357 Maximum, Everything You Need to Know! MGM Barrels TC Encore Contender G2

[@bobmcelver1484]

I worked with the ".357 Max" since it's inception and commercial release in 83'. I obtained one of the first 200 Super 14" barrels from TC back then and loaded and hunted with it regularly.....killed a boatload of deer with that round. Efficiency wise, it's a hard cartridge to beat due to the fact that it uses smaller charges of slow burning pistol powder to obtain velocities on par with rifle rounds like the 35 Rem. Based on it's head spacing and roll crimp, it's much easier to obtain higher accuracy levels than the new .350 Legend offering which head spaces on the case mouth and is taper crimped. It's commercial demise was horribly premature. MGM makes the best barrel options currently available......hands down

[@gshock3092]

I doubt the 357 max will out perform the new 350 legend! The 350 legend will do everything the max will but cheaper!

[@bobmcelver1484]

@@gshock3092 Based on the case differences between the two, the .357 Max is more efficient in burn rate. Case capacities on both cartridges are very similar, and considering similar bullet weights, the roll crimp on a bullets cannelure is a much more positive crimp than the .350's taper crimp. Another note to consider is the critical brass length on the Legend when it comes to headspacing. The new straight wall cartridge laws imposed in the mid west stirred the inception of the .350 Legend by Winchester, and as a bonus, it was designed to be shot in the AR platform with their vertical mags. The same AR concept was strongly considered back in the .357 Max days before the Legend, based on .223 and other cases by Mike Bellm. The Legend has similar ballistics to the Max. as far as velocity and energy, but SD & ES numbers vary quite a bit over a wide range. Over the past almost 40 years, I've done a ton of homework with the Max., and most recently, the Legend. While it's a good idea and round, the Legend has it's design shortcomings as many rounds do........

[@gshock3092]

@@bobmcelver1484 I'm a reloader myself and I was thinking of the max myself but as I did my own research I found out the max wasn't the best bet for me. And especially for my needs and practical reasons. Yes with the case being rimless it does have advantages over the max . It can be shot in way more different guns than the max ever did! By looking at the numbers on paper of performance it seems to be better too just Google it

[@bobmcelver1484]

@@gshock3092 Each case design has it's pro's & con's, yes........The Max. lends itself more so to single shots & revolvers, but with the advent of rotary magazines, it also does well in bolt guns. I have two .350 Legends that I bought for testing........one in an AR upper, and the other is a plain jane Ruger. As with many new cartridges introduced, when Winchester first offered and promoted the 350 Legend they grossly hyped the velocities. No one I knew of was getting advertised box velocities in any of the guns they had, or were offered at the time. From minimum to maximum velocities between the Max. & the Legend, all else being equal, I'm getting very similar speeds between them using the same bullet weights and barrel lengths. In my original 14" Super TC barrel I'm getting 1995 fps. with a 170 gr. Sierra and H110. I don't have my data on hand for my 20" MGM barrel, but if I remember correctly it was around 2300 or better. I just bought a single shot Henry in .357 Mag to have Mike Bellm rechamber to the Max., the accuracy is that good. Regardless, we all choose the best option for our needs.....as they say "you do you"......my only point was the ballistic performance between the two. Also bullet sizing isn't an issue with the Max.

[@gshock3092]

@@bobmcelver1484 ya I just ordered a cva 350 pistol with 14 inch barrel. I'm looking forward to shooting it. Baggera barrels are hard to beat for the money!

[@brianlapointe5304]

My MGM 357 maximum 20 inch barrel is a tac driver at 100 yards. Excellent barrel for my G2 Contender. Great video here too.

[@timknickel7756]

The .357 max out of a 10in contender does everything i need so far. Watching the .350 legend to see where it goes. Love my contender so hard sell for me

[@fisherdoug]

357 Remington Maximum vs 350 legend would be cool. great vid

[@timknickel7756]

Im stitting back and watching the .350 Legend Performance not sold on it yet. But i have a Contender in .357 Max so im good. Wait and see before i buy the new one.

