Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 358 Winchester Load Data

I have a browning blr in 358 on the way and have been looking at load data online. It seems I need to order some TAC if I want speed. I’m leaning towards 200 grain Hornady ftx or the Sierra 225 grain gameking. I hunt average sized whitetail so a premium bullet wouldn’t be necessary. Especially at 358 speeds. If anyone has worked with the blr with the 20” tube and wants to share some info it would be much appreciated.

I've used the 225 SGK in my BLR to kill a WT doe--about 85 yds, pass through the ribs with a 1.5 inch exit. Jogged about 20 yds and piled up. My load used H4895 and chrono'd around 2380 f/s. Data from the aged Barnes #3 using Reloder 7 or IMR 4198 shows pretty good velocities for 200-225 gr bullets, others have popped primers with this info. TAC seems to be the current fave.

There is a good bit of info here on the Fire about this in not-so-old threads...here's an older thread if you haven't found it yet: https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/2291495/1

I used the 200 gr Remington in SP and FP. Don't remember the load. I know I used CCI match primers and Lake City brass match prepped and then one time through the 358 Winchester die. When you resize to a larger caliber it generally shrinks the length and to a smaller bore size they need trimming to length. The powder was 4064 until I ran out, then Varget. Both were middle of the book used for my personal max. I used the start load and worked up to the middle. I never had any tracking to do after shooting a whitetail. Usually made at most ten yards. Lots of bullets to try. I have a collection of good bullets and want to try the 180 TTSX next. But then there is the three box collection of 275 gr Hornady, Some 225 gr Accubonds, 280 gr WFN and on.... Good luck and Be Well, Rustyzipper.

I did a little research and found some 180 grain data from the Barnes #3 using H4198 and 180 grain bullets that look really good. I’d love to get my hands on the 200 grain data using the H4198 beings I have several pounds of it and currently run it in a couple of rifles already.

While not in .358, I have used Hornady Inter-lok 200gr. RN and Sierra Game King 225gr. in my .35 Whelen using IMR 3031 with the 200gr. and IMR 4064 with the 225gr. Both bullets have yielded great accuracy and good performance on whitetails. I would not hesitate to use these bullets and powders in .358.

I’d hunt anything with the 225 sgk in a 358 or whelen

49 gr tac in the 358

Have you measured expanded diameter?

No I haven't pard.

This is what I have copied from Barnes #3, .358 WIN data:

200 Barnes XFB Hodgdon H-4198 39.0 2,428
Remarks:
200 Barnes XFB Hodgdon H-4198 43.0 2,677
Remarks: maximum load

Usual cautions, hope this helps.

My favorite load is with 200 grain Hornady SP and H4895.

Mule Deer had an article in Handloader a while back and he got high velocity with TAC.

I've had a 358 BLR for quite a while. If you want speed, Ramshot's TAC or XTerminator will give you between 2550-2600 with the 200's in it. I use mostly the 200 Hornady Interlock which last deer I shot with it was with 51.0 of TAC at around 2550 fps. At 200 yards and it went right through, busting out the opposite shoulder. IMR4064 is a great all around accurate powder in it, but it won't give you the velocity with it. In mine, 200's with it are around 2400-2450 fps with a max load. 48.5 grns with the 200 Sierra shoots great but is around 2400 fps. I use it for a woods load in one place I hunt where shots aren't more than about 60-70 yards. With the 225 Sierra and IMR4064, I was getting 2450 and good accuracy.

Thanks for the replies fellas. I’ve got some 4895 and 4198 lying around, I just picked up a pound of Re7, and I have a couple pounds of Tac on the way via midway (got a couple lbs beings I can’t find it local). The rifle should be here this week and I am anxious to get my hands on it and get to loading and shooting.

Have you considered the 180 Barnes TTSX??

Very accurate in my 99

I’ve thought about trying them. I have wondered how they’d fit beings I am limited to the box magazine. Those Barnes are long but I have read about people using them with success.

I load 49.0 grs of TAC behind a 225 gr Woodleigh.

I shot two mule deer in Wyoming this year with 200 grain Hornady SP bullets. (not SST or SPBT) They worked very well. The SP style seems to be more accurate than BT's in my 700 and was in my BLR.

I've been using the 356 since they came out, prior to that used the 358. In the 358 used various 250gr bullets over 48gr of 4064. When switched to the 356 stuck with 4064 over 44gr. I just built a 24in barrel mod 94 356 and have figured out that 4084 is not an optimum powder. Going to experiment with TAC, RL-7, IMR 4198 and H4895 with the 200gr Hornady RN for hunting in area's without brown bears. Looking for recommendations for a better powder for the 250gr Kodiaks, thanks.

Mark,

If you need to find or need more of RL-7 or H4198 and live in south central Alaska I got some I will give you a screaming deal on.

Alaska_lanch, pm sent. Also wondering if anyone has used AA-2460 or 2520 in 358 or 356.

In my 20" BLR I got 2450 f/s at 49.0 gr 2520 w/ the Hornady 200 gr SP, below average accuracy (2-2.5 inches); I used WLRM primers--WLRs were consistently 75-100 f/s slower and accuracy was even worse.

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

.

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.