Author Topic: .358 Win loads wanted (Read 5995 times)

coyotejoe · « **on:** July 02, 2009, 02:37:37 PM »

I just got a Browning A-bolt which left the factory as a 7mm08 but has been rebored to .358 Winchester. I've mounted and bore sighted a Nikon 2-7X and have loaded up 40 rounds using available data with 200 grain Remington corlokt, 220 Speer flatpoints, and Hornady 250 roundnose to try out tomorrow. I was wondering if anyone has any sure fire super accurate loads for the .358. I have Hodgdon BL-C2, Winchester 748, Reloader 7 and Reloader 15 powders on hand as well as the three bullets mentioned. Your secrete recipes will be appreciated.

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2009, 05:14:14 PM »

Try this site

http://35cal.com/

His loads are hotter than I care to duplicate but there is plenty of information on the site.

rickt300 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2009, 06:08:08 PM »

My use of 748 in the 358 showed that it is too bulky even if it is a ball powder. My best powder was 3031, best 200 gr. velocities and close to top 250 grain velocities. Get an older maual or search for 358 in this forum.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2009, 02:30:45 AM »

Thanks guys, I will check out that site. I will look for some IMR 3031, Lyman lists it as a top powder for the .358, but there are lots of empty spaces on the shelves of my local dealer. I have 30 different powders in my shop already and I'm kinda reluctant to add any more.

Bearcat 74 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2009, 02:54:31 AM »

My most accurate load was 47grs of H4895 and a 200gr Hornady PSP CCI 200 Primer.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 08, 2009, 02:55:44 AM »

have 3 358 (had got rid of one) H322,H335 are my 2 powders either will give velocity of 2600 with 200 and 2300+ with 250 and 2480 -2500 with Sierra 225

coyotejoe · « **Reply #6 on:** July 08, 2009, 03:58:51 AM »

Thanks, I'm still working with BL-C2 and W-748 but am about out of both so I may just replace them with H-335. My next priority is to get a recoil pad on the little beast. I do all of my load testing and sighting in across the hood of my truck which puts my upper body in a bent forward attitude and the buttplate hits my collar bone. I think I will standardize on the Speer Hot Core 220 grain bullet. Even though a flat point it still has a pretty good ballistic coefficient and is said to be a rather tough bullet which will hold together. So far I've gotten them up to 2501 fps with 53 grains of W-748, which is all I can get into the case, but 52.5 grains was more accurate at 2435 fps.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2009, 05:37:24 AM »

the 220 speer is great--accurate --ok bc and hard on deer-- i use 47 of H335

coyotejoe · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2009, 06:10:00 AM »

Thanks Grady, I picked up a can of H-335 a couple of days ago. So far I've tried the Speer 220 FPs with 46 grains for 2333 fps and a 1.6" group and 47 grains for 2416 fps and 1.7". I have a 22" barrel and most loading manuals take data from 24 and 26" barrels. I'm afraid this rifle will not be a tack driver. It's a rebore with rather rough lands and with a tight cleaning patch I can feel a slight loose spot in the bore about 6" from the muzzle. Still, for a 200 yard hunting rifle, 2 moa is plenty good enough. I might also mention that I'm not shooting from a sandbagged bench but just leaning across the hood of my truck with a padded forend rest so my groups may not be the absolute best the rifle can do.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 11, 2009, 05:04:20 PM »

you can get more but in the swamp at 50 yards why? Other loads 225 Sierra Bt with 47 is right at 2500--good deer smacker with more reach -- I won't give the 250 loads -- I rarely use them any way but H335 can be very fast with a 250-- 1.7 sounds plenty good-- my longest whitetail was 200 Remington CL @2630 range was 250 long steps easy shot broadside-- at one hundred steps about like yours
The 220 I have cut up have a .018 nose jacket which is very thin so they expand down pretty low - as it is also supposed to work in a .35 Remington at a mv of less that 2000 or so-- my 200 gr cl is .024 and the Hornady 200 is ifirc .032 tuff little bullet --- I like them - for my 18.5" 358 and right now I am using 200 cl in my 22"-- but there a little bit no real difference --except the 200 will likely expand more not to mention the modest meplat will help

Country Boy · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2009, 01:25:43 PM »

IMR 3031 is good but TAC wil really make my blr sing !

coyotejoe · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2009, 04:51:00 AM »

Thanks Country Boy, another powder is just what I need.

