Steel frame 358 BLR

[rickt300]

I found an early BLR today in mint or close to it condition. I couldn't resist when I saw the made in Belgium markings on it. What a handy rifle, I hope it shoots ads good as it looks.  I was given two boxes of 200 greain factory loads with it and plan to load for it. I figure on using Hornady's 200 grain spire point, any comments on this bullet for deer and hogs?

[old06]

Great find that is one powerful package I always liked the older BLR ........Good luck and enjoy

[pastorp]

Rickt, great find. I have owned and hunted with BLR's for over 35years and have several belgium made, they are wonderful guns. I have never seen a belgium made in 358. Always wondered if they did make any in that caliber. Now I know. Regards, Byron 

[ga41]

Awesome find, I have had my BLR since about 85 or so, not a Belgium, but still a favorite

[mt3030]

Great find on a great rifle/caliber combo. I have old BLRs in 257R, 308W and 358W. Those three can cover any large game I hunt here in Montana. Good luck.

[rickt300]

Well my mistake. The gunshop owner told me it was made in Belgium but after close examination with my glasses on it says made in Japan on the barrel. It still seems a well made rifle. Very handy too, I went too many years without one and I always wanted a 358.

[Bandito]

That's a bang/flop gun. Get the Remington bulk 200 gr in round or pointed from Midway Arms. If you want one get a premium bullet but I have shot a double on deer with the 200 gr RN out of a Savage 99 brush gun in .358. Went after a yearling that was close to me and dropped a big doe way down the hill I had not seen. That was a Remington 200 gr round nose. I chose the middle load on the chart as my maximum. Good luck with your choice. At last look I counted at least 30 rifle bullets in this "limited selection" caliber. Then there are the pistol bullets for plinking or varmint loads. I always carry low velocity 148 gr wadcutters for potting a squirrel or such while big game hunting. Later.  Bandito

[rickt300]

I was thinking about getting some bulk Remington corelokts just to burn some powder with the rifle.  Have you tried the pointed version? On my lease shots to 250 yards are possible and I figure a pointed bullet would work best.

[pastorp]

Rick, I've used the 358 for years. In 200gr loads I like the pointed rem. CL. In the 250 gr weight I like the hornady RN. They both work great. I hear good things about the 225gr bullets but I have not tried them myself.  Regards, Byron

[rickt300]

I ordered the 200 grain SPCL RN from Graf's along with some LEE dies. Oddly there seems to be a shortage of various bullets suited for the 358 other than Midway USA. Midway's shipping is so high I only order from them if I have a big order but you can't fault their selection.

[pastorp]

Rick, I usually order from midsouth shooters supply. There prices are a little better than midway and so is the shipping. www.midsouthshooters.com or 1-800-272-3000. They carry a lot of remington bulk bullets. I believe they are a sponser here now also.  Regards, Byron

[rickt300]

Thought I'd relay some recent hunting experience with the BLR.  First the Remington 200 grain RNCL on top of 47.0 grains of 3031 in cases made from Federal 308 gives around 2500 fps and is a deer dropping combination with great penetration. On one of the three deer I took saturday the bullet penetrated more than 20 inches before exiting.  I have been hunting with muzzle heavy bolt rifles built on mauser actions with custom triggers  for 30 years and the muzzle light BLR is taking some getting used to. Mine has a pretty good trigger but I haven't shot it enough to know when it is going to fire meanin I need to get in some practice shooting offhand with it. I also chose a scope reticle I am not used to, it is a Weaver 4X with a Post and crosshair. Some fool designed this reticle where the crosshair runs across the center of the field of view but the top of the post is higher than the crosshair.  In poor light this makes it hard to tell exactly where the top of the post is on the deer. This caused me to shoot over two deer, one running and another right at dark. This rifle will soon wear a Leupold 4X with a duplex reticle. In all I like this rifle a lot, light accurate and quick functioning. I also feel I should have been using the 358 cartridge for years, great round!