I'd like set up a light recoiling deer pistol for still hunting southeast deer within ~75 yards. I've 10" bull barrels in both 44 and 357 and a 2X scope for one of them, but am looking harder at the 357 firing 158gr XTP's charged with H110 for a few reasons: Seems like the round should have enough horsepower in my "G1" Contender (~1590 fps at the muzzle); lighter recoil than the 44; I don't currently own anything else in 44 (used to, and I can handload 44 too), but do in 357 - less loads to keep up with; in terms of pressure on my Contender frame, I was suprised that the 44 cartridge diameter and pressures are pretty close to its stretch limits; I have a scoped 30-30 Super 14 barrel if different circumstances require more range or power, so I'm thinking I don't need a 44 setup for those circumstances.

So those are the reasons I'm looking at setting up the 357. Help me out, why should I set up the 44 instead of selling the 44 barrel and dropping the caliber from my lexicon? Yeah, I'm trying to drop my inventory of firearms too.

My advice won't help much, perhaps. Dump both of them, get a 10" in .357 Maximum. I feed mine 25 grains of H110, pushing a 158 or 160 Hornady. It shoots flat and hits hard. Recoil feels less than a 44 maggie, but the terminal performance is as good or better. The charge is slightly over book max but no signs of pressure. You can always back it down to those "magnum" levels ;-)

357 Max. Now there's a thought. I could still stoke it with regular 357 in a brass pinch too. I'd have to be mentally strong to dump two other barrels though-or fail on my consolidation goal - those Contender barrels breed like rabbits!

Do you feel like you get the benefit of it in a 10"? I want to keep the form factor handy.

Could I use my 38/357 dies to load it, or would I need to add a new set of dies too?

I believe you can use the same dies for it. You will need a different seater plug for the pointed bullets most people shoot in their single shot maximums. You could also have someone like MGM rechamber your 357 mag to maximum.

Just a few notes--If the 357 Barrel is a new one it will have more freebore than the older models. If it does you should be able to load the 180 XTP out on the second crip increasing the case volume and almost matching the velocity of the 158 with the 180 load--
second you may also have enough free bore to shoot the Hornady 180 SSPB--this bullet should fly a little better than the flat nose bullets.

Last do not overlook a big 180 WFNGC LBT style bullet

Powder choices would be 296 /110 and 2400

I use RCBS 357 Maximum dies, but you can use 38sp/357mag dies. You would get more out of a longer pipe, but a 10 is so nice to handle. I settled on the Max in that realm because it can do all that the 30 Herrett or the TCU's on deer, and some, without the hassle of forming cases. It is not fussy about what you feed it, legit 150 yard deer whacker.

I'd keep the 10" .357, use it rather than the .44, but load it with 180 XTP's or Speer 180 FN's (a .358" rifle bullet, once very popular among silhouette shooters in .357's). Drive either with a heavy dose of 296.

Lots of great ideas. 357...something it is! Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'll take a harder look at what I can do with 180's too.

You can rent a .357 Max reamer for $60 + - and it is an EASY job to ream it yourself. Just Google reamer rentals. I've done this with several barrels when making an Improved version of a cartridge. I've had the max in a 10" and it does recoil a bit. You can load 38 S&W, 38 Spl, 357 mag in it as well as the .357 Max., very versatile.

Personally I'd stay with the .357 mag and load it with the 180's, keep the range under 75 yards, pass on the quartering shots and have at it.

Bill in OR

Without disputing anything said above, I would keep both. Have sold very few guns that, at some time in the future, I did not regret the sale.

you can't go wrong with the 357 or the 44! but for the 30 bucks for a reamer rental go to the max. you never will regret it. you use the same dies and the 180 pointed nose bullet is great in it. Even if you don't load hotter than the mag in the max the 180 fits better. Go to Mike Bellm's site and look at what he does with the max. To him it is a wonder round in the 'tender. Longer range harder hitting. To him it's the everything round. It will do it all.
Now saying all that I'm a 44 nut and would rent the 445 super mag. BTW I have the reamer ordered for that very thing right now for a 44 I have. And may have the barrel cut back to 8" if I can find a front sight for it. It doesn't have the screw on front sight and I would like to find a fire glow one for a CVA to put in it's place while I'm having it all done.