I took inventory the other day and I now have 32 different powders on hand. I've been tempted to add Varget but I'm not sure what I can expect it to do better than BL-C2 or H335 or Reloader 15 and from the loads I've tried W-748 is still tops in velocity giving the 220 grain just over 2500fps.

Country Boy · « **Reply #12 on:** July 22, 2009, 06:28:27 AM »

How about 2750 with 49 grns of Tac 200 grn bullet in a 20" blr or 2350 with 48 grns and .250 grn bullets .(no pressure signs)
I've loaded .358" for 20 yrs this is the best I can come up with and they are accurate. I've used 4064, 3031, 748 and others but nothing beats TAC for vel and accuracy in my two .358's

coyotejoe · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2009, 07:26:25 AM »

That's smokin' alright! I haven't spent much time with the 200 grainers since the only 200 grain bullets I have are Remington roundnose, not much point in driving them real fast. I also haven't done much with 250's, 46 grains of H-335 gave me 2253 fps. I'm sure I could go hotter with the H-335 but right now I'm just working with the 220's. I'm not familar with TAC powder, don't even know who makes it.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2009, 08:00:29 AM »

I've been working with BL-C(2) in my 358. Trying to find a load with the 180 gr. FP that shoots so great in my Whelen. I hit 2500 fps and am pretty close to the max but the accuracy just isn't there. Like you Joe, I don't want any more different powders. $:-\$ I think I'll try some 3031...

coyotejoe · « **Reply #15 on:** July 22, 2009, 02:20:46 PM »

Right, I acquired four different powders just trying to wring accuracy out of a .375 Marlin, finally gave up and sold it to a "brush hunter" who never shoots over 50 yards, or so he says. So anyhow I now have four more cans of powder which aren't really much good for anything I load right now.

mogwai · « **Reply #16 on:** September 09, 2009, 03:43:26 PM »

48 gr IMR4895 & a 200 gr core lokt (RN or SP) has given me really good groups in 3 different rifles.

rickt300 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 10, 2009, 06:35:43 AM »

When I had my 358 BLR there were some things that just didn't feel right. First mine was very accurate with 3031 and any usable bullet which is the rub, there are several bullets out there you can't use because of magazine limitations of the BLR. I also had problems with factory Winchester cases having very thin necks and reformed 308 cases being much better. 748 was just too bulky a powder but I used it for a while anyway. Now for the good part. I flattened a 250 pound feral hog with a 250 grain Speer bullet on top of 42.0 grs. of 3031 (warm in my rifle). Complete penetration, shattered far shoulder while sending running hog cartwheeling. I took three deer in 15 minutes on the last day of deer season. the lats deer saw me and whirled around just as I shot and he was hit a bit far back, he immediatly laid down and waited as I went back to the truck to get my ammo pouch for a finishing bullet. The first two deer, does both dropped at the shot, were either angling toward me or away from me and both 200 grain Round nosed coreloks exited. The load was 47.0 grs of 3031. I had taped a cheek pad on the stock to get a good cheek weld and get in the scope quicker. This was an older steel frame gun that was somewhat valuable. I decided to sell it before I put to much wear and tear on it. I was going to replace it with a bolt gun in 358 but it was both easier and less expensive to build a 35 Whelen.

