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View Full Version : Surprise with the 358 Win. today.



Ben
04-21-2009, 07:43 PM
Today I went to the range with my 358 Winchester , 98' Mauser , FN Herstal, with Mod. 70, factory Pre-64 Win barrel.

It has always been a real shooter !

I shot several nice groups with cast loads today. One load , 38 grs. of IMR 7383 with the Lyman 358318 HP was very impressive.

I ( just for the heck of it ) had loaded some plain based, SAECO , # 353 pistol bullets with 10.5 grains of Russian Unique with a CCI 34 primer.

I was shooting at 50 yards, I fired a 5 shot group with this load and could barely believe my eyes, fired another 5 shot group and still another. Group after group like this.
People tell you that a plain based bullet won't shoot well out of a rifle.....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20HP/DSCI0015.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20HP/PICT0001.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20HP/PICT0004.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20HP/PICT0005.jpg

Here is my rifle that I was shooting today :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/SAECO%20HP/PICT0002.jpg

madcaster
04-21-2009, 10:52 PM
Pretty convincing arguement for cast boolits that new folks to shooting cast in rifles need to see!

swheeler
04-22-2009, 12:08 AM
Nice shooting and a nice looking rifle too.

jdgabbard
04-22-2009, 01:04 AM
Nice shooting and a nice looking rifle too.

+1 Nice indeed.

Bret4207
04-22-2009, 06:56 AM
Nice when a boolit really fits the gun and you find a good load for it! Now if you could just bottle that prescription and sell it...

captaint
04-22-2009, 08:25 AM
Ben Nice looking boolits, and apparently they shoot real well. Nice looking 98 too. Don't you just love mausers? I know I do and 03 Spfld's too. One thing - how did the smith get a M70 barrel to fit a 98 action? You know, with the metric threaded receiver and standard threaded barrel shank.?

Ben
04-22-2009, 09:20 AM
captaint :


1st we picked the barrel, then we picked the action to fit the barrel. Usually it is the other way around. My 98' Mauser action chosen for this project was a 1924 Belgium FN. It is an intermediate length action. The action ring is a Large ring, but the internal threads were small ring. This characteristic of this particular action made it a good candidate for combination with the Mod. 70 Win. barrel.

My gunsmith turned small ring threads on the Mod. 70 barrel, chambered to 358 Winchester , H/spaced to .003. Here it is today, shoots GREAT ! I wouldn't sell this rifle for any price.

Ben

358wcf
04-22-2009, 12:25 PM
As you can tell by the Log In name, the 358 is my favorite cartridge!
I've been shooting the jacketed rounds for big game for years, but I had this rifle built specifically for cast bullet shooting of small game, varmints, deer and wild pigs. By the way- a Rem 200gr PSP at 2400fps is fabulous on ground squirrels!!
Varmint shooting with a deer rifle keeps you in good practice, and it's fun, as well.
Remington 700 short action (originally a 243Win varmint gun!), Shilen trigger (2lbs), PacNor 20" barrel, 16" twist, iron sights, Leupold 2-7, MPI Mannlicher stock in Kevlar-- This one's been to New Zealand where it shot bunnies, possums, Red Stag. What fun- and accurate too!
You have given me the inspiration to complete the project with light game loads in cast boolits- I've been using pistol bullets to differentiate from the large game rounds, but the cast boolit is easier to identify.
Again, you've done an excellent job, have a beautiful rifle, and inspired me to do more! Outstanding Work!

Chuck
Concord, CA

Ben
04-22-2009, 01:52 PM
Chuck :

Go at it ! !

Post your results and share with all of us.

Thanks for those nice comments ,

Ben

JDL
04-22-2009, 06:47 PM
Ben, you already know what I think!!:-) Good shooting buddy!
JDL

David R
04-22-2009, 07:04 PM
I have a Remington 660 in 243 I would like to make a 358. You are prodding me along.

Really nice looking boolits. I spend a lot of time shooting paper, so HP is not needed for me.

Thanks

David :)

Ole
04-22-2009, 08:23 PM
I have a pretty new Ruger Hawkeye in .358 that shoots pretty well too.

