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April 9, 2015
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Just purchased a 1983 Monson Mass .357 Super Mag with a 10" Barrel. I also have about 140 rounds of Jamison .357 Maximum ammo with a 158 Grain Bullet. As soon as I shoot some of this Jamison Factory Ammo, I plan to reload this "new to me" cartridge and have a few questions.
#1. What reloading dies are you guys using for .357 Max? I have been reloading .38 Special and .357 Magnum using .38 Special Lee Dies and I am wondering if these dies will also work for .357 Max or if I am going to need to get some new dies. I have a feeling the .38 special dies just won't be long enough.
#2. I have the Sierra Reloading Manual and so I have some Data as far as powder and bullet combos, but what are you guys using? Anyone have some bullet and powder combos they are willing to share? Anyone have some chrono data they are willing to share? I will be posting my results once I get started and get he chrono set up.
#3. Do any of you shoot .357 Magnums in your Super Mags? or do you only shoot Maximum out of your Super Mags?
Thanks for any help/advice. I can not wait to christen this fine firearm!!!!!
#3. Do any of you shoot .357 Magnums in your Super Mags? or do you only shoot Maximum out of your Super Mags?
“We cannot but pity the boy who has never fired a gun; he is no more
humane, while his education has been sadly neglected.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether
they should let them hunt, I have answered, yes – remembering that it was
one of the best parts of my education – *make* them hunters.”
-Henry David Thoreau
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Dans Club
February 9, 2009
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PABowhunter,
I use .357 Maximum dies to load mine, because to your point it gets too long for the .38 dies to reach out there.
There are a lot of loads you can find on the internet for this cartridge, Sierra published many years ago and they also test fired many Dan's in the day. I have used numerous of their loads without a problem. I personally use AA-1680 and IMR-4227 for most of my loads for this round.
I never shoot .357 mags or .38 specials out of my maximum guns, they were very inaccurate when I tried it and decided it was no point in doing so. It also added additional cleaning detail getting rid of the powder line it left in the cylinder causing more difficulty in loading the maximum rounds.
Congrats on your new revolver and will eagerly await a range report.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I'll second what Supermagfan said about shooting .38's and .357mag rounds, they make cleaning more of a chore than if you shoot full length SM rounds. I have a set of 357max dies I use for the 357SM.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
DWF Supporters
April 9, 2015
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Looking at a set of Lee 357 magnum/357 Maximum dies on Midway. I use Lee Dies for all my other reloading. I guess I will order a new set. I also plan on using 158 grain and 180 grain Hornady xtp or Sierra bullets. Any of you guys using lead cast with gas checks?
Powders I have that should work are H110/W296, Alliant 2400, Accurate-1680, Alliant Power Pro-MP300,
IMR 4227 has been around not sure if I have seen it lately. I don't have any so I will try these other powders, unless you guys see some that don't work well.
“We cannot but pity the boy who has never fired a gun; he is no more
humane, while his education has been sadly neglected.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether
they should let them hunt, I have answered, yes – remembering that it was
one of the best parts of my education – *make* them hunters.”
-Henry David Thoreau
Supporter
Range Officer
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DWF Supporters
Dans Club
December 4, 2011
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I've used 2400 and H110 both work well. I can never seem to find AA1680 but I'd love to try some for my various supermags.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
My father
If a man designed it, and a man built it, then a man can fix it.
My grandfather
DWF Supporters
April 9, 2015
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AA1680 has become hard to find due to the popularity of this powder in the relatively new 300 Blackout cartridge. This is the "go to powder" for subsonic 300 Blackout in AR configurations as it is one of the few that will produce enough gas to cycle the action while pushing 200+ grain bullets around 1050 fps.
Glad to read that 2400 and H110 work well. My favorite .357 and 44 Mag powder right now is the newer Alliant Power Pro- MP 300. We will see how these different powders work for me in the coming weeks/months. First I have to shoot some of the Jamison Factory Ammo looking forward to the first trip to the range with the SUPER MAG!!!! The box shows a 158 grain bullet at 1800 fps. Looking forward to test that claim with my chrono.
“We cannot but pity the boy who has never fired a gun; he is no more
humane, while his education has been sadly neglected.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether
they should let them hunt, I have answered, yes – remembering that it was
one of the best parts of my education – *make* them hunters.”
-Henry David Thoreau
DWF Supporters
April 9, 2015
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Are you guys using Small Rifle Primers or Magnum Pistol Primers? The Sierra Guide says Small Rifle.
“We cannot but pity the boy who has never fired a gun; he is no more
humane, while his education has been sadly neglected.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether
they should let them hunt, I have answered, yes – remembering that it was
one of the best parts of my education – *make* them hunters.”
-Henry David Thoreau
April 25, 2008
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Small rifle primers only.
The Savantist
April 25, 2008
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Another powder to try is AA-4100/Ramshot Enforcer (same powder both made by Western). It's slightly slower than AA #9 but faster than H110. Very easy to meter and very clean burning. H4227 works well too (it's now called IMR4227). While there is data available (www.handloads.com), I would avoid Lil'Gun. It burns too hot. IMO, the best loads for the Maximum date back to the silhouette days of the mid-80's. As mentioned, always use small rifle primers.
DWF Supporters
April 9, 2015
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Thanks for the powder suggestion. Just picked up 3 lbs. of A 1680 so when time allows will be goofing with that powder. I have seen RAN SHOT and will give it a go some day also. Curious about the Small Rifle Primer advice. Is it due to the thicker cup of the SRP that can handle the pressure of the Super Mag, therefore no worry about a blown primer and damage to the firing pin? Or is there some other reason, such as SRP burn a little hotter therefore they will burn all the powder in the Super Mag Load? I have been loading CCI Small Pistol Mag Primers and all is well so far. I am very comfortable following the advice of those with more reload experience than me and do see the Sierra manual as using Small Rifle Primers, I am just wondering the reasoning behind it. Thanks for all help, advice and explanations. Got 50 cleaned and primed brass and ready to load with some 4227 and A 1680 just no time to get to the range for the chrono data until the end of the month.
“We cannot but pity the boy who has never fired a gun; he is no more
humane, while his education has been sadly neglected.”
-Henry David Thoreau
“When some of my friends have asked me anxiously about their boys, whether
they should let them hunt, I have answered, yes – remembering that it was
one of the best parts of my education – *make* them hunters.”
-Henry David Thoreau
April 25, 2008
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The reason for using small rifle primers is the thicker cup is better suited to "former" Maximum pressures. Originally, the Maximum/SuperMag was loaded far hotter than it is now and small rifle primers were mandatory. I have used magnum small rifle primers as well; particularly when loading to mid-80's data.
Just a note: There is very little difference between CCI #550 and #400 primers. Don't take my word for it, check for yourself.
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