 = 1650 fps

26.0 gr A1680 = 1670 fps



These are NOT my most accurate loads.



BTW took a button buck this past season with this bullet pushed by 20.0 gr 296. Did a good job.

Greg thanks for your post. Your velocities are more in line with what I would expect.

Congrats on a good hunt!