Why no love for the .358 Win?

[Jon R15]

I have been a big fan of the 358 for years and the results on game are fantastic. My HS Precision 358 Winchester shoots 200gr Barnes TTSX bullets at 2655fps into tiny 100yd groups. During load development I had a three shot group measure .255. I have successfully taken a lot of hogs, a cow elk, a stud mulie buck, several whitetail, and a cow nilgai. I have never recovered a bullet or lost an animal. On this years plains game trip to Africa I am going to take my model 76 358 Win loaded with 225gr Northfork cup point solids and soft points. I hope to shoot a few pigs with this combination before the trip so I can see how effective the NF bullets are in 35 caliber.

 

[ldmay375]

Those Barnes 200's seem to be working well for you. I have some 225 CPS for my future 35 Whelen. I am holding out for the 200 grain version for the 358 Winchester.

The Hammer Bullets, 203 grain Shock Hammers arrived today. I have high hopes for this bullet in the BLR 358 Winchester for my distances. I am waiting on the reloading dies, hopefully this next week.

 

[Tree-ratsniper]

I put this one together for IA whitetails a couple of years ago. Still haven't taken a deer with it yet (Covid in 21, flu in 22). But it's clanged my gongs a bit! Savage model 16 that I've had for some time, it started out as a 7mm-08 but I believe there are 4-5 other barrels floating around for it. I'm running 200 gr Hornady SPs over H4895 since that's what I have on hand.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I put this one together for IA whitetails a couple of years ago. Still haven't taken a deer with it yet (Covid in 21, flu in 22). But it's clanged my gongs a bit! Savage model 16 that I've had for some time, it started out as a 7mm-08 but I believe there are 4-5 other barrels floating around for it. I'm running 200 gr Hornady SPs over H4895 since that's what I have on hand.

View attachment 514246

@Tree-ratsniper
Very nice, all you need is its big brother Savage 110 and a 35 Whelen barrel or a 110 with a magnum bolt head and a 358 Norma mag barrel.
Bob

 

[krish]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
What will it take to get rifle from usa to Australia.
What is the procedure. How long will it take sombody to receive it. Are there lot of red tape.
How difficult is it. How much does it cost. Are there duty on them.
Krish

 

[Tam Dl]

I like anything made from 308 or '06 brass. But, can't see any reason to shoot this thing over a 9.3x62, particularly considering ammo availability.

Wiki gives these numbers for the 9.:

Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 230 gr (15 g) Norma Ecostrike 2,641 ft/s (805 m/s) 3,563 ft⋅lbf (4,831 J) 232 gr (15 g) Norma Oryx 2,625 ft/s (800 m/s) 3,551 ft⋅lbf (4,815 J) 275 gr (18 g) Norma Solid 2,450 ft/s (750 m/s) 3,666 ft⋅lbf (4,970 J) 285 gr (18 g) Norma Oryx 2,362 ft/s (720 m/s) 3,544 ft⋅lbf (4,805 J) 286 gr (19 g) Swift A-Frame 2,362 ft/s (720 m/s) 3,544 ft⋅lbf (4,805 J)

Test barrel length: 610 millimetres (24 in) Source(s): Norma[1]

358:

Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 180 gr (12 g) SP 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s) 2,914 ft⋅lbf (3,951 J) 200 gr (13 g) SP 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 2,776 ft⋅lbf (3,764 J) 250 gr (16 g) SP 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s) 2,687 ft⋅lbf (3,643 J)

Test barrel length: 24 Source(s): Hornady[1]

Some folks have to have a short action, but I can live with the slightly larger size.

 

[Lone Star Bluegrass]

So there I was…searching The Broker for this VERY CALIBER, then pop over to the forum to see what ink has been spilled here on the subject and what do I find at the top of the page?!?
Astounding.

 

[krish]

Browning 358 winchester NIB BLR light weight. Will be listing in classified for 1499.00 + you pay shipping from ffl to ffl.
Krish

 

[ldmay375]

I like anything made from 308 or '06 brass. But, can't see any reason to shoot this thing over a 9.3x62, particularly considering ammo availability.

Wiki gives these numbers for the 9.:

Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 230 gr (15 g) Norma Ecostrike 2,641 ft/s (805 m/s) 3,563 ft⋅lbf (4,831 J) 232 gr (15 g) Norma Oryx 2,625 ft/s (800 m/s) 3,551 ft⋅lbf (4,815 J) 275 gr (18 g) Norma Solid 2,450 ft/s (750 m/s) 3,666 ft⋅lbf (4,970 J) 285 gr (18 g) Norma Oryx 2,362 ft/s (720 m/s) 3,544 ft⋅lbf (4,805 J) 286 gr (19 g) Swift A-Frame 2,362 ft/s (720 m/s) 3,544 ft⋅lbf (4,805 J)

Test barrel length: 610 millimetres (24 in) Source(s): Norma[1]

358:

Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 180 gr (12 g) SP 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s) 2,914 ft⋅lbf (3,951 J) 200 gr (13 g) SP 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 2,776 ft⋅lbf (3,764 J) 250 gr (16 g) SP 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s) 2,687 ft⋅lbf (3,643 J)

Test barrel length: 24 Source(s): Hornady[1]

Some folks have to have a short action, but I can live with the slightly larger size.

