I have thinking about building a lighweight .358 Winchester bolt gun. Was wonder who here shoots .358 Winchester, what kind of gun do you have, barrel length, action and what load do you shoot...

Thanks...Bob

I do! I have had two bolt guns chambered for 358 Win. A Sako AII and a SA Winchester Classic Featherweight. Like an idiot I sold the Sako but I still have the Winchester. I sent my barreled action to Pac-Nor, who screwed a nice 22" stainless barrel on to my action. I highly recommend them. Moreover, I just acquired a beautiful Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. that I may have Nonneman rechamber to 358. You're going to find many 358 lovers on this and similar sites. My loads consist of Winchester cases, 225 gr. Sierra SPBT, 49.5 gr of IMR4320, and Winchester and CCI large rifle primers. I am going to experiment with IMR 4895, RL-15, Varget, BLC-2, and IMR4064. Lou

I have one of the original Savage 99 featherweights. Lovely little rifle to carry. It shoots 200 gr Hornadys into groups most bolt guns would be envious of.

99 Brush Gun and Lone eagle pistol. 99 Barrel was shortened due to some type of damage. 17.5 inches.I'm the third owner and it isn't going anywhere. My deer load includes LC military brass sized in .308 SB dies then run straight through the 358 Winchester dies. Length is checked, always short so no trim. Winchester large rifle primers and Varget under 200 gr bulk Remington bullets. I use round nose and pointed interchangeably. Looking to rebarrel a Sako L579 and a Remington 600 to 358 Winchester also. Have killed meat deer mostly so far with this load and gun. Almost forgot the six pointer that was bang flopped next to Adam-Ondi-Aman property. That's in northwest Misery north of Gallatin. What a caliber if you handload. I have used all the way from pistol bullets to 280 gr Flat point cast bullets. I have some 275gr Hornady round nose but have not shot them yet. The Savage has a 1 in 12" twist rate and so far stabilizes anything I have shot including some 148 gr HBWCs. Good luck and have fun. Packrattusnongratus.

I just bought a new browning blr in 358 winchester. I also see that the new ruger Hawkeye rifles are chambered in the 358 as is the frontier rifle. I also spoke with a tech over at Hornady and they are keeping an eye on the demand to see if its worth it for them to start up factory ammo .

Thanks for all the replies. If anyone has any chronograhped velocities to go along with their loads please post them.

I am looking at building a no more than 7# bolt gun with a 18.5" barrel. Long range velocity is much less important the handling in very dense cover which is reason for the weight and length specifications...I would also like the gun to be stainless. 95% of the shots where I hunt are under 75 yards.

Candidates for coversion (rebarrel or rebore) at this point are the Kimber Montana, the limited edition M700 Guide Gun and a M7 stainless. All should come out well under 7 pounds with light weight mounts and a Leupold 1.5-5 scope.

Please keep posting about your rifles and any thoughts on my lightweight project.

Thanks...Bob

358Win ... love it! Mine is a post '64 WinM70FWT push-feed action, #3 contoured barrel cut at 22" with 1:14" twist ... I couldn't get a barrel maker in Australia to go below a #3 contour as it made them a bit nervous. My next 358Win will be a barrel for a Stevens 200 with proper 1:12" twist ... but a 303/35 looks likely to come first
I'm still burning up through 100 Win factory 200gr loads ... but a reduced load of 16.5gr BlueDot behind a 170gr Sierra FMJ is an awesome practice load that feeds through the magazine as well! I've tried but not chronographed yet the 310gr Woodleigh ... unfortunately it tips at 100m through the 1:14" barrel.
Cheers...
Con

I have two. The first is a tang safety Ruger 77RS carbine with the 18.5" barrel; the second is a custom Tikka that started life as a .308 Win. Sent the Tikka to Pac-Nor and had them install a 24" No. 4 contour 1-12" twist barrel. Barrel was throated so that a 225 grain Partition could be seated with the base of the bullet even with the base of the neck of the brass. I also have a 1910 Mexican Mauser action that I have thought about having barreled in .358 Win.

I was thinking about the 358 some more today. I think I had an HK91 style rifle in 308 with a 16.5" barrel. It had a horrible muzzle blast in both sound and concussion wave. That length included the muzzle break. My 99 has a somewhat short barrel at about 17.5". It doesn't have the noise and feel of the 308. It can get thumpy with heavy bullets but I haven't shot my heaviest bullet loads yet. My thoughts are not worth much more than my two cents. But as you know here it comes: the barrel length may have to be extended to twenty inches with the minimum weight barrel. That, in order to get a good balance that will swing well on close and moving targets. Maybe the shorter barrel will have to start out the medium weight and be turned down to get the handling quality you need. Light is still good. You carry more than you shoot. I find the M-600s in .243 and .308 swing OK and don't kick if it is game you are after. I hope you will keep us up on things as the project gets underway. Please give us updates, pictures, and targets as you can. Good luck and God Bless. Packy

I have two .350 RMs at this point...a M600 and a 77MKII with the barrel cut to 18.25" and NECG sights installed. They swing beautifully. I killed a running flat out doe two years ago at 35 yards with M600. This year I was hunting the same area and had a buck run by at 15 yards...would have been an easy shot. Tracked the deer all the way out to 60 yards and didn't shoot only because the rack was too small....as in probably illegal as where I was hunting had a three points on one side minimum.

