Author Topic: .358 winchester (Read 3943 times)

trkyman1 · « **on:** January 22, 2011, 03:53:35 AM »

Just picked one of these up. Anyone have a favorite load for it? I have a bunch of the hornady 200gr sp Im going to try for deer/black bear.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #1 on:** January 22, 2011, 09:29:59 AM »

Quote from: trkyman1 on January 22, 2011, 03:53:35 AM

Just picked one of these up. Anyone have a favorite load for it? I have a bunch of the hornady 200gr sp I'm going to try for deer/black bear.

The Hornady 200Gr Spitzer is my favorite 358 bullet!!!

I load it with IMR4320 powder and a CCI LR primer. Velocity is right at 2400, from my 21" barrel. Devastating on whitetails.

What did you get? I have had three a BLR and a Savage 99 and a Ruger 77. Its a wonderful caliber, good luck with it.

CW

bigswede · « **Reply #2 on:** January 22, 2011, 11:36:26 PM »

I haven't had a 358 winnie yet, but I love 35 caliber. I have a 358 Norma, 2 350 rem mags, and I'm on my second 35 Whelen. From my experience the 35's are really easy to load for. Have fun.

trkyman1 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2011, 07:07:35 AM »

I have the browning blr. I actually have two right now the straight stock and the pistol grip. I will pick wich one I like the best and probably sell the other one. Right now Im leaning towards the pistol grip cuz it fits my hand better.I just hope it shoots as good as the straight stock does..

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2011, 08:19:18 AM »

My model 99 .358 does pretty well with 200 grain Horn. and 3031 powder...far more accurate than factory loaded 200 grain Silvertips..It is one of my favorite lever guns, but I haven't shot a bunch of game with it, whitetails, mulies, antelope, and hogs..maybe a dozen head or slightly less, but it is a great caliber...

cwlongshot · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2011, 11:28:57 AM »

Quote from: trkyman1 on January 23, 2011, 07:07:35 AM

I have the browning blr. I actually have two right now the straight stock and the pistol grip. I will pick which one I like the best and probably sell the other one. Right now I'm leaning towards the pistol grip cuz it fits my hand better.I just hope it shoots as good as the straight stock does..

Mine was the first model with the straight stock. My single complaint was with the drop in the stock... DAMN did that muzzle jump!!! I had my eyebrow kissed a couple times. my pop shot it twice, BOTH times it bit him!! LOL. I used to wrap my fingers around the top of the for stock to keep it down... That was the biggest reason for slightly loading it down. But I never have seen a bullet kill a animal as fast. One deer, seemingly hovered in mid air at impact. Its legs sucked up to its body, then came down on its brisket with a bounce and slowly keeled over stone dead.

Good luck with yours, they are great guns!!

CW

GradyL41 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2011, 02:57:09 PM »

been using the .358 in 3 different rifles-Savage M99, Ruger m-77, Weatherbye Vanguard since the late 70's go to Hogdon's site and look at their data
Also Reloader's nest--Some of the older Handloader magazines have some good articles on the .358 Win or Google .358 win loads to see what you can see
the two .358s I have left and use are bolt guns-- so bear that in mind-46gr H322// 49 Gr H335 both up in the 2600+ range with my 22" barrel and 200 --I like the 200 gr Remington CL PSP and use it the most
i have read that TAC is even faster with 200 gr but have not tried it
Varget is also good-- better with heavier bullets to me and it does fill the case
250 gr Hornady RN will go 2360 with varget
The Sierra 225BTsp also does well with H335 about 2500 I use 47 gr -also 748 will also work with the 225 or the Speer 220 -- 748 is too slow for the 200's to me
i have also used 4064, 3031,4895- and they work well-- personally the ball powders for me have been more accurate-- which in a good rifle the .358 will really shoot well-- very well
Remember this what I have used - in my gun yours will be different-- start low-with what ever you pick and have fun -- also if you want o make some neat .358 Win hulls -- nickeled 30.06 hulls work very well
lube well -- size them in a .358 die with out the decapper - trim off the extra and go to it---it really confuses folks when they see a short fat 30.06

LAB55 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2011, 07:59:56 AM »

I sent my 243 ultra handi barrel to Wayne York. He bored it to a .358 win. I use the Hornady 200 gr. sp over a medium dose of IMR 3031. Shot a medium size elk @ 113 yds, bang-flop (neck shot). It's as accurate to 100 yds as my 308 varmit rifle.

