357 magnum to a 357 maximum

R

Randyralph

New member
Good day all,
I have a 357 magnum in a H&R handy rifle, and I was wondering what would be involved in changing it to a 357 Maximum, and if it would be worth the cost.
Has anyone done this?
Thanks
Randy
 
It would be easy enough if you want to spring for the cost of the reamer. But the last time I checked, .357 Maximum brass was being made from unobtainium, so I am not sure what the conversion would gain.

Jim
 
As Jim mentions, 357 Max brass is getting hard to find, and at the prices asked it seems ridiculous to go out of your way to build a rifle that requires it. If you are intent on building a faster 357, have you considered a 357 Herrett or a 357-44 Bain-Davis? Either one will give you better velocity than the 357 Maximum, and the 357 B-D is very easy to form brass for.
 
Thanks for the replies,
I have never heard of the 357 Bain Davis, so I will need to research it. What type of brass is used to form it?
Thanks
Randy
 
I have never heard of the 357 Bain Davis, so I will need to research it. What type of brass is used to form it?
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.357 B-D is formed from 44 Mag brass by running it into a sizing die. One step, no trimming or reaming. Load data is in the Hornady Handbook Of Cartridge Reloading 7th Edition reloading manual. A simple, one-step method to launch 160 gr bullets at 2,100 fps.:D
 
This maybe a stupid question, but do you run it through a 357 sizing die, or do you need a 357 B-D sizing die. This is starting to sound like a good project for the winter months. @ 2100 fps that would make it legal here for hunting game. Thanks again
Randy
 
The 357 max reamer will not make as good a job as the much cheaper .380" straight fluted reamer and a throater.

If I had a 357 mag handi rifle barrel, I would do that.
 
But the last time I checked, .357 Maximum brass was being made from unobtainium, so I am not sure what the conversion would gain.
Click to expand...
357 Max brass is getting hard to find, and at the prices asked it seems ridiculous
Click to expand...
357 Maximum brass has been and is still available from Remington. $25 for a box of 100 to $386 for a box of 2000 from Midway.

Jim
 
357 Max Brass

I just bought some 357 Max brass from Midway for $24.49 for 100 a couple of weeks ago. I use it in my Dan Wesson and 10" & 14" contenders for hunting whitetail.
 
I picked up some more 357max brass direct from Remington. They replaced some that split on me.

When I talked to the guys at Remington about the splitting problem, they told me that I must have gotten some badly annealed brass so they replaced it. They also told me that Max brass is made from the same stock as 223 brass (if I understood what he said) and that it should be readily available in the future.

It is a great round, just you have to work within its limits. I find my Max's like hot loads, and heavy bullets. 158's are as light as I like to go. 180 Lead work great and now are my favorites, but 180 grn FMJ's seem to be the most accurate for punching paper out of the DW Supermag.
 
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