.357 Remington Maximum

{{Short description|Revolver cartridge}}

{{Infobox firearm cartridge

|name= .357 Remington Maximum

|image= 357maximum.png | image_size = 100px

|caption=

|origin= United States

|type= Pistol

|service=

|used_by=

|wars=

|designer= Remington / Ruger

|design_date=1983

|manufacturer=

|production_date=

|number=

|variants=

|is_SI_specs=

|parent=.357 Magnum

|case_type=Rimmed, straight

|bullet=.357

|neck=.379

|shoulder=

|base=.379

|rim_dia=.440

|rim_thick=.060

|case_length=1.605

|length=1.990

|rifling=1 in {{convert|14|in}}

|primer=Small Rifle Magnum

|max_pressure=40000

|is_SI_ballistics=

|bw1=210

|btype1=Lead FNGC

|vel1=1649

|en1=1268

|bw2=158

|btype2=JHP

|vel2=1998

|en2=1401

|bw3=170

|btype3=JHC

|vel3=1962

|en3=1453

|bw4=180

|btype4=SSP

|vel4=1968

|en4=1548

|bw5=200

|btype5=TMJ

|vel5=1675

|en5=1246

|test_barrel_length={{convert|14|in}}

|balsrc= Accurate Powder

}}

The .357 Maximum, formally known as the .357 Remington Maximum or the .357 Max, is a super magnum handgun cartridge originally developed by Elgin Gates as the wildcat .357 SuperMag.{{cite journal|journal=Guns Magazine|year=2007|title=Lunching with legends: a reminiscence|first=Peter T. | last=Tomaras|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_3_53/ai_n27126491/|issue=3|volume=47|access-date=23 September 2011}} The .357 Maximum was introduced into commercial production as a joint-venture by Remington Arms Company and Ruger in 1983 as a new chambering for the Ruger Blackhawk.{{cite journal|title=Pistols with more punch |last=Mc Keown|first=Bill |page=35|journal =Popular Mechanics|year= 1983|volume=159|issue=3}} Shortly thereafter, Dan Wesson Firearms and Thompson/Center Arms introduced firearms in this cartridge. United Sporting Arms chambered it in their Silhouette series single-action revolvers. It is a .357 Magnum case lengthened {{convert|0.300|in}}.{{cite journal|journal=Guns Magazine|year= 2010|title=A half-century with sixguns: the really big bores|first=John|last= Taffin|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_56/ai_n56222230/|volume=40|issue=8|access-date=23 September 2011}} Based on the .357 Magnum cartridge, a revolver or single-shot pistol designed for the .357 Remington Maximum will chamber and fire the .360 Dan Wesson, .357 Magnum, .38 Special, .38 Long Colt, and .38 Short Colt cartridges. Intended primarily as a silhouette cartridge, such high velocity and energy levels have hunting applications. SAAMI pressure level for this cartridge is set at {{convert|40000|psi|MPa}}.{{Cite web |title=SAAMI pressure specs |url=http://www.handloads.com/misc/saami.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131024119/http://www.handloads.com:80/misc/saami.htm |archive-date=31 January 2019 |access-date=28 March 2022 |website=Handloads Online, the reloaders resource}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm|title=Max Chamber Pressure - SAAMI Specs}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.castpics.net/subsite/SAAMIPressures/default.html|title = SAAMI Specs}}

Despite the cartridge's good performance, the higher pressure and velocity caused flame cutting to the top strap and erosion of the forcing cone, due to the use of light {{convert|110|and|125|gr}} bullets, therefore it has since been dropped by all manufacturers who chambered revolvers in this cartridge.{{cite book |last=Barnes |first=Frank C. |editor=Skinner, Stan |title=Cartridges of the World |edition=11th |year=2006 |publisher=Gun Digest Books |location=Iola, Wisconsin |isbn=0-89689-297-2 |page=327}} Single shot pistols and rifles (i.e. Thompson/Center Contender) are still available in this caliber, and remain popular among handloaders. Unprimed brass is still produced every few years by Remington, and is also a stock item from Starline.[https://www.starlinebrass.com/357-maximum/ Starline .357 Maximum brass]