12" 357 Max range repot

[klong]

I shot my (purchased used at a gun show) 12" barrel yesterday. This is a Custom Shop stainless barrel for my Contender and it looked new. I used a Leupold silver 2.5-8X scope with weaver base and rings. . I  shot the 180 HPXTP from Hornady using 296 and H110 and CCI br rifle primer, some ammo manufacture by TJ's with 180 jacketed hollow points (looked like the Remington) and some Remington factory 180 jacketed hollow points. All loads shot good with the Remington factory and the faster load ,near max, of 296 being the best. Both of these shot 3 shot groups of touching bullets at 50 yards. This set up was comfortable to shoot from the bench as well as offhand. I have some Beartooth cast 200 grgc on the way. My plans are to hunt hogs and deer with this set up. I may also take it Elk hunting next fall.

[Dusty Miller]

Don't know much about the 357 max. so I looked it up in my Hornady manual and it shows a 180 gr. HP-XTP blowing out at 1450 fps (max load).  Maybe you could kill'm deader with a 14" 44 mag. on you frame which'll pop out a 240 gr. HP-XTP at 1800 fps., then again, maybe not.   

[Gregory]

Don't know much about the 357 max. so I looked it up in my Hornady manual and it shows a 180 gr. HP-XTP blowing out at 1450 fps (max load).  Maybe you could kill'm deader with a 14" 44 mag. on you frame which'll pop out a 240 gr. HP-XTP at 1800 fps., then again, maybe not.   

WW data shows 1670 fps with a 180 gr bullet.

http://www.wwpowder.com/data/handgun/357remmax.php

[swampthing]

  Hardcast bullets will shoot 200fps or so faster compared to similar weight jacketed bullets with less pressure. Can even go up to 300fps faster if you up the charge to equal the pressure of the jacketed round, but why bother, the 180g-200g FNGC hardcasts will shoot through any elk you see, if they start out at 1500-1600fps. The faster you start a jacketed HP the more it expands and the less it penetrates, not so with good hardcasts. I would not take a chance and shoot a once in a Bull/Cow with a 240g xtp at any speed, never mind 1800fps. .360"dia .280 meplat, 185g FNGC @ 1600 and I would not pass on a Buffalo inside 100yds 
  That barrel sounds like a keeper.
   How loud is that thing when it goes bang. 

[klong]

The elk trip is the main reason behind the cast bullets. I will likely take the FA 454 Casull anyway. If I also draw a mule deer, I would consider carrying the 357 max. The only elk I shot, was with rifle, was a cow running through the timber 60 yards away. It is a challenging shot with a rifle, so carrying a handgun would be something different. I will shoot some practice, but do not have the oppurtunity to practice the running shots. I wish there was an easy way to do that. I will not pull the trigger unless I feel a high probability of hitting the vituals. 

Dusty, dead is dead and I no longer own a 14" 44 mag, just the 10" 44 mag. I am looking for a 100 yard or less load and do not feel that I have to go to the max velocity. I am close to the max, within 1 gr,  charge according to the books. I did not chrono any of the loads since it was overcast skys.

[Dusty Miller]

I wuz just josh'n ya there about kill'm deader!  It looks to me like you are good to go with just what you have.

[klong]

Dusty, I felt the tug on my leg, the one you were pulling.

I shot the gun again today and changed to the CCI 450 primers and shot three shots under 1/2" at fifty yards. Then shot two more, of the same load,  at 100 yards at 1 1/2". I know all this may be luck, but I do not think so.

I also shot my 10" 44 mag with 3 shots touching at 50 yards. I shot 5 different loads and 3 different bullets, all jacketed,  and all shot good. There were a couple of better loads that showed up though. The 12" 357 max has noticably less recoil. I can't wait to get my Beartooth cast bullets in to try.  I will let you know how they do.

My best loads were with H110 powder and Hornady 180 HPXTP. 

[atcron]

I have a Contender 357 MAX 14" that I have played around getting some loads for and have had some pretty good results trying H110 and IMR4227.  My bullet's of choice were Hornady 180gr XTP,  the Hornady 180gr SSP, and Cast Performance 200gr WLNGC.
The loads were chronographed at 10 feet from the muzzle with ranges from 25, 50, and 100 yds.
On the 180gr XTP bullets I seat them out to the second canalur since the 357 MAX SAMMI spec is a very long throat in the chamber. The Cast Performance 200gr WLNGC and 18 1/5 gr IMR4227 gives an average of 1652 fps 1" group at 50 yds and 2 1/5 at 100 yds.  The Hornady 180gr XTP and 18 1/5 gr IMR4227 gives average of 1426 fps 1" group at 25 yds and 1 1/5 " at 100 yds.
The Hornady 180gr SSP gives an average of 1408 fps 1/4" group aat 25 yds and 2" at 100 yds.
H110 is also a very good powder for the two Hornady bullets, 20 grs H110 and the 180 SSP gave a 3/4" group at 25 yds and 1 1/5" at 50 yds  with 1815 fps avgerage.
The 180 XTP with 20 grs of H110 gives 1844 fps average with 1 1/8" groups at 25 yds.
I have tried quite a few different combinations but I feel that this calliber really likes the Imr4227 the best with H110 coming in second place.  I installed a Leupold 2X on this barrel before I started all this with the intention of using it for OHIO whitetail and have no doubt that it will do the job with any of these mentioned combinations.  Good luck and good shooting.  Ron

[atcron]

What was I thinking on the 18 1/5 ?  It's 18 1/2   or any place that you see 1/5 it's 1/2   SORRY>  Ron

[klong]

Thanks for the information, atcron. When I get done I will publish my best loads. I went today and shot at lunch. This 12" barrel and the 357 max shoot really well. I shot a repeat of the 2 best loads today and at 50 yards one was 1/2" and the other was 3/4". I believe this set up would would tighter than that if I could hold tighter.

[7bru]

yoou might want to try some lil'gun powder.  excellent velocity with a 12 inch barrel and 180 xtp.   2100 fps .  accuracy was 1 1/2 inches at 100 yards  BRU