When I found my first .358 Winchester rifle in 1966 it became my primary big game hunting cartridge.

I did most of that hunting out of my 'camp' in Vt for deer however they also had a long black bear season starting in April and going all year til they den up.

I handloaded all of my ammo and used the 200 gr
Silvertip over 3031 with a 4X Lyman most out of my Savage 99F.

Other 358 rifles I have are the M70F and a Mannlicher Schoenauer carbine.

Here is the 99F 358 with the 2-7 Leu. that's on it now.

The bottom rifle is the MS 358. There is a Zeiss- Diatyl C 4X32 on it now.

The 358Win and 225gr or 250 gr bullets will handle 95%+ of anything that a 286gr bullet 9.3X62 will. Up to eland I guess.

My personal experience is with big red deer.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Yes, not sure on that image...I'd have to see one in person. I guess the 358 reminds me of the 9.3x62, just a step down in power. Big bullets at about 2,400 fps seem to be pretty effective.

Back in the early '60's, when Flaig's was selling Oberndorf Mauser actions with the Portuguese crest on the receiver ring for a very reasonable price, I got the idea of having a trio of rifles built up in three different calibers, outwardly identical. The calibers I chose were 6.5X.308 (.260 Remington), .308 Winchester and .358 Winchester. I still have them, and a very useful trio they are.

The advantage of these cartridges in the standard length Mauser action is, of course, that no additional magazine work is required, as would be the case with a .30-'06 or a .35 Whelen. All three of the calibers are deadly effective.

My only reservation about the .358 Winchester has to do with bullet choice. I once made the mistake of shooting a good size white tail buck with a factory loaded 250 grain Silvertip. The bullet punched through without expanding in the least, and the deer made it about 150 yards before piling up, fortunately in an open field. 225 grain bullets have been my white tail choice since then.

The .358 is a wolf in sheeps clothing, or rather a 348 Win in Savage clothing and scope friendly, and that's no light praise..I like it for deer in thick cover and I like the 99 Savage in a saddle scabbard..

But the 358 win. ain't no 9.3x62, not even close. The 9.3x62 can be loaded to walk on the heels of a 375 H&H, and I know a number of PHs that prefer it to the .375 such as Doctari..Id call the .358 a 35 Rem on steroids at best.

public safety announcement -
don't try this at home, kids

a 9,3x62 is a 366 bullet in a 3006 case
the 9,3x64, however, is made from shortened and de-belted 375hh cases, and can come close,

this isn't a matter of opinion - here's the link to CIP standards
http://www.cip-bobp.org/homolo...&cartridge_type_id=1

you can click on your language of choice for data -- including the 358 winchester (and 375 ruger)

woo hoo some folks is plumb et up with stats and figures where even the experts can't agree..

I can easily come within a 100 FPS of the 9.3x64 with a handloaded 9.3x62 and SAFELY..
but wouldn't try that with the 30-06 case necked up as I see that as a bad practice and besides 9.3x62 PPU brass is cheaper than most 30-06 cases..

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
woo hoo some folks is plumb et up with stats and figures where even the experts can't agree..

I can easily come within a 100 FPS of the 9.3x64 with a handloaded 9.3x62 and SAFELY..
but wouldn't try that with the 30-06 case necked up as I see that as a bad practice and besides 9.3x62 PPU brass is cheaper than most 30-06 cases..

Good for you, Ray -- you win the internet - -
You might finally have seen the light, and CIP agrees with you, that you could load a 9,3x62 to about 100 fps less than a 9,3x64, which CIP says is about 100 FPS slower than a 375 HH ...

and, just like THAT, we both agree than a 9,3x62 cannot be loaded to near 375HH levels --

If I stumble upon a Ruger M77 Mk ll Frontier in 358 Win for a good price. I'de grab it. I've had 2 other 358 Winchester rifles . A Savage 99 and a rebarelled Savage Scout rifle. The first one I traded off for a 300 Win. Because I was in my early 20s and dumb as a box of rocks. The rebarelled Savage Scout rifle a guy talked me into and after having it for a short time it got peddled towards a 375 Ruger Alaskan . I regret the 1st . don't regret the 2nd. Push feed systems and me don't get along for long.
The mild recoil of the 358 Winchester combined with its general handiness make it easy to shoot well.
But for now I just think I'll go back to a 338 Winchester. I generally only pack 1 rifle at a time.

