Which mold for 358 Winchester?

[turmech]

Well I hope you guys are proud of yourselves ;). All this bragging on the 358 win and now I have to have one. Don't feel too bad for corrupting me it doesn’t take much.

I have a Remington 700 in 243 that I plan on having JES do a re-bore. My typical twisted mind has me shopping molds before I even have the rifle. Money will require the rifle to wait until after the holidays most likely.

The gun will be used for deer hunting (no larger critters around here) besides just the fun of it. I have been looking at the 35-200-FN and the 358315. which one do you guys think (or any other suggestions)?

[Shuz]

I've used the RCBS 35-200-FN in both the .358 Winchester and the .35 Whelen. IMHO I think it is one of THE best designs for .35 cal rifles.

[Scharfschuetze]

+ 1 on the RCBS 35-200-FN in the 358. Still have the mold, but somehow that 358 rifle got away from me.

I also use the boolit in a S&W Model 65 .357 sometimes.

[MT Gianni]

The 200 fn over the 358315 10 to 1. Before you order one look at the Saeco 352 and Accurate's designs around 220 gr as well.

[youngda9]

love my accurate 36-230D. Just bought a 200gr RCBS (from NOE)...I haven't tried it yet.

[35 shooter]

NOE'S 360/200 grain fp. It's a rcbs clone with a flatter nose profile for better shock effect imho. I have both rcbs and noe 200 grain moulds and both shoot great. The NOE gives a full .3605 dia. with straight ww which may or may not be a consideration for you plus the mould itself has been a pure joy to cast with.

[AussieHunter]

Well hello from the land down under all. I run the RCBS 200Gr Flat point Bullet with Hornady gas checks, I keep the Bullet on the medium hard side, soft enough that it will mushroom and not shatter into dust as some real hard mixtures will do. I shoot this bullet from a rebored cut rifling barrel with a 1-13"twist, it shoots real well from my Tikka M55 ( rebored from a shot out 308 barrel with the original chamber just having the neck opened up after the rebore, I also run the same bullet from a Ackley improved .35-30/30Win on a standard M-94 Winchester leave gun with a 26"'octagonal Numrich arms barrel with a 1-16"twist with full length tube mag added as well, I use .375 Win Big Bore brass necked down to .358 and drive them hard with no problems at all, surpassing the .35Remington by quite a margin, this is achieved safely due to the straight wall design of Ackley's improved design which in his own words allows the whole case to grip the chamber until the bullet leaves the chamber creating minimal bolt thrust, that plus the added strength of the Big bore brass. Both guns just love the .358-200Gr RCBS Gas checked bullet, I run them at full load pretential with rifle powders, not reduced powder puff pistol powder loads. Powders like the Australian AR2207/IMR4198 and Reloader-7 work well in these medium capacity cases with the large .358 bore, I wish A safe Xmas to one and all for 2013, Cheers from AussieHunter from Down Under.

[Artful]

The gun will be used for deer hunting (no larger critters around here) besides just the fun of it. I have been looking at the 35-200-FN and the 358315. which one do you guys think (or any other suggestions)?

I'd say 35-200-FN if it's the RCBS style or NOE copy

[Ole]

I'm going to go against the grain here and recommend a Lyman 358009 clone.

Don't bother buying the original they are too pricey. (for good reason)

:mrgreen:

[waksupi]

No, stay with the lighter bullets. The 358009 and the Bator Heavy can be problematic with feeding issues. The 35-200-FN should suit your needs admirably.

[AussieHunter]

One positive to a good lead bullet with a gas check over a jacked bullet is, A jacketed bullet can shed its core, a cast bullet will never do that given that it is in effect a mononith bullet. Like Waksupi says if you lead mix is correct then you have the very best possible bullet when it comes to getting that perfect Mushroomed bullet. Iv spent many years in my younger life hunting pig donky and especialy Asiatic water Buffalo to the Tropical North of Australia using several Marlin lever guns in 45-70Gov't Calibre Iv retrieved many perfectly mushroomed 300gr and 405 gr bullets from under the hide on the far side shoulder of big buff bulls, down and dead with two broken shoulders, the lead mix was little more than straight wheel weights with a little tin added just to make it flow better in the mould, Remember 1 very key point with use of lead bullets ALL WAYS make sure that the bullet that u r shooting is at lest .001" or .002" over size and let the barrel do the last bit of sizing. do that with all lead bullets and you will have solved most of your leading problems right there. Note also that big calibres like .458 are very forgiving of weight veriation in cast bullets, slightly wrinkly and frosted bullet will all shoot much the same as those nice hand sorted pretty ones. and as a note to those that don't know Marlins and in fact some of the old winchester leaver guns have very over size bores, cheers all

[Beerd]

Of the moulds mentioned, the 200 FN would be my choice hands down.
..

AussieHunter,
"calibre" and "leaver guns"? Youse guys talk funny! ;-)
..

[cbrick]

Don't feel too bad for corrupting me

Feel bad for corrupting you? I gotta be honest here, the thought never entered my mind. :mrgreen:

I've had such good luck with the RCBS 35 200 in everything I've tried it in including revolvers that I have to jump on the band wagon here. I have it in the RCBS 2 cav and also bought the NOE 5 cav.

Rick

[cbrick]

Welcome to CastBoolits AussieHunter,

Thanks for the hunting write up from down under, I didn't know you had water buffalo down there. I gotta ask though, what is a pig donky?

Best wishes for the holidays and may you have very merry and white Christmas. :shock:

Rick

[451whitworth]

I use the Accurate 36-210B. The RCBS mould is a gem if it casts large enough for your rifle. The one I have doesn't.

[cbrick]

I use the Accurate 36-210B. The RCBS mould is a gem if it casts large enough for your rifle. The one I have doesn't.

What alloy? I haven't seen that RCBS mold yet that wouldn't cast .358"+. The NOE version casts .360".

Rick

[Shuz]

No, stay with the lighter bullets. The 358009 and the Bator Heavy can be problematic with feeding issues. The 35-200-FN should suit your needs admirably.

The heavies like 358009 can also have stability issues due to your rifles twist rate. At least one of my 35Whelen's with a 1:16 twist wouldn't stabilize the 358009.

[357maximum]

Getting the mould before the rifle is actually a great idea. The fella cutting the chamber can make sure the dummy round will slightly engrave on the boolits ogive that way.

One can do far worse than the RCBS 35-200...it is a GREAT boolit.

[451whitworth]

What alloy? I haven't seen that RCBS mold yet that wouldn't cast .358"+. The NOE version casts .360".

Rick
WW alloy. I need .361" for my Savage 99. My RCBS drops .3595"

[youngda9]

I just ordered mold from Accurate Molds...Lyman 358009 and Saeco #352 clones in the same dual cavity mold !!

Merry Christmas everyone !