I havea T/C w a 12" 357Mag barrel. I'm very pleased with its performance at 50 yrds(7 shots in 2"a group) It works well with 180 grn bullits but shoots best with 158 grn. I would like to have some info on 357 maximum loads and if it is possible to convert a 357 mag to 357 maxi? Most important is can I use a .35 rifle cal .358 Hornady Interlock 180 grn Spirepoint for a better BC. I have read that they use .358 lead rounds for both .38 SP and.357 Mag. A friend and I have worked up hunting loads in the past for a 308 to get 8 shots in a 3"gp. @ 300 yrds. This is fine out West but not needed in Florida.I just converted to hand guns for hunting and would like to have max knock down power @ 75-100 yrds. Any load info on 357Mag and Maximum would be great. :confused:

Interesting! I have a slicked out NEF that was rechambered from .357 Mag to the .357 Max. I have tried various bullsts and settled on the tried and true Remington 200 CL @ 2000'/".
This matchs, and exceeds, the factory .35 Remington. The best powder I have found in the rifle is IMR 4227. Another excellent game bullet in the shorter barrels is the 180 gr Remington handgun bullet. These are excellent hog and deer bullets in the Max.
Where are you located in Florida?........Regards, James

I would check with Hornady to find out what velocity that bullet reliably expands at. 357 Magnum or Maximum may not get it moving fast enough, especially out at 100 yards. I would also check with a trajectory calculator to see if the improvement in BC really does anything at 100 yards.

I rechamber both the T/C Contender and N.E.F. 357 mag. barrels to the 357 Maximum almost everyday of the week - (except Sundays) and like Mr. Gates pointed out, this round does easily match and or beat 35 Remington factory loads...

A 12" barreled 357 Maximum would give you an easy 100 yard kill range with either 180 or 200 grain bullets....

DAW