GradyL41 · « **Reply #18 on:** September 10, 2009, 05:11:32 PM »

I have always wanted a BLR--but my 18.5 Ruger does as well-- I get a chance I will try some TAC -- my 22' barrel might give a bit more--2750 sounds great though

coyotejoe · « **Reply #19 on:** September 11, 2009, 03:49:38 AM »

For my Browning A-Bolt I seat bullets out to a COL of 2.775" and have had good results with W748 just lightly compressed. That is pushing the 220 grain Speer past 2500 fps and that is plenty for me. In 200 grain bullets I have only tried the Remington RN's and I don't see much point if running them very fast since roundnoses loose their speed rather quickly and they have not been very accurate from my rifle. My best accuracy so far has been with the 250 grain Hornady RN at 2250 fps but again that is a roundnose and not a real long range load. All things considered, I still believe the Speer 220 grain FP to be the best compromise in bullet weight and velocity.

rickt300 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 11, 2009, 05:30:07 AM »

I have to say the 358 is an outstanding deer cartridge, especially for whitetails. I have never had a shot at a whitetail outside the range of a 358 or past 200 yards. The 200 gr. RNCL was not as accurate as the 200 gr. Hornady spire points but it easily shot 1 1/2 inch groups and it's on target performance was excellent. I am loading them to 2500 fps in my Whelen and expect the same performance from it. When I run out of them I'll try the 220 gr. Speer or the 225 gr. Sierra Gameking at the same velocity.

Country Boy · « **Reply #21 on:** October 13, 2009, 06:52:51 AM »

Find an August 2008 issue# 254 ofhandloader magazine and you will be in .358 win. paradice p.74. TAC is made by RAMshot powder co. With 52 grains of Norma 201 you get 2753 and .78 " groups

coyotejoe · « **Reply #22 on:** October 16, 2009, 05:30:09 AM »

I think I've settled on the load, the 220 Speer over 52 grains of W-748 at about 2400 fps. I was happy with the ballistics of the .375 Win driving the 220 grain Hornady at 2200 fps, I just couldn't get that dang Marlin to group consistently. So with the .358 I'm driving the same bullet weight with better BC and 200 fps faster so what's not to like?

Retsof · « **Reply #23 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:44:10 AM »

I know this thread is about the 358 Winchester but I figured I'd chime in, since there are several comments about the 220 gr Speer bullet. In my 350 Rem Mag, I get the best accuracy for the Speer 220 at an average MV of 2,560 fps, which is not a max load. I have been getting a 5-shot, 100 yard group of between 1" - 1.5", depending on my shooting ability on any particular day. Thus far, I've shot deer varying in ranges of 30 - 120 yards and this bullet has performed excellently. Good blood trail, though the deer don't travel far if at all.

BBF · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2009, 06:54:50 AM »

The Speer 180 gr FN is also a good choice if the 220 doesn't group well in your rifle.

BTW. Both of them work in the 35 Rem

Country Boy · « **Reply #25 on:** October 16, 2009, 07:47:16 AM »

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

BBF · « **Reply #26 on:** October 17, 2009, 11:44:26 AM »

Quote from: Country Boy on October 16, 2009, 07:47:16 AM

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

I don't think I ever have seen that many in my life!

rickt300 · « **Reply #27 on:** October 18, 2009, 05:02:56 PM »

I saw bears all the time when I lived in Washington state. I saw them all the time and had to shoot 2 nuisance bears. You couldn't walk down the alleys at night in Centralia because of the bears getting into the trash cans.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #28 on:** October 19, 2009, 12:22:39 AM »

Rick, were bear hunts of permit or open season where you can just buy a license??? It seemed to me that has changed up there, like many places. Minn. Maine, Vermont, and N. H. used to have almost year round seasons....

rickt300 · « **Reply #29 on:** October 19, 2009, 04:38:52 AM »

I lived there in the mid 80's and you could buy a tag pretty cheap. I can't say how it is now as the state is so far gone liberal. There are probably more bears now and they can get licenses for us.