Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing Advice on building a 358 win

I have two rifles I'm considering for a 358 winchester conversion for still hunting blacktails in SE Alaska. One is a Remington 600 Mohawk the other a Remington 700. Both are now .308s and one will stay that way. Both shoot about the same, so I see no obvious advantage to keeping one as a .308 over the other.

I'm sure someone here has done similar conversions so thoughts on what you have learned from that work and what you would do in this case would be appreciated. Is this a simple rebarrel or does the magazine, follower, etc. need to be tweaked? I'm also wondering if I should stay with the 18 1/2" barrel as on the Mohawk or go with something longer. Also, what twist rate would you recommend?

I had my 358 built on a Model Seven platform with no changes to anything other than truing the action, rebarreling (with a #3 Shilen only available in 1/14" twist) and having the original stock ground out some. I love the little rifle. I have shot many small groups with it using everthing from 200 SP up through 280 and 310 Swift and Woodleigh bullets. It stabilzes them all fine. My barrel also happens to be a decent Barnes X shooter and that is my usual hunting bullet. My little rifle is very nicely balanced with a 20" barrel and quite effective velocity-wise. The 358 is a very good cartridge to chamber in a shorter barreled gun. I highly condone what you propose to do. Sorry I can't be much assistance in helping you choose which one of yours to use.

I would convert the 600 to .358. It already has a short barrel. I would keep the .308 with the slightly longer barreled 700.
1 in 14 twist is just right, and I would have either a 20 or 21 inch barrel.
It should be perfect for your intended purpose.
Enjoy!

Klikitarik,..what kind of velocities are you getting with your 20" 358? Specifically with 225's? I have a 35 Whelen but I also have a Model Seven 6mm that I might rebarrel. A short 35 cal would be interesting.

I did just what Klikitarik did . Model 7 stainless with new Douglas barrel. Very nice little rifle. Recoil is noticeable though due to the lighteness of the set-up. I am not at home so I can't quote you the velocities.

Bill Leeper is currently rebarreling a Model 7 in 308 with a Shilen 358 Win for me. I have no doubt at all about it's effectiveness on game.

If it were my choice, I would rebarrel your Model 600. My good hunting buddy's 358 is a Model 600 that was origiunally a 35 Rem. Had it rechambered about 25 years ago. It has a 18 1/2 barrel with a 1 in 16 twist and stabilizes the 250 gr Speer Spitzer with no trouble at all.

45 Gr of Ball C2 gives that bullet a bit over 2200 fps, shoots into about an inch, and a half and has taken all our big game with not a single problem. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

i will be the odd man out and suggest the 700. seems a shame to take apart an good shooting original 600. besides there are mucho take-off stocks available cheap for the 700. i have a 22" classic 350 mag barrel if you get the hankerin' to open up the bolt and put some snap in your step <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

woofer

Never even thought about the scarcity of original 600s. The Mohawk, though, is the least desirable of them all for collectors.



Bert's little 358 should never have been rechambered from 35 Rem, but was like that when he got it.



You're right, 700s are everywhere, and while not exactly a dime a dozen are certainly cheaper than 600s in excellent condition.



What about the 600, Ratltrap? What kind of shape is it in?

Ted,

At one time I owned a rechambered M-600 .35 Rem. in .358 Win. In one of my more "sensible" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> moments, I sold it. Mostly because at the time I had an original M-600 in .35 Rem. and a M-700 Classic in .350 Mag. My thinking at the time was that I was filling a void that didn't exist. (A moment that I regret, by the way.) My current .358 is a rebored M-722. and I also have a rebored Ruger #3 in .356 Win. I know I don't need it, but.....I have every intent to build lwt. M-Seven in .358. (The M-722 days in my safe are numbered... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ....the9.3Guy

A friend had a 358 Win. Ruger 77-1's barrel shortened to 19". I shot it a bit this summer along with my 22" barreled 99's. It gave about 75 fps less velocity.

In general I did not like it that short. Of course it's your gun.

If I were having a custom made up and it didn't have a front sight I would go with the 22" barrel. You can always cut it later.

Thanks all for the encouragement. I'm with you on the Model 7 being the best action to build this on - but I don't have one.

Woofer (thanks for the barrel offer but I already have a Whelen) & Yukoner - Good call to bring up the collector value of the 600. All original parts, good bluing. no obvious problems in the chamber or barrel, shoots good, no warping of the plastic parts. The stock shows use but not bad. Overall I wouldn't call it Excellent, but Very Good condition is descriptive. I have used the 600 for a while and can remenmber a few times that short barrel as things much easier going uphill in the brush. Those factors probably give the 700 with a 20" the nod.

Well, that decision is made. Thanks. Using the 700 I can also take the practical step of going to a stainless barrel and composite stock without much remorse. Just seemed wrong to do that to the 600.

I'll will still carry the Mohawk this fall and with any luck the 358 will go with me for spring black bears. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I don't think that there is any particular collector's interest in 600 Mohawks, so destroying its collectability wouldn't be a deal breaker if I was in your shoes. Actually, I am kinda in your shoes, as I have a 600 Mohawk action and a threaded 358 barrel that I have thought of putting together in a Bansnar/HTS stock. I don't know if it will get done, but the parts are here to do it.

Jeff