Seeking info on 358 Winchester

[Contenderman]

Would like to use some cast lead bullets in a Encore 358 Winchester barrel. Any recommendations on which mold and any cast bullet loads you may have tried that shoot well. Thanks for the help.

[Tatume]

Hello, and welcome to the forum.

This is an easy one! RCBS 35-200-FN is the choice of thousands.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/319002/rcbs-2-cavity-bullet-mold-35-200-fn-35-caliber-358-diameter-200-grain-flat-nose-gas-check

I've been using it for years in 358 Winchester and 35 Remington, and sometimes 357 Remington Magnum. It kills deer and hogs like lightning, is very accurate, and is available now. Lee has a clone, and a couple of other companies have cloned this mold also.

There's plenty of published loading data. I recommend starting loads for similar weight jacketed bullets on http://www.hodgdon.com/ using H4895.

Good shooting, Tom

[Contenderman]

Thanks Tom

[Contenderman]

Would anybody perchance have a RCBS 35-200-FN they might want to sell

[Tatume]

Would anybody perchance have a RCBS 35-200-FN they might want to sell

I've had good luck finding used molds on the Want to Buy section of the Swapping and Selling forum.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/forumdisplay.php?18-Swappin-amp-Sellin

[jcren]

If price is a concern, check out Lee 90449. Very simular 200 grain rf at less than half the price.

[Tatume]

Much less than half, one fourth; $20.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/573077/lee-2-cavity-bullet-mold-c358-200-rf-38-special-357-magnum-38-colt-new-police-38-s-and-w-358-diameter-200-grain-flat-nose-gas-check

[runfiverun]

the LEE is a good copy.
the 358 win is one of the easiest cast boolit shooters out there.
for hunting you have to be careful to not throttle it up too much or 'overpower' the alloy.
but it's a wonderful and overlooked cartridge and is one of the cast world's gems.

[MostlyLeverGuns]

There are a lot of 358 'bigots/enthusiasts' on this forum. Lee, RCBS and NOE all make similar 200 grain gascheck flatpoints. Probably the best to bullet to start with. A search should find lots of .358 info.

[Harter66]

I like it .
I have the Lee 6C 358-200 it has produced good shooting . The 35-230 RF is a good 1 also I tried several loads with H322 and H4198 getting no leading and 2400 fps with groups of a foot . I dropped back to I4350 and viola' , 4 touching and one 4 diameters out tracked to the case . 2130 fps .

[MT Gianni]

I have considered the 358 in an Encore but by the time you get a custom chambering or buy a bbl and send it out for a rebore, I am not sure you are ahead when 35 Whelen bbls go on Gunbroker for $250.

[Tatume]

I believe the 358 Winchester headspaces more positively than the 35 Whelen. Also, the 358 Winchester is no red-headed cousin to the 35 Whelen either. It is a very capable cartridge. Of the two, I prefer the 358.

[Echo]

the LEE is a good copy.
the 358 win is one of the easiest cast boolit shooters out there.
for hunting you have to be careful to not throttle it up too much or 'overpower' the alloy.
but it's a wonderful and overlooked cartridge and is one of the cast world's gems.

I use both the Lyman 358315 and the 35-200-FP in my Whelen. They both come in at 211 grains with my alloy, and shoot like champs. I would show my one-hole -315 group , but people would think I was braggin'...

Oh well,
175219

OK, only 25 yards, but Hey - that IS 5 shots...

[runfiverun]

that's how many holes I put on the side of the deer facing me.
somehow I end up with 2, which makes the walk to them a whole bunch shorter.

[white eagle]

the RCBS is a good boolit have a mold myself
but I like more weight so I had a mold made at Mountain Molds
in 260 gr. shoots lights out in my 358 win.
you can't beat the 358 as a cast shooter they were made for one another

[MT Gianni]

I believe the 358 Winchester headspaces more positively than the 35 Whelen. Also, the 358 Winchester is no red-headed cousin to the 35 Whelen either. It is a very capable cartridge. Of the two, I prefer the 358.
I have both in bolt guns, I just cannot see the extra expense to put one in an Encore.

[Tatume]

Well, it not that much of a difference. Here is a new 35 Whelen barrel for $330
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/902220/thompson-center-barrel-thompson-center-encore-pro-hunter-35-whelen-heavy-contour-28-fluted-stainless-steel

and a new 358 Winchester barrel for $400.
http://matchgrademachine.com/product/encore-rifle-barrel-358-winchester-24-twist-1-14-heavy-factory-contour-stainless-steel-matte-2/

If it was me, and I really wanted the 358 Winchester barrel, I wouldn't let the price difference stop me. On the other hand, you are absolutely correct about the practical difference. What one will do the other will also, so there is no concrete reason to spend the additional bucks.

Take care, Tom

[MT Gianni]

http://www.gunbroker.com/item/578704777
Full Rifle $ 595.

Stainless fluted bbl.$280.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/579628479

[TXGunNut]

I believe the 358 Winchester headspaces more positively than the 35 Whelen. Also, the 358 Winchester is no red-headed cousin to the 35 Whelen either. It is a very capable cartridge. Of the two, I prefer the 358.

Not sure about the headspace point but the 35 Whelen has the potential to be a very powerful round with a heavy boolit, a fair bit more than I'd try in a 358W. For my hunting I'd be well served by the 358W, someday I hope to have one. The 35 Whelen is a lot more gun than I need but I had a 30-06 with a bad barrel and the 35 Whelen was the easiest way to make it useful again. My hunting loads are only a bit more than what a 358W is easily capable of.
The RCBS 35-200 and clones is a very good boolit but the RD 359-190 (now made by NOE) has a bit bigger meplat and may fit some chambers better than the 35-200.