Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Let's talk .358 Winchester

Nice. How's the wallop on your end?

It's not bad really. It's there, for sure but just fine and I hate recoil, on average.

As Scott said, it's more than a 6x45...grin...

Thanks. I'm thinking it would likely be appropriate for an 8lb-ish rifle like the Ruger and not a 6.5lb-er like what I was considering. Could be a bit brisk.

I would agree with that totally -

It's gonna be a good 400 yard elk thumper when I get the dots lined up.

I'm still toying with throwing one together with a 20" tube and putting it in an Edge.

What gun are you shooting now Steelie? Congratulations on your new bride...she seems to have melowed you a bit.Would say something about your retirement but we both retired at about the same time. powdr

Ruger Hawkeye, blue/walnut version.

Thanks for the thanks. Monday is actually my 1st official day of retirement, I've been on leave since late June.

The only thing that keeps me from doing one is that I have a Whelen that is a hair over 7 pounds with scope so I don't know that I need a short/light 358 Win too.

The recoil there would be "brisk"...

Mine is built on a Mark X long action w/23in Douglas. I have every bullet I think they make except the 200gr TTSX. and that's the one I want to try. I may just buy those and call it done for deer and hogs here in Texas.It's long enough to have decent BC and looks wicked. I think I can get it to 2750fps w/N201 in my 23in barrel. Should be good to 350yds. powdr

Try a 180gr TTSX, that's one I'd like to punch a shoulder with.

I've used plain olde Remington and Hornady SPs in mine over the years. I don't think a deer need any more bullet than that at the modest velocities given with a 358W.

If after bigger game, I have about 4-500 Speer 250gr SPs to fill that role.

45.5 gr of 4320 pushing NP 225's. good groups and good terminal performance. Still pricey.

I'd really, really, really like to see Speer offer a Deep Curl 358 cal projectile, because I think that'd be perfect for the .358 win. I've heard some say that TSX's dont perform well at reduced impact velocities, and the NP's are painfully expensive. Thats why I think a ~200-225 Deep Curl would be perfect. Still waiting, and paying for those Partitions until then....

shane

I somewhat agree w/SuperCub...I think a man could use the 200gr Hornady for deer and the 250 Speers for elk and moose.The BC of the 200 Hornadys is dismal but getting to 300 is no problem. Those two should take care of a bunch of stuff. I would like to try some 200gr Corelokts and have a goodly stash of 225gr Ballistic tips that should be about perfect for all even though velocity wouldn't be that high. powdr

My thought exactly.

If BC was that important and LR shooting was in the works, I'd probably would not be carrying a 358W. Most of us here own faster chamberings for such things.

I tried 220 grain SP Hotcores over TAC today. 49 grains clocked around 2,520 and shot very well. Unfotunatley, there were feeding issues, every third round or so bound up instead of chambering. Perhaps seating depth changes might help?
Cases were Win with Fed 215m primers.

I have had good luck with 49 grains of plain old IMR-3031 and 200 grain Hornady SPs. Cases are Win again and primers are WLR. This loads reaches 2,660 and shoots around 1-1.5 inch groups in my Ruger Hawkeye.

I have yet to try it on game but really like the rifle and cartridge.

Several people have mentioned forming cases from .308s. Win and Hornady both make .358 brass. It can normally be found for around $30 for 50 cases.

-Z

making .358's from .308's is no challenge, and 308 brass is everywhere for next to nothing. as an example.... I didnt own ANY 308 brass, but my buddy has a 5 gallon bucket of it. I got 300 pieces of very good brass for $0.

I go to the 200g Hornady SP for deer and the 225NP (seconds of course) for bigger things. Almost all the cup and core bullets seem to function very well from the 358 win. One of my elk fell to a 250 hornady rn.

I am currently running three 358s. a Tang safety with a ER Shaw barrel. a MKII stainless with a Douglas barrel and a older BLR straight stock, with peep sights. All three are 20" barrels

I use a BLR and shoot an Accurate Mold that throws a 240 gr GC lead boolit cast of COWW+1%tin water dropped sized to .359. I use 42 gr of IMR3031 at 2200fps. It groups 2" and will make a donut of any flesh.