I don't get the allure of the 358. A 1/2" difference in receiver lengths doesn't mean much to me. Why not a 35 Whelan or a .338. If a guy places that much value on it though then he should get one.

My latest acquisition is a WW #70, short action, CRF, all stainless 300 WSM. Even with a 24" bbl. in a Hogue overmolded stock. it is short and handy and easy to carry. I haven't fired it yet though as the gunsmith is taking care of a few imperfections for me and threading it for my can.

A 358 is not the equivalent of a 338 Win Mag, for sure. If you fire both in an equal-weight rifle, you'll be immediately reminded of that fact. The 358 allows for heavy bullets at moderate (and effective) velocity for short to medium-range hunting, without the recoil of the 338 WM. But to each his own :-)

Agreed. There is no comparison between a .358 and a .300 Win Mag let alone a .338. It's a whole different preference. Softer shooting, heavy bullet, classic velocity.

Not the best comparison but for the sake of argument it's like comparing a .458 to a .460 Weatherby Mag.

Although a choice between .358 and Whelen is a legitimate argument based on your personal needs and preference.

quote:

Originally posted by just-a-hunter:
I wanna like the .358, I just don't see any advantage at all over a .308 Win.. a .308 with a quality 165-180 will kill anything a .358 will with 225-250 grainers and do it quite a bit flatter than a .358 will...

Todd

Except the .358 arrives with a lot more thump than any .308. On some animals it makes a very visible difference.

This will stir up a hornets nest for sure but...

My personal opinion and experience is that a .358 has better performance on game than a .30-06 inside 200yds. I'm a big believer in large diameters and heavy bullets.

And if you are impressed by visuals a .30 180gr is puny next to a .35 250gr

Absolutely agree with last two posts.

For larger animals like red deer, bear etc (above 150 kg) the 225 gr bullet at 2400 fps makes a BIG difference compared to a 180 gr 30 cal at 2600 or 2700 fps.

Yes I know that people get lights out DRT performance with 7mm08 & even 243. But those are shots hitting spine, head, top of heart, rib near spine, rib pieces lacerating lungs etc. I have had those experiences as well.

i think the 358 is the best of the x51 cases - at under 250 yards, it hits really hard, and can have decent BC bullets -- but most .358 bullets are designed for the moderate impact vels of the 9x57 or 358 .. or other big, moderate .358 hunting rifles..

the 338x51 was an interesting concept, but the bullets are designed for high vel impact,limiting bullet choices

the 7.62x51 and the 7x51 are both outstanding rounds, with excellent bullet choices, that can do everything --

I bought a rem m700 to to rebarrel to 358 with a suppressor. I made the mistake of shooting it first...... At 18" I think it's better as a 308. Our moose hunting has evolved to include spot and stalk on clearcuts and any advantage of a 358 in the forest doesn't make up for it's limitations

I have been a fan for a number of years starting with a Browning 81. My current rifle is built on a pre-64 M70. The 200 gr TTSX and TAC will be your friend.

Very nicely done rifle, NECG express sights, barrel band and all!

Gorgeous rifle! Drool! No emoticon available.

quote:

Originally posted by Biebs:
Very nicely done rifle, NECG express sights, barrel band and all!

I came to my .358 Winchester decision not because I love he cartridge (turns out I do), but because I needed a rifle caliber with considerable "thump" that would require a minimum of work to convert my .243 to the new round.

You see, I had a Remington Mohawk Model 600 in .243 Winchester that was gathering dust in my safe. I had bought it years earlier as a dedicated hog rifle, since in those days Georgia did not allow you to be in the woods post deer season with any rifle over .25 caliber (that law has long since changed). I had used it on several deer over the years, as I loved carrying the little Mohawk, but it is the only rifle I ever shot a deer with that I lost. I soon decided that a .243 with an 18-inch barrel was less than ideal as a deer thumper. Since I have no shortage of rifles from which to pick as a hunting weapon, I retired it to my safe.

Then I decided that I "needed" a short, reasonably light, heavy hitter for an upcoming moose hunt in heavy brush. What could be better than the little Mohawk in a heavy caliber? At first, I thought about having it rebored to the new .338 Federal, but once I really dug into opinions, I decided on the .358, as the area we were scheduled to hunt included a pretty good population of Griz!

