New to the 356 win, but not 35 cal. - 35 rem, 358s, up to the Whelen, been my favorite cal for 35 years. I’ve recently started playing with the 225 gr woodliegh RN in my 356 win bigbore. I’m getting 2350 fps with this bullet using h4198. I flattened the tips and the bullets end up @ 223grs. and shoot into tiny little groups all the way out to 200 yrds. I’ve also been playing with 200 grain fusions, these bullets were pulled from 35 whelen ammo, so were designed for much higher velocity. They start out pointed and after grinding the tip off they weigh 193 grs. I load these to 2550 fps and I’m getting good penetration in jugs (6) and perfect expansion. This will be my first season hunting with this rifle. Gonna start out with deer here in Kansas and if all goes well cow elk later in the fall.
A great design of balanced power. And 357 pistol bullets to huge stuff at what @310gr? I like the medium bores. I haven't met up with a 356 when I had the money. Be Well, RZ.
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. Winston Churchill.
Your 225 grain Woodleigh load looks perfect for Alaska. Does the crimp groove work ok as is? I recently started modifying some 225 grain Nosler Partitions for my .356 Big Bore. Had to flatten the nose and put a cannular on them, a bit time consuming. How did you flatten the nose? I am using a Ken Onion Knife Sharpener sanding belt and a 220 grain Speer as a example for length.
I have some WW 748 and X-Terminator for powder, but your H4198 load looks plenty good, if my powder does not work out and give me over 2,300 fps mv.
got a hold of 100 of the 225 grain Woodleigh's and the crimping grove is in the wrong place. So I will sell them as I have other choices like the Partitions I modified and a bunch of the Speer FN 220 grain bullets. I zeroed the little 1.5-5 Leupold a couple inches high at 100 yards with the 200 grain Shock Hammer bullets and a healthy charge of Ramshot X-Terminator. Recoil is very tolerable and less then my 30-06 and .338 loads and the claim is the Hammer bullets penetrate like a Barnes X and expand down to 1,500 fps mv.
Hoping to put one in to the lungs of a bull moose soon. If I do I will share the autopsy reports. If it performs as I hope I may have found my one load for the .356 and Alaska's big game. I also have about 6 pounds of WW 748 for the Partitions and 220 grain Speers.
Not many choices for a flat nosed .358 bullet compared to few years ago. Hawk Bullets offers a few in different weights and jacket thicknesses. Speer may have quit making their 180 and 220 grain flat nose, but some internet time may find some. Both Speer bullets have a rep for being tough bullets. I got a hold of some 225 grain Nosler Partitions and flattened the nose and put a crimp groove on them and I think I figured out a way to crimp the 225 grain Woodleigh after I flatten the nose. Fury bullets offers a bonded 180 grain bullet.
Hammer bullets offers their Shock Hammer bullet in 178 and 203 grain weight and I think either one would work for deer and elk at .356 hunting distances. I read they penetrate similar to my favorite hunting bullet, the Barnes X of some flavor. The Shock Hammer is a long bullet and the 203 grain bullet is as long as the Big Bore action will handle. I only hunt Alaska and prefer a 220 grain weight bullet as our moose and bears are big. But, from what I read the 203 version Shock Hammers offer plenty of penetration on big game.
Ram Shot X-Terminator and WW748 are good powders for the .356. If your keeping the rifle I would get some more brass and learn to anneal. Also, stock up on bullets when you find what you like.
I correspond with a couple guys that use lead .358 bullets and also shoot .357 hand gun bullets for practice. Mine wears a XS Sight on front and rear. It is a small peep sight that does not snag on stuff and is built tough. The front sight is a flat post with a white line going up the center. My wife carries our .356 Big Bore on moose hunts and berry picking safaris!
A new option that I found and have picked up is Fury Bullets. They came out with a 220gr flat nose that is a copper jacketed bullet but has a flat lead nose. They have the correct crimp grove to keep the overall short enough for my 94. The nice thing is the base line loads can be built off of the Speer data. The nose is a little more pointed then the Speer so it sets .01” deeper in the throat but so far there is no noticeable difference in group quality but I have just started playing with these guys.
Don't forget you can easily form 307 WIN and 356 WIN cases from 444 MARLIN brass. Use a Form & Trim die to neck them down and shorten them. Redding makes them. I have BB 94's in 307, 356, 375 WIN and 444 Marlin. Great rifles!
The average distance to the big game Alaskan critter when the first shot is taken is about 160 yards. Easily done with a good load from a .356 Winchester.
I recently put my Marlin 336ER up for sale. Great guns, but I just have too many. And if it doesn't sell, I will work it into hunting rotation for a day or so.
A new option that I found and have picked up is Fury Bullets. They came out with a 220gr flat nose that is a copper jacketed bullet but has a flat lead nose. They have the correct crimp grove to keep the overall short enough for my 94. The nice thing is the base line loads can be built off of the Speer data. The nose is a little more pointed then the Speer so it sets .01” deeper in the throat but so far there is no noticeable difference in group quality but I have just started playing with these guys.
How recently did you get the Fury bullets ? I just found out about them a couple of weeks ago. Did they have them in stock ? I got lucky and got a new, unfired winchester 356 from an auction out east recently. Its one of the original pre-safety guns. Another auction has a few bags of brass and a bunch of the speer 220 bullets so I am bidding on those as well. Fury makes a bullet for the 375 as well.
