Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats need help on .358win

having one built on a lefty Sucks sa. What barrel twist?Also length? Contour? How about mcmillian stock? looking to use as deer woods gun, bear, elk in timber, also moose. want it to weigh about 8 pounds with scope and rings.
thanks
wayne

Wayne,

The last .358 I build was on a Ruger #3 action. Without doing any research, I specified a 1~16 twist rate. (Much to my sorrow!) Since you specified possible uses of Elk and Moose, I am assuming you want to shoot 250 gr. Bullets. So therefore, I would think that the 1~12 twist would be appropriate. If you intend to shoot bullets no heavier than 225 gr., you could probably compromise with a 1~14. But if I ever build another, I will specify 1~12. I would rather over-twist a bullet than understablize it.

As far a barrel weight, your gunsmith can easily tell you what contour to use to achieve your target weight. Hope this helps...the9.3Guy

Excellent cartridge!

12 twist
21" bbl length
#3 Pac-Nor or Lilja
McM Classic (#3 bbl contour is too big for Mtn rifle stock -trust me)


MtnHtr

9_3 GUY,

Can you tell me what caused your sorrow? I am curious, because my buddy's 358 has an eighteen inch 1:16 barrel and shoots 250 gr Speer spitzers fine.

He gets around 2250 and they shoot into less than 1 1/2" It's not a match rifle, but plenty accurate for hunting. He has used it for more than 20 years and has shot tons, literally, of moose, caribou and bear.

No flame at all, just wondering?

Ted

Ted,

I mistakenly assumed that all .35 cal rifles were 1~16 std. twist. After research, I discovered that Winchester twisted the .356 and .358 rifles 1~12. I presume that their ballisticians know what they are doing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My original intent for the rifle was to shoot cast bullets.

My first range session was a disaster. 2-3 in. groups were the norm. Back to the loading bench! I tried 180 gr. Speer FN and 200 gr. Hornady RN with no better results. At this point, I got discusted with the whole project. I put the rifle in the back of the safe.

Several months later, I decided to put it on the table at a gun show. When I pulled it out of the safe, I heard something rattle. It was then that I discovered that my old nemesis had reared it's ugly head again. I had neglected to tighten the scope. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Back to the back of the safe! Since then I have not had the inclination to work with it again. But I hope to this summer. I am hoping to try cast bullets again, and perhaps Nosler 225 gr. partitions and ballistic tips.

I know it's not really the guns fault, but I just think I would have been better off with a 1~12. We don't learn from success, we learn from mistakes. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My reasoning may be flawed, but that's how I feel. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ...the9.3Guy

I'm having a 358 built by MRC on a left handed action.
I went with one of their barrels 22" long with a 1/12 twist.
I have another 358 in a Savage 99, that also has a 1/12 twist.

9_3GUY

I thought I was the only one who did that. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Was at the range with a known sub-minute rifle last Spring and could not get the thing to shoot. It was extremely frustrating, to say the least.

After I got home and cleaned the rifles, I remembered that this was the first time out with the rifle since I had changed the scope mounts during the winter. Sure enough, the rings screws were tight, but the thumbscrews were just barely snug. I was amazed it had shot as well as it did.

I would be very interested in how your 16 twist 358 performs now that the scope mounts are secure. Bert's rifle is a rechambered 35 Rem 600 and is definitely a 16. He has never shot cast in it, that I know of, but it sure works with jacketed.

BTW, after trying a lot of different bullets, all he shoots in his is the 250 Speer spitzer with 45 gr of BLC2. It has worked on everything we have up here, including one really big bull moose at around 400 yds on the last day of the season. But that is another story........... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Ted

Sounds like a perfect rifle for the intended purpose.
I would go with a 21 inch #3 contour twisted at 1 in 14 or 12 inches. Slap that baby in a McM Mnt rifle stock, put a small Leo 1.75X6 or 2X7 in dual dovetails on it and go smoke some Elky's. Enjoy<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

i'm waiting for the .35 triple shocks. Are there any pointed .35 bullets available? Posted about bullets on AR, some one said stay away from the hornady spire point.
thanks
wayne

My brother took a black bear with the 200 grain Hornady spire pnt from his .358 at close range. It worked perfectly. The wound channel was wide but not excessive, and the bullet exited. I would not hesitate to use it on anything short of elk. We have seen sporatic results with the Sierra 215 BT. It shoots great but we had one not expand at all after hitting a whitetail in the shoulder at a steep angle down into the ground. This was at close range from a tree stand, so the velocity was high (for a .358). I've used the same bullet in a .35 Whelen on deer. It appeared to open too much at a slightly higher velocity.
I would stick to the 200 Hornady for deer, and the 220 or 250 Speer's for everything else.

I haven't had a chance to finish it yet, but I have a .358 Montana 1999 action barreled by them with their #4 contour barrel, 21-inches long. It is a 1 in 12 twist. They told me that the #4, with a .650 muzzle diameter, was as light as they would go on a .358.

I have to get a box together to ship the action and stock to Serengeti Stockworks so they can finish it off for me.

I have loaded up some 250 gr Hornady Spire points - anyone else had problems with them? They will work for breaking in the barrel, anyway.

mr308win,

I use Barnes 200 grain X in my 358, it is very pointed, and works very well @ 2626 FPS from 22" barrel, and a stout load of RL-12.

Bob