T/C Contender 357 Mag & 357 Rem Max?

1950KID · 12-13-2003, 04:09 PM

What is the difference between a Thompson Center Contender 357 Mag. and a
357 Rem Max? Can you shoot a 38 Special bullet out of a 357 Rem Max?

ktscontender · 12-14-2003, 06:58 AM

The case on the max is a tad longer than the mag. You can shoot the 38 in it but that bullet is going to have travel a ways before it engages any rifling

JPH45 · 12-14-2003, 10:11 PM

I killed a buck this weekend with my 357 Maximum, the only difference being, mine is chambered in an NEF rifle with a 22" barrel. I am getting 2060fps average velocity with Hornady 180 XTP's and 26 grains of AA1680. The Maximum is a nice cartridge but is a handloading only chambering as there is no factory loaded ammunition. The case length of the Maximum is 1.6" as compared to 1.29" for the Magnum. A difference of .310" it is a good cartridge lacking factory ammo, but this was a result of Ruger rushing their 357 Max chambered Blackhawks to market. It was found shortly after that the top strap was being cut by gas erosion over the cylinder gap. T/C's and other single shots of course do not have this problem. I wouldn't trade my Max for a Magnum any day for any price.

Edit: and as was mentioned, yes you can shoot 38's from it, but it is a long jump to the rifling, but at 25 yads or so it could shoot just just fine. I download mine for plinking.