My .357 Mag. is now a Max.

[Swampman]

My .357 Handi is now a .357 Max. It took about 15 minutes.



Thanks to GBOs quickdtoo for his help.

[2ndovc]

So how does that work?

I just got my first HandiRifle in .22 Hornet and was going to send it in for a .357m and .308 barrel.

Want to convert it to Max but have VERY limited metal working experience!

More info if you please!


jb

[Hobie]

You are gonna like the .357 Maximum!

[firefuzz]

I've always wished someone, preferable Winchester or Rossi, would chamber a lever gun in the Max. I've always admired that cartridge.

Rob

[AJMD429]

Just be sure your FRAME is not the "shotgun & .44 Mag" kind that has (supposedly) less strength, and a larger firing-pin hole. Supposedly that isn't a good thing, because the .357 Max has much higher pressures.

Still it is a great round - kind of the .357 version of the .444 Marlin...

Maybe one of these days a company will make a nice intermediate-length, high-pressure action capable of handling it (and the .460 S&W or .500 S&W could be its 'big brother').

[JReed]

Cool Now you just need to get to the range and give us a report.

[wavetrain75]

What's the shortest COAL it will cycle now?

[Hobie]

Well, I don't know about the Handirifles but my Contender .357 Maximum will handle .38 Colt length cartridges...

[wavetrain75]

Well, I don't know about the Handirifles but my Contender .357 Maximum will handle .38 Colt length cartridges...

My fault. Single shot. Didn't read carefully.

[O.S.O.K.]

So how does that work?

I just got my first HandiRifle in .22 Hornet and was going to send it in for a .357m and .308 barrel.

Want to convert it to Max but have VERY limited metal working experience!

More info if you please!


jb

I'll let swampman give you the details but its a simple operation. You get a finishing reamer, clamp the barrel chamber-up in a vice and using lots of cutting oil slowly cut the new chamber with the reamer. With the handirifle its cake as the barrel is easily removed so you have direct access to the chamber without obstruction.

[Swampman]

That pretty much covers it. A member of the Graybeard Outdoors Handi Rifle forum has been loaning out his personal reamer for a donation of $20.00 to support the forum.

[Hobie]

Well, I don't know about the Handirifles but my Contender .357 Maximum will handle .38 Colt length cartridges...

My fault. Single shot. Didn't read carefully.

I do that now and then, too!

[Rifleman336]

[quote="AJMD429"]Just be sure your FRAME is not the "shotgun & .44 Mag" kind that has (supposedly) less strength, and a larger firing-pin hole. Supposedly that isn't a good thing, because the .357 Max has much higher pressures.

Still it is a great round - kind of the .357 version of the .444 Marlin...

Maybe one of these days a company will make a nice intermediate-length, high-pressure action capable of handling it (and the .460 S&W or .500 S&W could be its 'big brother').[/quote]



x 2. I wish marlin would make such an action, and bring the .357 maximum ot of limbo. Heck, if the new working of the action on the previous post it could possiably feed .38 LC through .357 max. Ahh but i'm just dreaming.

Rifleman 336

Rifleman 336

[2ndovc]

That pretty much covers it. A member of the Graybeard Outdoors Handi Rifle forum has been loaning out his personal reamer for a donation of $20.00 to support the forum.

Is this done with a drill? Lathe? By hand?

jason

[Swampman]

By hand with a t-handle.

[2ndovc]

Cool!!

Thanks.

jb

[bearhunter]

I've always wished someone, preferable Winchester or Rossi, would chamber a lever gun in the Max. I've always admired that cartridge.

Rob

I'd buy that in a heartbeat!

[Wes]

I have to ask why you think Marlin should offer one? They are already making the 35 Rem. Just curious as to what the advantage would be .

[Lefty Dude]

There reference is to the 94 action, not the 95 or 336.
They want the light weight carbine that feed a very nasty 35 caliber round for it's size.

I have a Maxie barrel for my TC Contender. Mine is a short barrel, 8" tapered octagon. This is quite a handful with a 200 gr. spitzer Hornady 35 cal. rifle bullet.

[BoxxerBoyDrew]

The 357Max in a lever Gun would be cool!

Wes, to answer your question about the Max over the 35Rem, My answer would be that it is a straight wall cartridge, so NO LUBE needed to resize with carbide dies, if ya don't need the power of the 35 but ya need more than the 357Mag, it is a efficient cartridge, and most sets of 38spcl and 357mag dies will size the max, so no extra dies needed if Ya got a 357 all ready, less recoil than the 35 too, and it is a COOL round!

This is my first post here, and I have to say this is a COOL FORUM!!! I have been into T/C for quite a while but I now have a lever gun too, and I will probably have a lot of questions! So be patient with me!

Take Care and Merry Christmas to ALL!!!
Drew

[firefuzz]

I have to ask why you think Marlin should offer one? They are already making the 35 Rem. Just curious as to what the advantage would be .

Because the .35 Remington won't fit in a '92 Winchester, THE KING OF ALL LEVER ACTIONS, . If ya don't believe me just ask yourself, "Did you ever see the Duke carrying a Marlin?"

Rob

[Wes]

Good one firefuzz . I have a couple 92 guns and like them a lot. One 44-40 and a 218 Bee. Great rifles. But i do still like Marlins as well.
I guess the straight wall thing would be nice with a carbide sizer. Never thought of that. What kind of performance would you be talking here out of a 20" rifle barrel?

[NonPCnraRN]

Get a 454 and a 357 barrel. Replace the 454 barrel with the 357 barrel and rechamber to a .357 wildcat 1.83" long. It won't be 1.6" of the 357 Maximum but it will be a lot more powerful than the 357. That is probably as close as you will get to a more powerful .357 cartridge in a model 92. Otherwise the 35 Rem in a Marlin 336 is only 1 inch longer and 0.5 lbs heavier than a 94 Cowboy in 357. The 336 would be cheaper than a custom 92. Or you could have a 92 made up in 454/357 wildcat but that would be expensive too. It migt give the 35 remington a run for its money.

[Rusty]

Welcome to the forum Drew!


For anyone that's interested you can already get a Handi Rifle fromt eh factory in .500 S&W.

From what people have been posting on GBO about the Max out of a Handi Rifle it's already midway up in the charts of what a .35 Rem. will do.