358wcf

[greywuuf]

I see the occasional thread in praise of and discussing the 35 Whelen, but not so much its little brother. I just bought me one of the ultra cheap savage "Axis" rifles in .308, and plan to swap on a 358 Winchester. As I live and hunt in Alaska with Largish game being on the ticket, (moose primarily) I am very interested in a heavy bullet cast load. I an also curious on the prevailing opinion on what twist I should choose for my new barrel.

Does any one have a good result story to share about this little over achiever?
Homeland defense begins at home. I'm not there. Sent from a mobile device using a commercial app.

[Ole]

I tested these about 6 months ago:

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/Bullet%20making/IMG_5435.jpg

http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh280/Ole1830/Bullet%20making/IMG_5436.jpg

I was shooting these @ 100 yards off the back of a pickup truck. Pretty sure the fliers were my fault.

I probably could have gone higher with the powder charge, but was satisfied with these loads.

[greywuuf]

260 grains @ 2000? wow I bet that hits like a truck! Ever point it at game yet ?

[Ole]

260 grains @ 2000? wow I bet that hits like a truck! Ever point it at game yet ?


No sir, I have not. I have taken a cow elk with this rifle using jacketed 225 gr Nosler BT's. I missed my chance of getting drawn this year.

[Ben]

I'm definitely a big fan of the 358 Win.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=67463

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=60124

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=100428

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=52661

[excess650]

I think the standard twist for the .358Win is 1-12" vs the 1-16" used in the 35 Rem. If you want to shoot heavy boolits and have them remain stable and drill through what they hit, keep the twist on the quick side (1-12"). Another example is the 1-18" to 1-22" that is/was pretty standard on the 45-70 vs the 1-12" or 1-14" found in the 458 WinMag. Too, the 375 H&H is quick as compared to a 38-55.

[waksupi]

I have two .358 Winchesters, one in 1-12, the other 1-14. Both handle a heavy 290 gr. boolit very well. I shoot them right around 2100 fps. I've used them for deer, bear, elk, and buffalo. You will be happy with it, and not be over bore for cast boolits, like the Whelen is.
I'm currently reading a book from the early 1900's about Alaska hunting, and the .35 bore rifles were their idea of the perfect round for that territory.

[greywuuf]

One of the loading manuals I have has an introduction to the cartridge written by an old timer suggesting that a heavy bullet in 358 delivered from a light handy savage 99 would be about ideal as a bear gun. Seeing as how the combo could be handled by about anyone, was not so powerful as to be punishing and was as easy to carry and fast handling as anything. It was WAY more likely to be at hand when needed. Sounds like a winner to me. Still not sure how to turn it into a long range sheep gun. I Guess once a year I could screw on a 7mm-08 or 260 tube, or I will just have to be a hunter and not a shooter....get closer.

Homeland defense begins at home. I'm not there. Sent from a mobile device using a commercial app.

[Nobade]

I have been playing with a 358 for about two years now. 1:14 twist A&B barrel on a Rem 700. It absolutely loves the NOE #358009, 280gr. bore rider. Over 40gr. IMR 3031 it shoots less than MOA and hits HARD.

The RCBS 200gr. FN cast soft and paper patched does 2600 fps over 49gr. AA2520 for a high speed load.

And for fun, the Lee 158 RF over a case full of Trailboss pretty well duplicates a full power 357 mag load from a revolver and shoots around MOA as well without any real recoil. Great allround chambering! Not to mention 308 brass is really cheap and available.

[greywuuf]

Yup in anticipation of my new guns arrival I got to digging and found a couple hundred matched headstamp, same lot number once fired LC brass I have been hoarding for a while. :)

Homeland defense begins at home. I'm not there. Sent from a mobile device using a commercial app.

