Why don't you trim the .357 Herrett brass to the right (Indiana-legal) length, shoot it in the standard chamber, and be done with it? Is is a restriction on the chamber, or ammo?
If they aren't going to stick case gages in the chamber.... then wouldn't that fix the issue, within the rules? Just a thought.
Mike, that's a very good question!
I have thought the same thing, but worry that the restriction may be on the actual CHAMBER size, not the case. It would probably never come into question, but if it did, the fact that I "could" chamber a full-length .357 Herrett case might get me into trouble. I guess you could say I'm avoiding even the very appearance of evil...or, just being a chicken, but I value my hunting rights a great deal and would hate to have them rescinded on such a minor technicality.
I suppose I could be safe, talk to a DNR officer, get a written statement of what is, and what is not, legal. If I had it in writing, the 357 Herrett would be a really good choice. I want to stay within the letter of the law, even if I question the intent?
Still, the 357Max is easier, all the way around, because the case is certainly short enough, they require no fire-forming chores, plus they're very affordable and available. The Max doesn't give as much velocity as the Herrett, but it has better range and trajectory than a standard 44Mag, while creating much less recoil than the 12" slug guns that most deer hunters use, in Indiana.
Is the consensus that a 357 Herrett, shortened to 1.625" (and with bullets loaded long?) would cycle reliably through an unaltered Model '94 action, originally cut for a 30/30? If so, I think I need to revisit that idea more seriously.
