Anyone reload for the .358 Winchester?

[DeadEye9]

I aggree with the above poster on multiple accounts. First the 225 is indeed my favorite for .358 and as I said it's all I load anymore. The AccuBond is indeed too long to get good velocities with, but other available 225s make for the best loads hands down. You can load them to where they don't hurt one bit though, if max loads are beating you up. If you haven't ever shot anything in .30-06 that feels as stout if not more so than the Hornady 200gr then you haven't shot any "real" 06, or you just haven't fired any in a modern lightweight rifle. Not saying the .358 doesn't kick, but if you shoulder it properly even max loads shouldn't be beating you up. No where near in the realm of .375 H&H or something like that even. The bruising doesn't mean much either honestly; I've seen people (men) bruise from shooting 5.56 ARs and I myself have gotten bruised from shooting .300 Savage. If you asked me how the recoil was I would say hardly any, but my first few sessions with that rifle back in the day left me blued. I just wasn't shouldering it properly.

 

[Silent Sam]

In equal weight rifles a 200gr at 2500fps recoils almost exactly the same as a 180gr at 2700fps. I'll grant you the BLR is likely lighter than your 30-06 and the BLR is not an ideal rifle to shoot off the bench but in actual recoil they are not really that far apart. If you are getting bruised with the 358 200gr loads at 2400fps and not with 30-06 180gr loads it's not the recoil energy. In other words it's not the cartridge, it's something else.

 

[Nature Boy]

I appreciate all of your suggestions on reloads for this caliber but I'm not going to argue with any of you over whether or not this rifle has a significant recoil or it doesn't. It's pointless

 

[Swampman]

I'd like to start with some loads that have a bit less thump to them so I may try some reduced loads using H4895. My 13 year old likes to shoot this rifle but the light gun combined with the stout factory Hornady loads leaves an impression, along with some bruises

What have you guys done with this round that you liked?

The OP clearly stated in his first post that he's looking for lighter loads to be fired by a 13 year old, why are people suggesting heavier bullets pushed at higher velocities and implying that he's somehow a wimp?

My old Savage Model 99 was a Featherweight and with heavy loads, it kicked harder than my Ruger M77 in .338 Winchester Magnum. It was a great rifle to carry, but it could damn near kill at both ends when fired off a bench.

I never killed an elk or bear with that
.358, but I killed several whitetail and quite a few hogs. Unless you're planning on hunting at longer ranges, there's no need to load a .358 hot. A 160 grain cast bullet at @1800 fps will kill a deer or pig deader than last week's fish at 100 yards.

 

[Silent Sam]

I for one wasn't implying anyone was a "wimp". Agree he did ask about light loads and he got a lot of good advice on how to do it. He also asked "What have you guys done with this round that you liked?" I among others shared our experience with the 358. That includes dispelling some myths associated with the round and discussing the true capabilities it offers, including lighter loads. I also understand that actual recoil and perceived recoil are two entirely different things. The actual recoil is in fact not excessive when compared to other more commonly used calibers. If your 358 beats you up worse than any 338WM factory load it's not the cartridge. It's something else. That simply means that there are options to mitigate the perceived recoil. It is not inherent in the cartridge. 338WM loads produce about 50% more recoil energy than 358 loads. I shoot a Ruger in 338 btw and it's recoil level is in a completely different class. Just stating facts, with the intent of helping him out, not "arguing" about facts or perceptions.

 

[Nature Boy]

Well, the starting load that I detailed above using the Barnes 180 TTSX did the job this morning

 

[GooseGestapo]

re: rifle; BLR81, steel reciever. Wears a Leupold VariX II 2-7. BTW, same base and rings as yours!
With a 225gr Sierra, close to perfection once I got load worked out.
Suggestion; They have Looong throats. Seated out but still fitting magazine, they defy perceptions!!! NOT just a BRUSH GUN!
At 2,400fps, they approach the trajectories of a .308win with a 175gr match load (2,500fps from 20" bbl) a popular load for 600yd competition!

 

[Elkins45]

All my 358 is necked-up 308 and most of my shooting is a 200 grain cast with 20 grains of SR4759. I have a Ruger bolt gun and a BLR and really love them both.

 

[Rickt300]

I had an older steel frame Browning lever action in 358. The rifle was mint and I ended up selling it for near twice what I paid for it. Great rifle though. I took several feral hogs with it and around ten deer, three in one day. My favorite loads used the 200 grain Remington RNCL at 2450 fps and the Speer 250 gr. Spitzer at 2250 fps. I used 46 grains of IMR 3031 under the 200 grain bullet and 42 grains under the 250 (max loads both). I didn't think it kicked hard just that it was "lively" meaning the stock design made the rifle a bit buckish with full loads. I was going to build a light bolt gun to replace it but ended up building a 35 Whelen instead and generally loading it to 358 speeds. Still have this rifle. The 35 is just not as popular as it should be considering it's effectiveness on game.