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Your Favorite Loads in the .357 Maximum?

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02 September 2002, 19:11
Magnum Mike
Your Favorite Loads in the .357 Maximum?
I am gonna start loadin the Max for my Competitor next week [Big Grin] and am curious which powders and bullets you guys favor..... [Wink]

I am currently lookin at 158's & 180's with either H110, W296 or AA1680......

TIA [Razz]
02 September 2002, 23:11
Greg K
Mike,
I'm loading the Hornady 180 gr. XTP. Most accurate load, with good velocity, uses 296, second best A1680. IMR4227 gave good accuracy with much lower velocity.
Greg
03 September 2002, 00:56
<prtzlbender>
I use some loads from a fellow on old Yahoo T/C forum, 21.0 grains of H110 for hunting loads at around 1900 fps with the 180 XTP. they work well. or with the 158 XTP, use 18.0 of 2400 for 1750 fps.. all from a 12" barrel. My barrel is a VVC 15"..I also use 4227 in cast 200"s...Hope this helps..

Bob [Smile]
03 September 2002, 01:14
buckweet
H4227 .26 GRAINS 180 BULLETT
WORKS WELL IN MY BARREL.
BUCKWEET
03 September 2002, 16:37
<Headstamp>
So far, 23.5 grs. WW296 under a Hornady 158gr. XTP FP bullet does quite well, about 1900+ FPS out of the Bellm rechambered 10" bbl. Note, this barrel has a "normal" throat so will show much lower top powder charges than most book loads using forcing cone type factory barrels.

Also do well with Surplus WC680 and 180 gr bullets cast and jacketed.

Mike, what kind of throat depth do you have in that barrel? Just curious to see if it is different than the TC factory barrels in Max.

Regards

[ 09-03-2002, 20:09: Message edited by: Headstamp ]
04 September 2002, 00:48
<wildcat51>
Finally shot my 20" VVCG/Bellm carbine barrel. Rem 150 grain PSP bullet, 26 grains Reloader 7, average velocity 1907 fps. Mild load.
04 September 2002, 15:48
Magnum Mike
quote:
Originally posted by Headstamp:
Mike, what kind of throat depth do you have in that barrel? Just curious to see if it is different than the TC factory barrels in Max.
Ray, i have never seen a factory TC Max chamber but this one appears to have a short throat. I did not measure it but it looks a lot shorter than some of my TC barrels! [Roll Eyes]

It has produced 2-3" groups at 100 yards with magnum ammo. I just ordered Max brass and some other bullets to try. I am sending the gun back to Competitor for "updating" at their recommendation. I hope it returns SOON!! [Frown]

EDIT: Damn near sold it as i wanted to start an Encore project but Bulldog talked me outta it! LOL! Glad i kept it, this thing is a hellofa shooter. I especially like the balance for offhand shootin!! [Wink]

[ 09-04-2002, 06:50: Message edited by: mssmagnum ]
06 September 2002, 15:05
Magnum Mike
Loaded up my first test loads tonight. I am trying the Remington bullets (recommended by Bobby) in 158 and 180 weights with W296 first. My gun should be back from updating early next week and then it is off to the range for some shootin!! [Big Grin]

What kinda accuracy have you guys had with the Max at 100 yards?
06 September 2002, 15:38
<Headstamp>
OK Mike,

If you have the short throat, just be attentive to the book loads shot with a TC Max barrel with the long forcing cone. Your Max load may be somewhat less owing to the short throat.

Max in mine (Bellm rechamber) with 296 and 158's was about 2 grains or so less than book maximum loads. Started to get sticking cases.

Only shot my 180 gr jacketed loads for accuracy at 50 yds so far. About 3/4" to 1" with a 2X scope at 1850 FPS.

This is virtually my favorite barrel. Lots of horsepower in the 10" bbl. with good efficiency. Recoil is not bad either.

Regards
06 September 2002, 15:52
Magnum Mike
Ray,

THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT (and for confirming my thoughts)!! I thought about that as i was loadin, so i started the loads a littler lighter than i normally would with W296 (or H110 for that matter). I did notice that the loads listed in the books varied quite a bit too. I picked my initial loads in the middle of the road as i can always work up from the max i have loaded. I HATE pulling bullets!! I gotta say that the caliber is really interesting as it is so versatile. I did find a load for 110 grain bullets, i believe that the listed velocity was in the 2400fps range outta a 10" barrel.

I am thinkin about having Competitor put a 14" 7TCU in the box when they ship my gun back to me! [Big Grin]

[ 09-06-2002, 07:12: Message edited by: mssmagnum ]