Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 358 Winchester loads...crimp or not?

Hello from Michigan-

I am new to the site, and am loving all of the great information and expertise shared. I was hoping to tap in to this knowledge....I am working up a load for my 358 Winchester with 250 grain Hornady's for a Canadian Moose hunt this October. I will be shooting these out of my Winchester 88, and wondered if bullet crimp might be a good idea? Recoil is stout in this package, and I do not want bullet movement in the clip. Possible issue or am I over thinking things? Thoughts on bullet crimp in general?

Thanks
Jasper 243

I've never crimped a 416 Rigby, 400 Whelen, 375 HH, 35 Whelen or a 338, never found any need to.

But a crimp on a short range cartridge or one designed to hit a vital area the size of a beach ball isn't going to effect accuracy to any appreciable degree.

If it gives you confidence to do so, then by all means. It won't hurt anything.

Jasper243,

Welcome to the fire. I actually like to crimp most of my hunting rifle rounds, especially for the hard kickers. I have a .358 Win and I crimp for it. Lee factory crimp dies work fine for me. You might get fifty different reasons on why you should or shouldn’t crimp, or that there’s no need to crimp for anything, or trains of thought that land somewhere in the middle. Totally agree with HawkI…if it makes you feel better about the finished loaded rounds, do it. 😎

Doc_Holidude

Good luck on your hunt!

A few buddies and I are kicking around the idea of going on a moose hunt. One of my rifles I’m seriously thinking of taking is my old 99 in 358. I usually don’t crimp any of my rifle rounds either. Also including 416, 375’s and a 338. No crimp on any of them and never had any issues. I DO crimp my lever action 30-30,375win, 35Rem and 44’s but they are all tube fed levers.

Keep us posted on your hunt!

Ben

I've been shooting a Browning BLR (steel frame) in .358 Win for years using 250 grain bullets. I've never put a crimp on my reloads. They shoot great and is my favorite rifle for up to 200 yards for deer, elk and bear.

I have four rifles chambered to the .358 Win. Two bolt actions and two lever actions. I've never crimped a load for any of them. Never saw the need.
PJ

I never crimped a 358 Win handload for my M-88. 180TSX, 200SP Hornady, 225 and 250 Partition, 250 Hornady RN and Speer Spire point, 275 Barnes “O” semi point. No setback in any load and I always shot them with rounds in the magazine to see if it happened. There was minor nose battering but no setback

If you do crimp, be certain to roll up a bunch and shoot them before your trip. Sometimes crimping does weird things. Of course be sure all your cases are the same length because that’s where most crimping weirdness comes from. I don’t crimp for my .358 FWIW but I’ve only run 200’s and 225’s for hunting. As another FWIW I’d run the 225 Partition in your shoes if it were me.

Thanks to all of you for the replies. Jeff O- If I could find 225 grain partitions I’d try them! I haven’t had issues with my milder 200 grain deer loads, but the 250’s get your attention in that rifle, so wanted to check about crimp. This will be a self guided hunt with my best friend, with the actual killing of a moose a bonus. I bought this rifle 35 years ago while in college. The elderly gentleman who bought it for his Ontario moose hunt never got to go, so I promised him I would take it someday.

Happy Easter Friends.

Jasper243

I only crimp big bore heavy kicking revolvers rounds. I do not crimp rifle rounds.

I use a Lee Factory Crimp Die on nearly every round I load including my 358 Win. Try it, you never know, it might shoot tighter groups.

I do not crimp the 358 Win. I suggest you give the 200 gr TTSX a try on top of TAC. This load via my pre-64 M70 worked very well in Africa in 2012. I do crimp my 348 Win, 375 H&H and 416 Rem.

Thanks much. I haven’t been able to find the Barnes available, and am concerned about OAL. How long are the 200 grain TTSX?

I don’t crimp mine for two 99’s

The only rounds I crimp include most revolver cartridges and most tube feed rifle cartridges. I don’t crimp my 375’s, 338’s, 350’s, or 300 magnums. I didn’t crimp the loads in my 416 Rigby if I recall correctly. Most loads I use in my 358 utilize compressed powder. The compressed powder also help keeps the bullets from setting back.

If you decide to crimp, make sure all the cases are trimmed to the same length. Same length is always a good idea but when crimping it is doubly so.

Jasper, you don’t have enough posts to send or accept PM’s. It takes around 50 posts I believe.
Go to the miscellaneous forum and post the alphabet one letter at a time on each post till you get 50. After that PM me. I think I can help you out on 225 Partitions. Approximately where in Michigan do you live? If close enough, we could meet for a FTF and make it cheaper for you to get some.

Mark

I use a Lee factory crimp die on my 358 loads just because when I began reloading I used a Lee manual and it suggested their use. I have not seen it create any issues but have no idea if it prevented any either.

1.296"

Thanks for continued replies. Mark, I really appreciate the offer. I’ll get my posts up and touch base with you at some point. I’m in the UP, but my son is at MSU so we go south on occasion. Ed, thanks for the measurement. Doing more bullet/load research to determine a path forward with load development/testing.

We’re only 20 minutes from MSU.