.358 Winchester

[lizziedog1]

I was in a Reno gun shop the other day and saw a brand new, Ruger 77 chambered in .358 Winchester. I came really close to buying it.

When I got home I decided to research this cartridge. I looked through my reloading manuals and realized that this is a dandy little caliber. Its ballistics are very close to that of the .35 Whelen. Its leaps and bounds ahead of any .30-30 class cartridge. It is a little thumper. I should have bought it. I am going to call the shop later and see if they still have it.

Does anyone here have any experience with a .358 Winchester? What are your thoughts on this caliber?

 

[Silent Sam]

M77 or Hawkeye? The former is relatively rare, especially NIB. If you handload the 358 is a wonderful big game cartridge. One of my favorites.

 

[lizziedog1]

M77 or Hawkeye?

The M77. It is a brand new rifle.

I do reload.

 

[kludge]

The 358 Win always got the short stick by reviewers when released. It didn't help that it was released in bolt and lever actions, and many of the factory loads were round/flat nose bullets. Gun writers dismissed it as a "woods cartridge" and it never took off. With good handloads it is much more than a "woods cartridge", however there are still relatively fewer high BC .35 cal bullets. For handloads I would probably start with 225gr Noslers or Barnes for high BC bullets, or Sierra Game King for cheap bullets.

If I had my choice of big game cartridges I'd probably go with a .338-06 (or a .338/.280 IMP), but the .358 Win and .35 Whelen are right there with it inside 250 yards. And the .358 Win (and .338 Federal) will be more at home in a shorter barrel than the '06 offspring.

 

[Float Pilot]

I have experimented with the 358 Winchester quite a bit. It is a great cartridge. What the 338 federal wants to be when it grows up.
It will toss a 200 to 250 grain bullet a little better than most 30-06 loads, (which are smaller in diameter) and do it with a smaller case and less powder.

From a 22 inch barrel (kimber M84):
These were good loads.

200 grain Flex Tip Hornady: at 2,600 fps "46 grains of IMR 3031"

220 grains Speer semi-Flatpoint: at 2,450 fps "41 grains of Hodgdon H4198"

225 grain Sierra BT or Kodiak Bonded Bullet: 2,375 fps, "48.9 grs of IMR 4895"

250 grain Hornady RN: at 2,350 fps, "41.8 grain IMR 4198 OR 42 grains of H-322"

 

[SwampWolf]

I've had very good luck hunting whitetails with a Savage 99 chambered in .358 Winchester. Deer shot with a 200 grain SilverTip from a .358 in the heart/lung area don't travel far afterwards.