I got the call today that my 358 WSM is done!!! Made my day!! Now I'm looking for load suggestions or at least powder suggestions. Has anyone here played with this cartridge? What did you come up with? Please let me know.
Thanks
Bob

Bob, I have one on a M70 short action, 22 in Hart barrel, Bordan stock. H4895 and RL 17 are the powders to try. I got 2800+ with a 225 TSX with H4895. I have loads with RL17 loads ready just have to find time to test them. I live near Erie.
Check out; 35cal.com and Bryce Towsley's article in Gun Digest
What is your rifle like?

Sounds like a good one I have considered. Let us know how it goes with loads and groups. Chronograph results if you can get them. Be Well, RZ.

The gun is a Winchester model 70 stainless classic action with a 24" stainless 1-12 twist Lilja. Modified Winchester contour to fit in a factory featherweight stock with a little modification to open up the barrel channel slightly.
I've got some 200 Gr Hornady Interlocks and I found some 225 Gr Nosler Ballistic Tips too. I use H4350 in my 300 WSM so (foolishly) I thought I would try that. I've since been told that H4895 is good, which I don't have. I have RL15, RL 22, H4350, N165, IMR 4064. I don't know if I want fast or slow.....I'm just looking for a starting point with a couple of powders.
Thanks again.

Friend of mine operates a website for .35 cal fans.

.35cal.com

Dave is a good resource for .35 cal info. He built a Ruger M77 MKII .358 WSM years ago.

I have several .358's... three .358 Win's, two .35 Whelen's and a .358/375 Ruger... none of these loads will help you with your Sambar... I like 50.0 grains of W748 and 200 grain Hornady SP's (#3510) in the .358 Win rifles... killed tons of game with those. I use 80.0 grains of RL-17 with the 225 Accubond in the .358/375 Ruger.

Bobpa,
I use H4350 in the 300 WSM for my best load. It is listed in Hodgdons data for the 270, 300, and 325 WSM. Pretty sure it can be a good powder in a 358 WSM too but I am not sure where to start. A starting charge for the 325 wsm with a 220gr is probably a safe with 200/225gr bullets in the 358 and I may try that. I have no doubt RL 15 is a good powder too. It is great in my wildcat 375 B&M which is a 300 ultra case shortened to fit in a Win Mod 70 short action with a slightly larger case capacity. Wish I could give better recommendation on those 2 powders but since it is wildcat we have to figure it out on own.

I second hoytcanon's recommendation to visit .35cal.com!!

J

Your rifle sounds great! Nice build. You are going to like it. Mine has a #3 Douglas @ 22in and wish I would have went with a 24inch barrel for balance. I am a backpack hunter so I tend to put together lighter rifles but balance is more important then weight for me.

J

I would think your RL 15 and IMR 4064 would be both worth trying. If in fact the 358 WSM has the same powder capacity as the 35 Whelen then very likely Whelen loads would be a good starting place. Not much sense in me suggesting other powders that you don't have in today's marketplace but Look at the new Speer data for use of some new powders in the Whelen. When you can buy powder again, CFE223 and some of the new Alliant powders might make your rifle sing.

I would think your RL 15 and IMR 4064 would be both worth trying. If in fact the 358 WSM has the same powder capacity as the 35 Whelen then very likely Whelen loads would be a good starting place. Not much sense in me suggesting other powders that you don't have in today's marketplace but Look at the new Speer data for use of some new powders in the Whelen. When you can buy powder again, CFE223 and some of the new Alliant powders might make your rifle sing.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Spe...552j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thanks. I now also have Reloader 17 and H4895. I'm thinking about trying some 200 grain Hornady Interlocks. Still not sure on the powder charge though. I know that bullet is on the light side for the case so I'm not sure which way to go with the powder. Any suggestions?

The 358WSM is very similar to the 350 remington mag. Just a bit more case capacity. I have great results using TAC in the 350 remington mag. I run 60 grains under a 200 grain Barnes TSX. This is out of a remington model 7. I am limited by mag length. So 60 grains is about max. In your case you could probable work up a fair bit more.

