What did you do at your reloading bench today?

[BigAl52]

Got out the ole Contender. MIght bring back some memories for some. Does me anyway. Time to let some steel move in the wind courtesy of one of my favorite calibers. The ole maxie as I call it. Its been disrespected for chambering for quite sometime but there is still a following. I once thought about getting a Henry Single Shot rechambered to this caliber but havent done it yet. Loaded up some strikers with about 7 grains of Unique to try gonna bump it up a bit to 7.5 and 8.0 to see how they shoot.

IMG_2808.JPG (3.27 MiB) Viewed 1034 times

[5shot]

That's a sharp looking contender! 10" barrel?

[BigAl52]

Thanks 5shot. Its been in my safe for quite some time. So ling don’t even remember where the grips and forend came from. Have a 41 mag barrel for it to. Its a blue barrel. Might get a MGM barrel for it in 357 mag depending on how much it gets used. The 357 max is alot of fun

[BigAl52]

Loaded 50 rounds of 357 Max with Unique 7.0 to 9.0 10 rounds each. I had an MGM TC mount here and decided to remove the iron sights from the TC barrel as I have a red dot here that I want to try on the Contender. I think it turned out pretty nice. Cant wait to shoot it. Thinking about adding another barrel but Im not sure which one. 357 mag is my first thought but I have also thought about a 9mm. 9mm ammo is cheap and fun to plink with.

RenderedImage.JPG (3.72 MiB) Viewed 1401 times

[ruhler]

Casted some bullets the other day, Noe mold 432 267grain rnfp for my Henry 44mag and my Marlin 444 I really needed them so I focused on getting a small supply with these bullets. also casted some Lee .430 240gr SWC and a few Lee .357 158gr SWC. Also tried my "new" MP-mold 432-244 4cavity brass mold with different inserts with hollowpoint, but just a few didnt have the time this day. It was alot heavier to work with than my other aluminium molds, had some issues with getting the bullets to let go from the mold because of the pins for the hollowpoint,the issue was I managed to get lead on the pins on the outside so couldnt get the bullets loose. Guess its a learningcurve each mold is a individual.

gjut1.png

gjut2.png

gjut3.png

gjut4.png

[5shot]

All my hollow point molds are single cavity and there you have the luxury of being able to give the pin a quarter turn before opening the mold so there is no sticking. The only "secret" I know for HP's is keeping the pin hot enough but I suspect you already know that. Dipping the pin in the pot between pours works for me. I never tangled with a multiple cavity HP mold but don't doubt what you're saying about a learning curve.

[DsGrouse]

Nothing so fancy as all of you.
Deprimed 500 357 and 1200ish 38spl



Today they go in the tumbler for a rumble tumble and then into the food dehydrator to dry off.

[DsGrouse]

Tumbled, rinsed, and dried.
I have some reloading to do.

[JVogler]

Loaded 50 rounds of 357magnum. 14.1 grains of Winchester 296 under a 158 grain JHP Zero bullet. I don't know why but this load kicks more than a load under a 158 grain JSP Zero brand bullet.

[DsGrouse]

Loaded 50 rounds of 357magnum. 14.1 grains of Winchester 296 under a 158 grain JHP Zero bullet. I don't know why but this load kicks more than a load under a 158 grain JSP Zero brand bullet.

JHP will likely be longer bullet than a JSP. Thus more of the bullet is in the case. That might increase the pressure, thus, more kick.