Author Topic: Anyone shoot the .358 Winchester? Even in the HandiR? (Read 527 times)

Couger · « **on:** December 03, 2005, 07:34:50 AM »

This cartridge has always intriqued me, but like the .41 Magnum and other well-balanced rounds, its been largely ignored and overlooked.

Am thinking about possibly reboring my .308 Survivor bbl to .358W. Would use it for whitetails from a stand as well as for playing with cast bullets.

Thanks!

mt3030 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2005, 09:19:50 AM »

I've owned/shot it in a Browning BLR. Excellant thumper. But it is a high pressure round, with minumum case taper and I would be watching for ejection problems just like in some Handi 308s. One of the newer extractor 308s might work better. Good luck.

Wally

Couger · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:01:59 AM »

Thanks Mt3030 ......

Interesting you'd mention the BLR in .358W! Besides a Rem700 SA, that's the other repeater I'd consider getting in .358 and I'm not a levergun fan. :wink:

Did you use your .358 on elk? If so, how well did it work on them?

Thanks for the tip about a better extractor.

Haywire Haywood · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:19:12 AM »

I'm doing mine in 375 Winchester. :-)

Ian

mt3030 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2005, 11:32:50 AM »

Couger:

Never had a chance to try it on elk, but it did a good job on Maine deer. My buddy up in Caribou still uses his on moose. And I feel it would work great on elk. Wish I still had it.

Wally

Couger · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2005, 03:42:54 PM »

Thanks Mt3030, I'll probably limit use to shooting Idaho whitetails from a tree stand, maybe a b-bear.

pagris · « **Reply #6 on:** December 05, 2005, 06:23:59 AM »

Couger: I am a big fan of the .358 Winchester - I own two BLRs in the caliber and hunt whitetails with it exclusively. But knowing that H&R is introducing a 35 Whelen chambering this coming year, I would be tempted to simply purchase a second barrel in 35 Whelen instead of going to the trouble of reboring your current barrel. It would probably be a cheaper route and the performance for both shells is similar.

Couger · « **Reply #7 on:** December 05, 2005, 09:35:51 PM »

Good advice pagris. You might be onto something and I'm already anticipating the new Whelen barrels. When Im through shooting my .308 HB, I might decide to rebore the barrel - or save its life by either keeping it as is or selling it.

I like the ballistics of the .35Wh, but the .358 might be more fun when shooting cast bullets.

Those HandiR's are versatile, aren't they!? Thanks for your post. And enjoy your .358's.