Instead of reboring, however, I decided to have it rebarreled by Shaw. Once I got it back, I had a local smith bed the new action into the stock, and ended up with a rifle that shoots lights out up to 200 yards with a 225-grain bullet traveling at 2375 fps.

Nice rifle for sure. Where did you drop the wart hog? Sounds like a fun hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Boxhead:
I have been a fan for a number of years starting with a Browning 81. My current rifle is built on a pre-64 M70. The 200 gr TTSX and TAC will be your friend.

Ive used the .358 Win in a Savage 99 on deer only..Its a 200 yard rifle IMO. But I prefer my 99 in a .308 over the 358 based on results, however I did kill a nice whitetail with my .358 at a lasered 396 yards but it took three shots to hit him as he just stood there trying to figure what was going on, hit him in the white spot under his chin, the bullet, a Speer exploded..

The 35s have never been a big seller in the USA and never will be, the only shame in that IMO is the failure of the great 358 Norma, Ive never owned one but Ive seen it in action and its a champ for all around. The rest of the 35s show me very little by comparison to other calibers we have available.

When I was young, Francess Sell lit the .358 Winchester fire for me. I kept the coals warm for over fifty years till finally I made my own .358 Winchester. I took a Brno ZKK 601 with a single set trigger and a pop-up peep sight in the short action, and restocked it myself with a nice ribbony piece of circassian walnut and added rose wood forened cap and pistol grip cap. I did 18 LPI checkering. The stock has a little bit of drop like a shotgun.
The barrel is a medium weight 20 inch stainless. With the thick barrel, the weight is forward just like old Francis said it should be.
I have not even shot it yet. It's one of those "Grandson rifles".

Brian, it sounds like you have built a really nice 358 Win. I'm sure it is one a "grandson" would really appreciate. Let us know how it shoots.

Thanks Biggs300, It is a really nice little 358 win. rifle. I will post something when I shoot it.

Jaxon, my Grandson, is 7 and has hit a couple of gophers off the sticks this year with a Handi Rifle 22. He is really on fire now with shooting. (He has had two years on a Daisy Red Rider B-B Gun.)
I have made him a 30-30 Handi Rifle with a straight stock in fancy walnut which he will shoot in a few months with light loads. He will take it to the Waterburg Mountains in Limpopo on Aug 2018. for some small plains game. ( He won't be ready for the .358 Win. by then. The next year, probably.)

Thanks again for your post. Brian

Jeffe,
Try this, it will leave you pissin in your britches as usual but I shoot my 9.3x62 at 2525 to 2540 FPS with a 286 or 300 gr. bullet, depending on which gun, one has a longer barrel...I load my 375 H&H at 2500 FPS as it kills better than its 2600 plus a tad velocity, like most Africans, and a few gun scribes do..I shoot both calibers at 50,000 to as much as 55,000 PSI, sometimes to 60,000 PSI...Been doing that for 40 plus years..Sometimes you come across as one who thinks he can walk on water, but it just ain't so buba! Crying and going into contortions like a Democratic female just ain't becoming..

The only .358 I've owned was a Browning 81 that was super accurate and a deadly killer on whitetail swamp deer in southern Alabama. I used factory Win 200gr Silvertips. Great close to range cartridge.

quote:

But its hard mess with a very practical and effective 308.

Indeed it is.
Even though I took a .338 Win Mag on my first African safari, I could have killed all the plains game we took, including eland, with my M70 featherweight .308. After many years, it is still my go-to rifle for anything other than DG (and it is just right for leopard).
I continue to shoot other rifles for the fun of it, but the .308 is the most practical center fire hunting rifle that I own. With it I have killed running deer, feral cats, coyotes, elk, up to Hogzilla (estimated at 600 pounds).

I agree, I shoot my Savage mod.99EG in .308 for deer and elk if Im hunting horseback..I bought that .308 in that mode on AR, and its a fantastic gun and rare as hensteeth in .308..Only a few were ever made in that caliber and and the EG model, just before they ditched it for a cheaper model 99c, mod. 99A, and the great 1950s 99F, all of which were made in .308..Before I found this 99EG I considered rechambering a 300 Savage, but found out that was a no no as te metallurgy was different. Great caliber...ON foot I hunt with my .338 for elk.