What your preferred barrel length? What is your preferred hunting bullet, powder or load for deer hunting? What kind of speed can you expect to get out of the 357 Max with a 180gr bullet? I plan on using Hornady 180gr XTP or SSP. Also MGM has listed on there order form 2 different twist rates .357 1/20 twist and .358 1/14 twist for the 357 Max. Which twist rate would be better for a 10 or 11in barrel and 180gr bullets?

I have a 10 inch Contender I plan on trying this year. I have about 50 rounds loaded with both bullets you listed.

I'd opt for the tighter hole. A 20 is plenty.

I really like my 12 inch stainless fluted MGM barrel. It has the faster 1-14 twist and shoots the 180gr XTPs really well. I feel the 12 inch length balances well for the occasional off hand shot. I used it to take a hog and a doe this past season, and neither one went more than 25 yards. My load is 20.5gr IMR 4227 ignited by a Rem 7 1/2 primer, and produces 1700 fps. Doesn't sound very fast, but the bullets work perfectly at this speed.

Picked up the barrel used on Gunbroker.com. I seat the bullets to the top cannelure because the throat isn't long enough to seat to the bottom one. If you get it throated long enough to seat the 180 XTP to the bottom groove, you may suffer accuracy loss if you want to use 158 grain or lighter bullets.

Have you tried any of the 180gr ssp's or 200gr Hornady bullets out of your gun?

I tried some Hornady 200gr RN that I was using in my 358JDJ, and found them to be really accurate (at 50yd), but velocity was only about 1600 fps. I went ahead and expansion tested them with my standard media of 3 one gallon milk jugs filled with water, backed up by a box of rags to catch the bullet. I tested at a distance of 50 yards and found that they didn't expand. Well, I don't really know if it expanded anything at all, because the bullet traveled completely through the 18 inches of water, 6 layers of plastic, and then sailed through the approximately 2 feet of folded and packed rags (towels, jeans, sheets, etc.). If a bullet didn't expand in the 18 inch water column, I don't think it's going to expand in flesh. I'm sure that the bullet can be pushed a little faster, but I already have other cartridges to fill a bigger need. I could easily dismiss this cartridge because I already have a 338JDJ, 358JDJ, 375JDJ that out perform it, but they all have 14 inch tubes, kick more, eat more powder, and are loud. The 180 grain XTP will probably be the only bullet that I use in the Max, especially because I bought 600 of them when they were on sale. I also picked up an 8 pound jug of IMR 4227 and a few thousand of the Rem 7 1/2's. I'm set for life and maybe my kid's as well. I will say that if I am introducing a person to handgun hunting, I will lend them my Max, and after letting them shoot a few rounds off the bench, turn them loose in the field. It's that good.

Do you have any of the 180 SSP's on hand? They might be a bit hard to find now. I was checking on Hornady's website and they no longer list them. MidwayUSA show them as discontinued.

I don't have any SSP's and I didn't know they where discontinued. I guess I better get my butt to finding some! What other bullet besides the 180gr XTP and 180gr SSP work good on deer out of the 357 Max. The 158gr and lighter bullets just don't seem like good hunting bullets to me.

Actually the 158 FP-XTP does well at Max velocities, it is tougher than the HP version. Some guys have been using the 140 FTX bullet with good success as well.

I have a factory 10" 357 Magnum barrel I had Mike Bellm re-chamber to 357 Maximum several years ago and it is one of the most accurate barrels I own. I shoot the 180 grain Remington JHP pushed by a healthy dose of AA1680 at 1960 fps.

I tried some of the Hornady 180 SSP's, but they wouldn't group as well as the JHP's.

The Hornady 158gr. FP works good. Does not kill quite as good as the 180 XTP, but flatter shooting. Do not use the 158gr. hp, too soft. If you are shooting a single shot, it is hard to beat the Hornady 180gr. ssp. I have revolvers and single shots. I need to buy some 180gr. ssp.