Why no love for the .358 Win?

[Jason1290]

I thought the 358 was just a short range woods cartridge!

 

[Wolfe375]

It took me a few years to get my hands on a Grices Gun Shop Ruger American in 358win because ever since I learned about it I wanted one, I hadn’t taken any game with it yet (for some reason I didn’t take it on my last hog hunting trip and I regretted that decision immediately upon arrival).
I watched how well the 360BH performed on deer this past week and now I have to have one in a Henry Steel Lever gun so I have another .358 to my growing collection.
I’ve also wondered the same thing why it’s not more popular but things are changing this year with Ruger introducing their Alaskan Bush Rifle in 9.3x62 and 35 Whelen and the M77 Hawkeye in 358win (would’ve loved the barrel to be at least 20” but it doesn’t really matter with a 358)
Because popularity has grown and I love it.

 

[Wolfe375]

The .358 and .458 are my two favorite bullets. I got my first scope eye cut on a .358 win , savage 99.

My stepdaughter got her first scoping experience yesterday shooting my 358win
She took it like a champ but I know it hurt like hell.

 

[MS 9x56]

My stepdaughter got her first scoping experience yesterday shooting my 358win
She took it like a champ but I know it hurt like hell.

Did it draw blood? This is one of my greatest dislikes on American stocks. They are all too short for me. I shoot a lot of 35 caliber rifles and have been fortunate to have never been scoped. The first thing I do on many of my American rifles13 1/4 to 13 3/4” LOP is add a slip over Simms vibration labs recoil pad even over top of OEM pad to lengthen LOP.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Did it draw blood? This is one of my greatest dislikes on American stocks. They are all too short for me. I shoot a lot of 35 caliber rifles and have been fortunate to have never been scoped. The first thing I do on many of my American rifles13 1/4 to 13 3/4” LOP is add a slip over Simms vibration labs recoil pad even over top of OEM pad to lengthen LOP.

Try a slip on recoil pad to give you a little extra length.

 

[7x57Joe]

What I know, are my rifles... I load for them, and I shoot them. When I squeeze the trigger, it is because I am 100% confident in the shot I am taking... whether at 30 yards or 300 yards...

View attachment 731491View attachment 731492View attachment 731493

or 500 yards for that matter...

View attachment 731494

Some fine looking trophies hoytcanon!

 

[Wolfe375]

Did it draw blood? This is one of my greatest dislikes on American stocks. They are all too short for me. I shoot a lot of 35 caliber rifles and have been fortunate to have never been scoped. The first thing I do on many of my American rifles13 1/4 to 13 3/4” LOP is add a slip over Simms vibration labs recoil pad even over top of OEM pad to lengthen LOP.

No just a little mark and a slight goose egg

 

[MS 9x56]

No just a little mark and a slight goose egg

Thank goodness for that. Tell her to draw that rifle tight to her shoulder and ensure when she mounts her cheek to scope she has enough clearance between forehead and scope. I don’t really consider the 358 a hard kicker but it does deserve respect and a solid shoulder pocket hold.

 

[dgr416]

The 358 that I like is the 358 STA now it kicks butt the only better is the 358-378 weatherby .I like the 338s better because its the best long distance cartridges around .My 338-378 weatherbys were the best long range rigs in Alaska .They shot as flat as a 220 swift .I have t the itch for a 32 inch barrel 338-378 weatherby which really make go way faster like 600 fps .A friiend had one built and he got 3500 fps wirh 250 grain bullets thats smoking fast .I have a 358 win in a model 99 savage and i really like the 375 win better as my truck timber gun.I took my little 375 win big bore 94 everywhere in the truck .Its 6 pounds and shoots a 220 gr bullet 2400 fps .I loaded 300 gr fmj loads to 1800 fps pleny good too pop a bear in the head .I had a 700 classic rem 700 in 35 whelen just didnt like that gun .They safety clicked so loud it scsred deer .I like my Tang safety Ruger 77s .The 358 is a good up to 200 yard cartridge I like to be able to shoot out to 500 yards with no trouble .

 

[Boone66]

The 358 that I like is the 358 STA now it kicks butt the only better is the 358-378 weatherby .I like the 338s better because its the best long distance cartridges around .My 338-378 weatherbys were the best long range rigs in Alaska .They shot as flat as a 220 swift .I have t the itch for a 32 inch barrel 338-378 weatherby which really make go way faster like 600 fps .A friiend had one built and he got 3500 fps wirh 250 grain bullets thats smoking fast .I have a 358 win in a model 99 savage and i really like the 375 win better as my truck timber gun.I took my little 375 win big bore 94 everywhere in the truck .Its 6 pounds and shoots a 220 gr bullet 2400 fps .I loaded 300 gr fmj loads to 1800 fps pleny good too pop a bear in the head .I had a 700 classic rem 700 in 35 whelen just didnt like that gun .They safety clicked so loud it scsred deer .I like my Tang safety Ruger 77s .The 358 is a good up to 200 yard cartridge I like to be able to shoot out to 500 yards with no trouble .

