Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters ? for Mule Deer on the .358 Win

Jeff,

I continually hear the same thing about saving on the haz-mat fees from a bunch of handloaders, but few have actually compared the per-pound price on an 8-pound jug (or more) from an Internet site versus store prices. Some apparently think the haz-mat applies to every item, when it only applies once to an entire order, and the same people also tend to ignore the price of driving around to look for stuff. Even with gas less than $2 a gallon an Internet search is far cheaper.

I've bought a lot of powder and primers off the Internet at lower prices per pound, or 1000 primers, than I've found in local stores, and used far less fuel and time. Plus, when you can't get powder in stores it only makes sense to buy it elsewhere.

Buying in bulk pays dividends.

Now we all know why there is still a powder shortage. Is all that powder for your consumption?

Doc

It was a split between me and a pard.

They had it locally at my Cabelas over the weekend. If you have a Cabela's locally, have them transfer it to your store.

Awesome picture!

I'm building a .358 Win this year. How does Rl-15 work with 200 - 225 grn bullets?

MD

I have got your article yet - it's on order. FI'm building a short action 700 with a Douglas barrel. There's three twist options for 358 caliber. I expect to use cast bullets and up to 225 grain jacketed bullets.
What twist rate would you recommend: 10, 12, or 14?

Thanks

I'd go 1-14.

There's really no reason to go faster. All commonly available jacketed/monolithic bullets are designed to stabilize in a 1-16 twist, and in the .358 I haven't found any advantage in 250-grain spitzers.

I have a .35 Whelen and shoot 225gr. Sierra and Nosler bullets exclusively, they shoot to the same point of impact with the same powder charge. I agree with the advice to back off on the powder charge a little in rounds intended to be shot in the M/88.

MD, I'm working with a couple 358 rifles at present (Browning BLR and Savage M99) with a bolt action in the near offing. (Don't ask why, just put it down as the current symptom of my chronic rifle looney-ness...)

Anyways, I'm curious about some real-world issues when reloading for this cartridge... in your hunting with this caliber (or your friends' hunting) have you noted any real advantage of 250 gr bullets vs 225 bullets for larger game (large black bears, moose, bison, etc), or vice versa? My bias is to lean toward a heavier bullet for heavier critters, but once velocity drops below 2400-2500 fps I'm not so sure that's the direction I want to go.

Doc,

While you can get a 250 up to 2400 fps in a bolt-action in the .358, and the 250 Partition will penetrate well on big stuff, in a lever-action that sort of speed isn't usually obtainable with 250's, which means expansion can become marginal even at relatively short ranges. With all the good 225's around these days, I'd stick with them.

I agree completely, BUT the 250gr Norma Oryx sure makes one hell of a smack on steel....

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, JB. I haven't even bought a box of 250's yet, which kinda tells ya where my thinking is.

Scott, that's a helluva expensive bullet to use for ringing steel!!!

It's cheaper than hookers and tequila.

Doc,

We used the 200 gr TTSX extensively in Africa in 2011 so it is what I have settled on. In fact, contrary to the 223 gang, I will be taking the 358 (a custom pre-64 M70) to the hog hunt next month. Many years ago I owned a BLR and found that about 2400 fps was the limit with 225 gr Partition's, this with 4064. They did shoot very well and killed a few hogs.

Thanks, Ed. NP 225's is pretty much where I was going with my planning, as it happens. BTW, check your PM's.

DR, I had a 35 Whelen for a time and then "improved" it which was one of the bigger wastes of time I've embarked on with any gun. Anyway, with that rifle, and several 350 Rem Mags, I found the 225-gr bullets to do very well.

It'd be the heavy I'd start with with the 358.

I have every intention of starting (and hopefully being done) with the 225 AB when I finally get my 99. Here's an interesting link of milk jug tests with recovered bullets:

http://forum.nosler.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=16209


Really can't go wrong with either 225 Nosler, and surprisingly, the 200 Hornady IL looks REALLY promising.

I'd bet against a 225AB in a 358 case fitting the magazine. I couldn't get a 225gr Ballistic tip to fit.