Along with rechambering a NEF Handi Rifle from a 357 Magnum to 357 Maximum I plan on purchasing a Contender pistol barrel in 357 Maximum.

What is the typical rate of twist in a pistol barrel and how short is too short?

I am leaning towards a 12 inch barrel. My gun club has a silhouette shoot and allows pistols with barrel of 12 inches or less. I would like to mount fiber optic sights for tree stand hunting also.

7-30,

I don't know off hand what the twist rate is, but I think it is the same as the .35 Rem, at least in the factory barrels. My .357 Max will stabilize 125s to 220s and 200s going about 500 fps but I normally use cast 200s at about 1600 or 180 SPs (or FPs) at about 2000 fps. You could post at Bellm's page (the link is in my sig).

I think a 12 inch would be dandy. I know that my 21" is a LOT of fun and very useful. 1680, 680, Lil'Gun and H110/W296 seem to be the most useful powders in this cartridge.

Twist is 1-14" on factory TC barrels with a typical bore size of under .357"

A 10 or 12" tube would be an excellent length for a Max bbl. I've the 10" tube and found it quite efficient.

However, I'd opt for custom if you want a good throat configuration.

Regards

10-12". Longer is unhandy.

730
I have a Rossi single shot 357 mag I rechambered to Max .The twist is 1-18 and will not stablize anything over 158 grains anything over that keyholes .This is just my .02 but I would check the H&R twist.

I've got 3 max pistol barrels, one a factory 357 mag bull rechambered by Bellm and the other is a 12 inch full bull custom shop 357 mag that Mike also rechambered. The last is a 10 inch full bull stainless from VVCG. I love them all! the Factory rechambered 10 incher is a belt gun with sights, 12 incher has a 1.5x4 variable and I have a 2x scope on the VVCG. All are extremely accurate and I credit it to the rechambering job. I think the VVCG barrel has a 1 in 14 twist and the factory barrels have 1 in 18, but not sure. Anyway, they will all stabilize bullets upto 250 grians, push them slowly, but they do stabilize at least out to 100 yards.

I think the 12 inch full bull is my favorite to shoot and carry, but the 10 inchers are great too.

regards,
Graycg

Contender Twist Rates:

http://members.tripod.com/~cdk357/twist.html

[ 11-01-2003, 04:46: Message edited by: Headstamp ]

The twist for an NEF Handi-rifle in .357 Max is 1-18.5..I have 2 of them and a 10 inch contender and a 10 inch SSP86..love them all. Have harvested many deer sized critters with them. I like the Sierra 170 gr hp real well as well as the 180 SSP from Hornady, the original 180 Rem HP and the old 150 Rem corlokt. All work well on deer.

shortgun

Handi-Rifle Twist Rates:

.22 LR 1 in 16"
.22 WMRF 1 in 16"
.22 Hornet 1 n 12"
.223 1 in 12"
.25/06 1 in 10"
.243 1 in 10"
.270 1 in 10"
.280 1 in 10"
.308 1 in 10"
357 Mag 1 in 18 3/4"
7x57 1 in 10"
7x64 1 in 10"
30/30 1 in 10"
30/06 1 in 10"
38/55 1 in 18"
44 Mag 1 in 38"
45/70 1 in 20"
Shotgun Barrels
45 Colt/410 1 in 16"
20 ga. 1 in 28"
12 ga. 1 in 35"