With all the votes for the other 35's, nobody wanted to pick the 9x57? How about that in a 19" barreled fullstock?

Well, looks like the guy's already chosen.
The Norma definitely looks like a sweet cartridge, but once I talked myself into it, I wasn't able to talk my self OUT of adding the full-legth case of the STA.
This'll be a Winchester Model 70, so it's the long action either way; no weight savings on the rifle. Something nice about the idea of a 270 or 280 grain bullet going upwards of 2950 fps.


Now I just gotta figure out how to get my wife to spend enough money to not make me look bad!
Lord help me.

youngun -- I will relate a short tale of wife persuasion. On the day I took delivery of my first .358 STA, my fourth grandson was born. I make it a point to have each grandson a rifle ready for action, when I go on to the happy hunting ground. I designated that beautiful Model 70 Winchester to that grandson. Within a year I found out another grandson was on the way, and devious granddad that I am, set the wheels in motion to find a matching rifle, desiring above all to show no partiality to a particular grandson. Lo and behold, thanks to GunsAmerica, I found a second .358 STA, another Model 70 Winchester, no less, with a "Lilja" Barrel, at a considerable bargain. A bargain that I certainly could not pass up. Of course grandma, being the understanding wife of a compulsive shooter-hunter-reloader understood completely. I guess there is no room here to list all the trinkets that equaled the value of those two STA's, and truth be known, far exceeded their value. I am trying to comvince the whole family, more grandchildren are needed. I have some great ideas for that first granddaughter. How about a .223 WSSM, well you get the picture. Good shooting.

[ 02-28-2003, 23:08: Message edited by: phurley ]

phurley,
If you don't mind, have you hunted with this caliber?
What bullet/load/animal/performance?

Much obliged.

I have killed two Bull Elk with my .358 STA's, one for each rifle. That is all besides some Deer. I plan to take one of them to Alaska this fall for Caribou and Wolf, in Brown Bear country. I shoot the 225, 250 and 270 grain North Forks. Also the 225, 250, 280 grain Swift A-Frames, the 225, 250 grain Nosler Partition. Also the 225 grain Sierra gameking for fireforming. Good shooting.