Why no love for the .358 Win?

[Jason1290]

I agree Bob! There’s no replacement for displacement! Bigger is always better.

 

[Tam Dl]

9.3x62. I may have already said. Where legal, could be in semi auto. There are several choices that show up on the 2nd hand market.

I would note, that given all the brain wracking that goes into whether having two cartridge/action lengths is an impediment. Or whether a longer throw is a problem. Semi flattens the learning curve.

 

[Jason1290]

Although fire power on tap is nice to have, I’d rather have a bolt action for reliability when hunting. Also a semi auto would take a lot of up keep for where I hunt in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll take my Ruger Hawkeye SS in 358 win or 338 Federal.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I agree Bob! There’s no replacement for displacement! Bigger is always better.

@Jason1290
Bigger is not always better or so I have been told by some women.
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Although fire power on tap is nice to have, I’d rather have a bolt action for reliability when hunting. Also a semi auto would take a lot of up keep for where I hunt in the Pacific Northwest. I’ll take my Ruger Hawkeye SS in 358 win or 338 Federal.

@Jason1290
Have you red the article by Paco Kelly on the 358 and how to get the best out of it.
Very good read and gives a great insight into what the 358 will do when loaded properly.
Bob

 

[Jason1290]

@Jason1290
Have you red the article by Paco Kelly on the 358 and how to get the best out of it.
Very good read and gives a great insight into what the 358 will do when loaded properly.
Bob

Yes I have. It made me a true believer in the 358. I used to think the 338 federal was superior to the 358 Winchester but have recently changed my thinking.

 

[dogcat1]

No need for it when you have a .375 HH or a 9.3x62....

 

[Jason1290]

I hunt elk, black bear and blacktail deer. I have no need for a 375 or 9.3.

 

[Flewis]

Please: I need as many different calibers as I can get. Don’t need is not in my vocabulary.

 

[MS 9x56]

I have yet to meet a 35 caliber I didn’t like. If your going to kill something at least be serious about it.

 

[Jason1290]

I acquired a nib ruger Hawkeye ss from a family member and recently started doing load development for it. after about 100 rounds of firing new Hornady brass and 200 grain interlocks over a mild charge of varget for fire forming, I then started serious load development. I landed on a stiff charge of tac shooting the 225 grain SGK into 1” groups at 2580 fps consistently. I have a little over 100 of the 225 Nosler Partitions that I bought from my uncle when I bought the rifle from him. Sure had to twist his wrist to get him to give those up lol. Anyway I backed off my Sierra load by 1 grain and shot the partition with surprising results. Same point if impact as the Sierra load and about the same velocity with no pressure signs so decided to work up to the same charge. To my surprise accuracy got even better and velocity is averaging a little over 2600fps. I think I have my elk load! I never thought I’d love a rifle more than my tikka t3 in 338 federal but wow! I’m truly amazed with the ballistics of this load. I will not hesitate to shoot elk inside of 400 yards with this load once I practice with it a bit.

Ps I have read this entire thread for the second time now. Thank you all for the information and great stories. Much appreciated.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I acquired a nib ruger Hawkeye ss from a family member and recently started doing load development for it. after about 100 rounds of firing new Hornady brass and 200 grain interlocks over a mild charge of varget for fire forming, I then started serious load development. I landed on a stiff charge of tac shooting the 225 grain SGK into 1” groups at 2580 fps consistently. I have a little over 100 of the 225 Nosler Partitions that I bought from my uncle when I bought the rifle from him. Sure had to twist his wrist to get him to give those up lol. Anyway I backed off my Sierra load by 1 grain and shot the partition with surprising results. Same point if impact as the Sierra load and about the same velocity with no pressure signs so decided to work up to the same charge. To my surprise accuracy got even better and velocity is averaging a little over 2600fps. I think I have my elk load! I never thought I’d love a rifle more than my tikka t3 in 338 federal but wow! I’m truly amazed with the ballistics of this load. I will not hesitate to shoot elk inside of 400 yards with this load once I practice with it a bit.

Ps I have read this entire thread for the second time now. Thank you all for the information and great stories. Much appreciated.

