Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 358 Winchester 225gr Loads

I’ve got a steel receiver BLR chambered in 358. I currently have it loaded up with 51 grains of TAC and a Hornady FTX (I think it may be a smidge on the hot side, the primers look a little flat so I plan to back that load off a bit). Anyway, I picked up some 225 grain Sierra’s that I want to find a good hunting load with. I have TAC but saw on the Sierra loading app I have that IMR 4320 didn’t look to bad either. Anyone have any experience with TAC or 4320 with 225 grain bullets out of the 358?

50 gr of TAC, behind that Sierra 225 gr BT, is shooting 1/2 MOA out to 600 yards, in my 358 Win.

It’s all I run in my (3) 358’s. 225 SGK 50 gr TAC, absolute hammer, and accurate

I think if you dig around a bit, you'll find a couple of recent threads about 4320 being discontinued. Which is sad, I've used it for a lot of years in my 358


Dale

Not a Sierra fan whatsoever, buuuut, the 225’s are awesome in the 358 or whelen.

[quote=Dale K]I think if you dig around a bit, you'll find a couple of recent threads about 4320 being discontinued. Which is sad, I've used it for a lot of years in my 358

Yes I know it’s discontinued. Luckily I have about 3lbs stashed away.

No experience with either of the powders, but I have used the Sierra 225 on several elk.
The bullet may be a bit on the soft side for really big game like mature bull elk or moose, but the small bulls and cows I’ve shot with it died quickly and bullet performance was good. The Nosler may be a better choice.
If it’s to be used on deer or bear, you really couldn’t find a better bullet, imho.
I used W748 in my loads, but plan to pick up some TAC and give it a go.....

You should be able to do 2400+ with IMR4320 and the 225 Sierra. If you have any IMR 4064 or Varget, they work great too and I got 2400+ with my BLR and good accuracy. I've only used TAC with the 200s and it works great.

I have used Sierra's max load (48.9 grains) with the 225 GK in my M70 for 2519 fps. Dead deer out to 125 yards. Used it in my BLR also with the same result but, at a lower velocity.

2400+ is my goal for the 225 Sierra in the BLR. From reading online and stuff I thought I should be able to get there with either the 4320 or TAC. I was leaning toward the 4320 for no real reason.



What barrel length does your model 70 have?

I'd say having 3 lbs on hand is a good reason. The Sierra manual lists 48.9 grns of it as their max with the 225. They also list it as both their accuracy and hunting load at 2450 fps, the test firearm being a BLR. Here's the QL on it too:

Cartridge : .358 Win.
Bullet : .358, 225, Sierra SPBT 2850
Useable Case Capaci: 47.725 grain H2O = 3.099 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.780 inch = 70.61 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm
Powder : IMR 4320

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 91 39.20 1926 1853 29085 5489 83.0 1.393
-18.0 93 40.18 1975 1949 31075 5686 84.4 1.354
-16.0 95 41.16 2025 2048 33215 5880 85.8 1.315
-14.0 97 42.14 2075 2151 35512 6069 87.1 1.277
-12.0 100 43.12 2125 2257 37984 6255 88.4 1.240
-10.0 102 44.10 2176 2366 40645 6434 89.6 1.202
-08.0 104 45.08 2227 2479 43516 6608 90.8 1.166
-06.0 106 46.06 2279 2595 46619 6775 91.9 1.130
-04.0 109 47.04 2331 2714 49972 6935 92.9 1.096 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 111 48.02 2383 2836 53612 7086 93.9 1.063 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 113 49.00 2435 2963 57562 7228 94.8 1.031 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 115 49.98 2488 3092 61861 7360 95.7 1.000 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 118 50.96 2541 3225 66552 7482 96.4 0.970 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 120 51.94 2594 3361 71679 7592 97.1 0.940 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 122 52.92 2647 3502 77312 7689 97.8 0.912 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 125 53.90 2701 3645 83503 7773 98.3 0.884 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 113 49.00 2564 3284 68563 7275 99.1 0.958 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 113 49.00 2271 2577 47583 6823 86.8 1.124

M70 has a 22" barrel. I just looked and my BLR was getting 2463 fps. Either kills deer and I never noticed a difference.

I appreciate the quickoad data. And yes, having 3lbs is a good reason. I also have 3lbs of TAC on hand, haha.

RC,
I think I've posted data for TAC and the 358 and 225 bullets before. As I recall, the user reported results like those above. Due to some older rifles, the SAAMI specs on the 358 are on the low side, but I trust that you know your rifle and can decide upon appropriate pressures for your situation.

Here's the QL for TAC and the 255 Sierra:

Instead of trying to decide between the powders I’m going to load up some of each. I’m thinking maybe loading with each up to 49 grains and working up with the chronograph and seeing what I’ve got velocity and accuracy wise. I appreciate all of the responses.

I look forward to your results!

I went to the range this morning and left kinda disappointed. I didn’t get the velocity I was hoping to get from either powder. I won’t post all the data but instead I’ll jump to the highest powder charge of each.

With 49 grains of TAC 3 shots averaged 2389 FPS. All 3 groups of my testing with this powder averaged .875” @ 100 yards.

With 48.9 grains of IMR 4320 3 shots averaged 2348 FPS. All 3 groups of my testing with this powder averaged 2” @ 100 yards.

This was fired from my steel receiver BLR with a 20” barrel. The temperature was in the mid to low 30’s.

The accuracy with the TAC was fantastic. I just didn’t quite get the numbers I was wanting velocity wise.

The primers with the TAC show I can go a little farther with the charge if I so wish but I’m not sure I wish to. Being in the mid 30’s temperature wise how much of a velocity increase could I expect if say the temperature was 50 degrees? If that would equate to 20 FPS I’d be over the 2400 mark with the 49 grains of TAC and I’d be satisfied.

Maybe I’ll work up to 50 grains with the TAC.....the primers are ever so slightly backing out of the cases. Like maybe .001” or .002”. Perhaps I need to wait until it’s warmer and repeat the 49 grain charge.

I know the deer I hunt won’t know the difference, but I will. It’s hard being so damn picky, haha.

I just joined this forum. I shout a Ruger Hawkeye 358 stainless. I’m still playing with the loads but likes 3031. I would like to try TAC but it’s been difficult to find a 1 lb canister locally. I like the info y’all have and good to see fellow 358ers out there.

Upon further examination the primers I thought were backing out a touch are in fact not. I believe that is just those particular primers (fed 215). I’m going to go back to the range in the morning and repeat my 49 grain TAC load with Remington 9 1/2 Mag primers and CCI 250. If all goes well with 49 grains with those primers I’m going to bump up to 49.5 and see how the velocity and accuracy is.