.358 a great deer round

[shotgunner]

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You might remember that I sent a 700 ADL to Shaw for a barrel in .358. Well, I have shot a few deer with it and I am beginning to think that is was more than a good idea. I shot a 6 point buck with it, up close, and the deer fell where it stood. The shot was across the top of the heart and out the opposite shoulder. I just cut up the shoulder and did not loose a lot of meat. I shot a doe with it at 50 yards and again it fell where it stood. Yesterday I shot a 10 point buck, running all out at 75 yards. The bullet entered the neck from above and came out under the throat. The taxidermist only has a 3/4 hole to fix. The neck was not all blood shot. I have shot a lot of deer with a .270 or even a .257 Roberts. This one puts them down fast and like Elmer used to say, you can eat right up to the bullet hole. The bullet is a 200 grain Hornady spire point with a near maximum charge of IMR 4198.
Shotgunner

[Rummer]

SHotgunner,

Congrats on the buck, he's a nice one.

.35 caliber bullets at that velocity are just perfect for deer.

I use the 200gr spirepoint in a whelen for deer in PA.  I have never seen a centerfire that performed so well on deer.  I have taken 3 deer with mine.  I hit one a little too far back, she ran 20 yards and left a very heavy blood trail.  The other two just flopped over dead.

.35 calibers are underrated.

Rummer

[257 roberts]

The 358 is GREAT,the last deer I shot with my Sav.99F,I shot in the neck and the 2oogr SilverTip exited the ham.

[shotgunner]

Rummer

That is a PA buck, I like the antler restrictions. I must have passed 6 forkhorns this season. And Mr. Roberts, the .257 is my other favorite round. It just does not put them down as fast as this .358. Most of my hunting in in cover and close but I would not worry about a shot at 200 yards or more, just don't do it very often. It is a great round for driving or still hunting, I would not hesitate to shoot one in the south end if need be. Shotgunner

[Rummer]

I got a pretty nice 9-point, maybe I will post a photo in the deer hunting forum.  It is the first legal buck I have seen since the antler restrictions were instituted.  My two main gripes are 1)Deer aren't always cooperative when it comes to letting me count points.; and 2)I think we may be harvesting too many does in some areas.

As far as caliber goes it really seems like rifles of over .30 caliber shooting relatively soft bullets at moderate velocity will give you a shorter, if any, death run and a heavier blood trail.    I am not telling anybody else what they should or should not hunt with, but I will probably never buy a rifle chambered for a cartridge under .30 caliber

My Dad shot a deer with a 286gr bullet in a 9.3x62.  I thought for sure that bullet would be best for heavier game, but that bullet expanded well.  These slower bullets also seem to ruin less meat.

Congrats again on the buck

Rummer

[TNrifleman]

That is a nice buck. the 358 Winchester is an under-appreciated cartridge. I have used a 35 Whelen for years, and the results are very consistent and pleasing.

[shotgunner]

I am using a 200 grain Hornady bullet. Does anyone else have input on other bullets? How about heavier bullets like a 220 or 250 grain. I thought I might work up a bear load. Every year they take 10 bears in PA that are over 600 lbs. Would I be better off to go with a top end 200 grain bullet instead? Shotgunner

[Country Boy]

I've shot over 25 bears with my 358 and 250 Speer bullets none have required much tracking. I use an old Blr81

[tanoose]

Countryboy what velocitys are you getting with those 250 grain bullets. I just bought a new BLR in 358 winchester but was planning on using the 200 grain bullets for deer and bear hear in NY