Any Savage 99 in 358 Winchester owners around here?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Midway through a custom build on a 99 Savage, talked to the maker yesterday. Got me thinking about switching
from the planned .308 Win to .358 Win. I have other 308's, so you know :)
Anyone shooting cast, chime in here and let me know what your results, difficulties etc where and what boolits you are using.

[021]

My 99-358 is my favorite rifle. It kills'em DRT. Can't speak to cast bullets as I only shoot factory loads, but Hornady and Winchester still load for it. I'm sure you'll love it if you decide to go that route.

[waksupi]

Jeez, Jim, it's a .358. You have to ask?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Jeez, Jim, it's a .358. You have to ask?

:bigsmyl2:

I was mainly wondering if there is anything that should be done in the chambering
process to make it more cast friendly, like throat length and such.
The later production rifles I have all have very short freebore.
My smith has a new Douglas #1 barrel that needs a home :)
But then, I have a new LRB cut rifled, match chambered, .308 barrel that needs somewhere to go:groner:

I was not into casting when this project started, and the 308 is rifled more for jwords

[williamwaco]

I'm not.

I wish I wuz.

.

[waksupi]

For throat, you will be limited in length by the OAL of the loaded cartridge, and your magazine feed.

[TXGunNut]

Seems to me the most sought-after 99 is the .358, that should tell you something right there. .308 barrels will make good trading material or can be put to good use in a later project. For me there'd be no debate, go with the .358.

[ballistim]

I slowly walked away from a Browning BLR in .358 Winchester at one of Cabela's "Gun Library" rooms recently while telling myself that I'm waiting for a 99... still wishing I'd pulled the trigger on that one, it was very nice indeed!

[Artful]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/Misc/th_Savage99-358BetterPic.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/Misc/Savage99-358BetterPic.jpg.html)
Click to enlarge any image

I have one, it's a good shooter use from 105 to 220 grain boolits it was all good.
Some favorite feed

NEI 222 Loverin
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/Boolit/th_NEI222358GCLoverin2cav_zps7e35b7bc.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/Boolit/NEI222358GCLoverin2cav_zps7e35b7bc.jpg.html)

NEI 220 RN
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/Boolit/th_NOE220358RNGC2cavity_zps4731ac49.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/Boolit/NOE220358RNGC2cavity_zps4731ac49.jpg.html)

RanchDog
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/Boolit/th_Ranch35-180TLRN2_zps87fa5282.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/Boolit/Ranch35-180TLRN2_zps87fa5282.jpg.html)

If you want to use up to long 300 grain'rs I'd look at a fast(er) twist to stabilize 'em.
NOE copy of lyman 358009
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v355/rowdyfisk/FAL/Boolit/th_NOE358009RN280GRN_zps7994d93e.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/rowdyfisk/media/FAL/Boolit/NOE358009RN280GRN_zps7994d93e.jpg.html)
Other than that you should be happy just duplicating factory.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

thanks for the replies folks. This project started a long time ago, when I could still scour the hills
in search of game. Now, this rifle will likely see more use in our winter gong shoots. I fell in love with the 99's becasue of the
feel in hand while carrying them. I hate shoulder carrying a rifle while hunting. The 99 handles and carry's so nice.
I think I might make the switch

[Bret4207]

I don't have one. Wish I did. But the 35 cal is the single best cast cal in my opinion. You won't be unhappy I'm thinking.

[onceabull]

I've suffered through the last 3 odd years since selling my 358 "Brush Gun"..BUT,last week, I strode into a LGS to accomplish transfer,and noted the proprieter was giving a nice looking 99 the evaluation eye.. Waited until the citizen on my side of the counter left,stepped up and asked if the Sav. was "Coming,or going". Owner says,I just bought it,AND it's a 358. Two minutes of negotiation later, and I'm leaving with a primo 99A, a custom gun with high grade walnut,checkering,and Monte carlo.. Not an orig,with hang tags,but not $1800,either..Will replace stocks for outdoor use,and be happy again. First doable priced,high condition one that's crossed my path in all that time...was about to give in and have JES rebore of of my 308's,but the ones I have left are high condition "F"s ,so stalled around (Thank goodness, the Pope & Peter) Onceabull

[starmac]

How does the 356 win stack up against the 358? I have been wanting a 99 in 358, but the win is my second choice and I seem to run across more of them in a doable situation.

