ASSRA Forum - 357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge

ASSRA Forum › General › General Discussion › 357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge

(Moderator Group: Moderator)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge (Read 167 times)

joelpend Junior Member Offline Posts: 88 Location: Central North Carolina Joined: Dec 29^th, 2015	357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge Aug 12^th, 2026 at 12:01pm	Print Post
	If I were to do this using a .358" groove barrel, What would be the maximum weight plain base bullet for a smokeless round? Target would be 1350-1400 fps. BACO shows a 1.45" long 340gr but I'm wondering is this bullet too heavy for the 357 max case size. Looks like it would require about a 11 twist barrel. I am sure the old 38 Ballard Extra Long used much lighter bullets than what I am hoping could work.


	IP Logged

marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Online Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 18196 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: 357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge Reply #1 - Aug 12^th, 2026 at 12:11pm	Print Post
	The .38 Ballard Extra long doesn't have much in common with the .357 Max case beyond length. It used a 150 grain bullet, and had a twist rate about 3x slower than your 11" twist rate. It also used a groove diameter around .378" with a heeled bullet. You're going to be pretty much on your own to figure out a good load, but I think the 11" twist should handle a 250-300 gr. bullet easily. Not so sure about that 340 gr. though. Would be nice if someone had some heavy bullets to try before buying a mold that drops a 340 gr. bullet.

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)
	IP Logged

frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7718 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: 357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge Reply #2 - Aug 12^th, 2026 at 6:39pm	Print Post
	I have a 357 Max on a LW with a 28" long 20 twist barrel. 14.0 gr of 4227 with a Lyman 35875 or a 358315 mold (both 208 gr) I get 1437 fps , shot breech seated. That load would work in a Ballard but, I wouldn't want to go much more. SAECO makes a 200 and 245 gr molds. I'd hold it at 13.0 gr with the 245 gr bullet, reduce loads 1.0 gr for fixed loads.

	ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
	YIM AIM IP Logged

RJ-35-40 Senior Forum Member Online Posts: 355 Location: Saint Augustine Joined: Dec 7^th, 2016	Re: 357 Maximum for Cast PBB Cartridge Reply #3 - Today at 10:52am	Print Post
	Frank... Is your Low Wall a original action or a repro..? THX Bob frnkeore wrote on Aug 12^th, 2026 at 6:39pm: I have a 357 Max on a LW with a 28" long 20 twist barrel. 14.0 gr of 4227 with a Lyman 35875 or a 358315 mold (both 208 gr) I get 1437 fps , shot breech seated. That load would work in a Ballard but, I wouldn't want to go much more. SAECO makes a 200 and 245 gr molds. I'd hold it at 13.0 gr with the 245 gr bullet, reduce loads 1.0 gr for fixed loads.


	IP Logged

Pages: 1

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Page completed in 1.0457 seconds.