Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 358 Win Pre-64 Fwt

Pretty close but mostly clear. I guess some touching is possible. Bolt handle already has a mark, so not concerned enough to go with high rings. It’ll be OK.

DF

DF, you're mentioning Imperial Sizing Wax made me a bit nervous. Up until about 3 weeks ago I had never stuck a case in a die but, it finally happened and with my .358. You guessed it, I was using ISW. For decades it has been touted as "the" sizing lube, so I wanted to try some. Now after getting the case out I'm back to what I've used since the '80's and will never again get a case stuck. So beware. Sorry for the hijack. Oh, the 1.5x5 looks great on your M70 and will probably meet all needs.

I used ISW forming .240 Wby cases from 25-06 brass using the CH4D case forming die.

Worked pretty well. But, with this application, didn’t show me much. Hornady Lube worked just as well.

I was amazed that I could form .358 Win brass from .243 cases. I could see .308, but surprised how well .243 worked. Will split a few, (.308, too), but most make the transition. I don’t have any .358 brass with .358 head stamps. It’s all .308 and .243, but it works.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/12431835/1 Link to a thread showing pictures of the CH4D die set up, converting .240 Wby from 25-06 brass, need to scroll own a bit to see it.

DF

Agree, except at low light. The 40mm 4200 objective will out perform the 20mm objective.

And, Leupolds do tend to have better ER's than 4200's, except probably not enough to be a concern with the .358 Win. Unless, of course, I go with heavy gunner500 class loads...

But, you don't need to flog a .358 Win for it to be an effective killer. It sorta does that naturally from all I've read. Hope to find out for myself.

DF

Did some shooting this morning. Sighted in the 4200 Bushnell, the Leupold went bonkers, wouldn't track, so it goes back. It is an old scope with friction, not click adjustments.

I also sighted the Simmons Pro Hunter 4-12x40 scope at 50 yds, shooting 158 gr. cast pistol bullets over 10 gr. Unique and 20 gr. 2400. At least that scope tracked, but the results weren't impressive. I think those light loads will be fun if and when I get them developed. 2400 load made a bit more noise.

Evidnelty all this conglomeration of bullets caused some serous fouling, even after DBC treatment. So, it's cleaning up nicely with Patch Out and patches, no brushes after DBC.

It was shooting 2" or so with the Sierra RN, slightly better with the 180 TTSX over 50 gr. TAC, but we're defiinitely not there yet. I used the Speer 180 FN to sight in over 42 gr. RL-7. Will shoot groups later.

I have 225 gr. SGK and 200 gr. FXT Horn to be delivered Tue. Looking for some 225 NPT's to try.

So, hope to have better info later. I don't think mixing all those type bullets on a barrel break in was too smart. DBC can do just so much.

In my case, more zeal than smarts...



DF

DF; thanks so much for the updates. This is a very interesting project.

Thanks, it has been fun.

I got the bore clean with a few Patch Out soaks, even used their Accelerator..

On closer examination with the Hawkeye, I can see where JES' groove cutter chattered a bit, not much, just faint. I also see a couple of places where there was a small void in the steel, which no one can predict. DBC should help with fouling. Seems when I use it, clean up gets easier after each range session.

I'm waiting on Hornady FTX 200 gr. bullets to show up. I'm thinking they may work well, B.C. a bit higher than others, although this is not a LR outfit, so that's not so important. The FTX is reportedly very accurate, the most accurate bullet in some reports..

I have 7 powders to try, with data to push those bullets at around 2,500 fps, gonna try with Win Mag primers, have been using BR-2's. Some of the powders, such as TAC, seem to do well with mag primers, so to cut down variables will use them with all loads for comparison.

Reportedly, FTX's optimal window of performance is 1,800-2,600 fps. They're basically 35 Rem bullets with the soft tip for tube mags. By keeping them at high .35 Rem speed, but at mod .358 speed, it may be a good load. We'll see.

Shooting up to 200 yds, an extra 100-200 fps won't make that much difference and hopefully optimal terminal performance can be maintained for that bullet design. Again, matching design velocity window to speed.

DF

Just checked Load Data for max .35 Remington loads with the 200 FTX. Seems I was off a bit. Best speed I saw was 2,050, quite a ways from 2,500...

But, I'm sure they didn't publish any "Fire loads"....

2,500 may not be that far off...

But, if the design window for that bullet is as advertised, 1,800 to 2,600, I'll be in that zone at 2,500 fps, which may or may not be a tad fast with excessive expansion

We'll see. Usually I check before I post, but assumed I wasn't far off. Quess I was wrong.

I've heard it said about the ladies, they're not always right, but they're NEVER wrong...

Not going there...

DF

Eight loads all weighed out, approximating 2,500 fps with the 200 gr FTX, scheduled to arrive tomorrow or Wed.

Here are the loads and how they fill the cases. #1 starts at the right.

Some will lightly compress, appears 748, TAC, H-322 and Benchmark, the least.

I'm not pushing the envelope on velocity, just trying to stay in the 2,500 fps range, or pretty close.

All with Win Mag primers as noted earlier. Many of the cases were formed from .243 Win brass, others from various .308's. .243 origin cases don't seem to have thinner necks as one would suppose.

You can see where I scratched out.H-322, didn't have enough and 2230, some say it's the same as X-terminator, which could be a good one. Decisions decisions....

DF

You should find something useful among those. I'm headed for the range later this morning to shoot mine with some RCBS 35-200 FN and my Mountain Molds 225 gr. FN. Loving this cool weather!

Sounds like you are about to get her figured out. The bang flops will commence. Good luck with the 358. I have a few of them. If I don't kill a deer fast it was shooter error not the caliber failure. Be Well, RZ.

Yeah on the weather. I gladly put on my jacket this morning..

Look forward to your results.

DF

While I'm at it, may try 48 gr. AA-2230. If it works, will replace it with X-Terminator.

Reportedly, AA-2230 is discontinued, is very similar to X-Terminator which, reportedly, has some improvements, but the same burn rate.

Some .358 Win shooters swear by X-Terminator. We'll see how it goes...

DF

Still cleaning up after Laura, now waiting for Delta.

So, not much range time. It will eventually happen, just don't know when.

DF

I just loaded a few 200 FTX with 48 gr H-322 just to see how it works. Almost out, can is getting low, but enough left to see if I need to get some more. Or not.

So, now I have 10 potential combos with 200 FTX’s to see if there is a winner, or two. Not running the chrono yet. Loaded all to approximate 2,500 fps, I’m looking for groups, will fine tune the best ones later. Not sure that’s the best way to work up loads. Seemed like a good idea at the time; I’ll have more info than I now have.

DF

I've found the .358 is very easy to load for and does very well with 4895, 4064, 4320, BLc 2, and 335. I've shot some Rx 7 but, haven't really tested it because of the loads already worked up. Hope everything goes good for you during the storm!

i shoot the hornady factory loads with the 200 ftx in my ruger 358 with a 19" barrel and it is a one holer. only shot one deer with it so far but that deer was DRT. hit it angling into the left front shoulder and passed all the way through and came out the right side ribs.

Thanks for that info. How fast is the factory 200FTX load in the .358 Win?

DF

Hornady 200gr Factory
2475 fps

Winchester 200gr Factory
2490 fps

Thanks.

So, me going for around 2,500 fps is in the ball park.

DF