Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 357 Maximum & Bradshaw/Martin Bullet

Shot this buck on Oct. 12th at 142 yds with a 197 gr. Bradshaw/Martin cast bullet. Bullet went through both lungs & exited, buck buckled in the back end & almost went down, he started to turn around & I shot again but missed & he started running straight at me for 10-15 yds & fell over in the stubble.
Dick

Outstanding! That bullet powder coated is very impressive, especially in the 357 Maximum

Damned fine shooting, especially at that yardage. Fine work!

I like it, nice work!

Fantastic!

Great shooting and write-up as always.

Nice shooting. Can we get a pic of just the bullet?


Okie John

Very cool as usual Dick! How hard was that cast? What was the velocity?

Okie, here is a photo of some of the bullets, they are designed without a crimp groove so you deep seat them & crimp over the top driving band just slightly & it works great! We need to keep after Lipsey's to pressure Ruger & I think they will bring the 357 maximum back in stainless. We need a long range, low recoiling revolver & this is the one.

Here's a 3 shot group I shot a few days before opening day of deer season at 75 yds, shooting left handed because of surgery on my right thumb, these guns & this bullet really shoots.

Not sure on the hardness, I cast these bullets a couple of years ago but probably about a 10 BHN & the velocity usually runs about 1470 fps from the 10.5" barrels. I've probably taken about 8-9 deer now with the Maximum & I think 3, maybe 4 antelope, its THE six gun for long range work & easy recoil. We're wanting Ruger to build it in stainless & also pre drilled for a scope mount. Just have to keep asking.
World champion David Bradshaw did most of the testing on the original Maximums & he designed this bullet & he's all in on Ruger bringing the Maximum back.

Dick

Great shooting, Dick!

Great shootin pardner! That’s an Idaho heart shot.

Ya, that way I don't have to track them through all of those thick trees you see Curt.

Dick

Great Job and excellent info Dick... Congrat's!!!

Bravo! I'm becoming a believer in this cartridge.

I have a .357 Maximum, but in a 26" rifle not a revolver. I wouldn't mind a stainless Ruger to go with it.

The velocity increase with 16" more barrel is pretty impressive. I have a few of those bullets to try also, I need to shake a leg. So far the 200gr. RCBS FN and Lee 200gr. FN have returned good performance with velocities in the 1800fps neighborhood, as well as the 180 XTP. It's definitely gonna get some "air time" this season. Please pardon my showing it off.

Ruger won't bring it back out. The reason they quit making them was because of top strap cutting and throat erosion.

I had a friend several years ago who used one to shoot IHMSA. He sent it in to Ruger and they kept it,...sent him a check for the purchase price.

I don't know if they still would do that. But if you want to keep it you better not send it to Ruger for anything.

The top strap cutting was a non-issue as it stopped soon after it started.

They new that before producing the 357 Maximum revolvers because it happened on the 2 prototypes.

Good job on the buck! I like handgun hunting reports!

John is correct, there was very minor top strap cutting & then it stopped & most of that was by guys that were hot rodding light weight bullets. A few gun writers jumped on this right from the start, not knowing what they were talking about & they killed a very good cartridge. For those that shoot 158 gr bullets or bigger it's always been a non issue but the damage was done. Take one of these guns with 180 gr bullets & it will last a life time of hunting & do it at distance & with recoil that your granddaughter can tolerate.

Dick

The 375 SuperMag is another cartridge that does the low recoil/long range bit well from a revolver.

Did a fair bit of shooting with one with a 230 LBT LFN along with a 357 and a 180 FN.

And, as mentioned, Ruger will keep any .357 Maximum Blackhawks that get sent to them for any type of repair or maintenance. A friend of mind found out the hard way.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/the-357-maximum-too-hot-to-handle/

Ruger's long-framed Blackhawk was first to market in two barrel lengths. Within a few weeks, the company got so many complaints, they halted production and never resumed. Somewhere around 7,500 guns were made. Most were returned to the factory and their purchase price refunded.