There is nothing a 357 mag can do that can't be exceeded by a MAX. Seems like both of these would be a bit light for most of AK's game though. Maybe good for salmon in shallow water

Someone has a tag line about loading down big guns but one can not load up a little gun.

I had both a 10" 357 mag, and a 357 max previously. I was able to push a 200 gr cast bullet to 1900 fps from the 10" max. Aside from brown bears, and angling shots on moose, I can't think of any other of our species that couldn't be cleanly dispatched with such a load, provided it is properly placed.

I think you are referring to my tag line. It is in relation to my 458 Lott and 500 Jeffrey rifles.

I guess I always think Moose and bears when thinking AK.

Caribou should be about right for the Max.
I have never shot many cast bullets out of the Max and would love to get to 1900 fps (accurately) with the 180s Lar45 got up the mold order for, let alone a 200 grainer.
AK just seems like a place I shoulda gone to many years ago before it was "ruint".

The Max has to the most underappreciated chambering in the Contender! I get 1750 easily with 180 SSP in the 10" with mine. My 14" barrel is so rough it looks like it is threaded. Apparently the reamer operator and QC guys were BOTH asleep that day.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H: I was able to push a 200 gr cast bullet to 1900 fps from the 10" max. Aside from brown bears, and angling shots on moose, I can't think of any other of our species that couldn't be cleanly dispatched with such a load, provided it is properly placed.

Paul, such a load would be a lazer on much of our North American game. What mould was that 200grn Cast bullet? Cor-Bon uses a WFM 200grn bullet in one of their 357mag Hunting loads that I like a lot, as it punches quite a nice hole in all game I have used it on.

Have you ever tried the 180grn Partition Gold in the max?

My buddy says that the mold he sold me was cast performance's old production mold, which was made by balisticast. I'm still bummed I didn't take advantage of Lar's 180 gr mold deal, but since I have a couple of 158 gr molds, and the 200 gr mold, I didn't see much need for a 180.

I only shot cast through the 357 max. I need to pick up another one soon

The 1900 fps load was a maximum compressed charge of AA 1680. I found AA 1680 doesn't seem to shoot accurately until you compress the charges. It also seemed I couldn't fit enough in the case to worry about pressure. I found that H-110 would have horribly verticly strung groups when pushed, and I think was operating at high pressures. In the 357 max with 200 gr bullets I think H-110 is too fast of a powder.

quote:

Originally posted by Paul H: The 1900 fps load was a maximum compressed charge of AA 1680. I found AA 1680 doesn't seem to shoot accurately until you compress the charges. It also seemed I couldn't fit enough in the case to worry about pressure. I found that H-110 would have horribly verticly strung groups when pushed, and I think was operating at high pressures. In the 357 max with 200 gr bullets I think H-110 is too fast of a powder.

My experience with the 357max is limited, so I am glad to know this about the Max and H110. Just curious, have you heard of anyone trying Lil'gun or 800X any of the other newer powders in the Max?

I've only used Lil-gun in the 480 Ruger, and it works well for medium to medium heavy weight bullets. Lil gun is faster burning then then H-110, so I'd think with lighter bullets in the max, it might work well, ie 158 gr and lighter.

The 200 gr cast is what I did the most extensive load work in the 357 max. In that appication, H-110 acts funny if you try to reach max velocity, and AA-1680 comes into it's own.

I did have a 10" 357 mag barrel, and could long load the 200 gr cast over copius quantities of H-110 for 1700 fps. The factory throught is so long I could seat 200 gr bullets with only the gas check in the case, and still not hit the lands! With AA-1680 in the 357 mag, I only got around 1500 fps, but accuracy was superior to the H-110 loads.

I'm tempted to get a 12" 357 mag barrel and re-chamber it to 357 max. It might be possible to push the 200 gr to 2000 fps in the 12" tube, as I was slightly over 1900 fps in the 10" tube.