222 gr. bullet in 357 MAX.

[Ben]

I have an NOE mold , 360 " dia., 230 gr. RF, RG - 2 HP, Mould .
I originally purchased it for application in my 358 Win. It is very accurate ( and powerful ) in my 358 Win.

I've been reading a good bit on the 357 MAX. and find that many others ,years ago, experimented with bullets up to and including 250 grs. for knocking down rams in competition with the 357 MAX.

My curiosity got the best of me and I decided I had to try some.
I found data for a 220 gr. bullet in the MAX.
The data that I found list 18.5 grs. of IMR 4227 as a top load in a revolver.
Today, I loaded 5 rounds with 17.5 grs. of IMR 4227 with my 222 gr. bullet that will be shot in my Ruger # 1. Chambers smoothly. I'll shoot these on my next trip to the range.

Ben

 

[Rick]

That heavy for caliber bullet is a great way to go. The Maxi was born for heavy for caliber bullets.

 

[Ian]

Cool. When does Mastodon season open in Alabama?

 

[Ben]

Right around the corner, and it looks like I'm ready ............
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Ian,

What do you think that one would do to the front shoulder of a big white-tail ? ?

 

[Ian]

I think it would spare you having to worry about grinding shoulder meat. COWW+2% tin, air-cooled, about 1700 fps if you can get that much speed out of it, nice cup point, probably won't actually ruin too much meat but will put the smack-down on Bambi without making any goofy u-turns or deflections.

 

[Ben]

Pretty much my views also ! !..............

 

[Brother_Love]

Ben,
May be a good day to shoot with that cold front coming through, mid to upper 80s with low humidity.

I wish I was healed enough to shoot as I would be out there today.

Malcolm

 

[Ben]

A very rainy day here today, maybe tomorrow will be better.

Ben

 

[fiver]

I'm gonna put this load out there but the combination in no way has been book tested.
I use the saeco 248 [250+grs.] on top of AA-2230
I will say I'm a bit beyond AA-1680 max data but it's weights are where I started.

the only reason I did it was just so I could launch the plates at the clubs steel matches over the berm after they said I couldn't use the 445 or the 375 anymore.
they said no to the max too after that and as soon as I pulled out the 450 express at the next match they wouldn't even let me attempt it.

it's their own fault, they invited me.

 

[Ben]

fiver,

That certainly sounds like a " Bad Boy. "

 

[freebullet]

What do you think that one would do to the front shoulder of a big white-tail

I wouldn't shoot that type of bullet at the shoulder. Broad side, qtr away, or spine/neck is how I use hollow points, even with jax. Don't get me wrong, I love hollow points especially nice deep heavy ones like that.

That oughta put down most anything from your max either way.

 

[Ben]

Obviously, I have the same bullet in a solid from the 2 cav. mould.

 

[freebullet]

I thought you may have been joking...

 

[fiver]

I dunno...
there is a guy that recently moved to lake Havasu that used deep hollow points made from lyman molds, ww alloy, and 2% tin for about 145 years and he had nothing but 100% successful hunting trips. [with everything from a 30 carbine rifle to well you name it and he has or had two or three of them]
now from what I heard [this is probably hearsay and isn't admissible nor permutable in court mind you]
Tin is the magical ingredient that makes the bOOlits instantly swell up and fit the rifle's throat.
I might have misunderstood but it also somehow magically made them fly funny if you shot them over 1900 fps in a 10 twist barrel.
so I probably wouldn't do that.

 

[Ian]

The other magical ingredients are 4895, Dacron, and Javalina 50-50 lube. You'd be that knowledgeable and successful too if you shot so much that you shot out and rebarreled 200 rifles three or four times each, all with cast bullets. Piker.

Ben is gonna get hives....

 

[fiver]

I can see him putting me on ignore after that post.

 

[Missionary]

Sounds like a winner combination to me. If a 38-55 with 240 grainers chugging along at 1450 fps will bust shoulders of them corn crunchers then that pill in the 357 max should do right at the same.

 

[John]

I own a Handi-rifle rechambered from 357 to the Max. It likes the 358627 but really dotes on the RCBS 200 gr. I have never shot anything in it other than 296/110 but do have a can of 300 MP sitting in the corner of the shelf.

 

[JSH]

I recall David Bradshaw making a comment to me on using 4198 in the Max. Somthing to the effect of it being one of the most accurate loads he had ever used, in a Blackhawk. The down fall was it was such a slow burn and in a revolver "one needs the follow through of a dead man".
It well may be one to try in a rifle.

 

[Rick]

I used 4198 in the 454 FA revolver with excellent accuracy. PITA to load but worked so well it was worth it. Had to charge cases with a drop tube to get enough in the case. One of the keys to using such a slow powder is a heavy for caliber bullet. It takes the heavy bullet a bit longer to get moving giving the powder the chance to get burning. Another key is good neck tension, work hardened brass won't work as well.