BLR .358 Winchester

[big browning]

Hey fellas,

Wo do I seek out for preferred handloads for my BLR .358?

I reload fairly regularly, but the .358 requires a tad more attention due to minimal factory choices, which is a main reason bought it.

looking for a 200gr or better load for deer and black bear, and a yearly hog hunt in Florida.

my current wish list is the 220gr Speer Flat Point. i don't know why.

any and all advice is appreciated

 

[Nature Boy]

Here's my thread on the subject from last year

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/anyone-reload-for-the-358-winchester.814064/

 

[Ru4real]

The Hornady 200gr Interlock Spire point is an excellent bullet for your stated purpose.

You can spend more on bullets for sure, but you don't need to. Pick your favorite stick powder for a clean burn. I use IMR-3031 because I have it, can always get more anytime, and I'm 3rd generation using 3031. Not so much with say Varget or Reloader 15. I use 45gr of 3031, seat the bullet to the cannelure, standard primers, 2400 fps out of my BLR with reliable expansion (1800 fps) out to 250 yards. I could load the 200 faster (49gr max), but I have tailored 200, 225 and 250 grain loads so no sight adjustment needed between bullet weights.

This is my woods gun, at least two deer I've shot were in the process of standing up from their beds, so 15 yard head shots. One other deer I shot had a chunk of lung fall out the size of a baseball as the deer dropped. No kidding. Yes, 200 grain Hornady interlock spire point.

I've formed 358 cases from 308, but I'm anal about the head stamp, so I bought 500 cases about 15 years ago when Winchester made a run. If you need brass, keep your eyes open or find out when Winchester is doing a run.

I too started with flat points. They didn't feed until I filed a transition into the chamber. Waste of time. One box of 180's and one box of 220's are all that I shot.

I also shot 200 gr round nose. The spire points are more accurate and close terminal performance is about the same for both. Past 100 yards and the spire point whoops the round nose.

Hope this helps get you started.

 

[big browning]

Thanks to you both. one of my reasons, besides utmost desire,for getting a .358 was to use a HEAVY bullet, beyond 200 gr. I realize this is mostly overkill, but I need hobbies!

 

[big browning]

Here's my thread on the subject from last year

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/anyone-reload-for-the-358-winchester.814064/

this was indeed very helpful

 

[big browning]

I too started with flat points. They didn't feed until I filed a transition into the chamber. Waste of time. One box of 180's and one box of 220's are all that I shot.

what does it mean to file a transition?

one thing I want to put out there for curiosity: is there a difference in performance from the straight grip with the barrel band and the pistol grip model?
i prefer the pistol grip with no barrel band. i was always under the impression that a barrel band could impede accuracy. See more folks with the straight grip than the pistol grip.

 

[Nature Boy]

This discussion got me motivated to try some more options so I picked these two up today. If I have the time I'll work up some loads to try this weekend

 

[big browning]

i wish there were a 220gr roundnose option. I would love that.

I have it in my head that i need the 220 or better slugs for this rifle.

i ordered some ammo yesterday. i have a box of Buffalo Bore 225 GameKings on order.
2 boxes of hornady, and the dealer I bought from threw in a box of Winchester Silvertips.
I will probably rattle off those to align the scope and create some brass. Ihave 2 bags of Starline on order!
pretty excited

 

[Ru4real]

what does it mean to file a transition?

****CAUTION*****

Please proceed with caution if you choose to do this. From the photo you can see I filed the receiver and bottom of the chamber with a round file to make make a feed ramp similar to a .45 ACP. The trick is to only file where your brass case is thick when chambered.

If you file too far or too wide, you will at best bulge cases and at worst rupture the brass!

Speer 180 and 220 flat points were hanging up where I filed the chamber. Wasted effort for me because I found that the Speer flat points were not the most accurate, not the cheapest, nor the best performers in my gun.
View attachment 762186

 

[big browning]

Interesting.
I ordered some Speer 220's because I had to! Also got the Sierra 225 GameKings
What was your cartridge OAL for the Speer loads?

 

[Nature Boy]

Make some dummy rounds out of the Speer flat nose and try them before you take a file to your rifle. I had no problems with them feeding

 

[Ru4real]

Make some dummy rounds out of the Speer flat nose and try them before you take a file to your rifle. I had no problems with them feeding

That's good advice right there.

 

[Ru4real]

What was your cartridge OAL for the Speer loads?

I dug out my notes. In 2000, 2001 and 2002 I shot about 55 groups (about 200 rounds) through my BLR experimenting with bullets, powders and primers. Most were 4 shot groups. Yea, it's a sickness, I know. I had all the info I needed by then and haven't shot a group for record since.

For bullets with a cannelure, I always start by seating to the cannelure. So for the 180 Speer flat point, my OAL was 2.570" with a crimp, for example. Once a bullet/primer/powder combination shows promise, I tweak OAL. I didn't get there with the flat points, so all of my testing was with bullet seated at cannelure. The bullets without a cannelure like the Speer 250 grain spitzer I seated to 2.815" which is my magazine length limitation.

 

[Ru4real]

Delete

 

[big browning]

All great advice! THANKS !
As son as my gear shows up in the mail, I will start doing some homework