336SC · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2011, 10:48:40 AM »

I have three .358 Winchesters and use H322 in all of them. Where I live in NE PA, the shots are not long so I have used the HDY 200gr RN and the RPCLRN 200gr. Prefer the RPRNCL 200gr. It is a little less violent on the eating parts. I drive the 200gr RN bullets to 2450fps in my two bolt guns with 22" barrels and 2400fps out of my
rechambered 760 carbine with 18.5" barrel. Used the HDY FTX 200gr gummie tip bullet to kill a big doe this past
season @ 2400fps. Bang flop and the FTX bullet performed perfectly. In the right shoulder breaking the scapula
bone, tore the heart completely free of the lungs and exited just behind the left shoulder breaking two ribs opon
exiting leaving a nice round fifty cent piece exit hole. I have used TAC powder for a test and got 2681fps with
the HDY 200gr RN, and 2400fps with the HDY 250gr RN. Used my Ruger Hawkeye bolt gun for that test. Both of those speeds exceed the factory loads in my .35 Whelens with the factory lots I have tried to date. Love all my .35 caliber rifles.
336SC

smong2000 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2011, 10:18:13 AM »

I've got one in BLR and shoot 200gr FTX and Horn SP, both to same POI and under an inch at 100. I have used H322, Varget and I4064, 4064 is slightly more consistent but more temp dependent so my load is 44-45 grains of H322 depending on case. I had some disappointing results (sort of) with FTX this year. Got a 178Lb buck at 25yds and the bullet blew up on the front shoulder. It killed the deer w/in 50yds but didn't pass through and there wasn't a fragment of lead or brass larger than a rice grain to be found. I know if the velocity was a bit lower the bullet would have performed fine. I love BLR's and got another in .308 but the .358 is my favorite and I'm only keeping one.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #10 on:** January 29, 2011, 11:21:32 AM »

Quote from: smong2000 on January 29, 2011, 10:18:13 AM

I've got one in BLR and shoot 200gr FTX and Horn SP, both to same POI and under an inch at 100. I have used H322, Varget and I4064, 4064 is slightly more consistent but more temp dependent so my load is 44-45 grains of H322 depending on case. I had some disappointing results (sort of) with FTX this year. Got a 178Lb buck at 25yds and the bullet blew up on the front shoulder. It killed the deer w/in 50yds but didn't pass through and there wasn't a fragment of lead or brass larger than a rice grain to be found. I know if the velocity was a bit lower the bullet would have performed fine. I love BLR's and got another in .308 but the .358 is my favorite and I'm only keeping one.

Glad you got the deer!!! but I am not surprised, so far I have seen the FTX line as a bit more fragile. In this case its designed for the 35 Rem or about 2000fps... not 2400+ attainable with the 358!!!

Try the Hornady 200 SP, or even the 250 RN you will not regret it!!

Earlier this year, I shot a coyote at about 30 yards with a 200 FTX from my 454. That bullet blew a fist sized hole threw the brisket. Only It was a broad side shot slightly facing me. The bullet turned on the animals spine. He actually still traveled about 15 yards. It knocked him flat or actually into a spinning, biting ball.

CW

GradyL41 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 29, 2011, 12:41:30 PM »

glad to hear about the FTX -- I loaded them up for this year but got no shot with that rifle----not really surprised

smong2000 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 29, 2011, 02:23:54 PM »

The FTX has a slight edge in accuracy (very slight) over the 200 Horn SP in all my loads for the .358 but it's now just my practice load. I chrono'd my H322 loads at 2550+ last summer at 80* and have since dropped a 1/3 grain. I'd like to try some Barnes TSX 200gr if they make them in .358, if they shoot well I bet they'd be the cat's a$$ for deer or anything in the lower 48. I have not been able to find TAC anywhere around VT and would love to try it but 2500 fps isn't too bad....

336SC · « **Reply #13 on:** January 30, 2011, 10:39:04 AM »

Smong2000, surprised the 200gr FTX bullet blew up for you as Hornady lists loads for the .356 Win at 2450fps. Did you hit directly on
the large humulas/spatula bone? I shot my large doe at 100 yards, but still hit her with 2000 ft/lbs of energy. I have a Remington 7600 pump in .35 remington that I used +P+ loads @ a chronographed 2404fps to kill that big doe I shot in the 2010 deer season.
358 Win

smong2000 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 30, 2011, 11:36:22 AM »

336sc,
I hit him right on the knuckle where they join. You can tell in the picture that the off side leg is shattered. The inside of the ribcage looked like it was shot with #2s out of a shotgun and the heart was in pieces. It was totally amazing that he stayed on his feet, the last 4 I hit like that with .308s w/ 150 gr dropped instantly but they were all 20-30 lbs lighter and didn't have shoulders like him. I was disappointed because I really like the bullets. I bet if the shot was a little farther away the bullet would have slowed enough and been OK - probably right on the edge of it's performance window, hitting at close to 2600. I think it was a 10% chance fluke...but I'm using a .358 to avoid just that so I'm going to a more durable bullet. It would have really been a mess if I was tracking and took a straight away shot into the rear leg of a 250lb buck. No doubt that would kill a deer but I would have to chase it quite a distance. I do a lot of snow tracking and it's usually close and fast encounters with deer blasting through thick spuces and that's where the .358 BLR and your 7600 shine.

