357 Max CB loads?

[260 Striker]

It has been years since I have shot a 357 Max and my Seville revolver did not like CBs. I'm thinking about using 180s or 200 grain CB with H4227. Anyone have any favorite, accurate loads with H4227 and those weight bullets?

I have the RCBS 180 silhouette mould and two or three moulds in the 200 to 205 range. I read in the old Shooting Steel about a 205 truncated flat point and I have that mold too. Using LBT Blue lube and probably small rifle primers. Do I need to use straight linotype or water queched WW OK?

Don't know if the Ruger Max has to be loaded different that DWs or Sevilles. Any advice would be appreciated. shultza@watchtv.net

[ihmsakiwi]

Hi 260 Striker,
My Dan Wesson used to like the following loads. I cannot recall how accurate these were other than they are the loads I settled on after trying a number of powders and loads. Please check & double check these against published data before using. I do recall they werer kinder also on my neighbouring shooters than when I used W W 296. Also less powder splatter hitting the face whilst shooting which the DW and ball powders were good at.

215gr Lyman...........RP Brass, WW SR Primer, 18.0 gr AR2205 (4227 equivalent)
.RCBS 200gr............RP Brass, WW SR Primer, 18.5 gr AR2205 (4227 equivalent).

we are thinking of running a retro-shoot in the near future so I too will probably get the RCBS / NOE 200gr boolits and the D W 357 Super Mag reaquainted after about a five year stint as a safe queen.
Best of luck,
Peter.

[35isit]

260, Never used 4227 with cast boolits, always used AA1680. Small rifle primers are a must.

As far as linotype or water quenched wheel weights. We used to cast straight linotype. Had no leading and accuracy was great. Only drawback was I pushed them at about 1550fps and that load would occasionally stick a ram. The theory we came up with was the bullet was so hard and at that speed that it exploded on the target. It seemed the harder the ram was to knock over the more it happened. I never stuck any other target and I never stuck a ram I hit using it in a .357 mag case with enough powder to take rams. This was with a RCBS and a LBT molds that both weighed 180 grains.

[260 Striker]

Thanks guys for the good info. Follows along with what I read in Shooting Steel. I like AA1680 (and W680) but heard the ball powders were part of the issue with cutting the Ruger top straps and that 4227 was much kinder on the Rugers. I'm definitely playing with the heavier bullets. The lino bullets shattering on rams is something I suspected too. Softer lead got a little more push instead of shattering on the surface of the ram. Too bad we now consider the 357 Max as retro. It still is a great cast bullet cartridge but is lacking in current production guns. Good luck with your Maxes. Lynn

[Richard Pickering]

Much of the upset concerning topstrap cutting was the result of GunMagazine writers with magnumitis trying to make any cartridge match a 220 Swift. Loads using light bullets got great velocities but failed to burn all the powder. IHMSA shooters gravitated to the 180 and 200gr bullets and had far less trouble. They all cut to some degree but it did not seem to affect the DW revolvers much. The RCBS 35-200FN is one of the best. From w-w metal they would weigh 212gr. (add 6% over the nominal weight using a Linotype bullet).

[ihmsakiwi]

Thanks guys for the good info. Follows along with what I read in Shooting Steel. I like AA1680 (and W680) but heard the ball powders were part of the issue with cutting the Ruger top straps and that 4227 was much kinder on the Rugers. I'm definitely playing with the heavier bullets. The lino bullets shattering on rams is something I suspected too. Softer lead got a little more push instead of shattering on the surface of the ram. Too bad we now consider the 357 Max as retro. It still is a great cast bullet cartridge but is lacking in current production guns. Good luck with your Maxes. Lynn

Hello 260 Striker.............I do not think the round is retro..............its just that the retro shoot will be using pistol made before 1980 or so, which means F.A.'s will have to stay in the safe for the day. Regards,

Peter

[Alvin]

I had a lot of success with using 18 grains of 4227 with a 180 grain gas checked bullet in both my Dan Wesson and Ruger. I was using 60%WW and 40% lino which actually comes out at the same as the old Lyman #2 as far as lead goes. Shot this for many years. As far as top strap cutting, it only goes so far and quits...was just a gunwriters BS story that they all liked to repeat over the years...really nothing to worry about.

[260 Striker]

I had the Chimney Rock Company build me a 357 Max Seville but that thing just would not shoot cast bullets. Beautiful gun and I did manage a 38 on a Saturday using the Hornady 180s (rang two rams). Went home and loaded the 180s for C,P and T then the 200 Hornadys for rams and shot the gun in Production and got a 40. That was when my eyes were good!!!! Tried cast again and scores went down. Sold the gun and regretted it ever since.

Stumbled onto a Ruger Max about two weeks ago in 95% condition so snapped it up. Wouldn't you know it, one day later found one that appears to be new, unshot in the box so snapped that one up too. One for each hand!!!

I have several heavy (180+) moulds to try. I may use the RCBS 205 by trimming the brass back since I used it in 357 Mag with good results. Also have the RCBS 180 silhouette mould so will defintely give that a try. 205TFP and 205SWC molds look promising.

I too read the stories about the top strap cutting with ball powders but think I will work mostly with H4227 just to be safe. That powder usually works well with CBs.

Thanks for all the good info.

[jsears]

Hey Lynn..

When I was shooting my DW, I always used cast bullets. My best load was 19.5 gr of H-4227 behind a Saeco #356 200 gr gas checked bullet. I used a mixture of two parts wheel weights, and one part lino. Pretty accurate load for me and my gun with little to no leading.

Sadly, those days are gone.

Jim

[fatelvis]

18.5 grns IMR4227 under a Lyman 358627 bullet (215 grns GC). Great load, very accurate in my DW revolver and TC 12" custom barrel.