Buckhammer length

[5shot]

Old 5 shot is waiting for the phone to ring because of a new S&W mountain gun no lock showing up. The Smith might be a while so I could just grab the X and it'll make the wait less agonizing.

In the meantime I can make up my mind which mountain gun to get. He's got both the 686 and .44 ordered. And...gotta figure out what to sell...personal piggy bank is drying up.

[rickhem]

The 360 Buckhammer seems like a logical addition, given that you already have bullets for your .357. The 350 Legend uses smaller bullets, but I'm guessing that is why the 360 was the one rattling.
You need to scratch those itches, and opportunity is knocking.

[5shot]

The 360 Buckhammer seems like a logical addition, given that you already have bullets for your .357. The 350 Legend uses smaller bullets, but I'm guessing that is why the 360 was the one rattling.
You need to scratch those itches, and opportunity is knocking.

Yes the .360 is appealing because of the .358" bullet. I bought a second H015 single .357 with the intention of getting it reamed to .357 Max but it shot so well I couldn't bring myself to desecrate the pretty little thing. Finding .30/30 brass is no problem so even if the cartridge is a commercial flop it will always be easy for a handloader to feed.

[5shot]

Gonna put this idea on the back burner for the time being. There is no brass available loacally or online that I could find. No loading dies available around here. Not much information about the cartridge other than a couple of gun writers gushing over it.

[Mags]

.....No loading dies available around here. ...

Ya, you'll have to buy them online.
Amazon has an RCBS set. https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-3-DIE-Set-3 ... 0CHMZVRS6/
MidSouth Shooters Supply has a Lee set. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... -steel-set

[rickhem]

Ya, you'll have to buy them online.

Unfortunately, a lot of the local shops are falling short for much of the reloading supplies market. I try to buy local whenever possible, but sometimes they just price themselves out of the sale. I was going to buy a pound of powder from a local shop until he told me his price was $75 for the pound. It's listed at a number of on-line places for about $50, and while I want to support the local shops, paying 50% more isn't how I'll do that.

Lots of availability for the Buckhammer on the internet, and once you have the dies and brass, you already have all the rest to load for it.

[Mags]

Ya, you'll have to buy them online.

... I was going to buy a pound of powder ...

It's also getting to the point where you think you're buying a lb and it turns out it's a 14oz or 9oz can.

[BigAl52]

Im glad I stocked up when I did. Ive seen Unique for sale here in Texas and its 60.00 a lb. I guess if a guy really wants some he would probably pay that price. But there is other stuff at a better price point. Now with the big excise tax coming to Colorado there wont be any gun related purchases for me at all. Im not supporting this phoney tax they are collecting. I will order and have it shipped somewhere else. I have enough stocked to roll my own for quite sometime. There are certain groups of people who want guns gone for good. What its doing locally is gun shops are closing the doors.

[5shot]

.....No loading dies available around here. ...

Ya, you'll have to buy them online.
Amazon has an RCBS set. https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-3-DIE-Set-3 ... 0CHMZVRS6/
MidSouth Shooters Supply has a Lee set. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... -steel-set

Yes, I know loading dies can be found online but I haven't found brass anywhere and I'm too stubborn to buy factory ammo in order to have brass. Really surprised Starline hasn't made any yet. I've watched a couple of videos about chopping off .30/30 and .38/55. I'd need a little chop saw (more $$ to China) or a trim die. Also need a case holder for the Wilson case trimmer unless Lee has made one of their little contraptions for the .360.

Anyhow.....after thinking it over a little more I decided maybe I didn't want one all that much. If there's a need for more reach than my pistol caliber carbines can provide I'll just have to hammer the buck (pun intended ) with my .257 Robts M70 or Tikka 7/08.

[BigAl52]

.....No loading dies available around here. ...

Ya, you'll have to buy them online.
Amazon has an RCBS set. https://www.amazon.com/RCBS-3-DIE-Set-3 ... 0CHMZVRS6/
MidSouth Shooters Supply has a Lee set. https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/ ... -steel-set

Yes, I know loading dies can be found online but I haven't found brass anywhere and I'm too stubborn to buy factory ammo in order to have brass. Really surprised Starline hasn't made any yet. I've watched a couple of videos about chopping off .30/30 and .38/55. I'd need a little chop saw (more $$ to China) or a trim die. Also need a case holder for the Wilson case trimmer unless Lee has made one of their little contraptions for the .360.

Anyhow.....after thinking it over a little more I decided maybe I didn't want one all that much. If there's a need for more reach than my pistol caliber carbines can provide I'll just have to hammer the buck (pun intended ) with my .257 Robts M70 or Tikka 7/08.

