coogs
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,673
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Post by coogs on Jan 13, 2011 7:27:14 GMT -5
Decided to start a new thread with this question actually in the title so that someone out there, if there is anyone, who was ever involved in it would contact me. So.........supposedly, back in the mid to late 80's, after the maximum production was stopped in 1983, yes 1983, Ruger would trade you a new Super if you sent your Max in. Also heard that Ruger would refund $$$(full list, no less) if you sent your Max back in. Now I do know that to be true, as a very prominent Ruger employee was fired by WBR for doing it. But, it must have been more of a symbolic gesture, as he hired the guy back after two weeks. All that said, is there anyone out there that has proof of a buyback/trade-in program? Love to hear from ya. I'd be interested in purchasing the gun and/or paperwork if it is available. Even if ya don't want to part with it please contact me, love ta know if this really happened, or is it all just hearsay? Here is an other little tidbit to peak your curiosity............how about a .357 Max Seville that Ruger used as a test platform ? More on that to follow.........................Coogs.
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Post by Ken O'Neill on Jan 13, 2011 7:52:08 GMT -5
This is not to say that it didn't happen, but I simply don't remember such a thing. I had a very early 10 1/2" Ruger .357 Maximum, and was very heavily involved in IHMSA competition in those days, so I'm surprised that I don't remember it. However, I never say never.... it might just be my "old geezer" forgetfullness at work. On the other hand "everyone knows" that Ruger never made a stainless .357 Maximum... that is, until one owned by Stan Terhune was auctioned off last year ( or 2009) ... they made at least two, experimentally. I haven't heard the Seville story but don't doubt it at all, since Sig Himmelman and WBR were well acquainted. Give us more, please!
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coogs
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,673
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Post by coogs on Jan 13, 2011 8:24:10 GMT -5
Actually there were 6 Stainless Maximums produced, 3 were destroyed. I've located two of the remaining 3, with a real good idea where the third one is.Coogs.
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Post by Lee Martin on Jan 13, 2011 9:07:58 GMT -5
Great information Coogs. As noted, United Sporting Arms was the first to release a 357 Max (the Seville Max even beat the Dan Wesson version to market). Sig and Elgin Gates were good friends, so many of the first SuperMag revolvers were Sevilles. BTW, the round was always called the 357 SuperMag. Elgin named it as such when he designed it in the mid 70s. Ruger and Remington tried to make it their own by calling it the Maximum in 1982. Lee www.singleactions.com
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coogs
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,673
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Post by coogs on Jan 13, 2011 9:26:00 GMT -5
I got most of the low-down about the Gates, Ruger, Bradshaw, Remington Thing.........but would still like to find David Bradshaw and talk to him...........anybody know where, how? Would like to know where Max serial #600-00018 went also. The Seville I have is marked >357 Maximum, came out of Prescott..........Coogs.
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aciera
.375 Atomic
Posts: 2,064
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Post by aciera on Jan 13, 2011 10:05:02 GMT -5
Coogs; Welcome to the forum. . Were the Seville SM the same length, cylinder wise as the Ruger Maximums. . I would check your articles Lee but I am on a phone. . And a Stainless Maximum? ? . Have a good day.
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Post by Lee Martin on Jan 13, 2011 10:38:27 GMT -5
The Seville cylinder is a little longer and they never exhibited flame cutting like the Ruger version (not that is was a big deal in Blackhawks). Stainless construction as opposed to cylinder length was the difference however. Lee www.singleactions.com
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Post by hyvltge on Jan 13, 2011 10:43:29 GMT -5
WOW, great info guys!
Does any one have any pics of the stainless Ruger Max? Also can someone comment on why some of the cylinders for the 357 Max were different lengths?
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Post by Lee Martin on Jan 13, 2011 10:44:57 GMT -5
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Post by hyvltge on Jan 13, 2011 10:50:54 GMT -5
Yes that too. Good call Lee.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2011 11:46:03 GMT -5
We'll probably never see the Ruger Max reintroduced. Too bad too because there are so many cool rounds that'll work in the big frame.
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coogs
.401 Bobcat
Posts: 2,673
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Post by coogs on Jan 13, 2011 12:21:30 GMT -5
Give me a little time, the pic posting thing is tough for me being as I am computer illiterate. I am not sure of the exact diff on cylinder length. I do know, Ruger did change the degree of the forcing cone, some of those did get out of the factory. The flame cutting/forcing cone erosion thing had to do with way too small of bullet at way too high of velocity. The supermag/maximum round was meant to shove big bullets at moderate velocities. And actually the flame cutting in a Ruger Maximum will subside to almost nothing around a 1000 rds or so.
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Post by hyvltge on Jan 13, 2011 12:36:52 GMT -5
Coogs, if you can email pics let me know and I can post them for you as well.
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Post by agrizz on Jan 13, 2011 13:07:41 GMT -5
I just measured them and the cylinders are as follows: Ruger 1.940 Seville 2.115 Dan Wesson 2.075
The Ruger was belittled by Mr. Bob Milek the first time I ever read anything in print and then the others such as Jon Sundra, J.B Wood, John Lachuk, Hal Swiggett, Finn Aagaard, John Wooters, H. Lea Lawence, Jack Lott, Bob Hagel,Craig Boddington, Clair Rees, Jack O Conner jumped on the band wagon and soon the revolver was pulled from production.
I had and still do have a high regard for all of these individuals however they succeded in destroying a great cartridge and revolver due to some kind of group mentality. These revolvers and the cartridges for them were all denigrated by the gun writers untill they were removed from the market.
At this time most shooters were looking for all the high velocity magnum stuff they could find. Mr. Bob Milek would shoot 125 grain bullets with as much powder as he could get behind it to see what velocity he would be able to get out of the gun. In the process there was top strap cutting and the alarm went out that the top strap could be weakened and there making the revolver unsafe to use.
After a lot of use on the silhouett ranges it was learned that the top strap cutting would stop at about .020 if you used the 180 to 220 grain bullet that the guns and cartridge were disigned for.
I have shot silhouetts in the past and used my guns extensively with nothing but admiration for Elgin Gates and all of the manufacturers that turned out these great guns in the .357, 375, 414 and 445.
I wish they would return.
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Post by mindustrial on Jan 13, 2011 13:19:27 GMT -5
I had heard the original Supermag brass & later Maximum brass was slightly different. Was this true? Perhaps nothing more than a slight length discrepency?
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