Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots .357 Maximum

Gunswizard, I understand the xtp, that was my suggestion for going with the magnum over the max. In a carbine it’ll get all the usefulness out of the bullet and be easier to load with easier to come by components.

Sounds like a great idea to me.

Sorry didn't mean to get off topic on the lever action stuff.

I had a G2 contender with a 14” MGM BARREL IN 357 max. A great handgun hunting cartridge. I used 180 XTP. Shot some antelope with it. Worked great.

Which FB?

I’ve looked around for a Browning .357 LW to go with my .44, but .357s are scarce, and very spendy when seen. May eventually just settle for a Henry SS. With 158s at 1900 possible using Lil Gun, I’ll probably skip the re-chamber unless I decide to travel to the Midwest someday.

Swapped horses in midstream. Now going with a Winchester/Miroku Low Wall .22 rimfire re-bored to .357 and chambered for Max, and breech block converted to centerfire. Chased a couple Miroku .357 LW's recently until the bidding got stupid. With what I have in this .22, a JES rebore, and breech block conversion done by myself I'll be into it for well under a grand. With its 24" half-octagon barrel it oughta be pretty snazzy.

I d/t'ed the top barrel flat for Unertl scope blocks already, so with that setup it should make for a fun 100-200 yard target gun with cast bullet loads, and with the original scope mounts re-installed it'll become a handy hunting rifle, I think.

If I want to get carried away, a pistol grip stock from CPA will be do-able.

--my birthday present to myself for turning 69!

Has anyone used the 158gr XTP FP? It has a higher expansion velocity range than the 180 XTP HP. Intended for the higher speeds of rifles. Might be the ticket for a .357 Max.

A ten inch Contender in 357 Max was my Illinois deer gun and I took a handful of deer with it. it worked as well as my 44 Mag barrel that I used previously. My Max load was the 180 XTP 296 powder MV 1550 if I recall.

That bullet works well in the Maxi. I would limit velocity to 2200 fps though.

Is there any real world difference and the old 357 Max and the new 350 Legend

those 150gr core lokt are the boss in a single shot pistol
bet they would work great in a 350 legend

The Legend is basically a rimless Max. The Legend is therefore available in guns like the AR.

The Legend uses .356" diameter bullets. Unless the chamber throat was cut generously or .358" bullets are resized smaller they probably won't chamber. YMMV but that's what I have found to be the case.

Thanks, Dinny

Looking for a 357 maximum contender barrel

I scored a can of 357 Max magic dust at Cabela's yesterday (AA1680). Now to load it up with some 180 gr XTP's.

I just received a MGM 12” contender max barrel and a bag of brass in the mail today. My reloading shop has a bunch of 180 nosler that I’m gonna feed it. Sounds like the max is an effective deer killing machine

Where did you find brass?

I have had five of those things. They multiply faster than rabbits!! Be careful if ya put one of them in the safe the next time you open the safe there will be more of them!!

.002" diameter. Ballistically; no


I took an antelope about 15 yrs ago with a United Sporting Arms 357 Max revolver. I permanently damaged my hearing that day. It is loud due to the high pressure. 48K I think

I had one of the Rugers for a very short time, it sucked even with ear plugs in. I think the only revolver I ever shot louder than it was a 30 carbine.... talk about an ear splitter.

Knowing what they're worth now though, I wish I would have hung onto the Max for another 10-15 years.

This is my LGS, he picked up a bunch of reloading stuff, I think he has 357 Max dies, PM me if you want his number... OR I can go dig through the stuff...............

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/928029673