The other load is a 180 grain Barnes tipped TSX with 64 grains of TAC. This is in a Ruger MKII. Was built on a WSM receiver and was also chambered long. Factory just got lucky. Anyways I can load over max oal and have more powder capacity. You could probable go a bit more than this in the 358WSM.

TAC gave me the most speed of any powder I have used in the 350. Would think you should have similar performance in the 358 WSM as the cartridges ain't much different. Don't have the exact numbers handy but the 200 grain were running 2600 fps ish. The 180s were right about 3000 fps.

While the 358WSM case likely has 80 grain water capacity the usable capacity with a bullet seated is probably more like 62-65ish. You could check and let us know. Thus just a bit more than the Whelen. I would take the Whelen loads and work up. I've never used RL 17 but what I see on the net says near case full on the Whelen with 61 grain loads and a 250 RN bullet. So I would guess you could use it in your 358 WSM and work up. I think 4895 would work in your rifle but is probably a bit fast if your case capacity is 65 or more. Just depends what you want in performance. Hodgdon says 65 grain behind a 250 in the 358 Norma is a good load at 2736fps so...

I have 6 200 Hornady SP loaded over 75gr of RL 17 to test next.

hoytcanon, I do not want to hijack this thread but I would like to know more about your 358-375 Ruger. Why did you build it? What rifle and have you used the 280 saf?

Are these for a 358 WSM??

Yes, sorry, they are in the 358WSM.

If you don't mind. let me know how they do.... I am going to try RL 17 but I was going to start lower (around 70 grs) than that. Based on what you have there I may try 72 and go up...

My 358 is the std cartridge in a Pre64 m70. I've had good luck with both 200 and 225 grain bullets using 4064 and H4895. IIRC its 48gr of H4895 and a 225gr bullet and 49 grains of same with the 200.

New Flint your over the PM limit LOL Curious who had the reamer for the 358 wsm or do you have one?

HART Rifle Barrels chambered and fitted the barrel

I finally finished tiling the basement, concrete work and spring food plotting and had time to go to the range to chronograph Rl17 loads I made for the 358WSM. The results of the experiment were as follows:

Rl17 75gr...Horn 200gr SP...3010fps ave for 5 shots.

Rl17 75 gr...225AB...2978fps ave for 5 shots.

fire-formed 300WSM brass

Labradar used

Win M70, Hart 22 inch #3, 1-12, "358 X 300 WSM .389ND" nicely stamped on the barrel


These loads were found published in my internet search of 358WSM/Sambar. I think in an article by Bryce Towsley but I could not find it again to reference here. Sorry.

I am no expert but know velocity equals pressure and these velocities seem fast for a case of this volume. However, bolt lift and extraction were without hesitation and the primers were still rounded similar max book loads I use in my 300 and 270 WSM. The primer pockets were starting to loosen though, this being the third or fourth reloading of differing loads. One more and the brass is probably done.
If, I were to hunt this rifle, I would load the 225 AB to 2800fps and be happy. Its niche for me is a 7 1/2 lb. backpack rifle for black bears-light,handy and some extra horsepower. That it is. But I've had it for 16 years and rarely shoot it choosing a 358 Win, 9.3x62, 375 B&M or H&H for my bear hunting so it is a safe queen.

I think you have a darned winner. Man, that’s a cool thumper.

After Bryce Towsley wrote an article about building a custom 358 Winchester he declared it no good beyond about a hundred yards. That is paraphrased. That's when I stopped reading anything by him or any magazine for whom he writes articles. He thinks he can say anything and it must be right. He wrote it, right? That's why Gunswizard and I got crossways. He said the same thing basically but when called on it, wouldn't simply admit that he might have read it somewhere.
I think the old trick of making a 350 Rem Mag on a long action and loading it quite long would get you a long ways past the short action loads. Jeff Cooper did it but I think he might have shot the loads once and tossed the empties for safety's sake. I can't actually remember. Good luck with those medium bores and Be Well, RZ.

Hornady 200 SP TAC 52 grains 1.22 MOA