Go old school and use the 38-55.

[5shot]

Al52...If Henry made the .38/55 in a blued or better yet, color case hardened Big Boy I'd be all over that. Likewise a .35 Rem but that would be in direct competition with the .360 so we know that ain't happening.

I'm a loyal Henry fan but if Marlin/Ruger chambers a .38/55 or .35 Rem I'm jumping ship!

[BigAl52]

Ya Im not sure why only the brass model of those calibers. I to think they would sell more if those choices were available

[bandit1250]

When I first heard about the Buckhammer I thought I would maybe buy one. As time went on and some more opinions got out about cartridge length and the brass not being real good I put it on hold. I have a thousand or more bullets .358 dia. for loading and I kept thinking about getting a rifle to shoot them. Finally decided on a CVA Scout TD stainless single shot in 35 Whelen. Has a fluted barrel and a brake on it made by Bergara. No problem with cartridge length with the long throat and no need to crimp. Made my cases from new 30-06 that a friend gave to me. Dies were cheaper than Buckhammer dies. I already knew I liked single shot rifles and this cartridge has a lot more power than the smaller 35's. More in the 350 Remington Magnum class. The trigger is far better than a lever rifle and breaks like a glass rod at 1lb. 12oz. with no creep. I still like lever guns but this CVA is very nice and goes well with my 444 Marlin CVA Scout TD. I need to find time to put some more rounds through both. May find a used Buckhammer some day and buy it. Take care and good shooting as the weather warms up. bandit

[5shot]

bandit 1250
I agree on the .35 Whelen being a good choice. It wouldn't be for me because I already have a .338/06 IMP. A long gone custom gunsmith by the name of Wally Strutz built it for me on a Whitworth action with a 23" Douglas barrel. That was in 1986. That fall I got my best ever whitetail with it and a few other deer after that. In 2000 I got a nice Colorado bull elk with it. I don't shoot it much lately but about a year ago I cast some 200 gr. Lee bullets, powder coated and sized .359". Using Unique or one of the Alliant dots for 16-1700 fps it becomes an accurate and pleasant to shoot plinker.

A .35 Whelen single would be more versatile. Plenty of horsepower on the top end and also being able to chamber the wide variety of .358" bullets out there.

It sounds like the .360 will run out of case capacity with many powders before reaching full power. I don't have any CFE BLK or AA1680 so there would be another acquisition before I could even start loading for it.

[5shot]

Well, I caved. A .360 X-Model is now in my safe. Since brass is apparently non-existent I did the unthinkable and bought a box of factory ammo. Remington 180's. Stopped off at the range on the way home and ran a half dozen rounds through it. Trigger pull is very good for an out of the box rifle and sights were right on at 25 yards.

I don't care for recoil very much in my old age and the factory loads seemed quite snappy. Supposed to be 2400 fps. When I start handloading for it I'll probably be content with .35 Rem performance which has been a proven winner for a long time. I intend to add a Ranger Point takedown screw and mount a 2X to 7X Leupold on a Ranger Point rail mount. At this point it doesn't look like the trigger pull kit is going to be needed. No creep and just under 4lbs.

[BigAl52]

Congrats but hey if you’re happy what the heck. Besides the undertaker doesn’t need any of my money I want his check to bounce

[Hatchdog]

Congratulations on the new rifle and I agree with BigAl above. We’ll be looking forward to the pictures you will post!

[5shot]

This post should probably go in the reloading section but the title of this thread is about my concerns (?) about cartridge length. I've never seen one in the flesh before so that's all the excuse I can offer. :lol

The cartridge on the left is a .357 Magnum for size comparison. Next is a .360 Buckhammer 180 gr. Remington factory load, then the Lyman #358429 which is a 170 gr. Elmer Keith design and finally the Lyman #358665 which drop from my mold at 164 grains. I don't have loading dies yet so the cast bullets are just set in place at the crimping groove. Obviously my concerns were unfounded

.360 X.jpg

[Vaquero]

Congrats on the new rifle.
Did you find a suitable yet?
Being I own a trio of 35 Rem. rifles and don't live or hunt in or near any of the areas that have case length restrictions I haven't a need for one.
I'm sure brass will become more available as time goes on. I'm still interested in your endeavor though, as I like the 35 cal. quite well.
It is a hammer.

RP

[Travlin]

The 360 looks interesting but as I have a Savage 99-358 , I think that the .35 caliber is covered. Also if I ever am short on brass I can neck up some 308's.