Next year it's Barnes or 225 grain bullets.

336SC · « **Reply #15 on:** January 30, 2011, 12:56:25 PM »

Smong2000, I know where you're coming from. Confidence in one's equipment is paramount. If you don't trust a bullet, you'll always
have it in the back of your head when you go to shoot a deer. That knuckle bone is a tough SOB for any bullet. I had a shot at a large
8 point buck one time using my .308 Win in a 600 Mohawk carbine and the Speer Hot Core 150gr @ 2680fps. Smacked him on the right
shoulder knuckle and took him off his feet (at 110 yards). As fast as he fell down he bounced up and one jump he was gone in the thich stuff to his right. Lots of hair at impact spot but no blood. Tracked him on my hands and knees tying toilet tissue at every spot I
found a hair during his run. After about an hour of that it showed he turned left. Started making circles, enlarging the circle each time.
I found him dead straddling a log. No exit hole what so ever and never any blood to track him. Upon skinning him we found that the
150gr Speer had ended up in the right ham expanded to 60 caliber and weighing 109gr. The bullet never once hit anything but the shoulder knuckle bone and ribs. Bone fragments from the shoulder knuckle and ribs flew into his right lung and that's what killed him. I
can't blame the bullet, just my placement. That 8pt buck was the one of the worst torn up deer I've ever shot. Can't believe he got back on his feet and ran as far as he did with all the damage done. I hate that front on shot with a passion. Here's a photo of me and
the big doe shot with the 200gr FTX using my Remington 7600 pump in .35 Remington using +P+ loads @ 2400fps.
336SC

Dinny · « **Reply #16 on:** February 27, 2011, 05:25:55 PM »

I just shot my TC Encore today with H4198 and the 225gr Barnes TSX. 100yd groups from the MGM barrel resulted in a 1/2" group. As long as the velocity is good, I'm gonna leave it where it is. I hope to get a chance on some hogs this next winter in SW Oklahoma. I'm really starting to like this cartridge!!

Thanks, Dinny

sabretip · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2011, 07:11:32 PM »

I contacted Barnes for some data for the older 225 grain . 358 diameter X bullets, they recommended 50 grains of IMR 4895 in the 358 Winchester. This will be my moose load for the fall season.
I chronied the 225 grain Barnes at 2510 fps, I also loaded some 225 Sierra's with 47 grains of IMR 4895, haven't had the chance to chrony these loads yet. I imagine they will be close to 2450 fps, big game loads for sure.
As with any load info, start low and work up, these were safe in my Ruger Hawkeye.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #18 on:** April 20, 2011, 01:50:04 PM »

I have been thinking of buying a 358. See lots of Browning BLR's at gun shows. I have 3 - 308's already. One BLR, one Ruger bolt, and an L1A1 Fal. So, I can make ammo from 308 brass.

A few questions:

1) Is the 358 good enough for griz or Alaskan brown bear?
2) What is the maximum range?
3) Has anyone used a Barnes 200 gr and 225 gr on any animals? What were the results.

I have a 35 Whelen also and a 357 revolver. So I can reload lots of options. My 35 Whelen is a little on the heavy side. It is a commercial mauser action with a nice wood stock. I have a 3x9 Nikon on it. I was thinking the 358 might be a little ligher carrying around for black bear or moose. That is why I asked if it was good enough for griz?

JesterGrin · « **Reply #19 on:** April 20, 2011, 02:03:59 PM »

Dixie Dude here is some good reading that may help. http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/358_wcf.htm

But for Griz I feel the .358 Winchester would be marginal. But you do have the 35 Whelen

Country Boy · « **Reply #20 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:49:07 AM »

I have shot 17 bear with a blr in .358 using various .250 grn bullets mostly speer and hornady, you can drive this bullet 2400 in a 20" bbl with 48 grns of TAC many were over 400lbs All bear were complete pass throughs except 3 and the bear usually fall on the spot !