.358 Win loads wanted

[Northern Flatlander]

 In two of my 358's, the 220gr speer shoots well at 100m. At 200m, good luck on a 6" 3-shot, on many occasions. I like the bullet but I sure dont know what gives but Ill keep testing. Ive got to use the lot up somehow.
Both 358s are a 1 in 12" twist. Factory guns.
Dwayner

[Harry Snippe]

Good Luck with your loads. I've killed 24 bears with the 250 speer at about 2330 in  my brlr

HOLY hannah!! I never seen that many bears in four years working as a Dump attentant in the country.
And I am old enough to have played catch with Noah before he built the boat !!Or was that 2-4 bears ?

[Country Boy]

Just got back from the range and shot my .358   48 grns TAC at 2340 and shot 2/3 in. for 3 shots.  was able to shoot through a 18 " hickory log  with it and with the 200 grn factory silver tips  Mine is a Japan blr. very accurate and I think that is enough penetration for a big black bear.
  Just can"t wait untill May gets here !   

[sabretip]

I was using IMR 4895 and getting good groups, but I tried 39.5 grains of IMR 4198 under a Hornady 200 grain SP for a velocity of 2581 fps. This amount of IMR 4198 showed no pressure in my 358 BLR and there is plenty of room to up the charge if required. Try the 4198, it takes up less space in the case and gives good velocity.

[Country Boy]

It was 24 it's in my note book. But realize this is since 1974 so one bear a year dont seem to0 many. Making my last trip this Spring to Manitoba. My old body is simply wore out and this will probably be my last hunt

[Harry Snippe]

So one bear a year for 24 years . Well I guess the  ammo your using gets the job done .
One of these days you have one of those silver tips blow your day , and wish then you selected another brand . But I see your stuck to them .

Wish you well on your hunt .

[Country Boy]

Harry, I mostly use .250 grn speer or hornady handloads.  With 48 grains of TAC I get 2350 in  my little browning.  I also have used 3031 and 748.I've killed a few with the .225 nosler and with different cal. rifles . Nothing fancy . an 06,08 7x57. .350 rem. But, I've found the .358 gives a good balance between power and shootability. Also got one with a bow and a ML. Good hunting , Crock

[Country Boy]

Actually Harry it was more like one bear every other year or sometimes two. I've hunted bear every year since 1974, some years I would pass on shots. I've gotten very selective in my old age. I've seen a lot of bear on baits but couldn"t pick out the one I wanted or shoot a good one then THE bear would come in and of course couldn"t shoot another.

[Harry Snippe]

Nice thing about the 35 cal as well as the 338F is that it leaves a good blood trail. I suppose the 9.3 X57,as well as the 9.3 x63would also do well with it's .366 Dia bullets . This old  round is common oversea's and seen in some of the older mausers imported to America.

The 358 W is a good round and well liked by those who use them . But sales here in Central Ontario Canada do not really show much interst and wonder if ruger will drop them in the bolt actions . I think the 338 Federal is in the same boat. The reloader has an advantage in ammo and can usually buy either gun at a saving.Both are the ticket for black bear .

[smong2000]

I am amazed at the velocities some are reporting out of a BLR.     I have to load the starting loads (42-44 gr) for H322 or similar in IMR 4064 in mine in order to keep pressure signs down using 200 gr Horn SP or XTR.  I haven't run any over the chrony yet though.  I always see flat primers and often a raised ring on the case head from the extractor cut-out, not sticky extraction though, within 2 grains of the starting loads.  My rifle goes from protruding primers to totally flat primers within 1 grain.    Is anyone using these 200 gr bullets and powders in their BLR and willing to share COL or other pertinent info. I trim to length everytime, stay a little shy of the lands, used 3 different scales, WLR and Fed match primers...did I miss anything?  And my BLR just came back from Midwest GW with a new bolt-lock up because I hammered the other so bad working up loads so I'm pretty sure they headspaced it correctly.  It is VERY accurate though with everything I've ever tried -even the hot stuff.  I'm talking sub MOA all the time so my wimpy loads should be OK but like most people would like to squeeze everything i can out of it safely.  Thanks

[smong2000]

Just chrony'd my BLR loads at 55 degrees, 200 gr Horn SP or 200 gr FTX w/ 49.1 gr IMR4064 gives me 2440 fps, same bullets with 44.5 gr H322 goes 2465 fps.  Both loads  are 0.4-.5 inch at 100 yds for 3 shots.  The S.D. for 3 shots with the  IMR 4064 was 2.3 fps  and 24 fps with H322.
BTW I am loaded to the top of the neck and very compressed with IMR4064.  I may try TAC if I can find any to squeeze a few more fps but no problem with loads I have. They are warm but not sticky.

[Goat]

I have been shooting a steel framed 358 BLR for about ten years. I do not get near the velocity of some of these guys but the deer have all died anyway. I shot most with the 200gr Hornady RN over a max load of IMR 4064. The velocity of that load is rather low for a 200gr at 2400fps but dead is dead and it is SUPER accurate in my gun. I used the Speer 220 on two deer and it seemed to perform at least as well as the Hornady on the deer but did not group as well for me. I now shoot 225 Nosler Partitions(not needed for deer)with IMR 4895 at a near max load for 2450fps. It groups 1-1/2 or less with boring consistancy and what it does when it connects with deer is awesome. It is the gun and ammo combination that I would use if I absolutely had to know that I could kill a deer from any angle and the deer go nowhere but straight down. I often hunt in very thick areas and don't like to trail deer in there. The 358 with the Nosler Partition, for me, puts the "R" in DRT.
                                                                                Goat

[Mckie Hollow]

Well said - Goat

[Country Boy]

 Killed a 300 lb bear on Monday with .250 hornaDY AND 48 GRNS tac. IT DOES NOT FILL UP THE CASE. complete penetration, awsome exit wound. Went 3 ydfs. I too use a steel framed blr, jap model and it shoots tiny groups

[AtlLaw]

48 GRNS tac. IT DOES NOT FILL UP THE CASE.

WOW!  Tac didn't fill thhe case and let you seat a 250 gr. bullet!?     You might have made me try another powder!     Other then it worked on the bear, what's your opinion of Tac for the 358?

[smong2000]

1+ on trying the TAC...this week

CB, are you using Mag primers with that??

[Country Boy]

no magnum primers. Actually you can get more powder in if you wish but I see no need as 2350 is plenty fast for the 250 hornady for bear. and these are coronographed loads no guesses.

[sbsmith]

  Where can a guy find any loading data for TAC in the 358 Win?
  Thanks,
  sbsmith

[AtlLaw]

Good question!
I checked Ramshot's site and they don't list anything for the .358.  The Load Data site only shows 4 loads for Tac.   
Mighty slim data pickins!

[smong2000]

I got the info for TAC directly from Johan Loubser from Ramshot, I can't copy it but if anyone wants you could contact him directly.

Johan Loubser
Ballistician
Ramshot.Accurate Powders

Tel: 406.234.0422  email: johan@ramshot.com

[Country Boy]

I shot a bear May 26th with Tac and a .250 hornady. One shot drt. complete pass through. The loads I got were out  of handloader magazine magazine(august 2008) comparing the .338 hornady with the .358 ; 200 grn barnes 54 grns - 2753 /225 sierra game king - 49 grns 2552 / 250 nosler partition 48 grns 2423 you could go up a grain or two but I didn"t see the need too.. average 3 shot groups run about 1" and some consideradly less.

[BlackWolf]

Country Boy - forgive me for asking if you already said this but do you use 250 grain spire points or round nose?