I consider these 2 different classes of cartridges. Depends on what performance one wants / needs.
Based on raw performance, I can toss out both by using a 375 Ruger or H&H.

The attractant to me is the short action in a lever gun, with respectable performance for up to 200 yard / meter shots. I would choose it or the 338 Federal over the other 308 Winchester brass based cartridges at those distances, for any game that a 308 Winchester is considered suitable for.
We all have our personal performance comfort zones. I think at those distances it would be great on game through caribou size.
I know it has worked well for some on elk, moose, and black bear & grizzly.

 

[ChrisG]

Sad story, I ended up getting my mauser set trigger converted from .243 to .358. However, It would just not feed properly so I sold it and got another misfit... a .280 Remington. I miss the .358 although I do see where it has its drawbacks. Not being able to sling heavier longer High B.C. bullets to a meaningful velocity is its downside for me. At about 100-150 yards yards, the .308 and the .338 federal begin to surpass it energy-wise. By 300 yards, the .358 drops significantly more, is carrying less energy, penetrates less, bucks wind less and starts to drop below my comfortable threshold of expansion velocity...

All that said, I still love the cartridge. It is such a compact little short-range powerhouse. I think, in something like an 18" bolt action carbine with a LER scope that weighed around 6-7 lbs., it is the perfect walking/stalking cartridge for less than 250 yard shots on animals weighing up to probably 1,200 lbs. I have to imagine that despite its setbacks and lower energies at range, It hits demonstrably harder than a .308 due to the heavier bullet and larger diameter. If that wasn't the case, then the .450-400 wouldn't be considered more effective than the .375 H&H because it has less energy, but there is a lot of subjective evidence that it is.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen
What will it take to get rifle from usa to Australia.
What is the procedure. How long will it take sombody to receive it. Are there lot of red tape.
How difficult is it. How much does it cost. Are there duty on them.
Krish

@krish
Sorry mate I don't know but it can be done. You would have to use a third party like a gunshop..
Bob

 

[Tintin]

@krish
Sorry mate I don't know but it can be done. You would have to use a third party like a gunshop..
Bob

@krish I've not done it - but I have explored the process a few times. If you're interested I can send you details of some dealers here that do it and who have the USA exporter patners to handle things at your end.

 

[krish]

@krish I've not done it - but I have explored the process a few times. If you're interested I can send you details of some dealers here that do it and who have the USA exporter patners to handle things at your end.

May be i asked wrong question. I am not importing. If one of you got to import what does it take for you to receive the firearm there.
Krish

 

[Tintin]

May be i asked wrong question. I am not importing. If one of you got to import what does it take for you to receive the firearm there.
Krish

Other Aussies here may have acaully done it and so have more detail - but as I understand it from discussions with 2 dealers last year - it requires a dealer here who has arrangements with an export partner in the exporting country and a willingness to go the import process here with Australian Border Force and the relevant state police firearms licensing unit. When I enquired the total cost was ~AU$750 (~US$530).

 

[krish]

Good to know. Was going to send a gift to someone. So they can pay the transfer and shipping costs. Firearm gift.
Krish

 

[Tintin]

Good to know. Was going to send a gift to someone. So they can pay the transfer and shipping costs. Firearm gift.
Krish

You're a good friend to have

 

[freefall]

Good to know. Was going to send a gift to someone. So they can pay the transfer and shipping costs. Firearm gift.
Krish

You could probably give me something a lot easier. Just saying.

 

[krish]

You could probably give me something a lot easier. Just saying.

You are right. LOL
Krish

 

[Tree-ratsniper]

@Tree-ratsniper
Very nice, all you need is its big brother Savage 110 and a 35 Whelen barrel or a 110 with a magnum bolt head and a 358 Norma mag barrel.
Bob

I have considered that in a Whelen since I have a pile of '06 brass but will probably use a spare Tikka SS action that isn't seeing much use. I still have an itch for a Sauer 9.3x62 which will probably come before the Whelen project. Having cataract surgery in a few weeks so new toy funds will be put on hold a while.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have considered that in a Whelen since I have a pile of '06 brass but will probably use a spare Tikka SS action that isn't seeing much use. I still have an itch for a Sauer 9.3x62 which will probably come before the Whelen project. Having cataract surgery in a few weeks so new toy funds will be put on hold a while.

@Tree-ratsniper
A mate of mine @peter who has a sauer 9.3x62 with a hogsback stock. I fired one shot out of it. That bitch slapped me up the chops pretty bad. One shot cured me of that thing. My Whelen with the straight Savage stock is a pleasure to shoot compared to it. I can shoot 30 full power Whelen loafs out of it but 1 9.3x62 was more than enough in that Sauer.
Bob