[DonT]

I was considering trying the Siloutte shooting this spring since I have acuired a 357 Max barrel for my TC.

Can you shoot jacketed bullets or are you limited to cast? In other shooting sports I have been in they all required cast only to keep from tearing up the targets.

I looked on a few sites but could not find anything indicating if jackets were allowed. Figured I better check before spending a lot of time working up loads only to find out I am using the wrong bullets...

Thanks,
Don

 

[Sixgun]

DonT,

You need to check with the club that you intend to shoot silhouettes with. Some ranges will allow the use of jacketed bullets and some will not. Like you have said, it depends on what type of damage to the targets they will allow.

I shoot NRA Field Pistol at the Nampa Rod and Gun club in Nampa, Idaho. Since the targets are 1/2 size with the rams at 100 meters, the 357 max is not legal but I shoot a 44 mag on the same range for cowboy silhouette and finding a load that was accutare and not dent the targets was a chore. I setteled on a 240gr Lee cast with a gas check over 8 gr Unique. I cast it out of range lead which is mostly 22 bullet lead. Over my Chrony it goes 1120fps. It does ding the chickens al little but the most complaints that I get from it is that it hits the chickens so hard, it burries them in the berm.

Most of the other guys use jacketed HP bullets and they don't do much damage either.

I hope this helps.

If you come up with a good accurate load for the Max barrel, post it. I have a 10 inch Max barrel and haven't had time to work up a good load for it yet. Mine will be used mostly for hunting deer and antalope.

Sixgun :grin:

 

[Graybeard]

I moved this one to the newly established IHMSA Forum which is a more appropriate venue for it and should get more responses.

GB

 

[DonT]

Sixgun

Will do on the load. Unfortunately in my part to the country all the outdoor ranges are closed for the year.

My last and only trip to the range with this barrel was this last weekend. Tossed together some quick loads using H110/20 gr to 21.5 gr (in 1/2 grain increments) pushing a Hornady 158gr FP Jacket with Winchester small pistol primers. Besides the temps being in the low 30's and 10-15 mph cross winds the loads didn't perform well.. Tried bullet seated to the Cannure then out about 20 thous. then a second set out another 20 thous. (but still not touching the rifling).

So far best group was about 1.5" at 25 yds which is pretty poor I think. I did not put much of crimp on them and there was a fair amount of powder flakes left behind.

Think I am gonna pick up some W296 or W680 and give this a go with some CCI Mag. Rifle primers. Got all winter to load, if I get gutsy I might take it to one of the indoor ranges for go.

The barrel is a Bellm and has a muzzle brake built into it along with some cooling fins cut into it (ala thompson submachinegun style) to help with cooling. Barrel is 10" (aprox) with another 2" of muzzlebrake. Bought it used and inside is great, bluing on the brake is pretty much gone. Since I I shoot is targets I am beginning to wonder if I would not have been better off looking for a 14" super without the brake... Oh well, if I don't like it I can alway use it for trading stock....

Have a great Thanksgiving... DonT

 

[Hammer47]

If Don is not interested in the Hornet bbl I might be. Let me know... Regards

 

[Steve P]

357 max



I used a 10" max for several years in big bore silhouette. 158s will NOT consistenly take the Rams, no matter how fast you try to push them. I had my best success with 200 and 210 grain cast bullets. Healthy dose of AA1680 and Rem 7 1/2 primers. A buddy of mine used the same load. A friend used same bullerts, but AA #9 powder. My gun recoil was neglible and I never lost an animal that was touched by a bullet. My loads were doing about 1350.

Steve

 

[DonT]

Sorry Hammer47, sounds like that one is comin to roost at my house...

DonT :-D

 

[# 566]

He listed that the BBl is a Bellem and has a break, so it's limited to BB and unlimited and unlimited standing. I'm sure that any local match director would let him use it in F/P if he used Mag. veloicy loads in either mag or max cases.
Don T, to get away from the muzzel blast of the ball powders, you will need to use 180-200 gn jacketed or the 180-200 gn. cast bullets
yoiu might try either SR 4759 or AA 5744 in the MAX.

Since you've picked up the Hornet bbl ask for some load data