|
|
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,511
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,511 |
Around 1995, I bought a new BLR in .358 Winchester. It was the steel receiver with a straight stock. It was that or a new Win 94 chambered in .356 Win. I shot a few deer with it and 200 gr Hornady SP's. Ended up selling it and almost 20 years later picked up a Ruger Hawkeye syn/ss on closeout for only $399. Loaded with 180 gr TTSX's & Viht N133, I shot a couple of very nice does back to back one morning during the rifle season here in Kansas. There were four does in a group and they were running from something & stopped about 40 yds from my treestand in a wooded area. I shot the biggest one, it took one step and dropped, the rest of the deer confused actually came back toward me and I shot another that only went about 10 yards and quickly expired. Both shots were behind the shoulder and made nice big exit holes. This year I'm thinking about trying out the Speer 180 gr bullet. The .358 Win really thumps 'em!!
"The only two things in life that make it worth livin'
Is guitars that tune good and firm feelin' women"
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 17
New Member
|
|
New Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 17 |
I have 3. Just about the perfect combination in short handy rifles for tree stand hunting. BLR, TC Encore 20 inch barrel, and a ER Shaw 20 inch barrel. Of the 3 the Encore is my go to gun. It's about 34 inches. Just real handy and fine for the distances I hunt. Most shots being less than a 100 yards. Still don't hesitate to use it for bean field hunting up to 250 yards. Everything I shot with it dropped in its tracks. Kind of a 35 cal fan! Seems to drop deer with authority without a lot meat damage.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 178
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 178 |
I have a couple of 35 Whelens. Old age and back injuries are making the recoil of full power loads of 225 grain Barnes TSX painful. I reduced the load down to 358 Winchester levels. Feel like I have lost very little in ability to take down game and it is much easier to shoot.. The Encore with the recoil reducing stock and 26" barrel is especially nice.
Last edited by Gladesman; 05/28/17.
There was no greater freedom than when I would leave Holiday Park Fish Camp heading my airboat west toward the Big Cypress. Fuel for 4 days, a good machete, an ice chest. No phone, no radio. Just God and me and the Everglades.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 545
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 545 |
I really like these as a great combo of lever guns. Really like the little bear gun - jealous...
"A .358 Norma Mag is not for everyone but then again Bear hunting isn't either."
Unknown Bear guide on the Kodiak coast
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 17
New Member
|
|
New Member
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 17 |
Been using Barnes 200g TTSX in my 358s. Forr next season, have loaded up some 225g SGKs. The SGKs shoot better in my BLR. Just haven't seen how they perform on deer, yet.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,601
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,601 |
I have 3. Just about the perfect combination in short handy rifles for tree stand hunting. BLR, TC Encore 20 inch barrel, and a ER Shaw 20 inch barrel. Of the 3 the Encore is my go to gun. It's about 34 inches. Just real handy and fine for the distances I hunt. Most shots being less than a 100 yards. Still don't hesitate to use it for bean field hunting up to 250 yards. Everything I shot with it dropped in its tracks. Kind of a 35 cal fan! Seems to drop deer with authority without a lot meat damage.
One of mine is a 20" encore with a long throat, also. Even mild 225gr ABs can have plenty of steam to way out there. I find I do carry my levers about as much. If I need really handy, my 16.25" 357 Max goes up trees and into packs well. I'd still love a mannlicher bolt gun in 358.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 364
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 364 |
I've had a rebored Win 88, one of the fish belly BLRs and a rechambered Rem 760.. My current collection includes a newer BLR 81 and a rebarreled Savage 110LH. The 24" barrel on that Savage will probably shrink 4" before long.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,682
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,682 |
I had this Savage LWH rebored by JES to 358 Win and cut to 16.25", boresighted it and these were the first three shots. Ran out of time to fine tune it, but it will get there. Used factory Hornady ammo. Scope is a Leupold 2.5 Ultralight. With walnut stock the rifle and scope comes in right at 6 lbs empty. ![[Linked Image]](http://i.imgur.com/mcbg21T.jpg) ![[Linked Image]](http://i.imgur.com/wBa465E.jpg)
____________________________________________________________
Dying gets closer every day
Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,541
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,541 |
I bought a BLR 358 a year ago March. It will shoot 200 or 250 grain bullets, jacketed or cast, very well if I use IMR 3031 powder. No other powder I've tried is as accurate. A Hornady 200gr FTX and 48gr 3031 killed a respectable whitetail buck last November. It's nice not being wrist deep in blood when dressing out the deer. But if I measure the barrel according to RCMP instructions, it's only 19 inches long. I think that's too short for a foreigner to take hunting in Canada. IMR 3031 is what I've used to date as well in my BLR and shooting Hornady 200 gr Interlocks. Haven't tried 250's or 225's yet.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,601
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,601 |
What stock is that? You got me thinking about my 243 LWH. LOL
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,682
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 11,682 |
It's a walnut stock off of a Savage 11 LWH.... Actually from a 243...
____________________________________________________________
Dying gets closer every day
Lloyd McCarter and the Honky Tonk Revival
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807
Campfire Outfitter
|
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 14,807 |
The ,358 Winchester has been my primary woods cartridge since 1966. I have taken many deer since then with my handloads. I shoot the 200 gr. Silvertip over 3031 out of my Savage 99F and other rifles. ![[Linked Image]](http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww15/Donmartin29/DSC00120-Copy2-Copy.jpg) The bottom two rifles are both .358's
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,157
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,157 |
Ping pong balls for the win.
Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable
I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 21,644
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 21,644 |
If you are not actively engaging EVERY enemy you encounter... you are allowing another to fight for you... and that is cowardice... plain and simple.
|
|
|
|
|
122 members (007FJ, 7mm_Loco, 44mc, 10gaugemag, 35, Akhutr, 10 invisible),
1,512
guests, and
777
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,190,599
Posts18,454,565
Members73,908
| |
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|
