I was wondering if anyone here has had success in reloading the .358 Norma with the Barnes TSX 225g. I have bought their book and I just emailed them but want to hear from the around the fire.

I am looking for load data, speeds, loading resources etc.......

Or any other ideas on hand loads. The load I have been running they discontinued the bullets (Speer Grand Slam) so I need to move into something new.

I use H-4350 and the 250 gr Nosler Partition in my .358 NM.

Using 72.0 grs of H-4350 and Winchester Large Rifle primer. Sorry,have not shot the load over a chronograph yet.

75.0 H4350 with 250 jacketed bullets has been my load for the Norma. 2700+ as I recall. 250s should run up around 2800 if you push it to 338 Win Mag pressures. The 225X should get you a bit more. I've run them with the same load I've used for 250 jacketed bullets but don't recall the speeds I may have gotten though accuracy was plenty. RL15 is sometimes reported to be good with the 225TSX but I didn't find good accuracy in my rifle. Partitions and A-Frames are where it's at for me.

66gr of H-4895 behind a plain 225X gave me 2900fps. 62gr was my 280 A-Frame load, both are deadly both near and far!!

H4350 and 225gr Swift A-Frames is all I've ever shot in mine. I actually need to bust it out and shoot it again as it has been a few years.

Thanks all for the info. I am changing my bullet choice. I feel I can get the Noslers do all I need at this point. Either the Partitions or the Accubond. I do like the A-frame idea too.

I had a 350 Rigby Magnum which is pretty much a ballistic twin of the 358 Norma loaded to the same pressures. I only shot 250's and found Varget produced better accuracy than 4350. Postulating that ~68gr of Varget under a 225 ought to clock 2800 and change.

My go to load in my newer Norma is 71gr of 4350 behind a Nosler 250gr. partition. It gives me 2640fps and all the accuracy I can ask for.

One of the nice things about the Norma is that it is basically the 338 Winchester bored out 20 thousandths, and it uses a lot of bullets which match the 338 in weight. Consequently, since data is often pretty thin for the Norma, one can use the data for the 338 with equal weight (and perhaps even equal sectional density) bullets. Then you can up the charge until you equal the velocity of the 338 loads. (You should actually be able to safely exceed it as well with the same powders.)

In regards to the previous posters, the Norma pre-dates the 338 Win Mag a few years. While the two cartridges are very similar, people forget that energy increases at the square of velocity. You start slinging 250 gr. bullets 100-200 fps faster than another and you have significantly increased the energy figures. On the order of the difference of the 308/30-06. The 338 will usually give 2700 w/250gr.bullet where the Norma is 2800-2850. Recently I've seen the new powders go over 2900 w/250's, but 2850 is all I need or want in a 9 lb rifle. My 23" bbl rifle routinely gives 2825-2860 fps w/250 Partitions and over 3000 fps w/225 Accubonds with no special tricks (ie barrel throating or short chambers). And it is moa accurate. In all fairness, I've seen where the 338WM can give speed approaching 2900 w/250's with the new powders, so time will tell.
Be safe.

Has Anyone tried the newer Alliant ball powders yet? My 358 NM should be done in February and I'm taking notes.

I bought a custom Mauser in 358 NM from a forum member here, had the stock redone and mounted an old 3X Weaver scope, had 4 cans of Norma N-204 powder forever, got several boxes of 250 gr Partitions, worked up to 2800 fps.

It is an extremely accurate load in this rifle, I believe the old custom barrel to be a Douglas, the man that built the guns name is Longfellow, that and the caliber designation is all that's on the rifle.

I wouldn't hesitate to hunt any animal with this rifle and load, save Ele, it a hell of a cool rifle, full bore 358 NM loads are not for the timid!

Enjoy your rifle and load work Elk130.

I run a 35 Newton and using reformed Hornady 375 Ruger cases it ends up being virtually identical to my Nosler 338 Win Mag in overall case capacity.

So far I've used RL17 with 225 Accubonds which clock right at 2900 and 250 Partitions just over 2800. Recently used some RL26 which seems really decent in the mid 2800 with 250 Partitions.

Sorry to re open a older thread. But as this caliber dosent have the appeal of the Creed-more everyone wants to speak about... Ya kinda need to read older Posts!

I also recently picked up a 358NM (A grail caliber for me) So far 4350 is a stand out powder for accuracy. Vel is down a bit from published estimates. But Im not hung up on velocity.

This gun also loves the 71.5 G load under a 250 Oryx bullet. 70g under a 225 Ballistic tip rivals my MVP in 223 for accuracy!! That gun shoots just over 1” out at 200 without breaking a sweat!! I havent taken this NM past 100 yet so just looking at single hole 50 and clovers @ 100y.

Having a blast literally!! . I am going to mount a Kick EEZ pad on the stock next. Recoil isnt terrible, but I really like these pads on my big recoilers! I find them better then the excellent Limb savers now that they fixed the OOZING ISSUE!!

Any new findings with this caliber from any one?

Are you still shooting and using the bug 35 358Norma_fan? Alaska is a dream hunt for me one day...

CW

Can’t say I’ve heard about Alliant’s ball powders but I have been experimenting with Reloder 23 and 26 with A-Frames in my 338 Winchester. Both powders are getting me over 2850 with 250 A-Frames. Plenty of pressure for sure but I don’t think I would be afraid to push them a little harder if I wanted to. I’m getting nice 1-inch size groups with Reloder 23 at just under 2800 and I’m going to stick with that load for hunting this fall.

No, I haven't been hunting as much lately, and when I do go, I've been using some other rifles.

I've got a 03-A3 Remington that was sporterized and rechambered to 308 Norma Mag, I think I'll work up a 200 gr Nosler Partition load for it and shoot a deer or two with it. That will be close enough for me and save me a bunch of bucks too boot. How tough is it to come up with 358 Norma brass ? MB

Brass is not impossible.

I load for my ..358 Norma, but I never try to get .358 Norma brass. Of course this would not be advisable if you had rifles in both calibres -- I don't.

I simply use .300 Winchester Magnum brass necked up (in fact, I had the neck of my .358 Norma made long so I don't have to trim cases unless I feel like it.

John