As posted before, I have been playing around with a NEF that was rechambered to .357 Max. After looking at posts all over the web, I decided that it seemed that loaders were using too fast a powder for the 180/200 gr bullets for the 22" barrel.
I tried RE7 and got very good accuracy with the "Tried & True" Rem. 200 gr CL..........but the case did not hold enough powder to get the velocity up to where I felt it could go. I then went one the fast side with LilGun........too much pressure.
I then bought IMR 4227........filled the case to the base of the bullet when the crimp groove was at the cae mouth......22.5 grs.
Across the chrono (15') for an avg of 1927'/". This is more than the .35 Rem factory load run. I am sure that one could go to 2000'/" without pressure, but at the 1976'/" the rifle cuts ragged holes at 50 yards. I plan to go up yo the range and give it a workout at 100 yards.........James

James,

I did quite a bit of work with pointed bullets in my standard .357 NEF with Lil'Gun, H4227 and H110. I was using .360 Dan Wesson brass, but never did get acceptable accuracy until I switched to 800X and a taper crimp. A 180 gr XTP with 800X will shoot 1" groups at 100 yards at 1670 fps.

It's quite possible the taper crimp may have allowed the other loads to shoot better, but I never did go back and check.

I used the seating punch out of my .35 Whelen dies for the pointed bullets in the .357 Mag die and a Lee taper crimp die in a separate crimping operation.

James, Keep us posted on your 4227 loads at 100yards. The 25.3 grains of RL-7 is giving 1" 5 shot groups at 100 yards using Keith style gas checked linotype with grand daughter shooting, 1.5" with me shooting out of her Martini Cadet. Barrel is a BSA mod 12 barrel that has been re-bored and re-rifled then hand lapped. Barrel has been cut to 22' and straight tapered to .600" at the muzzle. Haven't shot this load over a Chrono, so can't give any velocity readings, but the cases just drop out of the action and show no signs of swelling. from the felt recoil I would judge the load is at least equal to the .35 Rem factory loads or better.

Lee L.

I'm still shooting Winchesters 296 powder in my N.E.F. rechambered 357 Maximum. I'm also shooting the Hornady 180 gr. SSP bullet at just over 2,000 fps. and am getting 3-shots to stay consistantly within a 1" circle at 100 yards. My reamer is also an Elgin Gates "MATCH" reamer that has both, a tighter and shorter throat than what "standard" reamers cut. This reamer has always turned out exceptionally accurate chambers in the N.E.F. as well as the T/C Contender....

D/A

One thing for sure.......it's was hard to get those Rem 200 gr CL RN bullets to seat absolutely inline. When I went to partial neck sizing and a slight crimp.........the group tighten up.
My next project id to copy the old Balled long with a cast bullet around 150 gr down to a velocity about 900'/".......for a small game load. If anyone has a small game load let me know!
I hear lots of talk about various XTP's and Hornady's, but I know what that Rem 200 gr CL at 2000'/" will do on deer and hogs........the others???????
This is a meat gun, pure and simple......If it will shoot into 3"(hot or cold barrel) that is good enough for the range it was designed for. Looking at the cluster groups at 50 yards......it should do good at 100.
I wish I could have had it rechambered with Elgin's design reamer though......James Gates @ Dixie Slugs

Hello Deer Assassin......Do you happen to know the land/droove specs that NEF is using on their 7.62x39 Russian.....is it .3085" the groove or .311"/312"?......Thanks, James

If you want a hog load, try these.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y121/Paul5388/360DWwith357and44Mag.jpg

That's 180 gr XTPs in .360 DW brass, 250 gr Beartooths (sized at .359") in .360 brass, 250 gr Beartooth in .357 brass and a .44 Mag. The 250s in .360 brass are loaded at 2.15", which is plenty long for a Max chamber. :D Of course, I load them a little shorter now at 1.93", just to ensure they will unchamber. They'll all (except the .44 :) ) group at about 1" at 100 yards out of my 22" Handi rifle.

Mr. Gates,

I have not had an N.E.F. 7.62X39 in my hands so I could not say what the exact bore and groove diameter is that they are using...

If you can come up with another 357 Mag. barrel for your N.E.F., I'll use my Elgin Gates reamer in 357 Max. to rechamber your barrel. I'll rechamber your barrel at no charge to you if you'll just pay the return shipping charges....

D/A