North country gal

Had a 10" 357 Max barrel on a Contender in the late 80s and loved it. Flat shooting, accurate as all get out and less recoil than a 44.

The Max has had a mini-revival, of late. See Mike Bellm' s TC site. I'd be sorely tempted to get another Max barrel for my TC, right now, but brass, not mention loaded ammo for a 357 is almost impossible to find. I wouldn't buy a Max until I had a good supply of brass lined up.

azrick

Hope this works, here's mine. Javalina and Coyote don't like it much though.

I'd like to deer hunt with it soon.

180 grn. Hornadys or Remington JSP.

It's got some power.

Rick

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David Bradshaw

BlkHawk73...
In the posted photo of "Ruger Maximum #2", the blurred number looks long enough to have the "600-" prefix. Do you mean to say that you have .357 Maximum, serial number "600-00002"? If so, that would be one of three allocated for Bill Ruger, Sr.

The only other possibility for a "2" would be one of the seven SRM prototypes, which are numbered SRM-1 through SRM-7. Of the SRM's, two were fitted with 7-1/2" barrels, five with 10-1/2" bbls. However, the SRM prototypes were stamped rather more forward on the frame.

At my suggestion, Bill Ruger, Jr., scoped one of the 10-1/2" SRM's. He scoped SRM-2 with a Leupold 4x EER scope, on a Leupold base. Ruger, Jr., also had ten barrels fitted to SRM-2, all 10-1/2", with twists ranging from 1:10" to 1:60".

We set aside one 7-1/2" and one 10-1/2" to not be shot. The rest we shot with experimental ammunition supplied by Remingon, and Federal, as well as my handloads, and a variety of .38 Special and .357 magnum.

SRM-4 was consigned to me in October 1981, and with it took the first game with the .357 Maximum, including deer. When production geared up, Bill Ruger, Jr., called and said, "David, you will receive the first Maximum off the production line. It is serial number 18"----(600-00018). The second goes to Elgin."----(Elgin Gates). "After that, we start the regular sequence, with 1, 2, and 3 going to the Old Man." (Ruger, Sr.----600-00001 through 600-00003.)

I think the 10-1/2" sent to Gates was 600-00014. Ruger told me at the time, but I do not recall. When I told Coogs "00016," I think he said that number went to someone else. At any rate, the outer box for my gun, hand printed in magic marker, reads "Bradshaw 600-00018," so I suppose Elgin Gates got the same treatment. The inner yellow & black box says .357 Maximum, without serial number.

I know of no other possibility for a "#2". Photo also indicates "Kittery Trading Post," just over the river from New Hampshire, in Maine. If it is indeed 600-00002, it is from WBR, Sr.'s personal collection. If it is SRM-2, it is the one prototype drilled and tapped for a mounting a scope. Reckon I'm just one of several persons curious to learn the full serial number.
Much obliged,
David Bradshaw

Jack D

In a single shot rifle, (like a TC or H&R Handi), you can load to Maxi velocities in the magnum chamber (180 and 200 gr.) due to the long throat of the SAAMI chamber. Of course, if your SS rifle does not have the long throat, maxi loads would not be possible.

Link to my rifle and the loads I use.

H&R 357

North country gal

Now have the Max in a 12" Contender and it is one of my favorite cartridges. It's pretty much a reloader only cartridge, though a few small ammo companies do make some loaded ammo for it (at an exorbitant price). In other words, don't go looking for loaded ammo at your LGS.

The Max is about as flat shooting as a straight walled pistol cartridge gets and with 180 grain loads, it's devastating on silhouettes or deer. It's just one of those cartridges that got started off on the wrong foot with the flame cutting issue and never recovered. Still used in silhouette in single shot pistols and in that platform in really shines. Has also undergone a revival as an ultra accurate deer cartridge in states that only allow straight walled pistol cartridges in rifles for deer hunting. I myself would love to find a 357 Max Blackhawk or Dan Wesson, but those are scarce and no one is giving them away.

KJS

Isn't the heat shield made of stainless steel? Being put on to protect S&W's Scandium alloy (aluminum) frame? The .357 Max was cutting into Ruger's thick steel top strap, so how is a little piece of steel going to stop that?

Defense against humans? Seems most find .357 Mag fully sufficient or even excessive due to penetration. Defense against bears?

Use that for home defense & you can forget about hearing ever again. I once heard the loudest hand cannon blasting away at an indoor range. It was so exceptionally loud I assumed it had to be a .454 Casull or such. Turned out to be a .357 Max. Seemed everybody working there knew the guy -- I gather you get noticed when you have by far the loudest gun on the range.

intercooler

You have to realize even though people say 180 eliminates the issues you will have some in the general public doing things which they shouldn't. Nature of the beast! So unless they could make it "idiot proof" I doubt you ever see it again.

silvermane

or another way of putting it would be the .357 maxi is to the .357 mag as the .454 casull is to the .45 colt.

blbolin

I bought a T/C Contender in .357 Max when it first came out. it was really accurate, but i have to admit I spent more time shooting regular .357 magnums through the Contender than the maximum load. it also was very accurate firing regular .357s. Still have the Contender, but haven't fired it in years.