[Artful]

Very much twin's in regard to cartridge performance.
358 Winchester
358 Winchester, 180 grain bullet at 2700 - 2800 fps
.358 Winchester, 200 grain bullet at 2500 - 2600 fps
.358 Winchester, 225 grain bullet at 2400 - 2500 fps
.358 Winchester, 250 grain bullet at 2200 - 2300 fps

VS

http://www.chuckhawks.com/356Win.htm


Introduced in 1982, the .356 Winchester was developed in parallel with the .307 Winchester. They are both based on the same case; the .356 version, despite its nomenclature, accepts standard .358" diameter bullets.

As currently factory loaded the .356 launches a 200 grain Power Point bullet (SD .223) at a MV of 2,460 fps and ME of 2,688 ft. lbs. At 100 yards the figures are 2114 fps and 1985 ft. lbs., and at 200 yards the velocity is 1797 fps and the remaining energy 1434 ft. lbs. Its trajectory looks like this: +2.5" at 100 yards, -1.8" at 200 yards, and -17.1" at 300 yards.

The Speer Reloading Manual Number 13 shows that the Speer 180 grain Hot-Cor bullet (SD .201) can be driven to a MV of 2310 fps by 44.0 grains of H322 powder, and to 2569 fps by 48.0 grains of the same powder. The trajectory of this bullet at a MV of 2500 fps is as follows: +3.1" at 100 yards, 0 at 200 yards, and -13.6" at 300 yards. This makes the .356 about a 250 yard deer rifle.

The Speer Reloading Manual Number 13 also shows that their 220 grain Hot-Cor bullet can be given a MV of 2143 fps by 45.5 grains of W748 powder, and 2328 fps by 49.5 grains of W748. This deadly missile has a ballistic coefficient of .316 and a sectional density of .245. At a MV of 2300 fps the ME is 2583 ft. lbs. At 200 yards the velocity would be 1807 fps and the energy 1595 ft. lbs. The trajectory should look like this: +3" at 100 yards, +2.3" at 150 yards, -0.6" at 200 yards, -3.1" at 225 yards, -6.3" at 250 yards, and -15.1" at 300 yards. With this load the .356 is at least a 225 yard big game cartridge. This is the bullet I would choose for elk hunting.

I also have a Winchester Big Bore 375 and it handles almost as nicely as my Savage 99 in the woods. So if you run across a good by on 356, I'd say go for it.

[starmac]

I need to check out what exactly is a good by, but then I might have to kick myself, and I'm getting sore. lol I passed on a new in the box M94 356 last year for 900.
Last weekend I passed on what I would call probably 98% percent one, on the outside, I didn't check the bore, for 700. I missed a savage 308 last weekend (my fault) that Jes could have changed to a 358 pretty easy. It was the e model, which is my least favorite except for the c model, and nothing like new condition, but even converting it I would have had about that 700 figure in it.

[451whitworth]

I use the Accurate 36-210B in my 99R .358 WCF sized to .361" and powered by IMR3031.

[26Charlie]

A friend sold me his M99 .358 because he wasn't happy with the accuracy or feeding. Turns out he was obsessive about things. He had ghost ring sights on it - I replaced them with a K4. He had taken the stock off to waterproof the wood, and loosened up the stock bolt for fear of splitting the stock. He tightened the magazine spool half a turn to prevent misfeeds and only four rounds would go in the magazine. He only used all-copper premium Barnes bullets for fear of lead poisoning.
After I had figured all this out and fixed it, instead of five inch groups it shot two inch groups, using the RCBS 200 and the 250, and even the Lyman 286 round nose.

[TXGunNut]

How does the 356 win stack up against the 358? I have been wanting a 99 in 358, but the win is my second choice and I seem to run across more of them in a doable situation.

