Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .358 Norma Mag and Barnes bullets 225gTSX

I was wondering if anyone here has had success in reloading the .358 Norma with the Barnes TSX 225g. I have bought their book and I just emailed them but want to hear from the around the fire.

I am looking for load data, speeds, loading resources etc.......

My 358 Norma is built on a Sako AV action and has been my go to Moose gitter for 30 years. I don't use the Barnes bullets so I can't help you there but I do have several handloads w/Noslers if you're so inclined. I just switched from 225 NP & Accubonds to 250's. I was getting 3050fps w/225 Accubonds now I get 2850 w/250 NP. All MOA or better.
The 358 is just an excellent cartridge, especially for Alaska. It's got the range you sometimes need plus the thump for anything you might encounter.
Good luck with yours.

All good info. Yes, this cartridge is special to me as the rifle I traded for was from a good friend who spent most of his life in Alaska hunting moose and bear.

I am interested in all loads for this rifle as I have just recently got into reloading and could use the info.

How do the Accubonds perform on game? I love the bullet but was looking for a solid. Great info though.

Can you PM me those loads - I would really appreciate seeing what you have tested and used.

My rifle was built in the late 1960's for a Moose hunt. The original hunter was a Pharmacist from California. He took the rifle and his family to Alaska and used the rifle on only one hunt and then sold it to a trapper in Alaska.

The story goes on from there but the rifle is built on a Spanish Mauser action with a magnum contour barrel. Beautiful woodstock and I Cerakoted the action and barrel.

I myself have hunted with the rifle for a couple of years now and just love it. Granted, we do not have a lot of Brown Bear here in Oregon but it does anchor Black Bears with authority.

Thanks for the info

My .358 Norma is a push-feed Model 70 with a 24" Shillen barrel (1:12").

With the 225 TSX excellent groups at 2900fps were achieved with:
70 gn of Reloader 15
70 gn Varget
80 gn of H4350 (compressed).
Norma cases and Federal 215 primers were used.

For what it's worth pressure ring measurement of the above fired in new Norma brass showed less expansion than Norma factory loads.

With H4350 I have had on problems getting 2800 fps with 250 Noslers, 2650 fps with 280 Swift or 2490 with 310 Woodleigh bullets.

Havnt tried it yet but suspect that Reloader 16 will be about the ideal powder.

Winchester .338 Win.Mag. cases produce slightly higher velocity and pressure. No fire forming is needed with .338 cases; Just expand the necks and load as usual.