How close does the 357 Magnum in a 10" Contender come to a 357 Max in a 7 1/2" revolver?

158s and 180 grain weights.

In a Contender you can seat the 180 XTP long in the second cannelure and get a bit more powder capacity, provided there is enough leade, which generally isn't a problem with them. Basically it becomes a 360 DW and will run right near the Max from a 10" barrel T/C and even excede the Max in a revolver depending on the B/C gap. One of our members had posted his velocities with the mag in the "shooters bench" a while back and was getting some impressive numbers from his Contender.

Even when loaded to standard OAL the 357 really comes to life in the T/C or similar platfform.

I'm getting just shy of 1,600 fps with 180gr XTP seated to the second crimp ring and H110 with my 10" Contender Pistol.

Try the "Search" feature near the top of the page. You can search for specific keywords that may help you find the information you want.

Also, members here generally post technical data about their guns and loads in the Shooter's Bench. Try looking there.

My post should have never been made,it was supposed to be on another forum.
Was wondering about the .358 140 grain Barnes XPB.

I seat them ling in my t/c and have talked extensively with Mike Bellm about load development for the t/c first off it will handle more pressure than the 357 is usually loaded to.... Its about the same head diameter as the 223 which is loaded to 55,000 psi in the t/c so the bolt thrust is about the same and you can run about 55,000 psi in the contender safely. That being said I can get the 158 xtp to 2000 fps and a 180 up to 1800 with no real pressure signs using lil'gun if anyone wants to know more p.m. me I won't post the loads here cause they would desentigrate lesser guns....

Terrible grammar... To lazy and no time to fix the wonders of a smart phone at work lol

Brass & primer pockets can't last long at those kinds of pressures.

Dick

I haven't shot lots of them just load work up and hunting but I haven't loosened a primer pocket in 3 loadings which is way more than acceptable to me can't use nickel plated cases though... They are to hard and slick and don't grip the chamber walls very well and the fine get a hard to open... No problem with brass though

I had my gunsmith do a cross hatch hone on my Max Chamber to help the brass cases grab the chamber walls a little better.
The 357 Magnum - Maximum shell cases have straight case walls as everyone knows, same as an Ackley Improved Rifle case. The Ackley Improved case design is supposed to grab the chamber walls, cutting down on back thrust on the bolt face allowing higher pressure loadings. I suspect that the straight wall pistol case will tend to do the same thing helping to cut down on back thrust on the Contender breach face.

I have not worked with my MGM barrel since having the hone work done. It is about time however.

Mo Long Tom depending on just how sloppy the TC Chamber is, you might be able to chamber 360 DW Cases with no chamber work. As was said above long seated, you can wind a 357 Magnum up to 357 Maximum Revolver velocity in a Contender with no trouble at all.
I would start working my loads up .5 grains at a time, and watch for pressure signs. I recommend using H110, LilGun, 300MP, or 1680 to work up loads. For bullets I would use the 180 XTP in the lower crimp groove, OR seated even longer. Not a real big deal in a single shot. You can also do the long seated loading using the 158 XTP-FP bullet.

Bob

I can squeeze 360 DW cases in mine that's about the length im loaded but it shoots fine and brass life seems fine so I just use 357 brass cause its cheaper