Author Topic: .357 Mag,,,"not" Max??? (Read 1195 times)

alan in ga · « **on:** February 09, 2009, 03:24:22 AM »

I've reamed one Handi from 357 Mag to .357 Maximum. That was a dozen years ago or so. I now have another Handi in .357 Mag,,,,and so far have decided to NOT ream it to Maximum. It is so much fun as it is, and I guess I'll consider reaming it out one day, but for now,,,it's just a lot of fun "as is".
.38 Spl target loads are really nice,,,,shooting like as though they are the CBs of the .35 bore.
I have the hardened receiver version Handi so reaming would be ok. Something just keeps me from the Max conversion though, even though the throat would be better [possibly]. Actually this Handi is shooting great with it's factory chamber.
What are your opinions of leaving as is, or doing the Maximum conversion?

mdi · « **Reply #1 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:50:34 AM »

Personally, I'd leave it as is. The .357 mag. can be loaded low for light plinking loads or really hot for some serious game loads. I've also heard (not confirmed) that Maximum brass is getting hard to find. If you feel like the 357 mag. ain't enough, sell it to me! I've only got one 357 mag., a pistol, and of course I could use one in a rifle.

krod47nw · « **Reply #2 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:56:10 AM »

How do 38s, and 357s shoot in the one that is reamed? If they shoot good, ream this one to 35 remington.

Kevin

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:28:54 AM »

Max brass was made seasonally by Remington, but apparently they've quit making it. $:-\$

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,150891.msg1098633717.html#msg1098633717

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** February 09, 2009, 05:33:00 AM »

I have three .357s one is a max, the other two will stay magmuns they both shoot very well and plinking is one of the best things for them so yea leave one alone.

PHATINJUN · « **Reply #5 on:** February 09, 2009, 06:08:39 AM »

Alan I have left my mag at mag and if I want a little more I have been using 360DW brass with pretty good success and it's not much less than the max. Check your chamber and see what ya got . Mine is only a few turns of a reamer short of max and I just don't think there is enough dif to justify the reamer rental. Nothing against those who love thier maxi's but mine where it's at is still very much fun. Kurt

cwlongshot · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2009, 07:29:46 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on February 09, 2009, 05:28:54 AM

Max brass was made seasonally by Remington, but apparently they've quit making it. $:-\$

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,150891.msg1098633717.html#msg1098633717

I dont know if this is true or not. But when this first came up, I looked for brass and everyplace I buy from (online) had it. Even my locak Cabelas had a couple hundred on the shelf. Its a single shot handi we are speaking about here.. 100 cases is a LIFETIME SUPPLY!!!

I LOVE my maxi, I think I mentioned that before.

I wouldn't be with out it. I just made it even better with a long time favorite scope all revamped with a new reticule and a full legnth forend. I carefully refit it to its origional receiver and and new forend. Now I am going to work on the butt as the older H&R's had awefull drop in the stocks. Even with a newer palletwood monte carlo stock. I have to lift my bead a bit more than I like. I am going to raise the comb with the addition of some wood. Then reshape and refinish the stock. I'll yake plenty of pics along the way and post up when I am done.

The 357Mag is nice, but I say go for the Maxi!!

CW

quickdtoo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:05:26 AM »

I checked Midsouth, Grafs and Midway this am, none have max brass in stock now, so both people that contacted Remington in that thread that were told they don't make it any more may very well be right, or the people that told them that were referring to Max ammo instead of brass. The only max ammo I've found is reloaded from Reed's, factory Dan Wesson from Bullseye and Grizzly brand ammo.

Tim

pricecw · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2009, 10:57:35 AM »

I just ordered some from Cabelas, if I remember right they had 100pks, 500 bulk, and 1000 bulk in stock. Checked the other places Tim mentioned first, and none had it. I ordered a 500 bulk for my two H&R maxies, figuring that would carry me for quite a while.

Now I just need somewhere to get 460 S&W brass cheap!

--Carl

SM Bob · « **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2009, 03:37:56 PM »

Thanks for the heads up on the Maxi brass at Cabela's! I have one of my receivers at
the factory getting fitted with a 357 Mag barrel. It's anyone's guess when I'll get it
back, but when I do I don't want to be S.O.L. in getting some Maxi brass. I ordered
200 for now. That should hold me over until Remington makes another run.

Robert

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2009, 02:08:15 AM »

It won't last long if people start to horde!

Honestly 100 rounds would last you about a lifetime if you just shoot out a box of twenty and then reload that same shot brass until it wears out then start loading up another twenty so on and so forth.

There are other plinkers out there that are cheap and more readily available, and you can still shoot .357 and .38 special rather than shooting up all your brass just because you can, and to only punch holes in paper?

That's why all the shooting supplies now you can't find is everyone is in panic mode trying to get theirs first.