I am kicking around making a 358STA on a ruger no1, what's your experience with them?

 

[Jason1290]

The 358 that I like is the 358 STA now it kicks butt the only better is the 358-378 weatherby .I like the 338s better because its the best long distance cartridges around .My 338-378 weatherbys were the best long range rigs in Alaska .They shot as flat as a 220 swift .I have t the itch for a 32 inch barrel 338-378 weatherby which really make go way faster like 600 fps .A friiend had one built and he got 3500 fps wirh 250 grain bullets thats smoking fast .I have a 358 win in a model 99 savage and i really like the 375 win better as my truck timber gun.I took my little 375 win big bore 94 everywhere in the truck .Its 6 pounds and shoots a 220 gr bullet 2400 fps .I loaded 300 gr fmj loads to 1800 fps pleny good too pop a bear in the head .I had a 700 classic rem 700 in 35 whelen just didnt like that gun .They safety clicked so loud it scsred deer .I like my Tang safety Ruger 77s .The 358 is a good up to 200 yard cartridge I like to be able to shoot out to 500 yards with no trouble .

Not sure why we haven’t gotten past the fact that the 358 win is easily a 300 yard cartridge with the right bullet. I have several hand loads that will get me to 400 yards and kill big game without issue. This is my 225 grain partition load starting out 2600 ft sec.

 

[Jason1290]

 

[Boone66]

View attachment 731798

I'm looking mostly for a plains elk rifle, myself. Like the 358s.

 

[Jason1290]

I'm looking mostly for a plains elk rifle, myself. Like the 358s.

I get it. The STA will definitely get you there. I just think it’s silly we’ve lost sight of the real potential the 358 win truly has and I think many people don’t understand it. This forum was created asking about the poor cartridge getting no love. Personally I love it more than all the others and I think it deserves more love and attention.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The 358 that I like is the 358 STA now it kicks butt the only better is the 358-378 weatherby .I like the 338s better because its the best long distance cartridges around .My 338-378 weatherbys were the best long range rigs in Alaska .They shot as flat as a 220 swift .I have t the itch for a 32 inch barrel 338-378 weatherby which really make go way faster like 600 fps .A friiend had one built and he got 3500 fps wirh 250 grain bullets thats smoking fast .I have a 358 win in a model 99 savage and i really like the 375 win better as my truck timber gun.I took my little 375 win big bore 94 everywhere in the truck .Its 6 pounds and shoots a 220 gr bullet 2400 fps .I loaded 300 gr fmj loads to 1800 fps pleny good too pop a bear in the head .I had a 700 classic rem 700 in 35 whelen just didnt like that gun .They safety clicked so loud it scsred deer .I like my Tang safety Ruger 77s .The 358 is a good up to 200 yard cartridge I like to be able to shoot out to 500 yards with no trouble .

@dgr416
Build that one we are talking about, load a 300gn Barnes buster to 2,300 and belt it in the head. Should clean it's arse on the way out
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Wolfe375]

Thank goodness for that. Tell her to draw that rifle tight to her shoulder and ensure when she mounts her cheek to scope she has enough clearance between forehead and scope. I don’t really consider the 358 a hard kicker but it does deserve respect and a solid shoulder pocket hold.

I figured she didn’t have it tight enough to her shoulder and slightly underestimated the recoil, she had no issues that morning shooting her first deer with my Randy’s Hunting Center exclusive Ruger American 450bm with the 22” barrel but being around the guys she didn’t seem to mind getting something we’ve all had happen at some point in our lives with different calibers, was pretty proud to show her mom when we got home lol

 

[MS 9x56]

I'm looking mostly for a plains elk rifle, myself. Like the 358s.

Be hard to beat the 35 Whelen. Bob can recommend long range loads ;-)

 

[MS 9x56]

I figured she didn’t have it tight enough to her shoulder and slightly underestimated the recoil, she had no issues that morning shooting her first deer with my Randy’s Hunting Center exclusive Ruger American 450bm with the 22” barrel but being around the guys she didn’t seem to mind getting something we’ve all had happen at some point in our lives with different calibers, was pretty proud to show her mom when we got home lol

Sounds like you got yourself a great hunting partner.

 

[Jason1290]

Be hard to beat the 35 Whelen. Bob can recommend long range loads ;-)

I’m in the process of building one on a Mauser action. Can’t wait till next season.