357 Maximum rifle conversion

Northern Canuck · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 10:31 pm Post subject: 357 Maximum rifle conversion

I have read a few articles before on people rechambering or converting rifles to fire the 357 max cartridge. I have a contender in 357 max and have had fun shooting it (I also have lots of brass). If there was a good rifle to convert what would it be? Sniper

PaulS · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: 357 Maximum rifle conversion

That depends on what you want. Do you want a single shot or a repeater?
If you want a repeater do you want it bolt action, lever action, pump action or semi-auto?

I have seen the lever action 357's converted to single loading 357 Max - the action can't handle the extra length so you have to load it into the chamber each shot.
The two problems that you will run into with bolt action is finding a bolt face that can handle a rim of .440 diameter and getting rimmed cartridges to feed well from a bolt action magazine.
The single shot rifle is the easiest - Thompson makes a couple of carbines that can be chambered for 357 Max. and the Handi-Rifle can be chambered as well.
Semi auto is a tough one because of the whole bolt face, magazine feed and on top of that you would have to calculate the gas operating pressures and limits. You would need an engineering degree for that one.

I hesitate to mention this last one because I don't know of any gun smith who will touch the job but it would leave you with a "straight pull" bolt or a slide action rifle in 357 Maximum. I converted a SKS 7.62x39 into a repeater (did away with the gas system) that all I do is pull the bolt back and let it go. The next round is chambered and the last is ejected. You need a lathe that will cut metric threads to do this job. I used a mill, a lathe, tool post grinder attachment and an assortment of hand grinders and tools. If you have the tooling, the desire and the aptitude to do precision work that involves a lot of trial and error fitting then this is something you can do. If you can find a riflesmith who can do and will do the job for you then You are a better man than I. I contacted the eight best smiths in my area and not one of them would even consider it. I wish you good luck on which ever way you choose to go.