358 loads

[358 Hawkeye]

I shot my 358 Hawkeye with a new load, 50 grains of IMR 4895 under a 225 grain Sierra BT bullet.
I was shooting at about 300 yards at a cliff side, the 225 grain Sierra's are very accurate and I had enough time after the recoil to watch the bullet impact. I like this little rig better than the 30-06's and 35 Whelen's that I have had in the past.
I don't know who said the 358 was a woods cartridge, but the woods were long today, maybe their measuring stick is bigger.....
Ruger rifles are solid and accurate, I even like this 358 better than my stainless 338 MK11.

 

[mike7mm08]

Yep the 358 is very under appreciated as are nearly all the 35 calibers. Biggest thing to blame is the gunwriters of the era when the cartridges were introduced. Labeled all the 35s as hard recoiling woods cartridges. The bullets of the time did not help matters.The Whelen was the only one that got any respect probable because of the name. The 358 and the 350 remington mag are easy 250 yard cartridges. They hit with authority. Never had to follow a blood trail on anything I have shot with any 35.

The 358 could really be a hell of cartridge if barnes would aggressively market it's new 180 grain tipped triple shock. Unfortunately only double tap is loading this bullet and you cannot get it as a component. They are pushing the bullet at 2800fps that is only a 100 fps less than a 308 with a 150 grain bullet. The 358 delivers about 300 more pounds of energy. What else could you ask for. Flat shooting and a bullet and the energy to flatten anything other than the big bears in north america and would handle any non dangerous game in Africa.

But despite all the great things about the 358 it will continue to be more of a cult cartridge than anything else. Ruger has now discontinued the 358 so all that is left is the Browning BLR chambered for the 358. Probable one of the more under appreciated rifles ever made. Seems fitting to own said rifle in 358. I have two. They both shoot a very similar load to yours same powder and bullet.They are both way more accurate than what most people think is acceptable for a hunting rifle.

 

[Bucks Owin]

The tiny shoulder of the .358 has always made me wonder about headspace issues, but apparently that's a NON issue...

However, I think a ".338/08" would've (had more shoulder :lol: ) and been a more logical direction for Winchester with possibly better sales...Kinda like a .338 mag "little brother" ya know? :wink:

At any rate, I had a chance to own a nice .358 M70 several decades ago for only $150...Wish I'd have grabbed it!

Just gathering wool... :wink:

(Better yet, a half dozen years later, they could've introduced a ".33/284" on that fine and underappreciated cartridge which in my view was a "short mag" far ahead of it's time... :wink: )

 

[mike7mm08]

A few years back we had the 338 federal which was essentially a 338/08.That has become even more obscure than the 358. Lots of buzz when it came out. But the problem was the great ballistics that were claimed were only available with factory ammo. Even then it was not much more than a 100 to maybe 200 fps than the 308 with a slightly heavier bullet. So really all you had was a 308 punching a slightly bigger hole. So yes you delivered more energy but it shot no flatter. The 358 can shoot just as flat as the 338 federal deliver the same energy punch a bigger hole and you can do it all without expensive factory ammo.

The 358 bullets are shorter than 338 bullets of the same length so case capacity is not reduced by the amount of bullet in the case. Therefore reloaders can use a larger charge of standard powders to get higher velocities. With the reduced case capacity of 338 federal the only way to get factory advertised speeds is with powders unavailable to reloaders or load them longer than spec.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Well hindsight is 20/20 and choices that the gun buying public often make bear little sense as to what cartridges "make it" or "flop"...Happily the magic word "MAGNUM" no longer seems to insure instant success over just as good but more "garden variety"" oldtimers... :roll:

I heard/read a rumor somewhere that a new powder will be avilable soon to let we handloaders overcome the "superior factory loaded ballistics" bugaboo... :shock: "Superformance" powder maybe?... :wink:

 

[mike7mm08]

Yep that is the new Hodgdon powder. Which is either what has been or very similar to what has been used to get the performance we have seen in factory ammo as of late. Don't know how good it is as load data is sparse at the moment as well as reviews. What I have heard is that there is supposedly only a small group of cartridges it is suitable for. Hopefully it is as good as they claim and cost effective. Reloading costs could go up if you need to use way more powder and I am sure this new powder is going to be more expensive than your typical stuff. If all your going to get is a 100 or 200 fps more it might not really be worth it cost wise.

 

[Bucks Owin]

100 or 200 fps boost would make many a "mundane" into a "magnum"! 8)

At least as "magnum" has been judged in the past... :wink:

But yeah, I bet the boost won't be free at the sales counter... :?

Anyway, as usual, I've wandered off the topic trail....My apologies

 

[Boxhead]

I am using Ramshot's TAC in mine but I am not home so cannot provide the load. It is, by far, the best powder of many I have tried in the 358 using 225 gr bullets, highest velocities and super accurate. This fine, dense powder seems ideal for cases such as the 358's that are somewhat short on capacity. You might call Ramshot and ask them. They are good people.