The .357/.44 Bain &
Davis (B&D)
Why do a page on the 357/44 Bain & Davis? In it's time, it was a
leading kick-butt revolver round, offering 357 Maximum performance
in the stock revolver cylinders (1.290 case length). So... why not?
Some of the articles were written by people who were there. Way
before QuickLoad, cheap digital chronographs, current powders,
and... unfortunately, lawyers. Many lawyers.
If you know of other period or current 357/44 Bain & Davis
articles, please contact me HERE
.
Why the 357/44 Bain & Davis?
My interest with the .357/.44 Bain & Davis round
came in the form of a 22" Encore barrel. This round approximates
the performance of the much vaunted 357 Remington Maximum (which
is the .357 Super Mag, developed by Elgin Gates) in revolvers, not
just in a T/C Contender. S&W Model 28 and
Ruger Blackhawks have been chambered for this round, as have
Winchester 1892 lever actions.
Who Came Up With the Conversions?
The fine folks at the Bain and
Davis Gunshop in the People's Paradise of California (5 Dec
2017, not getting it to load...). Dies and reamers are
available. (I have Hornady New Dimension dies). "Developed
in about 1964 by gunsmith Keith Davis, the .357/44 Bain &
Davis was intended to be used in modified .44 Magnum revolvers in
order to improve the velocity of 158 grain .357 caliber bullets
compared to .357 Magnum performance. It also gave long barrel
performance in a standard length barrel." (Accurate Powder
cartridge description)
Comparable Cartridges
.357/.44 Bain & Davis has a case capacity 33 grains of
water. The case shape with the significant taper is the shape that
current dies use. The first shape (circa early 1960s), with the
normal bottleneck shoulder (25 degrees), proved to be more prone
to set-back. The current version (circa mid 1960s)
uses a significant taper (10 degrees). Writers mention that
setback becomes noticeable with extremely heavy loads using the
current design.
.357/.44 Bobcat, which is a similar shaped round.
However, it uses a poly ring around the neck in conjunction with a
357 Mag cylinder that has been bored out at the rear to accept a
.44 Mag body. The front of the cylinder has a .357 mouth.
.357 Auto Mag Pistol (AMP), another contemporary round (case
capacity 35 grains of water). The 357 AMP cartridge is based on
cut down and reamed out rifle brass (308 headsize). It is much
easier to form 357 AMP using 44 AMP cases. Starline does make 44
AMP brass, but only when sufficient orders are on-hand. Quality Cartridge makes 357
AMP, but pretty much the same deal. Midway lists the
AMP cases as back-ordered, while Grafs has 44
AMP, both brass and nickle plate (as of 20 Jan 2013).
Cartuchos Deportivos Mexico (CDM) made a single run of 44 AMP.
Norma supposedly also made 44 AMP, but I don't know how much.
Corbon has made loaded ammunition for the 44 AMP, but that is an
expensive way to get brass.
.357 Remington Maximum is a straight walled case. However, it's
case capacity is 33.6 grains of water.
Forming the 357/44 Bain & Davis
Buy new 44 Mag brass. Lightly lube neck area to be with
a sizing lubricant (I used Redding Imperial Sizing Wax). Start
with 357/44 B&D sizing die set up high, screw the die down
while checking to see if the tapered shoulder and neck are formed
(and fit your chamber!). Lock down sizing die and run other cases
through. Check case length, trim if case is too long
for chamber.
Neck Length
It is about .150 long, so you cast boolit shooters may be
limited as to boolit length.
Case Capacity:
lar45 wrote: Quickload shows the capacity for the 357 AMP at 35gns
H2O, the 357-44 B&D is 33 and the 357 Max is 33.6 The AMP
shows a lower pressure at 37k with the Max at 48k.
Powders
Most loads use WW296, H110, IMR4227, Unique, or Blue Dot.
Accurate powders listed are No 7, No 9, and 1680. The Alliant
Power Pro 300-MP information is included for my own
investigations. As of right now, I have not found any official
loads from Alliant for the 357/44 B&D, the 357 Remington
Maximum, or the 357 AMP rounds.
Reloading
Equipment
Hornady
546404 Custom Grade New Dimension 2-Die
Set 357-44 Bain & Davis
RCBS
56426-Die Set-H 3-Die Set with Roll Crimp 357-44 Bain &
Davis (Special Order)
57010-357-44Bn&Dvs Base Form-H Base Forming Die 357-44 Bain
& Davis
57021-357-44Bn&Dvs Sizer-H Sizer Die 357-44 Bain & Davis
57025-357-44Bn&Dvs Seater Die-H Seater Die 357-44 Bain &
Davis
57026-357-44Bn&Dvs Trim Die-H Trim Die 357-44 Bain &
Davis
57033-357-44Bn&Dvs Exp Die-H Expander Die 357-44 Bain &
Davis (SO)
58276 Case Forming Die Set 357-44 Bain & Davis from 44
Remington Magnum
Redding
80497 2-Die Set 357x44 Bain & Davis (SO)
CH4D
357-44Bai
40808 8 Shellholder
Pacific Tool and Gauge Reamer
.357-44
Bain-Davis Finisher/Rougher/Resizer in HSS with
solid pilot. Carbide and removable pilots available.
