nitch in my arsenal for a 445 SM?

[wileynet]

just got a 44 mag, took it out and man was that accurate up to 100 yards, looking at my arsenal what would be the advantage of reaming it to 445 SM, almost all my rifles are purpose specific with scopes for there intended use.
308 for mule deer
30-06 for elk(fixing to have a 35 whelen put on this frame)
45-70 for hunting the mesquite and bear
243 for Barbary sheep
7mm mag for antelope
223 coyotes
204 for prairie dogs
figured the 44 mag for hogs in the brush

[quickdtoo]

The 445SM will handle 44spl, 44mag and 44 Russian also, so it could be your plinker with lighter ammo since you don't have a 357 Maxi listed....hint, hint! 

Tim

[wileynet]

okay another stupid question i have heard that you can dowload the 35 whelen and use 357 pistol bullets in it, can i get 357 max performance out of it,also i handload for 357 will the same dies load the 357 max if i decide to go that route and add a 357 barrel to one of my handies

[cwlongshot]

okay another stupid question i have heard that you can dowload the 35 whelen and use 357 pistol bullets in it,

YES, BUT there isnt allot of powders that will do it as the 63MM case is a bigun for the lo velocities. But the maxy will do 2200 with a 180 in a rifle, this "caliber" loading is VERY doable!

Can i get 357 max performance out of it,also i handload for 357 will the same dies load the 357 max if i decide to go that route and add a 357 barrel to one of my handies

Most likely YES, there are a few dies out there that have problems. What are your 357Mag dies?

CW

[quickdtoo]

okay another stupid question i have heard that you can dowload the 35 whelen and use 357 pistol bullets in it...

The Lyman 48th lists three powders for the Hornady 158gr JHP pistol bullet, 2400, 4759 and 5744, they run 1400-1600fps in their 24" test barrel. TrailBoss using hodgdon guidelines would be another choice.

Tim

[gendoc]

i gotta lil'gun formula throw'na 300gr lbt wfngc @ roun 1600fps ifin ya want it.....
 
thatsa what my tractor gun likes wif peeps..... an its on time too !!!!

[wileynet]

i have both rcbs and lee dies

[cwlongshot]

i have both rcbs and lee dies

I'd say if they are made after the mid eighties, its a good bet both will work just fine.

I use a 40 year old LYMAN steel, all American set, 25-30 year old RCBS carbide and a 10 year old REDDING carbide set. All work just fine for maximum loadings.

CW

[gendoc]

my redding and match hornady's will both doa fine job. 
my grandson's  3 year old rcbs also do fine too..............

[quickdtoo]

My Lee 357 Mag dies work fine for the Maxi too.  Be aware that you will likely have issues if seating pointy bullets like the 180gr SSP which will require a different seater plug for the seater die, see the Maxi die info in the FAQs.

Tim

[wileynet]

well it looks like the 30-06 frame going in for 35 whelen and 44 mag frame for 357 guess you cant have to many 35 calibers

[petemi]

I sent Lee a Hornady 180 SSP and had the seater plug back in just over a week.  I believe the cost was 8.00.  It works great on the maxis with the Lee Carbide .357 mag die set.  I'm running that bullet at 2150 fps out of a 16.5 inch Handi, and can make it go even faster if I want, but I like it where it's at.  It's doing a good job.

Pete

[wileynet]

well sins i have while to get the rifles are there any 35 cal bullets i should start looking at including those that are good for both the whelen and the max, also some cast

[yukondog]

I load max with my Lee 357 dies no problem, my seatting die I took and drilled the plug out to accept the sspb, if your comfortable with doing it, it's pretty easy.

[Dinny]

Wileynet,
  I have been wondering the same thing of myself for quite a while. I hunt deer in Indiana and fall into their pistol caliber rifles (PCR) laws. I have the following Handis dedicated just for IN deer hunting.

Handi 45LC
Handi 357 Max

I also have the following Handis to hunt deer, elk or hogs in Oklahoma.

Handi .356 Win
Handi 30-30
Handi 45-70
Handi 7mm-08
Handi 6.5 Grendel (in the works)

But yet I have a draw to the 445SM. Why? 

Thanks, Dinny

[wileynet]

the only reservation i have about reaming this 44 is the chance of screwing up the accuracy it seems to have, also with all the calibers  i currently have, what does it give me what animal or situation does it excel with, realize I am in norther NM, long range is the norm here unless im hunting buck brush or the mesquite draws in SE NM

[Dinny]

I think I may be over analyzing it. Sometimes thinking too much hurts the cause.  It is a 200yd gun when reamed to the SM and may serve better than the 45-70 in the same applications.

Thanks, Dinny

[wileynet]

over analyzing things are a good thing, i really like the 500 gr cast bullets in my 45/70, but 10 is about all i can handle shooting in a day, can i get the same brush busting performance from the 445, bullet suggestions, and is the 445 adequate for our black bears shooting in buck brush

[gendoc]

may serve better than the 45-70 in the same applications.

Thanks, Dinny

i'm glad you think so.............

[bigvarmnt]

I think Dinny is just stirring the pot


He's prolly bored sittin on the beach

[dpe.ahoy]

the only reservation i have about reaming this 44 is the chance of screwing up the accuracy it seems to have, also with all the calibers  i currently have, what does it give me what animal or situation does it excel with, realize I am in norther NM, long range is the norm here unless im hunting buck brush or the mesquite draws in SE NM

I'm not sure why the 445 is favored as much as it is, other than "because you can".  The 444 Marlin barrel has the 1 in 20" twist, brass is more available, more power if needed/ wanted, and can be found on the shelf if needed.  Draw back is the chamber is cut larger than the 44 mag around the web, 444 mag brass would stretch out to fill the void if fired in the 444 chamber, working the brass too much bulging the case.  The 444 can be loaded down to 44 special levels or up to compete with the 45-70 hand loads.  DP

[phatgemi]

For hoosiers, the answer is pretty easy. The .445 is legal for deer, the .444 is not. Simple for us poor guys with restrictions on what rifles can be used.

[Dinny]

There is a whole lotta sand here. Haven't seen a beach in a long time though. If his current 45-70 is set up for short range shots in the mesquite and bear over bait, then I still think the 445SM would work equally well. Some folks are getting 2400fps from 225-240gr jacketed bullets made for the 444M. This is surely from a 20+" bbl.

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm


Thanks, Dinny

[wileynet]

we are not allowed to shoot over or bait bears, it is all hunt and stalk the 2 bears i have shot were in buck brush, the crap is so thick here you hope by walking the edges one stands up both were under 100 yards, would the 445sm give me that open shot at greater than 100, not real fond of hollow points what would i be looking for in solids

[Dinny]

The 445SM will work well out to 200yds with pistol bullets. However, the advantage would go to either the 45-70 or 444M when using heavy cast or solid bullets. Hornady makes a 265gr Interlock and 300gr XTP, Nosler a 250gr Partition and Speer makes a 300gr Uni-Core and a 270gr Gold Dot. The 250 grain Nosler and 300 grain Speer bullets are specifically recommended for use on heavy game. These are bullets made specifically for the 444M and should work fine in the SM, velocities would be slightly less.

Thanks, Dinny