[@Perry2186]

thats what im lookin for

[@EagleEyeShooting]

Awesome! Outstanding overview of this. Vigil King and his documentary of "The Secrets of the Houston Warehouse" has found 21" 3/4 barrels to be the best for harmonics in many calibers. There seems to be truth with your finds 🤙👍

[@ewetho]

Look into Fury 170 and 180gr SP and SSP bullets for hunting.. they are expensive but purpose built for the cartridge.

[@charlesmckinley29]

Watching the USOG Encore video spurred the algorithm to bring me this. I need to order a 22 TCM barrel from you.

[@5pointstar78]

I'm really interested in this cartridge now that I know I can still fire 357mag/38 spl

[@cwheels01]

And .38 Long (and Short) Colt

[@UntitledSpaghetti2]

Maker Bullets sells 180 & 200 grain .357 bullets for use in the Maximum. They'd be awesome from a 20" barrel.

[@bigbird5754]

Maker bullets are legit. My son took a 4 pt buck with their subsonic bullet for the 300 blackout. The performance was so good my son asked me to reduce the loading. I told him they were only loaded to 1050 fps.😊

[@nolanwalmsley4216]

So you mentioned testing through many different barrel lengths. Did you test an 18" or 18.5" barrel? I want to keep the rifle fairly short and was debating between a 16.5" and 18.5". If you did test an ~18" barrel, how did the velocity compare to the 16.25" that you tested?

[@williebulletman5217]

Really cool stuff boy did I make a mistake not picking up a contender early on in my life

[@MatchGradeMachine]

The Encore can handle many more cartridges if youre still considering one!

[@CharizardFan_og]

Do you get an increase in velocity when going to a rifle powder and using a longer barrel like the 16.5"?

[@mgmbarrels3299]

Not sure what velocity increase you would see, if any with an extra 1/4". We do not have the data to say. As far as rifle powder goes, we only tested with Lil 'gun and H110 so we do not have an answer for rifle powder either. If you test it, let us know!

[@charlesbowman8125]

How would you feel about giving a 357 maximum muzzleloader barrel a go? I'd want to be able to shoot smokeless or blackhorn 209 or old fashioned bp. No sabots full bore bullets. I think it would be cool.

[@theprfesssor]

Imagine necking down a 460 mag to 357/38 diameter, that would be a monster surprised wildcats haven't been done with the new calibers we have

[@robbrown5702]

My favorite bullet WAS the Nosler Handgun Partition in 180 grain ( I still have a scant few) I had a Contender and an SSP 86. I might just order one of your barrels!

[@shaadydog1]

This cartridge platform has got to be one of the best and most diverse cartridge lines ever. From 38 Special to 357 Mag, 360 Dan Wesson, 357 Max and lets not forget the 256 Winchester and honestly I would love to see the 256 be done with a 6/6.5 bullet and on the Max case. I figure a 243 Max wildcat could come close to Grendal performance. Has the potential to do everything from pistol to rifle with a small amount of investment, and straight wall compatible.

[@rickwebster9549]

Ok

[@gshock3092]

350 legend is the new . Kinda like a 9mm maximum or 9mm super mag

[@bobmcelver1484]

Oh yeah.......you can go crazy with the .357 Mag/Max platform. Back in the day I ordered a CH Tool & Die set to form the .22 Super Jet out of .357 Mag cases. I formed up a few cases and made up a few mock reloads and sent them off to Mike Sirois of OTT with a barrel blank to have a barrel made. I bought the barrel blank online somewhere.....something on clearance, as I was told not to get too stupid with cost in that regard. All I can say was Mike's workmanship was 2nd to none and that cartridge is just plain nasty........does anything a .223 can do with the same bullet weight and half the (pistol) powder.

[@gshock3092]

@@bobmcelver1484 the max was good when it was new but technology has changed that. And that's where the 350 comes in. The 350 is here to stay. If you look at all the guns it's chambered in and the marketing from Winchester the max will never out sell the 350

[@bobmcelver1484]

@@gshock3092 Well since the .357 Max isn't chambered in anything commercially, and the ammo isn't being made commercially either, I'd say the 350 Legend is kind of running the track alone. There's nothing really exceptional or fantastic about it really.......just a 9mm Maximum by design. They've been trying to get the Max in an autoloading platform for years......Winchester just picked up the ball and ran with it.

