Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .358-375 Ruger load development

okay, did the initial portion of the workup for this rifle today, the rest i was using was sub standard to say the least so i wont get into accuracy details. i was working with 250 grain Hornady spires and 280 grain Swift A-Frames. the 250's over 85 grains of 4350 and a cci BR2 was giving 2950, that load goes crunch when you seat a bullet, does this sound about right for that amount of 4350, it should be said here also, that there were no pressure signs, the primers still had very round firing pin dimples and no extractor marks, the bolt still lifted easily and etc.
Now for the 280's over the top of a BR2 and 79 grains 4350, no pressure signs, was giving 2680, more than i expected to get out of it... anyway, just thought some people may be interested, will post more when i finish the workup.

Cool, I've wondered about doing a 35 on that case.

its a monster, some people like the 338's but imho the 35 just makes more sense, after all we are not shooting 1,000 yd matches with it, we are killing elk and moose and bears and the like.

What is the rig?

standard Rem 798 laminate stock, trigger job, rebarreled 28" douglas air guaged, chambered 375 Ruger necked down to .358 NOC. nothing super fancy or super beautiful, all business, but it gets the job done.

I'm a little surprised about your results. I thought the case would have more volume than the 358STA. How deep were you seating the bullets? 86gr of H4350 is not compressed with 250gr NP in my STA and gives 2950fps from a 23inch barrel. I'll have to compare the case specs, but thought the ruger case had more volume than the full length H&H cases.

Keep us posted on the results. I find the 35-375ruger very appealing.

i was seating both to the cannelure, which coincidentally happens to allow the cartridge to fit easily in a 30-06 length magazine. and please note, those results were with zero signs of pressure. i will keep posting as i collect more data. i am most interested in the 280's, that rifle tossing that bullet should be suitable for anything in north america by my reckoning.

Your wildcat is a good one, Bryce Towsley is working on a .358 WSM, I guess he will call it the .358 TWSM. I am not sure the differences in case volume of the WSM to the RCM platforms, but I am sure his results should parallel yours. The 8mm Mag/.358 STA case has larger volume than any short magnum case, except the Lazzies. Good luck on your new cartridge, I will like to hear how well is does.
Good shooting,
Marcus.

the 375 Ruger case, the parent for it, is actually about 2% GREATER volume than the STA and on a 30-06 length action, this is not a "short magnum" at all, the 358 WSM should be comparable to a 358 norma maybe, this one should have a couple hundred fps on it

well..............thanks! I'll check it out.
Good shooting,
Marcus.

not a prob at all, i was looking again at some of the Norma loads, and i was driving 280 A-frames to nearly the same speeds as the 358 Norma drives 250's at max, i expect 2850 or so from the 280's at max, and feel that 3000-3100 should be easily attainable with the 250 Hornady spires or 250 NP's, this weekend (weather permitting here in western WA) will tell for sure. i will be sure to let you know.

I hope your weather permits, it has been raining for the last 6 weeks around here, a couple times every week. I think we are up to about 28 inches in the last 6 weeks, it is suppose to rain four more inches tonight and tomorrow. My range has got water standing about 6 inches deep between me and the 100, 200, and 300 yard target frames. My food plots are mud, where as they are normally 18 to 20 inches of wheat, oats, milo, and rape growing. I need to check a couple of rifles as our modern gun season for deer starts Saturday. Good luck to you!
Good shooting,
Marcus.

Naw, I just called it the .358 WSM. Besides, by the time I my rifle was finished the cartridge was already established as a wildcat.

Mine in a Model 70 built by Mark Bansner and it�s a fantastic rifle. I am getting 2,950 fps with a 225-grain Trophy Bonded bullet and sub MOA accuracy. It shot through both shoulders of a bull elk at 250 yards last fall. I also took a pronghorn and two whitetails with it last year. As we all know (or should) size matters with bullets and a high quality, 35-caliber bullet going fast is a great combination for big game hunting. So far, I could not be happier with this rifle.

Bryce

picked up a 798 myself and have a 1/12" twist 35 barrel I was thinking of chambering for this cartridge. The barrel is about 3/4" at the muzzle (#5?), is 22" long and bolted to a VZ 24 action right now. Chambered in 35 Whelen that appears to have a bit too much head space. I am thinking it will be a perfect fit.

Is there a "standard" reamer out there for this cartridge?