So, I have a chance to buy a T/C G2 357max with a 24in. barrel. I am familiar enough with reloading tables to know that it will be a real deer thumper to at least 100yrds., probably very accurate with both pointed and large meplat type bullets. However, I could shoot 38 special and 357mag also in this barrel. I know that hard cast bullets really need to be REALLY close, if not touching, the beginning of the rifling. What about jacketed bullets? Do they need to be just about on the rifling? Also, if the case is 38 special long, and the chamber is 357max long, will I get Carbon build-up in that space? It seems like a cool caliber...kill skunks, coyotes, deer, road signs...

You're going to find it effective way past 100 yards. Basically, you've got the equivalent of a .35 Rem.

Yes, crud will build up in the chamber. This will be worse with cast bullets, and frankly I wouldn't even mess with cast bullets unless you can seat them to the lands. Jacketed bullets should not be so sensitive, but you'll have to try to be sure.

Clean the chamber with the next size up pistol brush (ie .40 or .41) chucked in a cordless drill or such, after shooting sub-loads.

Try some of the 180gr. or so WFNGC bullets from Beartooth. You will just be astonished at the tissue destruction and wound channels at rifle velocities.

My .35 Rem, with the Beartooth 185gr. "+P" handgun bullet, just kills stuff dead! 2 inches high at 100 yards is pretty well dead on at 150, and a few inches low at 175. Your .357 Max in a rifle should be very similar.

4 hogs and one deer that I can recall with that load. 3 DRTs (dead right there!) and one hog ran 8 steps with blood pouring out both sides.

Here's the pig that ran the farthest. If you've done much pig hunting, you'll recognize that a lot of external blood loss is rare. That's a testament to what the WNF cast bullets do.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info, why isn't this round more popluar? Squirrels to deer to hogs, this round sounds like it can do it all
Terry