I was shocked the first time I fired 5 125 grain pistol bullets (IMR 4198) at a 100 yard target and my group was right around 1".

200 grain pointed bullets @ 2600-2700 fps seem to be just the ticket for just about anything on 4 legs.

One of the most underrated cartridges around, I think.

Ben
04-22-2009, 09:07 PM
The more I shoot my 358 Win., the more I like it.

In some cartridges, it is hard to find an accurate load.

In the 358 Win., it seems to like just about anything that you feed it.

Ben

Leadforbrains
04-22-2009, 09:15 PM
Nice rifle, and great shootin Ben.

softpoint
04-22-2009, 09:26 PM
.358 fan here ,too,I have 2 of them, A 600 remmy, and a 700 remmy. Shilen barrels, 1 in 14 twist. I shoot the 200 gr. Lyman and 245gr.Saeco. J word bullets, the 250 gr. Hornady spire point, and Blc2 powder. So far, 3031 has been the winner with cast, although I haven't tried a big variety of powders, I like my .45/70's, and my 30/30 with cast, but IMHO, the 358 winny is THE cast bullet caliber,with the exception of a few wildcats.[smilie=w:

waksupi
04-22-2009, 09:55 PM
Another .358 Win fan here. They are such a nice chambering. They WANT to shoot well for you! And they do!

Ben
04-23-2009, 09:17 AM
Thanks for all your comments. Seems I'm one of MANY who can appreciate the virtues of the 358 Winchester.

Ben

GLynn41
01-28-2012, 01:27 PM
just saw this --I have 2 .358 18.5' RUGER TANG MODLE AN--caps on-- Weatherbye .358 win

44man
01-28-2012, 02:24 PM
Ben, I always said a picture is worth a thousand words but not this time---just ONE, FANTASTIC! :drinks:
But I see something wrong, your gun is LONELY and I could put it next to others so the good can rub off! :mrgreen: Then I could send it to another member and so on. Might take 50 years to get it back to you.
That makes me want a rifle just for fun.

DonMountain
01-28-2012, 06:17 PM
I have a .356 Winchester Model 94 rifle and always wondered what it would do with cast boolits. I have never bought a mold for it since my wife just uses it with J bullets for deer hunting. I reload J bullets for her with the .358 dies. I have been wondering what mold would be good for it?

MT Gianni
01-28-2012, 08:38 PM
RCBS 200 fp did well with mine. I gave away the load notes when I sold the rifle.

mpmarty
01-28-2012, 08:55 PM
I load 358 Win. for a friend with a Browning BLR in that caliber. Never found a load it didn't like. Lousy trigger on that rifle.

AnthonyB
01-31-2012, 10:24 PM
Don:
Send me a PM. I am a huge 356 Win fan.
Tony

rintinglen
02-01-2012, 03:41 AM
That rifle's no good==there's a hole in the barrel! That is some sweet shooting, plain base, gas checked or whatever. But that rifle needs to go. To my house.

kootenay
02-02-2012, 02:10 AM
Been shooting a 358 for 30+ years, its a real killer, 250 Gr at 2400 out of a 19" barrel on a mauser action does the work. I am new to the cast bullet, it is really addictive watching that silver disappear down those holes. do you folks have a particular heavy 358 bullet that you prefer? I am thinking 250gr. plus.

1Shirt
02-02-2012, 08:43 PM
Well now, I am not supprised at all at what Ben has done. He is sort of a perfectionist, and his postings show the results of him being same. Need another rifle like I need more holes in the head, but he has got me thinking about another 358 (like I never should have sold), or maybe a 35 Rem just to shoot light 35 cal pistol blts. H'aint no reason that plain base pistol blts shouldn't shoot in rifles. It is just a matter of finding what ever is the right combination, casting/sizing/lubing a perfect blt, and Bob's your uncle as they say. Betya Ben would never load a plain base pistol blt with even a slightly dinged base in a rifle ctg. To me a perfect base on a plain base blt is the key to accuracy along with driving them at an acceptable vo. Anyhow------WAY TO GO BEN! Hope to meet him some day.:coffee:
1Shirt!:cbpour:

