Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 358 auto loader?

I love my 358 rifles. I also like the 7400/750's I've had for quick shooting.

I think the combination of the two, having a 358 autoloader would be fantastic. Remington makes their 750 in 308 and 35 Whelen. I really don't need the power of the Whelen for the hunting I do but want the 35 bullet diameter. Plus, all my guns are based off the 308 case (260, 7mm-08, 308, 358), so I'd like to stay with the 308 brass.

Could you take a 308 and have the barrel bored up to 358? Is there enough "meat" on the barrel for something like this to be done?

When Rem makes thier guns do they make the barrel bore first, and then lathe out the case sizing? Or is it the other way around?

Remington builds a 750 35 Whelen so why not?
Call JES reboring in Oregon, he rebored a Tikka 270 to 35 Whelen this year for me and it is a great shooter.

Does Rem use the same barrel blank (outer diameter) for all their 750 caliber offerings? That's what I didn't know.

How much does it 'ballpark' cost to have a rebore job done?

Wow, thanks for that lead on reboring. That JES place:


$225 includes shipping. I think they will be getting a call from me today.

I was told the muzzle dia. needed to be .550 or bigger, my Tikka 270 was .648...if you check a Remington 740 or 750 I bet it is at least as big.

As I mentioned my gun was rebored this past Sept. and it shoots great!



First 5 shot group at 100 with cheapest 35 Whelen factory ammo after JES rebored it....

And it shoots better now!

Look for a used model 100 Winny. I have its lever action twin in 358 and find it to be a most useful and handy woods rifle.

I've seen the Model 88's in 358 for sale (and the Savage 99's). I've never seen a Win Model 100 in 358 for sale. I've read that they did chamber it in that caliber, but have yet to see one posted for sale. Plus, I don't believe the 100 ever came with a high-comb stock (?), I really like that on the Rem 7400/750 for nice eye-to-scope alignment.

Go FAL. Just did one. Easy as pie.

Winchester never cataloged the 100 in 358, but the barrel contours are the same, so you might be able to have a Winchester 100 barrel in 243 or 308 rebored to 358. That said, I doubt there is much that needs doing outside of big bears that a 180 grain .308" bullet of the proper construction can't handle.

I have scopes on my Winchester 100s in 308 and don't find the stock design to be a problem.

Jeff

My model 88 so chambered works great with the 1.75-5 scope I have on it. Would be pretty easy to have a 308 version re-bored.

AR-10's can be had in this caliber. A semi auto AR type 358 with a 20 round clip or three full of full power 358 rounds would be quite the package, eh?

If you are going to stay in the Remmy semi auto format, just go 35 Whelen. Can be loaded down to 358 speeds and still work if you wanted it to. Just use a faster burning powder than would normally be optimal for the Whelen. I have been tempted to get a Remmy 35 Whelen myself.

I just like the 358. I have everything off the 308 case family- like to keep it that way. Plus, having a 358 autoloader would be cool. Very safe bet that no one else in camp would have one! I still may get a Rem Whelen, but that won't impact if I do this project or not. Can't have too many fun guns, and the 35's are way underrated.

I called JES and chatted a while about this project. He said that any 308-case based rifle could be a potential candidate for this. He mentioned looking for a used 243 or 308 7400, 742, etc. If you want to make a carbine, ballpark $30 to chop barrel and recrown. He can do whatever twist rate you want.

He hasn't worked on any 750 yet, maybe I'll be the first if I go that route.

What twist rates for 358 are generally considered to be the best? JES mentioned 1 in 14.

Surprised Browning didn't do a .358 Shorttrac; they've been keepin' the .358 flame alive...

I have an M1a Bush rifle that'd be bitchin in .358. Springfield did catalog them early on.

I like how you are thinking! Please post pics and details of your project.

Love my .358..... sure beats .223AI.

I'm going to make a call and look into this. The accuracy of my Model 100 in .308 has gone tits up. A local smith looked at it and said it's shot out. This could be the answer.

George

Another rebore option.

http://www.deltagunshop.com/


I have not used either and have no recommendation but thought that you might want the option.

8mmwapiti

if i could spend under $250 for a win 100 in 358 i most certainly would

woofer

FWIW, I had the late P.O.Ackley rebore my .243 Winchester Model 100 Carbine ( 19" bbl, uncheckered stock w/barrel band forend) to .358" in the early 70's.
I was a bit miffed that he didn't remark the caliber, but didn't gripe, since he only charged me $35 IIRC.

He also told me he had to reblue it to correct the damage done to the bluing when the gas cylinder was hard soldered back on after the gas port work was done (sic).

It worked great, with the original mags, and no other alterations.

There was no mention of muzzle OD back then, but when I called several rebore gunsmiths two years ago for a Model 70 Featherweight rebore to .358", I was told the muzzle OD needed to be .600" - which my FW didn't make, with .500" @ 22".

I knew my rifle's muzzle OD would have probably made the minimum if I wanted to shorten the barrel - but I liked the issue 22" length, so dropped the project.

The newer reborers also had a couple more caveats, like "no chrome bores", and something about not reboring hammer forged rifling (or something along the line of rifling method)

If I were to want an autoloader today, I'd have a Model 100 bored to .338 Federal - which also has a .308 case as the parent case.

.

I would build a .358 on a AR10 with a DPMS or Armalite. I think DPMS markets a .338 Fed already. Plateau Hunter

Remington 742 308 carbine a candidate. Now you got me thinking. Would be a quick done deal.

Ken

.358 WSSM in an AR-15 from Mike at D-Tech.