[@kevintravis2154]

Love my Max. 180 LBT HARDCAST 180 HORNADY XTP

[@larryguevara3350]

Do you rechamber factory 357mag barrels to max

[@uMalice]

It's the best overall/versatile performance for the Contender & G2 platform. Where can I get the stock set on your G2?

[@umami0247]

Daniel defense.

[@storminnormangunworks4911]

How does the ballistics compare to 350 Legend?

[@pinkhead6857890]

Really wish I knew about .357 max before buying a Ruger SuperBlackhawk. How did this cartridge not make 44 magnum obsolete overnight?

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

The .357 max was known for flame cutting. It hurt its reputation early. The max needs a second chance. What would help if manufacturers gave it a second chance.

[@z1berzerker]

357 Max great 👍 round... miss my Ruger Blackhawk with a 10" barrel

[@MrAlittle5150]

What bullet is that you have sitting below the rifle in your video? Look like the Barnes TSX.

[@MatchGradeMachine]

Yes, it is a barnes TSX

[@neilmoomey]

What load data did your customer shoot that 100 yd group with?

[@jonaozo540]

Hi Logan, where is this info at ? : "We cover the 357 Maximum All you need to know about the 357 Remington Maximum! From reloading to bullet selection, reloading powder choice and factory ammunition selection."

[@MatchGradeMachine]

matchgrademachine.com/encore-contender-357-magnum-maximum-load-development-results/

[@markknoepfle3913]

​@@MatchGradeMachine Link is dead now. Page Not found. I am looking at an MGM barrel for my encore as a pistol for a javelina hunt in winter/spring 2021. 357 max, mag and 360 Dan Wessen are possibilities. I have an MGM barrel in rimmed .20 Vartarg and love it.

[@randystockton624]

Don't get it....the 357 magnum with a 16 inch lever action gets almost 1900 fps with a 158 grain bullet ... so what is the point buying a maximum? If you want to reload i can see it...but for me I just want a 125 yard bush gun and i have a ton of 357 magnum bullets for my pistol that I have saved up....

[@laht41010]

Where can I get an adjustable stock just like that?

[@MatchGradeMachine]

Haus of arms

[@paule1983]

"Daves Collectables"

[@UntitledSpaghetti2]

I just went to the MGM website to check the velocity results. There's no information and a dead link to find it.

[@MatchGradeMachine]

matchgrademachine.com/velocity-testing-thompson-center-barrels/

[@lindseyflexner7831]

Has anyone ever chambered a lever action in 357 max?

[@TexasLonghornRanch]

Can you chamber a single shot Henry rifle for the .357 max? Henry Rifle H015-357

[@MatchGradeMachine]

Sorry, we do not offer Henry barrels.

[@jonaozo540]

Yes, you surely can. Call Kurt at Bellmtcs.com He sells the Henry [389 bucks], his Dad [Mike] does the re-chamber [105 bucks], and you pay about 35 bucks shipping.

[@jerrymoran8323]

Mike Bellum has chamber hundreds of .357 Magnum to .357 Maximum with excellent results.

[@TexasLonghornRanch]

@@jerrymoran8323 - that’s funny because he’s the one that chambered my Henry rifle for me. Shoots great.

[@Teamcubco]

As good a cartridge as any I have tried. My 10" Contender has dropped quite a few deer and wild boar. Lots of noise with it but ear protection solved and issues.

[@DavidHartenWatson]

Planning to use a .357 Maximum barrel for shooting mostly factory .357 Magnum Hornady LeverEvolution, but I'm concerned about accuracy of this chamber with .357 Magnum. How is the accuracy of shooting .357 Magnum (or even .38 Special) from a .357 Maximum chamber? Does the long freebore when shooting .357 Mag through a .357 Max barrel give it poor accuracy with .357 Magnum? Would you have to worry about throat erosion if shooting mostly .357 Magnum through the .357 Maximum barrel?

