papaperch
11-14-2005, 11:05 PM
Any you guys hunt with the .357 Rem Max ? Gun writers killed this cartridge a few years back. Unfounded statements like kicks like a 44 mag and kills like a 357 mag. One article I read complained of loosening scope mounts.
In a revolver , this cartridge was bad. Its hot ignitions would eat out the forcing cone. I was using a 44 mag and decided to get the 357 Max barrel for my thompson contender. I played with a lot of different loads until I found the right combination.Since a single shot has no forcing cone this eventually turned out to be an outstanding deer cartridge for pistol hunters.
Most of the " experts " suggested the 180 grain single shot pistol bullet. The groups were fairly impressive but really dropped hard after 150 yards. I finally settled on a 150 grain semi spitzer that was actually for the 35 Remington.
Recoil using this load was moderate with a sharper crack than my 44 mag loads. To this day I have yet to have any problems with my mounts. Makes you wonder how much some of these gun writers trully know.
As far as performance I have had 4 1 shot kills with it . 2 does and 2 bucks . I have not had an oppurtunity past forty yards.I have target shot it out to 200 yards and it will group @ 4-41/2 inch at that range. We were using two 8 x 8 landscaping timbers as a stop. We had to re-enforce with a railroad tie as the 150 grainer was blowing through both of the 8 X 8 which amazed me.
If you guys have any pet loads you would like to share for this cartridge reply to post.
In a revolver , this cartridge was bad. Its hot ignitions would eat out the forcing cone. I was using a 44 mag and decided to get the 357 Max barrel for my thompson contender. I played with a lot of different loads until I found the right combination.Since a single shot has no forcing cone this eventually turned out to be an outstanding deer cartridge for pistol hunters.
Most of the " experts " suggested the 180 grain single shot pistol bullet. The groups were fairly impressive but really dropped hard after 150 yards. I finally settled on a 150 grain semi spitzer that was actually for the 35 Remington.
Recoil using this load was moderate with a sharper crack than my 44 mag loads. To this day I have yet to have any problems with my mounts. Makes you wonder how much some of these gun writers trully know.
As far as performance I have had 4 1 shot kills with it . 2 does and 2 bucks . I have not had an oppurtunity past forty yards.I have target shot it out to 200 yards and it will group @ 4-41/2 inch at that range. We were using two 8 x 8 landscaping timbers as a stop. We had to re-enforce with a railroad tie as the 150 grainer was blowing through both of the 8 X 8 which amazed me.
If you guys have any pet loads you would like to share for this cartridge reply to post.