I eyeballed a 94 AE in 356 @ my local Cabelas last couple of trips, priced @ $795 IIRC. It was a nice enough 90-95% gun but I'd have bought a 99 in .358 in a heartbeat. I didn't want to get into another cartridge and I was unsure about the brass situation. 358 brass seems to be available and can be made from .308 Win brass.

[Artful]

356 can be made from 307 cases, but interestingly enough I ran into a guy with a 356 at the range one day and he was using cases made not from 307 but 308 and said they worked fine. Something to check out, I don't know if his gun was a special case or not.

[starmac]

That is interesting, I am already on the hunt for 307 cases, to make 308 me ammo. I wonder if he was using 308 win cases or 308 marlin, which I understand can be made from 307 win.

[gnoahhh]

If I had a need for a thumper like the .358, I would get it. I always had a secret hankering for one, and of the couple dozen 1899's and 99's that have filtered through my hands, never a .358 was to be had. I really don't need the sturm und drang of the little beast, but that wouldn't stop me!

[onceabull]

for those still looking, see GunAuction(nee AuctionsArms) #12470609,& remember there are not a lot of these to look at...(THIS IS NOT MINE, NOT A FRIEND, May even be a liberal)..:groner: Onceabull

[358 Win]

Don't own one but shot a Savage 99 .358 Win Brush Gun just this past Wednesday. Belongs to my best friend. A Nephew of his handed it to him at a family function about a month ago. It was missing the butt stock, stock bolt and the rotary magazine was jammed tighter than a snare drum. My buddy tore it all apart and fixed the rotary magazine. He refinished the forearm and I ordered a straight grip walnut butt stock from Boyd's and it turned out to be a perfect match for the refinished forearm. An 82 year old friend of ours made a new stock bolt and a receiver washer that was missing. Everything went together nicely and like I said, we shot it Wednesday. No scope on it and neither of us shot super great due to old eyes. Neither of us would have missed a deer but a scope will help improve the three inch fifty yard groups. Only weighs 6 1/2 pounds so full throttle hand loads made it come back hard like it was mad at us and we owed it money!

Had my 1956 Model 99EG in .300 Savage along to check the sight setting on the VXII 2x7x33. Using my hand loads with 150 grain WWPP bullets and Reloder 12 @ 2704fps I shot a 3/8" three shot group at fifty yards. In the 20 years I've owned that .300 Savage 99 it consistantly has shot groups like that. At 100 yards it'll keep them in a 3/4" group. When I bought it from a guy at work it had see thru rings which I replaced with Weaver low rings. Had to shim the front base to get it sighted in and since then, I have never once touched the scope adjustments in over 20 years. The VXII was on the rifle when I bought it and it is one of Leupold's early "plum" colored scopes.

Also own three .358 Winchesters, and four .300 Savages so I'm quite familiar with both cartridges.

358 Win

[Artful]

When he restocked did he put a good sissy pad on the back or just a plastic/metal buttplate? In 358 on the Savage 99 you need a good pad

[358 Win]

Artful,
The Boyd's Walnut butt stock came with a plastic butt plate with the Boyd's logo on it. My buddy is not going to put a pad on it, just increase the weight with a scope and the hardware for mounting it. My three .358 Winchesters all have a recoil pad of some sort on them and I agree, it does tame the recoil. However, when I shoot the 250 grain HDY RN hand loads at full throttle, the recoil pads don't help much either.
358 Win

[starmac]

I've never noticed the recoil when sighting at supper. lol Just when sighting them in or playing. lol

[dragon813gt]

This thread had me making calls to see if one was in the area. I passed up a 99 in 300 and 308 on Wednesday. No 99s in 358 but there is a BLR. So I get to drive two hours each way to check it out tomorrow. I hate this site ;)

[starmac]

308 can easily be turned into a 358, I am watching for one of them as well, since the 358's are kind of sparse. I see brownings available way more often.

[Bushrat]

I hunted hard for a 99 in 358 and found a clean 99F pre mil in 1977. I have shot many moose with that rifle and it has been one of my favorites. I don't hunt moose as much any more so my 99 in 284 gets more use. I believe the 99f in 358 is the best big game rifle for 250 yards and under. Recoil is a little stout but so is my 99 in 284.