I am having my troubled .222 R rebored by JES to .357 maximum.  Any loading advice?
Had to buy Jamison brass as nothing else available.  I read it splits easily.  Should I anneal it before I first load it?
Now to make it harder I am in the communist state of CA.  Need to hunt with unleaded.  Other than Barnes handgun bullets does anyone else make a Cu slug?
I thought about using the 180 grain barnes TTSX, but not sure it would stabilize and or expand.  It needs 1800 fps to reliable open. Not sure of JES twist for .35 caliber.  Barnes needs a 1 in 12 twist.

Thoughts? (other than leave CA)

Jerry

I have a lot of experiance with the Max but, not with 180's. My stuff is with 147 gr GC H&G bullet and with 208 gr GC Lyman. Both using WC820 and fairly hot loads. If you have WC820, you could use the 208 gr data with a 180 gr bullet.

There will be no problem getting 2000 fps with a 180 gr bullet. I got 2290 fps with the 147 and 1830, with the 208 gr. My rifle has a 20 twist and I can't imagine a 180 gr copper bullet needing more than a 16-18 twist to stabilize it. How long is the 180?

If you give me your Email, I can send you some data off of Load Data.com, lots of jacketed stuff.

THIS, ALL ASSUMING YOUR RIFLE IS STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE 357 MAX CHARGES

Frank

Mile Bellm has been promoting the Max heavily on his  Contender/Encore business site.

I got pretty good results from a 12" Contender barrel with 180 grain jacketed bullets using Lil'Gun powder.  In the end, however, I abandoned the Max in the Contender as being too much for the action.   Still have a High Wall project in the safe.

Be aware that the SAAMI reamer dimensions call for a reamer with an undersize pilot.  An artifact of the days when it was a revolver cartridge.  Result is that off-center chambers are more the rule than the exception.  It has been observed that the poor accuracy of T/C factory barrels is largely traceable to this error.  You need either a custom reamer, or one with a loose pilot bushing.   Another fault with the SAAMI chamber is that it has a poor throat.  Bellm makes much of this on his site, and he's right.    

Jamison brass is as good as anything else made, possible exception allowable for Norma.  I did not know, however, that Jamison had ever run Max brass.  My stash is Remington.

Do I recall your rifle is a Martini Cadet???
If so, realize that depending on total ctg length, you may have trouble "turning the corner" on the ramp and into the chamber with the 357Maxi.
My Cadet was rebored/chambered to 357 Magnum yrs ago(1950s) by Kleins , Chicago.  Shoots 200 gr Lyman RN very accurately with a stout load of 4227, and they feed into the chamber OK.
beltfed/arnie

At the risk of being sued for defamation.....

Bellm doesn't know everything, although he wants you to think he does.  

I had an experience with him when sorting out my own Contender.    

BTW Graf's has Jamison Max brass in stock, apparently.  

IOwnDoubles,
Another neat ctg for the Cadet would be a stretch Rimmed 300 blackout:
The 300 BO orig uses 223 brass, shortened slightly, necked up to 30 cal.  357 and 357 Max brass is same dia at base. 

Use the 357 Maxi brass, run it far enough into a std 300 BO FL die as far as you want for your choice of neck length.
Being necked down to 30 cal, you will then be able to feed the rounds down the ramp more easily.
Now, if you relly want to stay with the 357 Max. a guy ,
Mike M in Alaska has done the Maxi on a Cadet. He found some tricks to allow the action to open a bit more and maybe ground the groove in top of breech block a bit deeper
His is working.... He did it for more BLACK powder capacity.


I looked at my 357 mag Cadet with the same idea, and decided I will continue to enjoy it as a 357 Mag. with smokeless and pistol and 200 gr rifle bulllets.
beltfed/arnie
PS, I would ask JES if he can rifle the barrel to a 10 twist if possible

Holy Sheep Dip Beltfed, the 357Max based rimmed 300 BO is sensational.
Cut rim recess, ream with 300 BO to full 1.6 depth (approx), load with 300 BO as needed.

This is huge! Im a slow one to see the obvious pairings in cartridges and chambers.

Thank you for the suggestion.

Have you any reports as to BP performance of such a cartridge? Problems with fouling, etc? This would make a great BP cartridge in 30 cal (I think)

Just be aware that the .300 AAC has to be loaded to some pretty high pressures to get decent MV and ME.  Will your action withstand 50,000 psi?