Load DataMidSouth Shooters SupplyWidenersReloading Everything
Lee PrecisionRotoMetals2Inline FabricationTitan Reloading
Repackbox
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 35

Thread: Critique my hunting load please!

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452

    Critique my hunting load please!

    I shoot a 358 win that MBT built for me. It likes the RCBS 35-200 with Carnauba red lube. Finally found a good load yesterday under 40.5 grains of 3031. It put 5 shots into .85 at 100 yards. Velocity is about 2175 fps. It is cast out of 95% lead, 3% antimony, 2 % tin for about 12-13 bhn. I am thinking my limit for whitetail will be 250 yards. At that distance it should still have 900+fpe and 1350+ fps. I am thinking it should still expand at that distance. Thoughts? My numbers sound right? I was not sure what BC that bullet is but I think I remember seeing it put at .24 or so. So from what I have figured, it looks like I have a 250 yard deer gun. That is on paper. Any real world experience to either confirm or deny what I am figuring? Please feel free to critique. The reason for figuring this out is that I hope to do some red tag hunting in the near future, and some of those farms have a lot of open space around them!

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    oklahoma
    Posts
    2,479
    tagged for later. You are ahead of me in the 358 load development.

  3. #3
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    911
    probably stop expanding at more like 175 to 200 yds, one of the things I learned is it takes a bit more speed than youd think

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
    dk17hmr's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Wyoming
    Posts
    2,205
    Does a 357 magnum kill deer?
    Doug
    .................................................. ........................................
    Sticks and stones may break my bones but hollow points expand on impact.

    Taxidermists are cheaper than surgeons....keep shooting

    ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    Some people measure success in Minutes of Angle

  5. #5
    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,512
    Hope I get my 35 Whelen to shoot that tight. Do you know what shoot tight at 100 yards. I’d be trying 200 and 250 before I attempt an animal at that distance to make sure your groups hold up.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master

    Rcmaveric's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    Jacksonville, FL
    Posts
    2,356
    With a bullet that big I wouldn't worry about expansion. Just have a nice meplat and your golden.

    Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
    "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far."
    ~Theodore Roosevelt~

  7. #7
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Outside Rolla, Missouri
    Posts
    2,170
    What Rc said. That particular bullet has a wonderful meplat. That trumps expansion every time, IMO.
    "In general, the art of government is to take as much money as possible from one class of citizens and give it to another class of citizens" Voltaire'

    The common virtue of capitalism is the sharing of equal opportunity. The common vice of socialism is the equal sharing of misery

    NRA Benefactor 2008

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    kens's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    coastal Ga
    Posts
    1,133
    that load sounds like it duplicate .35rem factory loads.
    correct me if I am wrong but 35rem factory load is 200gr @ 2000fps?
    Nothing at all wrong with 35rem.
    trajectory/ballistics should be real close to each other.
    My guess is to take some 5gal buckets of water or sand or loose dirt and shoot 'em at 250yards, check and see expansion for your alloy.

  9. #9
    Boolit Master


    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    TN
    Posts
    1,895
    Quote Originally Posted by Jevyod View Post
    My numbers sound right? I was not sure what BC that bullet is but I think I remember seeing it put at .24 or so.

    Most mold makers that publish estimated BCs are as wildly optimistic now as big-named jacketed bullet makers were 40 years ago. On this one, though, the Lee version shows an estimated BC of .18ish, which is probably more inline with reality than the .24 you mentioned. If you're out in the wide open where you can watch a deer run 100 yards after the shot, you might be OK out to 250 yards, but if I were you I'd plan on 150 yards, maybe 200 absolute max.

  10. #10
    Boolit Grand Master Tripplebeards's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    5,512
    Quote Originally Posted by kens View Post
    that load sounds like it duplicate .35rem factory loads.
    correct me if I am wrong but 35rem factory load is 200gr @ 2000fps?
    Nothing at all wrong with 35rem.
    trajectory/ballistics should be real close to each other.
    My guess is to take some 5gal buckets of water or sand or loose dirt and shoot 'em at 250yards, check and see expansion for your alloy.
    Yep, i’m hoping to pump my Whelen up to 2600 to 2800 FPS with 200 grainers, PC, and GC with acceptable accuracy. I want to knock the snot out of whatever I hit with it.

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452
    Quote Originally Posted by Tripplebeards View Post
    Hope I get my 35 Whelen to shoot that tight. Do you know what shoot tight at 100 yards. I’d be trying 200 and 250 before I attempt an animal at that distance to make sure your groups hold up.
    I am certainly planning on shooting at that distance at the range first.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1,423
    Quote Originally Posted by Jevyod View Post
    I shoot a 358 win that MBT built for me. It likes the RCBS 35-200 with Carnauba red lube. Finally found a good load yesterday under 40.5 grains of 3031. It put 5 shots into .85 at 100 yards. Velocity is about 2175 fps. It is cast out of 95% lead, 3% antimony, 2 % tin for about 12-13 bhn. I am thinking my limit for whitetail will be 250 yards. At that distance it should still have 900+fpe and 1350+ fps. I am thinking it should still expand at that distance. Thoughts? My numbers sound right? I was not sure what BC that bullet is but I think I remember seeing it put at .24 or so. So from what I have figured, it looks like I have a 250 yard deer gun. That is on paper. Any real world experience to either confirm or deny what I am figuring? Please feel free to critique. The reason for figuring this out is that I hope to do some red tag hunting in the near future, and some of those farms have a lot of open space around them!
    You picked an outstanding boolit and shoot the same BHN on a Lee tester ,my marlin @ ranged 176 yds ruined the far side shoulder an a nice doe .How ever mine was a 35 Rem 24 gr of 2400 . Shoot that same load any time I hunt that gun , the cal is different but mine with same boolit and less speed gets it done . The doe is the furthest I"ve shot so not exactly what you asked but that is one great boolit/Ed

