I haven't really started to seriously load for my 357 Max. Contender, but recently picked up a Classic Lee Loader to play with a little. Can I load pointed bullets like the Hornady 180gr. sssp bullets with it or do the bullets need to be more like traditional handgun bullets ??? You know... flat nosed or hollow point ??? Thanks, HD1

Yep. Pointed bullets are fine from a Contender.

Yes you can load those exact bullets...and they shoot excellent in my max. Use all the standard precautions but they shot well for me using a max dose of AA1680 and a BR-4 primer.

Make sure you have the correct seating die for pointed bullets as I know the standard RCBS dies I have did not have one for pointed bullets.

Factory barrel or custom job ?

The Hornady 180 gr Single Shot Pistol bullet is good medicine in the 357 Max Contender!
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Another excellent bullet for the max is a 200 gr. Sierra round nose. My carbine barrel has a 1-14 twist, MGM custom job and those shoot very accurate.

SKB2706: How is the bullet expansion it those velocities ? I'd rather use Rem. 150 gr. PSP's like I did in my 357 B&D, but can't find them any longer. HD1

At the distance I shot them I figured it was excellent. Two deer I killed with them both dropped at the shot, both less than 75 yds. I recovered both bullets, not massive expansion but those bullets were intended for the 35 Remington so my speeds weren't too far off that level. Lots of exposed lead right there. I am getting 1850-1900 fps in my Contender carbine with the 200 gr. bullets.

huntdaddy - factory barrel or custom job?

I've had both and they were both shooters

skb2706-Mine is a 10" factory bull Bbl., that's why I asked about bullet performance. There's no way I can achieve 35 Rem speeds with such a short Bbl., but it's a woods gun...100 yards or less, and I like how the 10" Bbl. handles. It has Burris 2X scope and groups well so far with factory 180's. HD1

I don't think I've seen a box of factory ammo for a .357 max in two years or more.

I picked up six boxes at an estate auction a while back. I was the only person bidding on them and got them really cheap. I also picked up some 375 Win ammo at the same auction. HD1

A few years back I owned a T.C. Contender (10 inch BBL) in a .357 Max. I loaded the 180gr SS Hornady, 180FN Speer, and 200Spt Honady as my "heavys". They all shot very well; although, they all were very loud and had a very "sharp" recoil "impulse"! I never did shoot anything with them but small game, but did a lot of shooting on targets and chronographed my loads. Even with that short barrel, it wasn't that far behind a .35 Rem. My hunting partner has one in an "older" model NEF and has killed a few deer with a 158gr load and is totally impressed with its effectiveness! My loads are as follows (To be verified safe by you with appropriate data manuals!):
(1) 17.0/2400/Fed small rifle (SR)/Rem (case)/180FN @ 1530fps (2) 22.0/Win296/Fed (SR)/180FN @ 1675fps (3) 20.0/H110/CCIBR/Rem/200ptd(Rem) @1620fps, or sub a 180SptHorn @ 1521fps (4) 21.0/H110/FedSR/Rem/180SptHorn(SS) @ unk fps (5)20.0/H110/CCISR/Rem/185Cast @ 1619fps (6) 24.0/RL7/FedSR/Rem/180SptHorn @ 1275fps (midrange load) (7) 24.0/H110/CCIBR/Rem/158XTP @ 1854fps
(Warnings apply to accurate data and its use; work up from "below", as always!!!) Good luck and good shooting! Regards, Riley

That was my choice as well.

Still working up a load. Went as far as 26.5 grn of ar2205 (compresssed) for 2224fps. SD was 41 spread 107 - not good. no pressure signs though. 21 inch barrel.

B

You can go up to 28.5gr AA-1680 under the 180gr Hornady SSP with CCI 450 primers in a Contender. Pressure will be approx. 45-46 kpsi; well below the SAAMI limit of 48 kpsi. The new 200gr Hornady FTX bullet might be a good choice too since the polymer tip is supposed to aid expansion at lower velocities. Take a look at Beartooth's 180gr WLN+P-GC if you want to try a cast bullet.
Most published load data for the Maximum cheats the cartridge in two ways. First, cartridge length is usually restricted to 2.00" or less because of the Ruger Maximum Blackhawk's short cylinder (even though only around 10,000 were produced) and second, by limiting pressures to that of hot Magnum loads instead of full-power Maximum pressures in an effort to curtail the top-strap cutting issues in said Blackhawks.
Reed's Ammo (www.reedsammo.com) builds excellent .357 Maximum ammo and will custom load if you desire. Their load using the 180gr SSP clocks 1800 fps from a 12" Contender barrel.

Thanks for all the good feedback and load data !!!! HD1