My local range has low benches. One of these days I think I'm going to make up my own seat that's lower than the ones they provide. I'm 6' 3" and the low bench doesn't help it also doesn't help that on Sunday I sighted in my Marlin 1895 Guide Gun with some 300gr Hornady hollow points at around 2250fps. I've decided that the rest of those are going to be saved for awhile and I'll go back to my 405gr cast bullets for most shooting.
I'm thinking in the long run I'll probably get a mold for the .358 so I can shoot moderate cast loads when I'm not up for a beating. As I mentioned in my first post I have a .450/400 NE Ruger No.1 and .416 Rigby CZ550 but I've never shot either from the bench. I also don't think I've ever shot over 5 or so rounds out of either in one day.
How hard is it to neck up .300 win mag brass to .358"? I had read about going that route the other day when I was just looking at the rifle online, the only issue was that I was having trouble finding anyone with .300 win mag brass in stock. Can you go straight from .308" to .358" or do you need an intermediate expander like .338"? I no longer have .338 dies I let those go with my A-Square Hannibal .338 a few years ago, but I had kept some brass. I do however have a .330" expander in my lee 8x56R dies. I've also read of people using 7mm Mag brass but .284" to .358" seems like a lot of expanding to me. It also seems like a lot of work if I had to run them through a .308" expander, followed by a .338" expander, and finally a .358" expander. I do know that if I ever come across anyone with .358 norma brass in stock again I'm going to grab 50 or 100 pieces even if it is a bit pricey.
Edit: I should have hauled my chronograph out but forgot all about it. Might just wait until I have fireformed brass to use.
Yeah, I'm 6'3" too. My buddy, who's about 6'5" was kind of chuckling yesterday when I put the pad on. Asked if I needed some Mydol. I let him shoot the fouling shot with 250s leaning into the bench & he shut up immediately. RE: Your Marlin... Sloping butts with curved buttplates can be painful in a T-shirt. A long time ago my shooting/reloading/experimenting cohort had a Trapdoor & we were messing with black powder with heavy cast bullets. It was brutal with 500s at BP velocities. I think it just hangs over his fireplace these days.
Just looked & whoever had the Norma brass last month doesn't have it any more. I got 100 Prvi 300 WinMag brass for pretty cheap so it will be a good backup if the Norma stuff gets even harder to find. It looks like pretty decent brass. That, & it isn't too short after forming. Since you have the 338 brass already why not use it? Just be aware, with short cases, of the carbon ring forming at the spot where the chamber ends & the rifling starts. Worst case... If it gets well established & you do fire some full length brass there could be a pressure increase from the case mouth not being able to expand fully. Normal cleaning methods dont touch the carbon. I agree 7mm RM brass may take too much work if there's anything closer available. It will be too short as well.
The 300 WinMag brass is ready to shoot with one pass thru the 358 NM die set for my rifle to headspace on the shoulder bumped back approx. .002". You will be pushing the 300's shoulder back about 1/10 of an inch. The tapered expander rod from a 35 Whelen die screws right into the 358 Norma die (both dies Redding). I use a good coating of Imperial (I think Redding makes this nowadays) sizing die wax on the body with their dry neck lube & haven't lost a case yet. Deburr, trim to length & load. I'm unsure if there will be a donut problem but will keep an eye out for it. The standard Norma chamber has a long freebore so bullets may never get seated to the base of the neck in my rifle. Hopefully your die maker has a 30 to 35 tapered expander ball available seperately for a few $$. I know Redding & CH do.