I like the idea of your choice in chambering and barrel marking (so a future knucklehead doesn't get the bright idea to shoot full-tilt .357 Max loads in it), and think it would be ok in the action - with a caveat. I would personally keep pressures at pretty close to black powder pressures, which isn't a handicap at all. Plenty safe to push suitable .35 bullets at sufficient velocity for 200 yard work, and brass is plentiful.

It seems to me, that the Win LW would be in the same ball park as a forged Ballard, pressure wise.

I bought my LW, chambered in 357 mag and I re-chambered it to 357 Max, long before this forum existed (about 1990). I only had Haas's info to go from so, I didn't hesitate loading it to 357 Mag levels (maybe even more?).

Mine is a rebored, original 28" long, 32 barrel, in 20 twist. The bullets that I used are the Lyman 35875 & 357311, both cast 208 gr. I won't say what my GC 311 loads were but, my best 35875 was 14 gr WC820, breech seated, for 1428 fps, I got a little more accuracy with the same charge of 4227 @ ~1400 fps. Primers are still rounded after firing. I always call mine a 38 XL.

Remember that if you get the same velocity, using a larger case volume and the same powder, you will always have lower pressures.

I think a 357 Max load of 13 - 14 gr of 4227 and a 200 gr bullet, would be safe in a Ballard. Loads of 300 MP will give lower pressures, too.

BTW, I think the 357 Max, is one of the very best all round, cartridges!!! It has target accuracy and a lot of knock down power for hunting. In a strong action, you can get 35 Remington velocity's, in a 28" barrel, with fixed ammo.

BTW, I think the 357 Max, is one of the very best all round, cartridges!!! It has target accuracy and a lot of knock down power for hunting. In a strong action, you can get 35 Remington velocity's, in a 28" barrel, with fixed ammo. [/quote]

Yep. I'm getting nigh onto 2000fps with a 200 out of a 26" barrel .357 Maxi with no pressure indications. Pretty subjective, but primers aren't flattened and cases extract with ease. Martini Cadet.

I wish pressure measuring wasn't in the realm of black magic for Everyman.

GunBum wrote on May 28^th, 2025 at 6:44pm:

In my case, I was referring to lengthening a case (357 Mag to 357 Max), for more volume so, the case head says the same.

But, you bring up a valid point! Many think that chambering weak actions, in 44/40 is very safe. The 44/40 has the same case head as the '06. 

Even though there were factory chambering in a weak action, it still increases stress in both breech thrust and hoop strength.

Going to disagree a little on forged Ballard actions.
We are very comfortable with .32-40 and .38-55 on a forged Ballard. Both have a higher cartridge thrust than the .357 Magnum using SAAMI pressures.
.40-65 is not uncommon on a forged Ballard (Ron Long, et al). Higher cartridge thrust than the .357 Max using SAAMI pressures.
A well fitted forged Ballard action is reasonably strong enough for most of of the medium power cartridges we use. Just don't be foolish.
Chuck

One option would be to use a .375" bore barrel and use heeled bullets. That way if anyone shot a standard 357 max in the future it wouldn't have as much pressure.

marlinguy wrote on May 30^th, 2025 at 12:49am:


Good point. May be a good topic for a general discussion. Anecdotally I've only gotten "fun" accuracy with heeled bullets in my limited experience, not match winning accuracy. Except of course in the case of .22LR.....