Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 308 vs 358

I wanted a 358 so I bought a Savage 11 in 308 and rebarreled it to 358. With a 20 inch barrel it shot Remington 180 grain RN's at 2620 fps in 308. This matched the claimed velocity exactly.

When I look at 358 data 200 grain velocities seem very low. 2350 to 2500 fps seems to be the velocity range. 20 more grains with a larger bore should give nearly equal velocities.

Any 358 fans out there?

Love em

With 185 gr T-TSX
RL 7 2721 fps
Benchmark 2501 fps

Thats from a 19" barrel Montana (JES rebore of a 308)

Love mine, a JES rebore, but only had it a couple years and have not loaded for it yet (just factory), so am watching this thread with interest.

Not the 358 but it's much older, slightly longer cousin, the 9 X 57. I've come to have a real fondness for the 35's. 57mm and shorter cases either of the 4895's and 200-240 gr. bullets seems to be either a really good starting point or the sweet spot. IMR-4064 has also done me well with the same weights.

I had one in a Savage 99. Loved the caliber. You will find that the 200 grain bullets for the .358 do well at 2300-2500 fps. Especially the Hornady FTX

Have had a 358 Win for about 36 years now. Own 2 currently. Mainly hunt deer and black bear with them. Used the 200 Hornady Spire Point mostly but some with 225 Nosler and Sierra. I can assure you a 200 Hornady @ 2500 fps is plenty for such critters. For larger game like elk, moose or the brown bears, a good 225 should fill the bill. Enjoy the 358. It is not a 600 yard cartridge, but in it's effective range, about 350 yards in my book, it punches above it's weight.

all I know is, 35 cal kills way above it's paper ballistics.

+1 on the 200gr. bullet @ 2500 and its ability on whitetails, 225gr. is the choice for larger game. I have owned several .358's over the years, for the last 25 yrs. have been shooting a .35 Whelen with the same bullets and it has always performed well. IMR 3031 has been my powder choice with the 200gr. Hornady Inter-lok RN and IMR 4064 with the 225gr. Sierra Game King.

When I shot jacketed bullets in mine, I got 2018 fps with 200 and 225 gr. bullets and 2353 with 250 grain Speer. Now I shoot a 225 grain FN cast bullet at 1950 fps.
Forgot to add, I got a little over 2700 fps with 180 grain Barnes X.

Excellent caliber. I like them a lot myself. I currently have 2 357 rem Max’s. One 14” barreled cva scout pistol and the other a 21” mgm encore in the max. I really have the itch now to get a 35 whelen. They are great game calibers for sure

I got my first 358 in the mid '80s sometime & haven't been without one ever since. It was a used pre-warning Ruger 77. PA deer didn't like it much. Over the years I count 3 different 77s that passed through my hands that I've loaded for as well as a bunch that went through the shop. I had a benchrest smith build one on a short M-70 stainless action with a snug chamber in a 21" Shilen a while back. It weighs under 8# with scope & full magazine. It ain't quite lust, but I really am happy with it. Rugers may come & Rugers go but this one will be in my safe until the end. Too bad RL12 was discontinued, but Accurate 2015 is a somewhat overlooked powder for 358 & I hear TAC will add yet another 100fps. Spring is in the air.

Edit... Unsure where vs. 308 in the title comes into the discussion, but I haven't had one of them for years. I have a 30-06 & an 06 Ackley Imp.

Yes

225 sgk recovered from a big blacktail buck, 49 gr tac, 2500 FPS about 40 yards. 1 and done..

My first post since joining the campfire. I have a BLR in 358 that is a joy to carry and gives DRT performance with 200 grain cor bons. I also had a remington 750 in 35 wheels another excellent 35 caliber, but I traded it for a Mannlicher Schopenhauer model 1905 in 9x56 an even older 35 caliber that falls between the 358 winchester and the 35 whelen. I shoot 200 grain speakers in it. For hogs I load 250 grain bolster partitions. Never had to shoot one twice.

I've thought about a 338 Marlin Express a few times.

MS, if you haven't got to work with your 1905 much, you will thoroughly enjoy the journey. They are simply delightful rifles. I have a 1903 and a 1908 and they are among my favorites, regardless of what some say about them being ugly.

I absolutely love it. I learned a lot about forming brass and resizing bullets while reloading for the 9x56. I must admit the open sights are a challenge for my aging eyes but the express sights work ok within a 100 yards or so. The MS carbine handles like a fine English double and points right where I am looking. Have taken 3 WT with it so far. All one shot kills. It is the perfect rifle for still hunting in the thick stuff. I recently acquired a CZ 550 FS mannlicher stock in 9.3x 62 for use in bear hunting.

Sharps4590 what rifle is your 9x57 in?

Use TAC and don't look back. I've been shooting a 356 or 358 for 11 years and can't imagine ever being without.

Thanks, Dinny

Keep thinkin, unless your sweet on the 336, it's a absolute waste of time, and $$$...

Looks like it held together decent. I hit a doe at about 200 yards with mine and the 200 Hornady at 2550 and was hoping to catch it, but it went right on through, taking out the opposite shoulder.

MS9x56, welcome to 24 hr. Campfire.

And to get specific, Mule Deer runs 52gr/TAC with the 200 TSX for 2734 FPS in a 22" barreled Ruger Hawkeye. Published and tested data. That oughta do it!
I'm starting to do some workups for my .359 M99 to maybe use it for my elk tag this fall, using the 200 TTSX and Mule Deer's load.
Good luck,
Rex

Ha! And having 5 or 10 or 20 other bolt rifles/chamberings that do the same thing as a 223, 243, 270, or 30-06 aren't

How bout a 338 Federal then

Thank you. I have been reading post for awhile and seem to be a lot of knowledgeable like minded rifle loons so I signed up. Looking forward to interacting. I guess you could say I fall in the Elmer Keith camp of bigger holes make shorter trails. O'Connor was a bIt high minded for my taste but very knowledgeable. As I grow older my appreciation of older model rifles deepens.

If you would like a copy of MDs article PM me with your e-mail and I will send a copy.

Z

Welcome X 2 to MS9X56. I have a 1905 as well with scope on QD mounts. Lots of fun with drawn 250 gr 358 bullets. I shot all I had loaded and need to get busy this season. It is fun to carry and shoot. I have more 358s than I can carry and shoot but not enough yet. Still want a rebore from a 243 in a Mauser style F/S but it looks like I could perhaps long seat a 9.3X62 in there. Hi. My name is Rusty and I am a medium bore whore>. Be Well Rustyzipper.