Current Loading Data:
If you send an SASE to Bain & Davis Gunshop, they will
send you four pages of loading data.
Bain and Davis Gun Shop
267 South San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776-1622
NOTE: Possibly dated? 5 Dec
2017
The only data that is from a manufacturer on this page is the
extract from a Hornady Handbook (357/44 B&D), an extract from
Speer #9 Handloading Manual (357 AMP), and Accurate (357/44 Bain
& Davis). The powder charges in the articles are from the
powder lots produced at that time. We all know that even old
timers like Unique, Bullseye, Blue Dot... have undergone changes
in density and formulation over the years. Do not assume that any
of the maximum loads are safe to plug into your gun without
working up from a starting load.
WARNING!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
////
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT GUARANTEED TO BE
SUITABLE IN YOUR APPLICATION!
This information is presented AS-IS, I am NOT
responsible for what you do with it!
Contact the powder manufacturer or Bain & Davis for approved
loads.
WARNING!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
///
References - These articles
are freely available on the internet or are available for sale on
FleaBay / private sites. I bought most of these in researching the
357/44 Bain & Davis.
Articles:
Gun World Magazine
"More
Powder = More Power", (25 degree variant)
- Gun World, Jan 1964 by Dan Cotterman
Gun World article on 10 degree variant, (rifle) August, 1964
by Dan Cotterman (?)
Gun World article on 10
degree variant, (pistol) September, 1964 by Dan Cotterman (?)
"The Merrill Sportsman in
.357/44 Bain & Davis" - Gun World, Sep 1979, by Dean
A. Grennell
American Reloaders Association (ARA)
Bulletins
The 44/357 B&D In
Rifles: An ARA Test Report, pg 7-8, ARA Bulletin Jun 1967
#46
44/357
B&D In Handguns, pg. 4, ARA Bulletin Aug 1967 #48
Pressure Data on the 44/357,
pg 4-5, ARA Bulletin Feb 1969 #66 By Dean A. Grinnell
"357/44 Revolver
Wildcat" - Shooting Times, Feb 1970 by Bob Steindler
"Wildcat
Cartridge Packs Kick", - American
Rifleman, Apr 1970 Bob Milek
Handloader Magazine
"Feeding the .44
Auto Mag" - Handloader #51, Sep 1974, by George Nonte
(making 44 AMP brass)
"Loading
the 357 Auto Mag" - Handloader #53, Jan 1975 by George Nonte
.357/44
Bain & Davis Loads for a T/C Encore - Handloader #296,
June 2015 by Stan Trzoniec
"Alliant's Power Pro
300-MP" (Propellant Profile) - Handloader #264, Feb 2010, by
R.H. VanDenburg, Jr.
"Magnum
Revolver Loads with Alliant Power Pro 300-MP" -
Handloader #274, Oct 2011, by Brian Pearce
"Alliant Power Pro
300-MP Loads" - Handloader #277, Apr 2012, by Brian Pearce
Guns & Ammo Magazine
Big Bore Handguns, - Guns and Ammo, 1977 ???
"The .357/.44
Dreadnaught", - Guns&Ammo, Oct 1977
by Dan Cotterman
"Bobcat .357/.44 Magnum",
- Guns&Ammo, Mar 1979, by Dr. Ralph C. Glanze
American Handgunner
".357/44 The
Sensible Wildcat" - American Handgunner #78, Mar/Apr 1978,
Massad Ayoob (Bobcat)
High performance, favorite loads for
the wildcat .357/44 Bain & Davis, pg 44 - American
Handgunner, Nov/Dec 1993 by John Taffin
High performance, favorite loads for
the wildcat .357/44 Bain & Davis, pg 45 - American
Handgunner, Nov/Dec 1993 by John Taffin
Big
Blast For The .357, page 12-13, American Handgunner,
May/June 1984 by Dan Cotterman
References:
357-44 Bain &
Davis - Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (listed
on Hornady's Obsolete
Reloading Manual Data )
"357 Auto Mag" - Speer
Reloading Manual Number Nine, second printing, 1975
"44 Auto Mag" -
Speer Reloading Manual Number Nine, second printing, 1975
".357/44 BAIN & DAVIS"
- Accurate Powder, Accurate Loading Guide #2
".357 Bain &
Davis" by Lee Martin
357/44
Bain & Davis Website (Dead as of 28 Nov 2014)