Took my trailer (thanks Karnis) to the lease yesterday and spent the night to have some fun with my son this morning. If you'll remember, I had Ray Montgomery chamber this rifle for a 200 Gr. Hornady loaded to 2.825" COAL. I loaded up some rounds to that spec with TAC powder and it looks like it will definitely do minute-of-deer/pig at 100 yds. The rifle was a joy to shoot and the Swaro Z3 was easy to sight in and seemed to track perfectly.



Here's a pic of our deer camp. We're going to bury some barrels and set them up for septic. Otherwise, we got charcoal and gas grills and even dish network. We'll really be roughing it! Hopefully we'll get some rain soon so the county will lift the burn ban.



Cooked a few steaks and jap sausage wraps over charcoal last night. They turned out great!



And we checked a few zero's. My 8-year old son shot a couple of rounds out of his 6mm/250 and then proceeded to burn up some 22 Mag rounds. He was disappointed because we didn't find any coons this morning in the cuff traps. Maybe next time. Logan really got serious when he put a proper cap on!






All in all a fun trip and I can't wait for the next one!

That load should be plenty good for deer and pigs. I use the same bullet out of my Pre '81 BLR in .358 Win. and it is a thumper on South AR whitetails.

What are the specs on your 358? Looks like a Remington
action.

Correct. 700 SA. Pac-Nor SS #4 contour cut to 18-1/2". Muzzle diameter is .69". Balances at front action screw, which is what I was trying for with the heavier contour. Brown Precision stock that I bought here on the fire. Talley Ltwts and Swaro Z3 3-9x36.

Weight is right at 7 lbs with scope.

I believe I will step up the powder charge some as I saw no pressure signs but will take the chrono next time just to check. The load I used is supposed to be doing about 2550 fps out of the short barrel.

Thanks magshooter. I think it will work.

BTW......Took my family to Hot Springs about 5 years ago and they were setting heat records every day we were there. But we had fun and I want to go back some day.

Great story and pictures. Like seeing the kid shoot more than the gun part but good on ya either way. Too bad you are teaching a youngun to shoot with those soul-less damnable synthetics, though.... (Grinnin here)

Neet looking deer camp / lease. the camping and fellowship etc. is SO much the real part of the whole deal.

I have had great results with AA-2520 in 200gr to 250gr loadings in my 21" hart barreled sa model 70. Thats a sharp lookin rig you have! Enjoy those 35's.

Great looking rifle!

I love TAC with 225's; have not tried it with 200's. From my 20" .358, RL7 will push 200's to 2650 fps, though. PM me if you want load particulars.

There's nothing not to like about a .358. It will do a number on deer, that's for sure.

I agree on the synthetics. But Mull made me a deal I couldn't refuse on the T-bolt. And it shoots lights out with the target barrel.

Comraderie is the best part. At least until the beer's gone and the hugs start and one of the guys asks who wants a "little whiskey drink". That's when it's time for me to retire.......unless somebody lights up some more charcoal.

Then it might be worth it to hang around for awhile.

Huh. RL7. I've got some of that and sold my 45-70. PM sent.

Be glad you didn't come this summer it was a repeat of that summer 5 years ago. We've seen a lot of 100+ days here this year.

beautiful rifle!

Very nice outing. Glad you got the camper set up and all....