As stated, if your barrel is a newer one, you can shoot 180-190's seated long and get pretty close to .357Max ballistics out of a 10" w/o the problem of hunting around for brass and at the distance you mention the deer won't know whether he's been hit with a Max or a Mag. My 10" .357 Contender shoots a cast 190 seated long over a good load of Lil Gun into 1.5 - 2" at 100yds with a red dot (Burris FastFire)from the bench.

you don't need anything more....but here's an idea....sell both after season and order a custom, fluted 12" 357maximum. fluting might help the weight some n make it "feel" closer to a 10", but get a lil added performance in a nice package.

hey....just an idea.....

When I have the next one built, it will be a 12" barrel. I will keep it round tho, for a little more muzzle weight off-hand. A bit more speed never hurts either.

I would go with 500WE`s advice and use the 10" 357. Without a cylinder gap on the TC you will get velocities that will beat the 1700fps I get with a 9" FA`s shooting a 180XTP over a dose of Blue Dot. I used this gun and load to take a 4 horn ram at over 40yds without problems. Good luck....

Send it to Rod for a rechamber.

But, you will find that the Maximum has a lot more recoil snap than the Magnum...in fact, IMO, not far off of a lighter loaded .44.

If you keep it as a Magnum, do the 180gr loads like other have mentioned. I load 180gr Penn cast in my brothers M94AE .357 Mag. He's shot a pile of deer with it...even some hard quartering. One shot entered in front of the ham, out the other side, back into the neck and back out the other side! They are not loaded hot.....a stiff 10" Contender load could match that 16" lever gun load I use.

A good bullet to consider in the .357 is the 190 gr. jacketed FP made by http://www.custombullets.com Just an idea

If you are the least bit handy,

find one of the 357 Max reamer lending deals, rechamber the existing 357 Maggie and keep what ya have.

Or rent one.

my buddy who runs the gun shop had told me he could ream a .357 mag barrel out to .357 max. dimensions.The speed your talking about with the 158 gr. bullet should work great for your southern deer/I'm a big fan of the .357 even though quite a few on this site aren't-but thats o.k. if we all had the same opinion we'd be robots.

I haven’t been around much so let me just say I don’t want to kill a dead hoarse… LOL

I would go with the 357 Max! I have had a 44 mag barrel and own a 375 Win barrel, the 357 Max is cheap to shoot, low in recoil and just flat out awesome!!! Mine is a 15 7/8in MGM with a 2-6 Bushnell on top of it. I am getting 5/8ths in groups at 100 with 180gr XTP’s and sup 1/2in groups with a 180 HCGC!

I don’t know if I would use the 158’s, but that is just MHO. I have been using them in my Herrett to fireform loads and they are “heck-on-wells” on critters. But, I have found they don’t penetrate well… Side shots, no problem. Longways, they will not penetrate out of a mature coon and they have almost completely come apart. The core is complete gone and the petals are all the way folded back. “I” wouldn’t use them at all on a deer or pig.

Go look on Bellems websight. Dan White, I think that is his name, did a LOT of research on bullets in the 357 Max. It might be worth your time.

Duane, I wouldn't use the 158 HP but the 158 flat point FP-XTP holds together well. I have been using the Hornady 160 CL-SIL lately and that bullet makes a nice mushroom at 2,000+ FPS MV. Nothing wrong with 180's though, I lust like a little flatter trajectory.

LOL, I was referring to the 158 XTP's. Mr. James has told me there are some ligher bullets that will hold up. I just have already done my homework with the 180 XTP's. Again, go look at Mr. Whites bullet testing...

I am shooting a 180 at 2000 fps. At 200 yards it is still going 1450 fps, the starting vel of a 357 Max revolver. It makes a serious hole in a critter.

I like my Contender in 357 Maximum with Remington 180 grain JHP. 10" barrel gives a velocity of 1865 fps. with excellent accuracy.

I got a new barrel this year chambered in 356 GNR that I hope to bloody this fall. It is a 41 magnum necked down to .357. It pushes a 158 grain Hornady JFP at 1900 fps. out of a 8" barrel. It makes for a easy packing rig that will shoot 1" groups at 100 yards.

Cute gun, cool chambering.

nice piece!

cool contender...