@Jason1290
win 748 is @ Rick HOlbert powder of choice in the 358.
He developed a load using 225gn North forks what was very accurate.
I sent him some 225gn Woodleigh rnsp to try and lo and behold they shot to exactly the same point as the north forks with outstanding accuracy .

He pulled a shot and knew it as soon as he pulled the trigger. That's a FIVE SHOT group with the 225gn Woodleigh rnsp and a healthy dose of Win748.
That load and his North fork load are going to Namibia with him again very soon. Rick was planning on taking a different rifle then had to change the paperwork so he could take his 358 AGAIN to try the Woodleighs.
Ain't no flies in a 358.
Bob

 

[Jason1290]

Outstanding group! Sounds like the 358 likes to shoot most 225 class bullets to similar points of impact given everything else stays the same. Good to know! I’ve read alot of good things about the woodleighs and the north forks but haven’t been able to locate any here in the states. I’m sure those loads will bring the hunt together for rick when he goes to Nimibia. I can only dream to have an African hunt under my belt someday.

 

[Flbt]

I had considered getting a 6mm ruger No.1 bored out to .35 whelen (sorry @Bob Nelson 35Whelen), but I cant get past the .358 Win. There is just something I really like about. Small powder charges, low recoil and hammer-down power in a small light package.

So I bought a beautiful set trigger mauser 98 in .243 that will be rebored by JES to .358, barrel shortened to 22" and thenstock reshaped and checkered to an english style sporting rifle.

But it begs the question, why isnt the .358 more popular? It is such a sweet middle of the road caliber for everything in the lower 48 inside of 300 yards. A short barrel has little effect on its mu,zzle velocity and it is .35 cal so it would hit a little harder than the 30's and 33's in its power bracket. I would venture that in Africa, with a good bullet, it would cover all the bases except dangerous game within its range limitations. But lets be real here, not many hunters take game beyond 300 yards and sighted for 200 yards, a .358 with a 225 grain accubond only drops another 11" at 300, while still carrying more than 1,600 ft-lbs. Not a sluff off by any measure.

I think it has been unfairly relegated to near obsolete status, when in fact it really is aa great, game getting round.

Thought?

I have had 3 of them including a 358 7600 from jes It was a 16in carbine
Had a buddy that wanted it for hogs and bear.
And one rimed version thw 356

I like them they hit hard for anything in fl

 

[Flbt]

My biggest problem with the .358 Winchester is the sectional density of the bullet - particular for anything bigger than whitetail or average black bear. Even with the 225 gr bullet, the load is light for caliber with sectional density around .25. That is a prescription for inadequate penetration on larger animals, particular if the presentation isn't perfect or the shot has to drive through heavy bone. Even the the 180 gr .308 reaches a SD of .27. Add to that the rounds low velocity and the penetration issues quickly compound not very far beyond the muzzle.

I have never had a problem with getting through and through penatration on very large hogs

 

[hoytcanon]

I have never used .358 because it has always seemed so less capable than many others....
The .358 would be fine for black bear over bait, but the same range limitations would apply to the spot and stalk experiences I have had in BC. With respect to a grizzly or brown bear I am not using a .358 under any conditions.

I have taken several bull moose with my .358's... out to 250 yards, I have taken many big bears in excess of 450 pounds with .358's and 200 SP's, both over bait and spot and stalk out to 275 yards. I have carried a .358 Carbine loaded with a full case of 748 under 250 grain Partitions, while guiding for grizzlies in coastal North West BC... see picture below. Almost all shots were complete pass through, except for the second quartering away shot on the bull at 250 yards and that traveled from behind the near ribs to under the hide in front of the offside shoulder, probably 3 and half feet of penetration. The .358 is quite capable, more than most think, largely due to it being peddled as a short range, woods cartridge.

 

[dogcat1]

I hunt elk, black bear and blacktail deer. I have no need for a 375 or 9.3.

Got it. A .300 HH or .300 WM does the job on those critters.

 

[Jason1290]

Got it. A .300 HH or .300 WM does the job on those critters.

I have a 300 WM. it’s very lonely in the back of the safe because I keep all the capable short action mid bores at the front of the safe.

 

[Jason1290]

My little 338 federal pushing the 200 grain fusion did the trick on this Roosevelt at 280 yards last year. Didn't take step. Why do I need to use a 300wm?