I believe several years ago I made it very clear that I like the 357 maximum about as much as I like coffee, water, food and air. Those are the bare necessities to keep my body alive, in that order. 357 Maximum is just below air in importance. I always shoot the RCBS 35-200FN, BHN is 18-20, checked, Lars White Label, unsized with more 4227 than a human should burn in a single cartridge smaller than 500 Nitro Express. I just got (99% certain) an untampered, all matching BSA 310, chambered to 32-30 in 90% + condition, all regards. I believe in a month or two, it WILL have the barrel bulled, sent to Jesse Ocumpaugh for reboring to 35 cal. I will then chamber it for 357 maximum and it will then shoot with “hopefully” unparalleled accuracy!
I need confirmation from a shooter or two that they have successfully loaded DOWN the maximum to light mag or even hot 38 special status!!
The maximum is not a very good rabbit harvesting round, it tends to relocate the animals to parts unknown in a very fine display of blood splatter. Ive never had need to shoot a rabbit I was going to eat with the max. Id rather use a DW revolver with a 38 special (seldom done due to carbon buildup) or more typically, a 357 loaded way back and 158 gr swc., a pinch of stuff like green dot or clays, etc. That load will knocjk em down, roll them over and maybe a few feet, makes a small hole twice, they die. Meat saved. Thats good stuff!! The maximum chamber I will cut, well I dont want to ever foul the thing with carbon. And I could see that with a new rifle like this, I may be apt to put several hundred rounds down its throat in a day and Id like to cut back on a 357 max taking it to light 357 magnum 1100 fps (revolver barrel length speed reference!!) power. Thats an awful big case to put just a pinch of powder in, like universal clays at 6 grains, etc. Im ok with ANY powder, herco, blue dot, 2400, anything bulky. Id rather not speed up to the point Im at unique though. Id rather have a bit more powder to look at in the case during inspection. Any thought?? I know and have ready Jeffs work on his rook rifle. Never shot or loaded for 32-20, dont really believe the cartridge will give me the flexibility of rabbits, then bigger game if I ever desired. Operational range is needing to be out to 150 yards +. There is my second caveat. I believe the only thing that keeps the BSA from being a deer rifle is the cartridge it has stepped up to. I really dont want to encounter issues with .320 bores with .312 case mouths, heeled bullets, brass fireforming, etc. So I have carefully thought about the barrel work and have settled on 35 cal. if the max cant boil down to lighter loads proper, then Ill ream it to 357 magnum only. Im shorting myself a huge increase in power with zero pressure increase (darn near free horsepower) but if it really is ALL or NOTHING with the max, then that will need to be done. CYA and thanks in advance Mike