[Ole]

I really need to spend some effort developing a good load with the RD190 grain bullets around 2200 fps. It's a great bullet in my .357 Max (14" TC) around 1950, so why not push it a little harder in the .358 Win? :)

[swheeler]

One of the loading manuals I have has an introduction to the cartridge written by an old timer suggesting that a heavy bullet in 358 delivered from a light handy savage 99 would be about ideal as a bear gun. Seeing as how the combo could be handled by about anyone, was not so powerful as to be punishing and was as easy to carry and fast handling as anything. It was WAY more likely to be at hand when needed. Sounds like a winner to me. Still not sure how to turn it into a long range sheep gun. I Guess once a year I could screw on a 7mm-08 or 260 tube, or I will just have to be a hunter and not a shooter....get closer.

Homeland defense begins at home. I'm not there. Sent from a mobile device using a commercial app.

I've never seen this in a loading manual(that I remember) but sounds like Ken Howell from Spring St, Stevi, Mt.

[greywuuf]

I've never seen this in a loading manual(that I remember) but sounds like Ken Howell from Spring St, Stevi, Mt.

That sounds Correct to me, but without having the book in hand I was reluctant to say so. I will find the book here soon I am sure of it, I am looking at the manuals I have and it is not in any of them, and I don't see any missing, So I am unsure what I am looking for.

[waksupi]

They aren't all that short of range proposition. I have point blank to 225 yards, and with a bit of familiarity with the rifle, you can easily stretch this for fun shooting.

[greywuuf]

Waksupi! Do you know what you are saying ? If this old guy packed a short action non magnum lead bullet flinging standard rifle up and shot a Sheep, these Gore tex hyperlight Titanium mega magnum blaster kids would have a Coranary. They would probably pass a law to make it ilegal for sheep die if hit at less than 600 yards with a bullet started less than 3,000 FPS. EVERYONE knows that only people that spend over 2 grand on gear are allowed to shoot Sheep ;-p

[waksupi]

Well, I was with a guy when he shot one at about 25 yards with a bow....

I wonder if Ken Howell is still alive? Last I saw him, we were set up at adjoining tables at a gun show in Kalispell, and he looked in pretty rough shape back then. He was a great guy to talk to, once he got over his shyness.

[JesterGrin_1]

I just hate it hate it I say when Ben puts up that Ruger No 1 lol. BEAUTIFUL Rifle. And Great work as well. :)

After Deer Season I hope to work with the 358009 in both the 35 Whelen and a .358 Winchester currently under construction. :)

Here is some good reading on the Ole 358WCF http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/358_wcf.htm

[greywuuf]

Waksupi, Care to share what bullet and what speed your are getting that Point blank with ?
and does any one stock the 009 mold ? I see they are coveted and highly sought after, surely there must be ONE available somewhere.

Bret, Nose rider... that is the opposite of Bore rider ? Am I correct in my take on the picture? the nose is engraved and the base is not ? ( or at least not so much ? )
And does that take special throating? Any thoughts if these long bullets will work from a magazine fed Short action?

Dan

[JesterGrin_1]

Greywuuf you are in luck. There is a group buy going on right now for the 358009 here http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=124128&highlight=358009

The Search Function is your friend. :)

[greywuuf]

Thanks Jester, I'm in, just hope all these GB's i am in don't come due at once.

[waksupi]

Waksupi, Care to share what bullet and what speed your are getting that Point blank with ?


Dan


This is with the Bator Heavy, which is basically a 358009 improved. Actual speed on this load is 2070 fps. Those boolits have some serious BC, and just keep on a truckin'! This load far surpasses any factory loading for power. I've shot to 375 yards when playing, and it takes surprisingly little hold over to keep it in the neighborhood of a rock.

I also shoot a 260 gr. boolit quite a bit, I never have chrony'd it. I have shot it out to around 500 yards, and although you do have considerable drop, it still groups well.

If you are rebarreling for this, when the barrel is out, relieve the right side of the chamber a bit, being sure to stay away from the datum line of the cartridge. Polish this area well, and it will eliminate much of the feeding problem that people have with this long blunt boolit.

[part_timer]

I'm in on the group buy for the 009 and hopefully it will shoot well in the boy's BLR. I don't have much experiance with the 358 but have always felt it was under appreciated.