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Posts
    1,423
    Quote Originally Posted by bmortell View Post
    probably stop expanding at more like 175 to 200 yds, one of the things I learned is it takes a bit more speed than youd think
    Not with the correct BHN and that is determined by testing at maximum yardage you"ll shoot .The beauty of casting is you are responsible for boolit hardness ,do your R+D and it works every time (Expansion ) not your hitting the target

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Ala.
    Posts
    1,190
    I don't what your hunting situation is, but ethically shooting a 250 yd shot on an animal, I need a solid rest, little wind, and an animal that properly "presents" itself. In my situation that almost never happens. The residual velocity at that range is something you have to take into account for boolit expansion. If you want to truly use it for game at that distance, shoot jugs of water at that distance and collect a boolit. If you can't hit the jugs, you shouldn't be shooting game at that distance. I shoot the same boolit from a 35 Rem. I run it about 1750fps roughly the same hardness. I limit my shots to 100 yds. I can't tell that I have much expansion even at that range.

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Pa
    Posts
    137
    Different bullet, but my alloy is 50/50 WW/Pure +1% tin, so about 98/1/1. Hardness should be about 11ish? RCBS .40 180 CM at just over 1700 fps. Not having access to ballistic gel I use cardboard boxes stacked with newspaper just tight enough to stand up and then soaked with water. At 35 yds I get about 20 to 24 inches of penetration depending on bullet expansion which is sometimes the I get almost none and sometimes the nose will 'rivet'. On the other hand with the large meplat I am not worried about it. With my lower starting velocity and bullet weight (compared to yours) coupled with the low BC I see my load as 75yds max.

    I think there's nothing wrong with your load, but you may want to rethink your max range. I agree with the suggestion that you shoot it at 200 and 250 to see what you and the rifle really can do before assuming based on your 100 yard results. I too am thinking 150 to 175 is more realistic.

  16. #16
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Posts
    11
    Don't under estimate that cast boolit. My son has taken a spike elk with a Williams receiver sight at 198 yards ranged, with that RCBS 35-200. Cast and water quenched from mold weighing 216, approximately 16 bnh muzzle velocity 2354 fps. Two shots, one complete pass through the other stopped in the offside leg of the elk. Elk stopped within 10 steps. Boolit mushroomed and deformed after hitting ribs and leg bone. Retained weight just under 200 grains if I remember correctly.

    Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    452
    Sounds like more testing is in order! That is ok....it is a fun load and gun to shoot!! Will try the milk jug test at 200 once, and maybe 250.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Dyer, Tn
    Posts
    1,224
    Get you some wet print paper of some kinds- try about 6-8" and shoot it at 100 yards. Or slow the load down and shoot at 50-75 yards... thiis should help you about the expanation... if pc'd it will have better chance to expand

    NOE molds says their version of the 200 gr .358 flat point has a BC of .24 so personally I'd use that or shoot over your chrono at 100 yards and go from there
    My all round rifle has been since the 70's a .358 win Vanguard... but I wanted a bit more distance so I have used jsp. I have shot cast a lot but not much hunting.. let us know how it goes

  19. #19
    Moderator


    Winger Ed.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Just outside Gun Barrel City, Texas
    Posts
    9,479
    I never spent much time overthinking all the BC and meplat stuff.

    My big thing is accuracy and shot placement.
    With your cal. & speeds, if you hit a deer in a 'good' spot, even with a Barne's RN solid, it will die very quickly.

    Check out pictures of the African big & dangerous game cartridges that are made just for killing.
    Most for single shot or double rifles, and have been on the job about a hundred years:
    They are all wide, heavy, and round nose.
    Last edited by Winger Ed.; 03-30-2020 at 05:38 PM.
    In school: We learn lessons, and are given tests.
    In life: We are given tests, and learn lessons.


    OK People. Enough of this idle chit-chat.
    This ain't your Grandma's sewing circle.
    EVERYONE!
    Back to your oars. The Captain wants to waterski.

  20. #20
    Cast Hunter

    RugerFan's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    East GA
    Posts
    2,130
    Quote Originally Posted by Rcmaveric View Post
    With a bullet that big I wouldn't worry about expansion. Just have a nice meplat and your golden.

    Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk
    Quote Originally Posted by sharps4590 View Post
    What Rc said. That particular bullet has a wonderful meplat. That trumps expansion every time, IMO.
    Exactly. A FN or RN projectile will cause significant wound cavitation in the soft lung tissue. Just put one in the boiler room.
    Boone and Crockett Club member
    <<----------------<<<<<<
    Pope & Young Club member


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check