Why no .357 maximum rifles.

Status
Not open for further replies.
I had a Wesley Richards in 300 Sherwood built on a small Martini action. Cute little take-down rifle. Was not fond of the cartridge, and was looking into a re-bore to 357 Max. Then I was saved from my follies by a guy with a small handful of money and.......................
Would have been a nice little project though.
 
I am really a fanboy of the MAX. I have a handi done up for me by David White of D&T. It is a deer hunters delight. I also have a CVA Scout Pistol converted to MAX. I put a collapsible stock on the Handi rifle so all the grand kids, no matter how short or long their arms, can shoot it. With light loads in MAX brass, it is a child's delight. Loads in .38 and .357 brass are not very accurate, but MAX brass is plentiful now from Starline. The go to bullet for hunting is the 185 hornady STP over lots of RX7 in the rifle and lots of 296 in the pistol. Last year I killed a big pig with a 200 gr Cast bullet.

But it is a proposition for the gun enthusiast who is a reloader and bullet caster. As a commercial item, it was victim of the market place and lack of enthusiasm, even knowledge from the hunting crowd.
 
The 1907 Winchester in .351 WSL gives .357 Max ballistics, albeit a slightly smaller bore diameter ( .351 v .357). You can make .351 WSL from .357 MAX cases (PITA). Hawk bullets in the 180/200gr range work well at short ranges (100yards) on deer sized game.
 
Well, I won’t say none, there are a few single shot variants out there; but with the abundance of .357 magnum and a few .38-55 rifles, it would seem that there would be some lever action and bolt guns out there chambered in .357 Maximum.

Has there ever been lever or bolt guns in this cartridge? It would seem to be a very effective load.
I just picked up a Wickliffe “Stinger” rifle, at a local pawnshop, re-chambered and bored out to .357 Maximum. My Starline brass just showed up today so haven’t had a chance to shoot anything but some .357 magnum loads with 190 gr. Cast Bullets from a group buy. These were loaded with 11 gr. 2400 and shot real nice out of this rifle.. Can’t wait to try it with the .357 max. brass and some powder coated bullets. Will have to find some loads for it to work around with. Think it ought to be a real nice hunting rifle for anything out to 200 yds.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top