I am considering 357 MAXIUM on a C. Sharps low wall action.  is this a good or bad idea.  I think the ballistics compares to 30 30.  The only reloading I have done was for 357 and 45 acp.  Please advise.

I have a original LW with a re-bored original 28" long, 32 RF barrel, that I re-chambered from 357 Mag, to 357 Max, 20+ years ago. I did that based on Frank DeHaas's suggestions in his book. It is a EXCELLENT all around caliber for hunting and target.

I shot it alot when I first got it, a couple of months in Mag and then a year or two in Max with loads as high as 147 gr bullet at 2300 fps and a 208 gr at 1900 fps. The powder that I used was WC820 (H108), a slower powder would have been better for pressure and I wouldn't recommend it now for HV. I don't know how long it had been shot before I bought it.

It did no damage to this rifle but, you will get conflicting opinions about it.

Based on my experiance, I would have no problem doing it again, especially on a C. Sharps action.

Frank

Its amazing how often the question relative to Winchester Lo-wall strength comes up

I'm also amazed at how often folk are unwilling or unaware of using the search function.  Perhaps they're just unaware how often some of these threads have come up, been discussed over and over with very little "new light' added.

maybe one of the mods can figure out how to group some of the se previous discussions and lim them together--maybe by action type---in a 'sticky" called single shot action strength

A better way of searching (in my humble, but accurate opinion) is to use a Google search using the words for which searched and ASSRA.  Much less limiting and more successful in finding what is wanted.

I went the other way, found an original sporting rem rolling block sporter in 38XL RF in pretty good condition at the Bits and Spurs show in Abilene at a reasonable price due to the RF caliber.  A trip to a local well stocked gunsmith produced a CF block and a cast extracter which I Dremeled to fit and finally found 357MAX brass to go with the original Winchester type IV 38XL mold I had previously rat-holed and now shooting it with mild loads for fun.  The 357MAX brass was perfect for it.

Don't care about burning my eyebrows off with hotter loads.  I'm as happy as a dead hog in the sunshine with it.

James

I have lots of fun plinking with my Martini Cadet
that was bored to 357Mag in the late 1950s by
Kleins Sprtg Goods in Chicago.I developed a Nice load with 358315 200 gr bullet and modest 4227 charge.
Note the word "Modest" . 
beltfed/arnie