Soooo....Under the circumstances I wouldn't ream it, and you can buy .357 ammo from buffalo bore or hot load your own with some good hunting bullets, and have a potent .357 that will take a deer down under 100 yards easy.

That said, I've got about 70 cases untouched new brass, and 30 cases loaded, and no intention of buying any more, so horde away guys!

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:06:10 AM »

I was starting to panic, but have 300 new and found 50 loaded in a gun shop. I think I'll be fine $:-\$ but am going to keep looking in the shops. Plus I haven't even reamed a barrel yet! DP

pricecw · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:09:12 AM »

Quote from: Jimbo47 on February 10, 2009, 02:08:15 AM

It won't last long if people start to horde!

Honestly 100 rounds would last you about a lifetime if you just shoot out a box of twenty and then reload that same shot brass until it wears out then start loading up another twenty so on and so forth.

I figure that is pretty low, I tend to shoot 100-200rds when I go out, figure 20 is no where near enough to have loaded up. I figured that 500 cases would give me good life, sort of what you are talking about. I will probably settle on a load, and keep all 500 ready. Be able to take 100 out to punch paper, sit and shoot ground squirrels, what have you.

--Carl

Jimbo47 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:32:40 AM »

Maybe an Email campaign or some phone calls to Remington couldn't hurt anything, and if they get enough request from us Maximum shooters they'll maybe reconsider making a few runs of brass now and then.

Like that old saying about the squeeking wheel getting the grease!

Email sent

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:46:48 AM »

there's a couple gunbroker auctions with max brass. There were three but I just wiped out the 128 once fired for $28 shipped

what's the skinny on the max reamer

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:38:33 AM »

I've had about 500 max cases for awhile I may get couple hundred more just in case, but I am finding .360 DW brass is hard to get, I guess I'll order straigt from Starline.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:53:55 AM »

Quote from: krochus on February 10, 2009, 09:46:48 AM

what's the skinny on the max reamer

A max reamer can be rented from GBO sponsor 4D, info on hand reaming can be found in the FAQs.

Tim

http://www.4-dproducts.com/

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2009, 11:01:15 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on February 10, 2009, 10:53:55 AM

Quote from: krochus on February 10, 2009, 09:46:48 AM
what's the skinny on the max reamer

A max reamer can be rented from GBO sponsor 4D, info on hand reaming can be found in the FAQs.

Tim

http://www.4-dproducts.com/

I was thinking there was a GBO "communal" max reamer that was floating around.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2009, 11:03:43 AM »

There was, but that's ancient history as is the member that was sharing it who hasn't been here for over three years.

Tim

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2009, 11:10:54 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on February 10, 2009, 11:03:43 AM

There was, but that's ancient history as is the member that was sharing it who hasn't been here for over three years.

Tim

that sounds bout right, since I haven't hung around much since then. I guess I'll just rent from 4d again.

Thanks

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** February 10, 2009, 11:24:09 AM »

Quote from: krochus on February 10, 2009, 11:10:54 AM

that sounds bout right, since I haven't hung around much since then. I guess I'll just rent from 4d again.

Thanks

Whatever happened to jerkface11? You guys used to shoot together, he hasn't posted for over a year.

Tim

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #21 on:** February 10, 2009, 11:30:14 AM »

Quote from: quickdtoo on February 10, 2009, 11:24:09 AM

Quote from: krochus on February 10, 2009, 11:10:54 AM
that sounds bout right, since I haven't hung around much since then. I guess I'll just rent from 4d again.

Thanks

Whatever happened to jerkface11? You guys used to shoot together, he hasn't posted for over a year.

Tim

he sold off all his handi stuff and got into Savages and ar15's. Which I did too but I'm getting back into handi's again to a limited extent "rimmed only".

quickdtoo · « **Reply #22 on:** February 10, 2009, 01:07:18 PM »

Thanks, I was just curious, hoped nothing happened to him.

Tim

cwlongshot · « **Reply #23 on:** February 10, 2009, 03:49:19 PM »

Quote from: krochus on February 10, 2009, 11:10:54 AM

Quote from: quickdtoo on February 10, 2009, 11:03:43 AM
There was, but that's ancient history as is the member that was sharing it who hasn't been here for over three years.

Tim

that sounds bout right, since I haven't hung around much since then. I guess I'll just rent from 4d again.

Thanks

Fred over there at 4D makes it very easy!!

I ordered two reamers myself this AM!! A 38-55 for fix the throat on my Handi TGT and a 454 Casull to ream my 45Colt handi out... She is going magnum VERY soon!!!

CW

Uncle Ji · « **Reply #24 on:** February 12, 2009, 02:05:19 AM »

I'm totally happy leaving my 357 mag as is, I have 3000 rounds of 38 special to burn and maybe after I'm done I may consider reaming but if the Max brass is no longer available then the 360 DW makes more sense. Then again i'll have all that 38 brass lying around, and this gun shots 38 so well I so just may leave it be.