[@MatchGradeMachine]

Accuracy is still good, for best accuracy you would want a 357 Mag barrel for magnum loads. The Max is more versatile.

[@MrIdasam]

I don't get the point of this cartridge. if you need more than .357 mag. or .41 mag, why not just jump up to a .44 mag.?

[@raythompson894]

A lot of people don't get the point, but if you are a hunter who likes the stalk up front and personal a. 357 mag is great, if you need a little more distance and accuracy then the maximum is more advantageous. The fact that 38sp, 357mag can be fired through a maximum is also quite handy at times, but more importantly for me is the cost of reloading compared to other calibres.

[@ewetho]

The initial purpose of the cartridge was same down range energy as 44 Magnum with less recoil especially for silhouette shooting back in the day with the sure footed rams giving the 357 fits…. Was then found to be an excellent hunting cartridge for deer where a straight walled cartridge is required be it pistol like Illinois or rifle for several others.. Mine was excellent on hogs

[@charlesmckinley29]

@@ewetho thank for sharing this.

[@Crosshair84]

The Max is flatter shooting with less recoil. Though of course smaller hole.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

Pistol cartridges are way cool in rifles. But the "max" end of pistol cartridges are knocking on the doors of rifle cartridges, where things begin to get blurred especially when casings are harder to get. Why not .35 Rem? Why not .35 Whelen?

[@MrAlittle5150]

I used the 35 rem Hornady 200 gr RN with 4227 powder in my maximum with a 14" barrel. They work great, I have done 1" groups at a 100y.

[@tythomps]

@Lifted_Above Because 35 Rem and 35 Whelen are not legal in slug states that allow straight-walled rifle cartridges. 357 Max is legal though (Iowa for example).

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@@tythomps That's a true story. I guess you could run 38-55 or 375 Winchester if you wanted hotter energy than 357mag.

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@Matthew Gehl I know the Legend is a new cartridge and there's buzz around it. But it's like a modern remake of the 375 Winchester, which was a high pressure remake of the 38-55. Seems we come full circle in the cartridge world. haha

[@exothermal.sprocket]

@Matthew Gehl History repeats itself a lot of ways, because seems like people in "the present" don't want to know what was done just before them.

[@timbeatty11]

350 Legend just replaced that round. They are better and cheaper

[@charlesmckinley29]

According to Mike Belm rimmed cartridges are far better for the Contender/Encore platform. Out of an AR platform you are correct.

[@Crosshair84]

350 Legend uses .355" bullets. It also headspaces on the case mouth, has to be taper crimped, and can't be reloaded with carbide dies. It also can't fire 357 Magnum and 38 Special.

[@minerblue9641]

Cast lead bullets are not an option for me and they never will be.

[@gshock3092]

I would prefer a 300aac over the maximum.

[@gshock3092]

The 357 maximum is dead! Better options would be 300aac. Or 350 legend .

[@charlesmckinley29]

Not for for Contender/Encore, rimmed cartridge is superior in these platforms and ARs are not legal to hunt with every where.

[@gshock3092]

@@charlesmckinley29 I have a cva scout which is like a Thompson and it's great 👍 and I shoot 30/30 bullets with it at close velocity

[@normvw4053]

I disagree, I have a NEF SB2 single shot rifle in 38 Special/357 Magnum/357 Maximum, it's lightweight, it's accurate, and it's fun. I acquired my brass from Dillion Precision, and it has proven to be an econimical choice, pre-covid. I use 180 grain and 200 grain bullets, I like it. Someone once told me that the 38 Super was dead, I disagree with that assessment as well.

[@82delta]

I want to buy that exact rifle..... Is it for sale?

[@mgmbarrels3299]

We can build you the barrel we just don't sell complete rifles. Good luck!

[@82delta]

@@mgmbarrels3299 Do you recommend a source for frames? I can't seem to find any encores "in stock".

[@tradesman63]

@@82deltaSSK firearms makes frames now. TC has been shut down.