Author Topic: .358 Winchester Loads for Whitetails and other Critters (Read 528 times)

Arrroman · « **on:** July 15, 2003, 07:35:04 PM »

Found a pristine BLR in .358 unfired. Ordered dies and cases today. I am looking for good loads that don't screw up too much meat. What works well in this caliber? I do have 180 Speer flat nose and 220 Speer flat nose in stock. I see loads listed for both round nose and spire point 250 grain bullets but wonder how they would actually perform on game. I am a big .35 Rem fan and am pleased with what it does with a 200 grain round nose. I'm not sure what to expect from the .358 Winchester, anybody got anything to enlighten me with on this one?

eroyd · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2003, 04:18:25 AM »

I'm pretty new to the cartridge but have been playing around with 250 and 200 gr. spire points. (why use flat nose?). Anyways, in my BLR I've found it very difficult to get near the published max. velocities without excessive pressure. On the otherhand using 200 gr. Rem Core-loks I've had no problems. Speaking to experienced 358 users, they see no reason to use anything larger than the 200 on animals as large as moose.

Put a Leupold 1x4 on mine, nice package!

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2003, 06:38:03 AM »

Finding a BLR in .358 in great shape. You certainly know how to bring a tear to guys eye!

Great cartridge, I have a .35 Whelen. The .358 is a sleeper that was not properly promoted when it came out. It will certainly do more than most give it credit for.

Good find. :wink:

Graycg · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2003, 06:52:35 AM »

I've had a 358 BLR for 20 years and have mostly used 200 grain spirepoint hornadys, any 200 grain round nose that was on sale and cast bullets. For deer and pigs I've gone exclusively with the cast bullets, but I have to say that I don't think you need any jacketed bullet over 200 grains for deer unless the ranges are getting longer and then I'd look at the 225 grain nosler Ballistic tip. Never shot them but they look like they would be the cats meow for longer range shots or bigger game.
For giggles once I loaded up some of the 180 grain SSP spirepoints from Hornady and used them for coy dog shooting...don't expect to collect pelts if you try this....put a golf ball sized entrance wound and baseball sized exit hole.
Gotta love the 358! Don't sweat getting factory brass, you can neck up 308 easily. My only complaint with my old BLR is that it often has problems feeding from the old style magazine, mine may be bad, but I've never been able to locate a replacement.
Regards,
Graycg

Robert · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2003, 02:44:06 PM »

I shoot a .356 Winchester in Contender, and I basically use 358 JDJ loads for this with 235 gr Nosler Balistics. The maximum load with AA 2520 is 52.0 grs. However...the 356 Win will only fit about 50 grs, and is probably the same with the 358 Winchester, they are basically the same case except for the rim. But 50.0 grs of 2520 behind a 235 gr bullet is a real nice load.