Bought A 360 Buckhammer

[x101airborne]

I always browse the sporting goods section while my wife is shopping for groceries. They had just put a Henry lever action in 360 Buckhammer on the rack. I looked it over and decided to take it home. 840.00 something plus tax. They only had one box of ammo for it and I bought that as well. Remington 180 grain Core Lokt. 

I always thought the 357 Max would make a great lever action carbine round. I dont think we have a snow ball's chance in a microwave of that ever happening. I guess this is the next best thing. A 180 grain bullet at an advertised (take that for what it is worth) 2450 or so fps. A 200 grain at 2200 something fps. It sounds good anyway. I hope to use my 357 Max molds for this rifle. I am hopeful they work out with the twist on this rifle. I think it is a 1 in 12 twist. 

I would like to hear yall's experiences and opinions on the new Henry rifles and the 360 BH cartridge. Good or bad, lets hear em. 

[needsmostuff]

I will probably fall prey to the first one I run across also.
And I don't really have any need for it.

[tj3006]

I like the round.
I could be persuaded to buy one myself.
...tj

[45MAN]

I LIKE THE BALLISTICS ON THE ROUND AND IT BEING FOR LEVER GUNS AND SINGLE SHOTS, BUT BEST OF ALL I LIKE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE PARENT CASE, THE 30-30. OLD STANDBY's LIKE THE 250-3000, 257 ROBERTS, 300 SAV, 30 REMINGTON, 35 REMINGTON AND EVEN THE NOT SO OLD 356 WINCHESTER, ARE NO LONGER MADE AND/OR WHEN MADE ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AT SCALPER's PRICES. IF I WERE TO GET A 360 I WOULD LOAD UP ON LOTS OF AMMO.

[wendigo]

I also thought a .357 Max levergun would be pretty sporty and considered modding a Marlin - but then my ADD decided something else was shinier.

Hoping the re-launched TC makes some 360BH Encore barrels, seems like a natural for a single shot.

[Encore64]

I found it both unusual and unexpected for a Lever gun/single shot round to be introduced in today's market.

I too like the fact that it's parent case is easily found. I've made 360 Buckhammer Case from 30-30 and it's nothing to it.

Another one that can be loaded from mild to wild, within reason on either spectrum.

It's not being available in the AR15 is enough to pique my interest.

[jeffh]

Sept 14, 2024 7:55:54 GMT -5 wendigo said:

...

Hoping the re-launched TC makes some 360BH Encore barrels, seems like a natural for a single shot.

SSK makes 360BH barrels for their new SSK50 (Contender remake) and MGM put it on their "G2-only" list, so at least viable if one does not have and Encore.

If one DOES have an Encore, 360BH barres are already available too.

SSK and EABCO prices are pretty attractive too.  MGM is through the roof since I bought a couple seven years ago.

Shout out to Henry!

No my particular cup o' tea in levers, but $840 is about what they were getting for their levers just before Marlin slipped away, only to reappear at three-times the cost, and Smith got in the game with a lever almost twice what that Henry cost.  Even Rossi got on that bandwagon and is only about $100 less than that Henry.

I;m not just whining about prices indirectly by praising Henry - Henry deserves a hand for holding the line on their stuff. 

[jeffh]

Sept 14, 2024 10:03:28 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

I found it both unusual and unexpected for a Lever gun/single shot round to be introduced in today's market.
...

Seemed odd to me as well, but then I looked at what they're asking for levers - and getting it.  

Not sure why I didn't see that coming, but it's a welcome development.

[x101airborne]

Seems like a natural cartridge for cast bullets at full throttle. As long as they dont over spin, should be able to use full book loads.

I read elsewhere that the cases were based on 375 Winchester with a taller internal base for strength, much stronger than 30-30 cases. Now pushing lower pressure cast bullets I see no issue in using 30-30 cases. I also plan on using some 30-30 cases because I have been collecting 30-30 cases once fired for years and have lots on hand. I just wanted to mention the case difference that I read so others can be informed.

[Encore64]

I won't speak for Lever Action Guns. But, in a Single Shot, the 30-30 Case is more than adequate for 360 Buckhammer Pressures.

For decades I've loaded some 30-30 Based Wildcats to high pressures.

If a manufacturer states that they build their cases to different specs, I'll believe it. Stuff on forums, not so much.

I've read the same about 38-40, 44-40 and 45 Colt. Many more, too many to list.

When I read the Original Remington Ammo Press Release, it stated the 360 Buckhammer was based on the 30-30 Case, not 30-30 Dimensions...

[jeffh]

Sept 14, 2024 12:02:21 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

Seems like a natural cartridge for cast bullets at full throttle. As long as they dont over spin, should be able to use full book loads.
...

What bullets did you have in mind?  Do you have something or were you shopping moulds?

[x101airborne]

I was planning on using the 180 and 200 grain molds I bought for the Max. I dont have the numbers for them in front of me.

[Encore64]

Just for giggles, I broke out my TC Contender Loading Manual this morning.

It includes 357 Herrett Data from Hornady, Sierra, Lyman, RCBS and Hodgdon. Just about any load from 121-200 grn, cast and jacketed.

I'll definitely be referring to this for cast bullet load development...

[bradshaw]

Sept 14, 2024 12:02:21 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

Seems like a natural cartridge for cast bullets at full throttle. As long as they dont over spin, should be able to use full book loads.

I read elsewhere that the cases were based on 375 Winchester with a taller internal base for strength, much stronger than 30-30 cases. Now pushing lower pressure cast bullets I see no issue in using 30-30 cases. I also plan on using some 30-30 cases because I have been collecting 30-30 cases once fired for years and have lots on hand. I just wanted to mention the case difference that I read so others can be informed.

*****

Trey.... after Dan Wesson Arms stretched its M44 .44 Mag frame to make the Model 40 .357 Maximum, proving once again DWA performance in IHMSA silhouette, several cartridges by Elgin Gates followed---- .375 Super Mag, .445 SM, and .414 SM. Gates added .005” to the .357 Remington Maximum to make create his Super Mags. Sig Himmelman was the first to chamber a revolver in .375 Super Mag. Whereas loading for the .357 Maximum is as easy as loading for .357 Mag, the tapered case of the .375 precludes use of a regular carbide sizer. On top of that, brass used in the draw was specced for higher pressure than its parent .30-30 case. Thus, sticky extraction from .30-30 brass when loaded for upper end .375 SM. Brass for the .375 Winchester is specced for higher pressure and it shows in the better springback.

Don’t know anyone in IHMSA who stayed with .30-30 brass for for loading the .375 Dan Wesson. As a competitive footnote, the .375 SM didn’t stand a chance against the .357 Maximum in silhouette.... until guys like IHMSA All-American Eric King spun the bullets faster and took on rams @ 500 meters with rifle bullets (yes, iron sights).

Believe it was Mike Jordan at Winchester who told me .375 brass is made to higher tensile. As competitors across several disciplines can tell you, all brass isn’t equal; it’s not just a dimensional caper.

Firearms which chamber a self-contained cartridge use the case as a head gasket. Various formulas of brass may fill that role----up to a point. One other fly in the ointment: a lot of brass is manufactured without consideration for reloading.
David Bradshaw

[Encore64]

Clements and I had a similar conversation this morning.

I've got Three Rifles and a 14" Contender in 30-30 Ackley.

He recently added a TC Carbine so chambered and has been working up loads.

He encountered higher pressures when using Starline Brass. After measuring, he found Starline Brass thicker both at the web and sidewalls. He backed off the powder and the problem went away while ballistics equalled Remington and Winchester Brass.

I may need to add a batch of Starline Brass to wildcat...