Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Loading for the 358 NM

Any one on the forum who is presently loading for this cartridge?
Do you load 225's if so your preferred loading; also for 250's as I have about 500.
Have you loaded the VLD's in 210gr.
What powders? best, 2nd, third, and fourth, the way pwdrs. are to day must look for choices. Thanks for your time.
Cheers NC

75 grs of Norma 204 gave 2805 fps with a 250 gr Partition, lit with a Fed-215 primer and a c.o.a.l. of 3.325".

Cant comment on accuracy, fired the scoped barreled action through the chrono, stock is still off at the stock makers, just got damn tired of waiting to fire it.

However, extraction was easy as well as fit and function through the magazine.

Thanks gunner
The 250 I have are the Win PP's I believe, also have some nosler 225's. Don't have much powder at this time am going to have to try and build a supply; yes I known good luck in that area.
Cheers NC

10-4 NC, any of the available 4350's will be fine in the 358 NM as well.

My KISS load for the 358 Norma I shoot is 75 grains of H4350. It shoots Hornady, Speer, Nosler, or Swift 250s into very functional groups at any hunting distance I will use it for. 2700 fps is what I get for speed.

I agree with Klik. 4350 is my go to powder with the Norma. I've settled on 250gr Noslers at about 2700 with very good accuracy.

Gentlemen
Thank you; that is the kind of info. I am looking for, keep it coming. Cheers NC

I use 4350 as well in mine but with 225-grain Swift A-Frames.

It is looking like the 358NM is fairly poplar in Alaska, from the help coming my way. Cheers NC

My pick for the best powder is H4350. Works great for 225 TSX, 250 NP or Speer, 280 Swift and 310 Woodleigh.

Other good powders for 225 gn are R15, Varget, H380, N550, IMR4350 and IMR4831. It isn't a fussy cartridge.

R15 and Hunter both worked well with 250s and 280s. Hunter had to be heavily compressed and couldn't fit enough in the case to get top velocity with 280s.

Haven't tried Big Game or R17 yet bet they would also be good.

If you can't find Norma brass run .338 Win cases through the sizing die and they are ready to go - no fire forming needed.

Cheers
Walt

Don't have one anymore but mine liked IMR 4350 with a Hornady 250 interlock around 2800, and RL17 with a 225 Accubond at 2900 plus. Like most .358 calibers it is easy to load for.

Plus 1 on using 338 win mag brass.

Yup, IMR 4350 is fine but I prefer H4350 because it doesn't change velocity as much with temperature changes. H4350 also gives high velocity and excellent accuracy with all bullets tried.

225 TSX - 80gn - 2920 fps
250 NP or Speer - 78gn - 2800 fps
280 Swift - 72gn - 2650 fps
310 Woodleigh - 71gn - 2500 fps

The above with Norma cases, 215 primers, 24" bbl, 1:12 twist

I consider these maximum loads in my rifle. They might be too much for another rifle.

Cheers,
Walt

Thanks to all the people that responded. Now I have another question. Accurate 4350 the reference charts say like H4350 any body use it and is it temp. stable like H4350. Found some and got two lbs. of it can't find either H4350 or imr4350 any place.
Your inputs please. Cheers NC

I don't have a Norma, but do run a 35 Newton, pretty similar in case space and powders as well and RL17 has been very good for me. I get 2810FPS with the 250 PT and 2960 with the 225 AB's. I ran some starter loads with the 270 grain Northfork as well and those went 2650. The big 35's are impressive cartridges.

Good luck, I would imagine anything 4350 like would work very well for you.

What are you using for cases to form from? I've got a .35 cal barrel burning a hole in my safe. Was leaning towards the Norma, but a Newton would be neat.

I use 375 Ruger cases. Run them thru a FL die and trim. It's a very nice cartridge.

I had a 358 NM, IMR 4350 was tops with 225's. I think it was around 72 grains of I4350, but dont quote me. Velocity was up in the 2800's. NPT's, NAB's and Sierras all liked that load and shot with similar velocity and accuracy.

I tinkered with IMR 4895, accuracy was OK.

I had a 350 Rigby which is within a grain or two of the Norma's powder capacity.

I found RL15 and Varget to be top powders for 225's and 250's. I also tried H-4350 and while the velocity was the same, accuracy wasn't as good.

I'm hoping my 358NM shoots well with the N-204 powder and 250 gr Partitions, hoping better still that the little fixed 3X Weaver will survive it all, as I really want to use that scope on this cool old Mauser.

I used an old weaver K-6 on my 350 Rigby and never had a problem with the scope.