Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 358 Winchester Load Data

My load is 51.4 grs of TAC, 200 Gr Hornady SP, COL of 2.825".

Got out the chronograph and tested several powders in my 24in barrel 356 win. Was hoping with the longer barrel and using ball powder could get better velocity and still get good accuracy. I've been using the 200gr factory power point with good results, but between cost and being unable to find any was looking for a good replacement load.
factory load averaged 2402 FPS
47gr TAC 2359 FPS no signs of pressure
48gr AA 2520 2359 FPS no signs of pressure
48gr H335 2455 2455 FPS with very slight cratering of primer
Testing of powder was done with 200gr Hornady RN
AA 2520 and TAC showed promise with an increase in charge, not going to increase the H335 load but if it proves to be most accurate it at least matches my factory load. IMR 4064 has been accurate but can only get about 44gr into the case which if I remember correctly gave me about 2300 FPS. Next hitch off the slope will do further testing with the 200gr Hornady and also see what I can do with the 250gr Kodiak.

Took a doe at 45 yds with my old 225 SGK load using H4895 on Saturday. Bang, flop, pass through--quartering to, in the neck, out the chest, took out the top of the heart. 1.5" exit. Almost out of loads, will need to reload some new stuff for next year.....

Love the BLR in this cartridge, especially for the tight, trappy stuff.

I use 200 grain TSX at a modest 2400 fps, and have taken numerous whitetail bucks and an elk with no problems. This is out of a custom sako actioned, 21 inch Barrel. You do not have to push 200 grainers a high velocity to get them to work.

Update.....the new BLR deal fell through so I found a used (steel receiver) one on an auction site I picked up. I went out today and played with some Re7 and TAC. My best group at 100 yards was with 51 grains of TAC pushing a 200 grain Hornady FTX. It was just under a 1.5”. Not great but not too bad for a lever gun with a barrel band and a horrible trigger. I’m going to go back out and play around some more this week. I want to get my hands on some Sierra 225 grain gamekings to try in the near future as well.

Ramshot X-Terminator worked better for me in the 356 Win. Ramshot sent me data for the 356 that gave a max with X-Terminator of 45.5 grns with the 200. I worked up to it with the 200 Hornady RN and it shot well with with the best group with the max load and an average 3-shot velocity of just over 2400 fps out of a 20" Winchester M94. IMR4064 shot very well but velocity was 150-200 fps less than X-Terminator.

I've also used AA2520 in my 358, I got decent velocity with the 225 but accuracy wasn't there. 48.0 of IMR-4064 gave me just under 2500 fps with the 225 Sierra and about a 1.75" 5-shot group at 100 yards.

M1garand, thanks, will try the X-termimator. Trying to get the 356 velocity up to 358 levels.

Upon reading the load advice here I loaded the 180gr Barnes TTSX with 52gr TAC and got 2600fps avg MV with sub-moa accuracy. I also shot 51gr TAC with the 200gr FTX and got 2500fps avg MV and sub-sub moa accuracy. I bought two more cans of TAC today and have loaded a set of 4 more ladders using the 200gr TSX, 180gr TTSX, Hornady 250gr RN, and Sierra 225gr GK bullets. I can only hope they all shoot half as good as the first loads I tried.

Thanks, Dinny

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More range results today. My rifle is a 22" Winchester Model 70 EW rebored from .308 Win by JES. 1:12" twist and 3 grooves. All speeds were measured with a Magnetospeed chrono.

225gr Sierra SBT-GK with 49gr TAC produced 2442fps
200gr Barnes TSX with 52gr TAC produced 2580fps
180gr Barnes TTSX with 54gr TAC produced 2681fps
250gr Hornady RN with 48gr TAC produced 2290fps

With the exception of the Barnes TTSX load listed above all the loads produced sub-sub moa accuracy at 50yds. The most accurate load for the 180gr TTSX was 53.5gr of TAC which produced 2669fps.

I loaded 10 of each load above. 5 were tested for accuracy and 5 were tested for speed. I don't perform both tasks at the same time as there is usually a POI change with the chrono attached to the barrel.


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I also shot ladder loads with my 35 Rem chambered Rem Model 7 today. Interesting note: I achieved more than satisfactory accuracy and 2175fps using LVR powder and the Speer 220gr HCFN.

Thanks, Dinny

I joined this site to give back a little on my load development work with the .358 Win. I looked here for advice when I started and found helpful information. I am a Montana resident elk hunter and thought the 200 gr. Barnes TTSX would be my bullet. Midway had the hard to find bullets and I found Hornady brass at a couple of online sources. Powder selection was my reason for online load searching. TAC and Xterminator seemed to be popular.

I already had 748 and 2015 and LVR. I also have a .338 Federal and found LVR to be my best choice using 210 Nosler and TSX bullets. It worked fine on elk and whitetail deer for me and two Kodiak Sitka black tails. Incidentally My second choice in powder for the .338 Federal was Accurate 2015.

Back to the .358 Win, I also picked up some 200 gr. Hornady FTX bullets. Mostly I used these less expensive bullets to work up the powder charge rather than the dollar a bullet TTSXs. I used CCI 250 magnum primers exclusively. So, the powders used were TAC, Xterminator, 748, LVR and 2015. In the end I found 46.1 gr. Of 2015 to be the best in this rifle with the 200 gr. Barnes bullets. TAC and Xterminator were close seconds.

The rifle is built on a Ruger American that started as a .308 Win. I rebarreled it with a 22.5” 12” twist custom barrel. Velocity is just over 2700 fps with 2015 and accuracy is sub MOA consistently.

I found 748 and LVR to be too slow burning to be able to get enough in the case to match velocities of the other quicker burning powders I tried.

I’ll report back after hunting season, about a month away now.

Thanks for the info and welcome to the 'Fire. I have been curious about the LVR in my 358 but you just saved me some powder.

Excited to start on this same adventure. Have a Tikka with JES now. Have several different bullets and powders to try. Hoping it likes the 180 ttsx.

Also posting to keep track, my 7600 barrel has been with JES since 29AUG, so hopefully back soon and I can start load development.

I've got on hand from my .350RM; Speer 180 Hot Cores, Horn 200 SPs, Barnes 200TSX, Sierra 225s Nolser 225NPs to start with. Barrel will be cut to 19" as I plan on using it for hogs and deer drives.

"Trying to get the 356 velocity up to 358 levels"
Mark: I hope your not attempting to do that in a 356 Win 94 Big Bore. Despite the thicker receiver rails in the Big Bore it will not take the pressures a bolt action 358 will due to the rear looking bolt. I had good luck with AA 2520. Too bad Alaska Bullet Works went out of business. The proprietor was a great guy.