Encore 357 Max barrel

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Only benefit (to me) in the 350 legend or the 357ar is a repeater. I figure as a mostly muzzleloader hunter, I should only need one shot so, the Max on an Encore or Contender platform is all a man needs.
I still have a huge stash of Hornady 180gr SSP’s on top of 28gr of Lil Gun (2450fps out of a 20” tube) and deer usually don’t make it over 20yds. Fury makes a great bullet but a little more pricey and the Speer Flat nose are great bullets for a cheaper shooting bullet that still will put a hurt on some of the biggest white tails and hogs.

my MGM barrel will cloverleaf at 100yds and hold about half MOA out to 300yds. I preferred my older 1/14 twist but my newer 1/16 is almost as good a shooter. You won’t be disappointed going with MGM.
That pretty good for a 20" tube.
When I was considering a single shot pistol, there was just so many pluses to the Max.
 
Well, I took the plunge. I ordered the 357 Max barrel today with the 6 hole matte blue picatinny mount. The wait has started....lol....
 
The .357 Maxi is a BAD DUDE in a Pistol of Any Sort :lewis: I use to own an Old Seville Revolver, The Maxi is an AWESOME Round
 
This is my first post, recently joined up to get some info getting back into ML shooting.
I have a 12" contender 357 max bbl, which I'm sure not reaching the full potential of with a red dot on it.
Also a 209x45 that I just started shooting 158gr xtp's/MMP blue sabots out of for the first time yesterday. This combo appeals to me because I reload for 38/357mag/357max already and can sort of cross pollinate.
 
This is my first post, recently joined up to get some info getting back into ML shooting.
I have a 12" contender 357 max bbl, which I'm sure not reaching the full potential of with a red dot on it.
Also a 209x45 that I just started shooting 158gr xtp's/MMP blue sabots out of for the first time yesterday. This combo appeals to me because I reload for 38/357mag/357max already and can sort of cross pollinate.
That what I want to do except the smokeless route on the muzzy side
 
Get a Lee .355 die if you want to shoot 357s in 45x357 sabots. I prefer the Precision Rifle version of that sabot too. Its a little longer than the MMP blue. Del (MMP) makes them for PR. If you dont resize the bullets then the sabots are very tight. 9mm bullets fit that sabot way better.

https://www.prbullet.com/shop/products_view.php?sSKU=0500
 
I was thinking about having MGM do a barrel for me. Anybody shooting one of their 357 Max barrels?

I have an encore with a 21” mgm 357 max barrel and a 14” cva scout 357 max. They are both tack drivers.
 

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I have an encore with a 21” mgm 357 max barrel and a 14” cva scout 357 max. They are both tack drivers.
Getting a 26" MGM 357 Max Encore barrel with a Bellm chamber to go with my 14" CVA Scout 357 Max. What kind of FPS you getting with the 21" barrel? What powder you shooting in the rifle? I'm hoping the 26" MGM barrel likes W296 like the Scout does so I only have to buy one powder for rifle and pistol....lol....
 
Get a Lee .355 die if you want to shoot 357s in 45x357 sabots. I prefer the Precision Rifle version of that sabot too. Its a little longer than the MMP blue. Del (MMP) makes them for PR. If you dont resize the bullets then the sabots are very tight. 9mm bullets fit that sabot way better.

https://www.prbullet.com/shop/products_view.php?sSKU=0500

GM - with 60gr of BH209 they were clover leafed (although only at 50y) so I'd hate to switch up now but might if you can show me the light.
Now, these 9 I shot (tried 3 each at 60gr, 70gr, 80gr) were hard to start down the bbl but are probably the 10-19th ML shots I ever made and it's been years since 1-9 so I figured I had no frame of reference.
So...
*I've never resized a bullet before, what's that like?
*What's going to be the problem with tight sabots - some kind of over pressure situation or just a pain to load?
*This is out of left field - but wouldn't it be easier to enlarge the inside of the sabot than to decrease the size of the bullet?
*Seems like I remember 147gr is about the heaviest 9MM - that sound about right?
*I'm trainable and not easily offended so let it flow.

Thanks
 
Lee hand press was around $35ish. Havent priced one in a while. Standard Lee sizers are $22ish. Takes a few seconds to resize a bullet.
How would you accurately enlarge the inside of a sabot?...i dont know of anyway to do that.
9mm 147gr Hornady XTP fits the MMP 45x357 sabot great and 60gr is about right for it.

Now though we got the new 350 Legend bullets and guess what....they are .355 and you can get them in 165gr and 170gr sofar
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018229522?pid=609303
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021832351?pid=272356
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021205725?pid=551625

Oh and 145gr plinkers too
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/102152540

180s might be starting to get a tiny bit long but they might shoot with a stiff load.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1021525515
 
I'll look into what 9mm's are available locally (probably my best bet right away), the 350 Legend and the rest.
Staying on the light end of the spectrum for now...I drew a javelina tag for February, so I have some time.
Local stink pigs MIGHT run 60-65# for the great grandaddy of them all.

Thanks for your help.
 
Getting a 26" MGM 357 Max Encore barrel with a Bellm chamber to go with my 14" CVA Scout 357 Max. What kind of FPS you getting with the 21" barrel? What powder you shooting in the rifle? I'm hoping the 26" MGM barrel likes W296 like the Scout does so I only have to buy one powder for rifle and pistol....lol....

not sure what my velocity is with the 21” barrel lbahunter as I don’t have a chrony. Will get you a link with velocities from mgm
 
Can't wait to get it. I'm looking forward to putting rounds thru it. It's only been eight days sent I ordered but the wait is the hardest part!!!!
 
Can't wait to get it. I'm looking forward to putting rounds thru it. It's only been eight days sent I ordered but the wait is the hardest part!!!!

what barrel Length did you go with. You will like it, they are great Shooting rifle barrels. I’ve killed 2 deer with mine and it performed flawlessly
 
26" with a Bellm chamber. What powder and bullet you shooting?
In my cva scout I’m shooting a 180xtp with 23.5gr of w-296 and in my mgm 21” 357 max I shoot a custom 180gr Henson hp over 24gr of h-110 from a left over loaded batch. I just picked up some 296 at a gun show and am currently using that. 110 and 296 are one in the same.
 

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