Ben
02-09-2012, 12:02 AM
Well now, I am not supprised at all at what Ben has done. He is sort of a perfectionist, and his postings show the results of him being same. Need another rifle like I need more holes in the head, but he has got me thinking about another 358 (like I never should have sold), or maybe a 35 Rem just to shoot light 35 cal pistol blts. H'aint no reason that plain base pistol blts shouldn't shoot in rifles. It is just a matter of finding what ever is the right combination, casting/sizing/lubing a perfect blt, and Bob's your uncle as they say. Betya Ben would never load a plain base pistol blt with even a slightly dinged base in a rifle ctg. To me a perfect base on a plain base blt is the key to accuracy along with driving them at an acceptable vo. Anyhow------WAY TO GO BEN! Hope to meet him some day.:coffee:
1Shirt!:cbpour:

1Shirt

Your views on shooting plain based bullets perfectly " mirror " mine.

DITTO ! !

Ben

pricedo
02-15-2012, 05:20 PM
I load 358 Win. for a friend with a Browning BLR in that caliber. Never found a load it didn't like. Lousy trigger on that rifle.

The .358 Win is strictly a hand loaders caliber now.
Not much selection in factory ammo & the stuff you do find on the shelves is priced into the stratosphere.
Easy to make .358 Win brass out of the very common .308 Win brass.
The beauty about 35 caliber cartridges is that you can take advantage of the abundant .38 & .357 caliber pistol bullets around to make custom loads for special applications.
I hear you on the trigger..........my BLR is the same ............heavy, gritty, creepy trigger.
And even worse is that the trigger is never bad the same way twice in a row........you never know what to expect from shot to shot.
Only a handful of gunsmiths in the country know how to fix BLR triggers. :groner:

tward
04-27-2013, 09:12 PM
Looks a lot like the lyman 358311. Tim

DeanWinchester
04-27-2013, 10:05 PM
I've kicked it around for a while but now I'm sure of it. A .358 Winchester is next on my project list.

MT Chambers
04-27-2013, 11:56 PM
My .356 Win AE just loves the saeco 245 gr fp gc bullet, a friends .358 likes it as well.

PWS
04-28-2013, 02:24 AM
Accurate's #36-350C goes with the .358Win like maple syrup and pancakes!!

fcvan
04-28-2013, 08:49 PM
I looked at the picture long and hard. Very nice and tight and for the most part impressive but dude, you totally missed the nickle :)

35Whelen
02-02-2017, 05:08 PM
Got lucky this week....after reading your post Ben, I was on the hunt for a fun plinking mould for my .358 Win. Found what appears to be a brand spanking new Ideal 358311 that had been hollow pointed, also got a set of small Lyman handles for it...complete was $80 Cdn...which I didn't consider too bad. Well it arrived yesterday and I'm tickled with it. Can't wait to get casting with it, it just needs to warm up here....at -12 this morning it might be a few weeks....

I am hoping to use this for a light grouse/rabbit round while hunting deer. Anyone have any opinions on the hp? I would prefer it to be a flat point and might file off the hp pin. It isn't removeable as there is no set screw holding it in, and would appear to be epoxied into the wooden knob

Heres a couple of pics
186958

186957

Leadmelter
02-02-2017, 09:15 PM
358 brass is now made by Starline.
Leadmelter
MI

Echo
02-03-2017, 02:13 PM
I've had very good luck with both the RCBS 35-200 and the Lyman 358315 in my 35 Whelen. Not the same, sure, but both good boolits.

pka45
02-03-2017, 02:28 PM
Great gun and great shooting!

Digital Dan
02-03-2017, 07:23 PM
Plain base bullets don't shoot fer poop...

Five shots, two holes:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Sneezer/11216-4759_zpsnehni36m.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Sneezer/11216-4759_zpsnehni36m.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Sneezer/LG2_zpshq59nb9c.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Sneezer/LG2_zpshq59nb9c.jpg.html)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/muddler/Guns/Sneezer/Ducks_zpscqr0rx5a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/muddler/media/Guns/Sneezer/Ducks_zpscqr0rx5a.jpg.html)