After 2 years of looking---

[Norske]

I found not one, but two Browning BLR 358 Winchester rifles at a local sporting goods store. Both were tagged "pre-owned" but the blued one showed absolutely no evidence of having been fired. The stainless one had very light green copper traces at the muzzle and cost $100 more. I don't live in the Pacific NW so I bought the blued one.

Of course the store had no more ammunition, brass, molds, or reloading dies than any other does. Mail order. Experimentation using this website's information is in my future.

[021]

Sometimes the levergun gods smile, knowing when to pull the trigger on a deal when it happens is the other 50% of that equation. Hornady makes factory loaded ammunition with a 200 gr. softpoint bullet if you are in a hurry to shoot it. I've found it is all I need. Regards, 021

[lightload]

Midway has this Hornady ammo on sale as we speak and will likely have dies, etc.

[Scharfschuetze]

Nice find. I hope she shoots well for you.

RCBS dies for the 358 have a stepped expander that makes easy work of converting 308 cases to 358 Winchester.

My favorite mould for the 358 and the 35 Whelen is the RCBS 35-200-SP boolit. It shoots well and is easy to cast.

[TXGunNut]

Congrats, very nice find. I'm still looking...but no, I have my token stainless gun. Good call, looking forward to a range report.

[flashhole]

No pictures? Some proud owner you are. :)

[ironhead7544]

Had a M88 in 358. Dont let that one go.

[Norske]

No need for pictures, it was "new-in-the-box" complete with the stick-on Browning label on the barrel. The bore was oily, the lever linkage had a light grease. Bluing wasn't touched inside or out. My local dealer wasn't the original dealer to take delivery. They had bought it from that dealer's closeout, which made it pre-owned. A few years ago, I picked up a 28" CZ SXS 28 gauge shotgun from the same local dealer at a similar almost 25% discount, same situation.
So I'm busy researching load data from my 1967 Lyman manual (my first), through "Pet Loads" and Steve's Pages and on to modern manuals. Since factory ammo is only 250gr bullets, and I really don't like Buffalo Bore in my Marlin 1895, I bought a 200gr Lee mold from Midway.

[Camba]

That is a great rifle!
I bought one used from a member in GBO and I am a happy camper. I bought the LEE 358-200-RF, 6 cavity mold and my boolits are close to the RCBS 35-200-FN mold. Needless to say, it shoots great with both, the cast boolits and the jacketed bullets. It is my favorite. I have made my cases out of the 308 win and they shoot great! I owe my cast successes to the members of this forum.
Congratulations on your finding.
Camba

[ga41]

I've owned one for 30 years or so, one day, Lord willing my son will own it. Great rifle, congrats on a great find

[Geobru]

I don't live in the Pacific NW so I bought the blued one.

I do live in the PNW. When I bought my BLR in 1977, all they had was blued guns. That rifle has no bluing on the receiver where my palm was when carrying it and the checkering and the shiny finish are gone on the left side where my wool coat rubbed against the stock when I carried it in the crook of my are. Point is, there is no rust on the gun, just a lot of good honest wear that occurred over many years of deer and elk hunting. I'd take that old worn blued gun over a stainless gun any day of the week. Ya did good!

[smokinfeathers]

Good find! Wish i had mine back!! Yes it was very easy to size up 308 cases with the rcbs die, i use the same die to size up 308 cases for my bb356