Jamison 357 Max Brass

[gman50]

Any opinions on this brass? I have a line on a Max and as everyone knows brass is scarce.

[benny123]

Not exactly what you're looking for, but I loaded Jamison brass for the 500 Wyomng Espress. Though this cartridge is not a high pressure cartridge like the Casull, I likely would have loaded to the tune of ~40/45k psi. And, likely reloaded the brass a few times. Never any issues with split cases which I've seen with other makers from time to time.

[rleprechaun]

Hope Jamison brass is OK. Just bought 2 Ruger 357 Max. Ordering 100 Jamison cases today, all I can find. From 1987 to 1991 I shot a lot of 375 Max in 2 contenders. Then there was Fed. Win. and Rem. Rem much better than the other 2. Fed was true junk.

[bradshaw]

It will be a fine day when Starline makes .357 Maximum brass. Remington brass has a slightly thicker head than the later Federal nickel plated case. More importantly, the sidewall of the Remington case thickens toward the base. Remington brass holds up well to repeated loading. In talking with Sierra Bullets president Bob Hayden during the late 1970's/early 80's period, he described chemical weakening of cartridge brass caused by nickel plating. From a bandloader's perspective, nickel plating invites scratches during resizing if any grit is on the case. Scratches spell stress.

Both Remington and Federal brass fired in both Ruger and Dan Wesson .357 Maximums paved handgun silhouette championships. Chamber pressures north of 40,000 PSI shorten case life. The .454 Casull at 65,000 PSI illustrates this fact. Add to it not all brass is created equal. Experimental .357 Maximum from Federal which averaged 77,000 PSI did not blow primer pockets in the Ruger, didn't do diddly to the revolvers. Oh, the rifle primers flattened and sometimes pierced. I reloaded some this Federal nickel plated brass once and some of it twice, to see what would happen. Loads probably a bit south of 40,000 PSI. The brass was stiff and tired, but did not fail. The bandleader wants long reloading life. Remington brass grows weary as well at elevated pressures. The Ruger chambers are cut straight, no taper, and firm. Bill Ruger, Jr., had hardened ejectors put in to deal with at times stiff extraction. Rugers senior and junior heartily approved my request for a long ejector assembly after we shot the first Blackhawk prototype and these were fitted to the seven SRM prototypes. Thence into production. Extreme pressure reduces elasticity----springback----of brass.

By holding loads to normal magnum pressures----35,000 to 40,000 PSI----good brass enjoys a long service life. Without any experience with Jamison brass, I too would like to hear a specific account from persons with direct experience. I dearly hope Starline comes through with .357 Maximum brass, and in the process further enhances the Starline reputation.
David Bradshaw

[gman50]

My understanding is that Starline will be making a run of Maximum brass. Meantime I'll try out some Jamison brass because that Maximum is headed my way.

[rleprechaun]

Loaded Jamison 357 Max 2 weekends ago. Shot some this weekend with 180gr. XTP, no problems. Ordered 500 Starline.

[gman50]

Last week I loaded 50 rounds of the Jamison brass with 180 grain XTP's just to try out. Brass seemed fine to me. Just received notice that my order from Starline has shipped. Now to finish honing out my bullet sizer die so I can pc some cast bullets.