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Author Topic: 357 Maximum in a Blackhawk revolver?  (Read 3783 times)

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Offline wildman

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357 Maximum in a Blackhawk revolver?
« on: November 21, 2002, 05:55:14 AM »
Alright, maybe GB or someone having experience with this round will chime in on this.  I suppose these are mainly for collectors, but I have recently noticed some Blackhawk's chambered in 357 Maximum for sale at different places.  Now, I know the 357mag is considered by many to be marginal or an expert's gun  :excuseme: (depending upon how you look at it) at hunting whitetails, but what about the 357max?  I suppose you could load 180 or 200 grain bullets and get more velocity out of the Max.  How would recoil compare to a 44mag?  Would you get a little more muzzle flip than with a 44?  It would take a lot of 'wanting' to fork out the $600 it seems most are asking for these.  Would you also be able to shoot 357mags and 38spec through the gun?  This might provide a little more incentive to look at it, as I do not roll my own yet.  The gun and cartridge have just gotten up my curiousity a bit, and I was hoping someone could inform me a little on both.  Thanks.
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The intruder turns around slowly, sees both barrels, and hears a low-deep voice say "Son, the left one's iron and the right one's steel, if the left one don't get you, the right one will"

Offline 475/480

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357 MAX
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2002, 08:53:07 AM »
THE 357 MAX IS TO THE 357 MAG AS THE 445 DAN WES IS TO THE 44MAG LOTS MORE VELOCITY AND POWER  NOT A BAD IDEA, BUT IMO BUY ONE ONLY TO SEND TO CUSTOM SHOP FOR REFIT TO 475 LINEBAUGH MAXIMUM :lol:
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Offline Tony D

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Ruger Mazimum
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2002, 09:58:44 AM »
I'm surprised to hear you are seeing Rugers chambered for the 357 max.  They are supposed to be rare as hen's teeth.  

John Linebaugh used these revolvers for the 475 and 500 Linebaugh Maximums.  Not sure if he is still doing these chamberings as they represent about the maximum in recoil tolerance for a human being.  John Taffin said shooting these beasts takes tremendous strength and concentration.

How's that for straying from your original topic? :-)

BTW, where are you finding these revolvers?  Might be a market for them!
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Tony D ><>

Offline wildman

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357 Maximum in a Blackhawk revolver?
« Reply #3 on: November 21, 2002, 10:22:45 AM »
I've seen some on the different gun auction sites.  Don't know any individuals that currently own one, or else could probably do at least a little better with them.
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The intruder turns around slowly, sees both barrels, and hears a low-deep voice say "Son, the left one's iron and the right one's steel, if the left one don't get you, the right one will"

Offline Bullseye

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357 Maximum in a Blackhawk revolver?
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2002, 12:36:17 PM »
I have one in a Contender.  It is one of the most accurate straight wall cartriges I have ever shot.  I have shot quite a few deer with it and it does very well.  With a 180 Gr. XTP you can get about 1600 fps.

I have only seen one Ruger recently and it was $650.  Ruger quit making them because the gas in front of the cylinder would slowly eat away the top strap.  From what I have read, this would stop after a while and the guns were safe to shoot.  But you know how the legal system works, can't take a chance.

It kicks less than a 44 mag.  I think it is a great round and will always have one in a Contender.  The Ruger, I don't know about, it would be a cool round to have in a revolver but not sure it is worth the cost.
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Offline Steve P

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357 Maximum in a Blackhawk revolver?
« Reply #5 on: December 13, 2002, 07:04:52 AM »
:D   The Blackhawk in 357 rem max are getting harder to find.  If you get one, DO NOT send it to Ruger.  They will keep it and won't send it back.  They say the top strap cutting is unsafe.  I have yet to hear of one blowing appart.  These guns go for some big $$.. Around here, Seattle area, you rarely see one for under $1000.   People buy them up because of the long cylinder and make custom guns out of them.    My DW in 357sm pushes a 200 gr cast bullet at 1350.  Recoil is minimal and I would not hesitate to use it on deer or bear (blacks).

If you can get one for $600, go buy it.

Steve
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Offline Husker

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357 Maximum in a Blackhawk revolver?
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2002, 06:48:21 AM »
Well, I guess these folks just don't know what they have, but a local gunshop has had one of these Ruger .357 Maximum SBH revolvers on their shelf for about 4 weeks now with a price tag of $475.  I've looked the gun over and it doesn't even look like its been shot, no cutting of the topstrap at all.  Anyone that's interested, I can give you more information about who to contact.  Just send me an email.  

NOTE:  Gun is no longer available.  Some lucky sob snagged it!
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Offline Mikey

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Cutting top straps
« Reply #7 on: December 20, 2002, 08:04:52 AM »
You folks speak to the concern of cut top straps on some of the Ruger handguns in the newer and heavier calibers like the 475 and 480 and the like as though the top strap will peel back and the revolver come apart at the next firing.

I don't quite understand.  S&W went through this with some of it's medium frame 357 magnums in the late 60s and 70s.  They found it was more an 'etching' caused by the faster burning powders then used to get the higher velocites with the lightweight bullets.  They also found it had no effect on the handgun whatsoever and these things just continued to shoot, shoot and shoot.

I wonder if we are not seeing something similar here.  Those big bores may not be using the faster buring powders but with some of the velocities achieved from these 'biguns', I'm wondering if you are not seeing the same effect - that is, basically an etching or even a 'scribing' on the underside of the topstrap.

Question for you folks is whether any of those Rugers or Taurus revolvers have 'failed' as a result or whether the 'gas cutting' has been so severe as to render one of those pistols unsafe.  In other words, is it a failure on the part of the product to continue to be safely operable or is it a failure on the part of the shooter to understand the actions of burning powders and  gases and what effect they may or may not have on functional reliability?

Just kinda curious here.  Mikey.
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