.357mag to .357 herrett anyone?

[bill439]

thinking of converting .357 mag to .357max or .357 herrett.  Rifle shoots very well as mag.  have dies and reamers to do either one. Flip a nickel please advise, bill439

[skifastchad]

Sorry for my ignorance.  Is the herrett a 30-30 based wildcat?

[quickdtoo]

Here ya go Chad. 

Tim

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w357herr.html

Historical Notes:

Although the 30 Herrett proved a good handgun hunting cartridge when used in the 10 to 14 inch barrel of the Thompson/Center Contender single shot pistol, it needed to be improved for hunting heavy game. One solution was to neck it up to 357 caliber to take advantage of larger diameter, heavier bullets. This was done in the initial development. However, it appeared desirable to increase the powder capacity of the original 30 Herrett case and so the final design used a case length of 1.75 inches which is .15 inches longer than the 30 Herrett case. The development of the 357 Herrett was the work of Steve Herrett and gun writer Bob Melik. It was introduced as a standard caliber for the Thompson/Center pistol in 1974. Cases are made by reforming, shortening, and necking up 30-30 or 32 Winchester Special brass. The cases are fire formed to the final configuration.

General Comments:

The 357 Herrett is another example of a wildcat cartridge developed for a specific firearm and purpose where there is a gap in the commercial line of ammunition. It was intended primarily as a hunting cartridge for the heavier varieties of medium game, however it has also become quite popular among silhouette shooters. It serves both purposes well, but one must bear in mind that as a hunting cartridge, it delivers ballistics inferior to the 35 Remington fired from a rifle. While it is perfectly capable of handling large animals under average conditions, much depends on the skill of the user, something that is true of all handguns and handgun cartridges when used for hunting. The 357 Herrett is, nevertheless, one of the best of the handgun cartridges for field use on medium or small game and varmints. But all hunting success relies upon either skill or luck.

Source: Cartridges of the World

[jeepmann1948]

My nickel came up 357 Max . Probably same level of performance with easier to obtain cases.Course the Max in a Handi approaches a 35 rem factory , but Tim Has  some neat loads for the 35 Rem  that puts it right up there  close to the 356 win /358 win, which is another possibility,so many choices............ so few handis

[Swampman]

The .357/.44 Bain & Daivs is also an excellent cartridge.

[SHOOTALL]

I had both the 357 max and 357 hert. I would go with the max. as you can use 38 spl, 357 mag and 357 max . you can get factory ammo , brass is aval .

[briannmilewis]

I had both the 357 max and 357 hert. I would go with the max. as you can use 38 spl, 357 mag and 357 max . you can get factory ammo , brass is aval .

Don't forget the 360 Dan Wesson, longer than Mag, shorter than Max.

[Graybeard]

As much as I like the Herrett rounds they were designed to maximize performance in a 10" barrel on TC Contender handguns. For that purpose they are about ideal but for a rifle they don't offer a lot that others don't do as well with less work. If you want .357 Herrett performance the .35 Remngton gives it to you with factory ammo available and in a handi can be jacked to higher pressure levels to out perform the Herrett. Make it up from rimmed brass and have a rim counter bored and you have the same level of dependability. Or go to the .358 Win. or .35 Whelen for still more.

I'd not convert a .357 mag to anything as it's a perfectly fine round in it's own right and if/when you want more performance go to a larger round.

[Datil]

  I would go with a Max, That is what I did, And love it Still shoot 38 spl,and 357 Mag plus 360's
  Datil

[cwlongshot]

  I also have had all of these calibers mentioned. My love affair with the 35caliber continues. I spent years with the Herrett in my contender before buying a 10" Maxi barrel on the advice of a friend. I liked the maxi so much the Herrett went up for sale. I bought a 21" carbine barrel with the proceeds!!! Ballistic performance is a slightly less, but the easy of loading, ability of FACTORY loads, (At the time) not to mention the ability to shoot 38's, 357mags and 360 DW's puts it FAR over the top IMHO. 

I have peddled most of the contenders in favor of Handis. I currently have a factory chambered 357Maxi and I LOVE IT!!!

GO MAXIMUM!!! 

CW

[eskimo36]

Ok....I'm the black sheep.  I have a 357 Herrett in a handi because...well... I wanted one.  That was enough justification for me.  You can all talk about what is the most convenient or is the most efficient  or the easiest but that will come back to haunt you when you look through your handis if you have very many.