Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 358 STA or 358 Norma Magnum for deer?

Most of our deer run 250-300# dressed--which is all the more reason for me to look at your 358 mags. Down toward the WI border they get considerably lighter, though...I think all those diary farms have something to do with it.

I have never fired a 358 Norma, but I can imagine the recoil. I have a 358 Winchester and use it in our heavily wooded and brushy areas for whitetails. It has done a very adequate job on the two whitetails I have killed. It will not "turn a deer inside out". Depending on the range you are hunting and the type of cover, I would suggest the 358 for 100-150 yard shots and perhaps even a bit more. I am certain the Norma would be good substantially beyond that but I personallly couldn't handle the recoil. The 358 Winchester recoil is substantial for me when using 225 to 250 grain bullets.

Both are orphan cartridges that you'ld better like a lot as the resale market will suck. There isn't a Whitetail alive that will not die right now from a 150-168 premium bullet on a 308/30-06.
We kill Elk with 308s and you are worried about a deer?

Agree with Rolly on the 358 WRA, my 99 Brush carbine with 200 gr TSXs will break both shoulder on any deer and keep on going, as well as drop 3 in 1" @100.

If you want more "wump", go to a 338 winmag, 35 whelen, 9.3x62 or 9.3x64.... at least they will be resalable when the time comes.

The recoil doesn't bother me. My teeth were never very good anyway...

tomK,
Just curious have you ever fired a 338 Win. Mag.?

I haven't used the norma, but I have shot several deer with the STA. My impression is that is was quite adequate for the job.

Rolly in all seriouness, I do own a 338.

I have never owned an 8mm RM nor have any intentions to do so.

The the deer in WI are bigger, too...:)

is your rifle built on a 700 action? Just curious.

You guys really need to get with the program...

The 358 STA is to much for deer...

The 358 Norma is to light for deer...

You MUST have a 358 Norma AI...especially since it has a belt...kinda like suspenders and a belt to keep things in place.

M70 H&H length action.

You're just not used to thinking in terms of Texas heart shots. Can't fault a guy for that!

we need to see a picture of that 358 STA!

This is the only photo I have of the rifle. I'll see if I can get a better one soon.



another poor photo with a different stock and muzzle brake

Kodiak, is it throated for the 375 length or do you run the standard OAL?

looks like the moose had to go down in the sticks.

Easily. More than just a bit.

tom, the 358 STA is on a full length,blown out,375H&H case,just like the 340 Weatherby case,8 mag,300 Weatherby, etc.So it requires the same action length as the 375H&H.

I had one years back,before they called it the "358 STA".It is a very good cartridge;but a bit much in the recoil department for me.It does an easy 3000+ fps with a 250 gr bullet,and about 3150 with a 225.

nice moose, nice rifle!

a 250 grain .35 caliber bullet at 3000 FPS...that is as they say "something"! A 200 at 3300 or so? Potent "anything" medicine.

Bob I know that but missed it last night--my reading comprehension dropped quite a bit last night and I can't imagine it had anything to do with the beers.

Looks like the spelling was still holding up though...

I looked at a 358 Norma and 338 at the same time back a while when long throating stuff got more play. I almost did the 358 Norma then but ended up with a long 338. Either way I never did end up spending enough time in Alaska. The longthroated 338 with 250g turned out to be a bit much for me, as well. Going to an 8mm mag case capacity wouldn't be helping matters there...:)

tom: It didn't help me much either... I was man enough to admit I wasn't man enough for the cartridge...

It was the only cartridge I have ever seen tear up a 4X M8 Leupold....

It was a fabulous cartridge, shot flat as a 300 Weatherby to 500 yards,and was very accurate,as 35's and 375's tend to be;but it had a viscious,heavy snap from the velocity and over 90 gr of R19 and other slow burners........I retreated to the soft caress of a 375H&H with 250 BBC's at 2900,pushed by 77-78 gr 4064 and have lived happily ever after....