Both guns are fairly heavy however. The M600 8 pounds 2 oz. and the MKII 8 pounds 12 oz. The M600 .308 I have weighs 7 pounds 4 oz and is much more pleasant to carry.

TR..that Ruger is a sweethart. I had one in my hands when they came out and didn't buy it....they are now bringing $1200-1700 on the auction sites. Probably the most valuble used M77 ever made.

Thanks all and keep the ideas coming...I am leaning toward the Montana as a base gun...

Bob

If the picture comes out, here's mine. An early Sako Bofors steel L579. It was rebored .358 win from a .243. Used the Sierra 225gr bullet to take a nice spike bull elk...and then started bow hunting and haven't had a chance to use it as much. Fun to carry and shoot. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/Blacktail53/SAKO.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/album

Just playing with the image attachment....I want to see if this comes up or just shows the url again..?

just got one in a savage 99 love at first feel.had it inthe woods handels great no game but did some target shooting with norma 250'sit has become my favorite!!!!!

Blacktail...I have seen your gun before and it is very nice. I had a .222 on the smaller action just like it...one of those I probably should not have sold.

Bob

This isn't quite a highjack. On the back page of the Midway flyer they have a special on Remington 200 gr RNs. At $13.79 per 100 that's quite a bargain. I have used both the RN and semipointed on whitetail and they performed in bang flop fashion. I have 180 gr Barnes X, 275 Hornady, 225 BT, 180gr FMJ silhouette,148 gr HBWC, and Mt Baldy 280 gr WFN cast bullets. I just don't know why I bought them as the 200 Rem bulk have done all I need. Most have been complete pass throughs. Blacktail53. The 358 in L579 looks and sounds great. I'm considering a rebore in my 243 and may leave the 308 as is. I love the full stock rifles. Good luck and God Bless. Packrattusnongratus

i've got 3
savage 99
springfield 1903a3
mexican mauser

quote:

Originally posted by packrattusnongratus:
This isn't quite a highjack. On the back page of the Midway flyer they have a special on Remington 200 gr RNs. At $13.79 per 100 that's quite a bargain. I have used both the RN and semipointed on whitetail and they performed in bang flop fashion. I have 180 gr Barnes X, 275 Hornady, 225 BT, 180gr FMJ silhouette,148 gr HBWC, and Mt Baldy 280 gr WFN cast bullets. I just don't know why I bought them as the 200 Rem bulk have done all I need. Most have been complete pass throughs. Blacktail53. The 358 in L579 looks and sounds great. I'm considering a rebore in my 243 and may leave the 308 as is. I love the full stock rifles. Good luck and God Bless. Packrattusnongratus

...not hijacking at all... I feel the same way...I have several "premium" bullets but the very old Speer 220 FP HotCore flattens everything in it's path. They are about 25 cents each vs. 80 cents for a Nosler 225 Petition.... My friend has killed three black bear with three shots...bang/flop. One died so fast his head was still in the bait bucket. I shot a running doe two years ago that could not get to the ground fast enough...

Now if we are talking BIG bears or soft skinned game over 700 pounds I would probably move up to a 250 grain bullet but for everything else a "quarter" works just fine...

Bob

I've got one too!! Mine is a Rem 78 with a 23" Douglas #4. The Speer 220g Flat Point is my favorite bullet. This is my TBSH rifle. (The Buck Stops Here) and they do. Plateau Hunter

I have a BLR of the original configuration in .358 Win...it is my second one of the same model.

Prior to that I had a pre-'64 Model 70-FW .358 with the 22" barrel. Mine was made in 1959. And before anyone pipes up to say they didn't make any that late, yes they did...200 of them for sale only in Canada, all made in '59. Mine was SN 464647. In all three I used/still use 250 gr. Winchester Silvertips in front of WLR primers and 45.0 grs. 4895. That is a HOT load, so DON'T START THERE.

And no, I wouldn't be afraid to shoot a Silvewrtip of the other sort (Ursus horribulus horribulus isn't it?) with mine.

I first used to carry the .358 when guiding/hunting in the Swan Hills area of Alberta. Never had to shoot one of the Swan Hills grizz with it, but wasn't afraid to prowl the willows with the .358 either.

RJM

I have a 700BDL .308 rebored to .358Win. with Brown Precision stock. Shoots 200gr Hornady's, Core-Locks, 220 Speers, and 225 Sierras very well with H4895. Wears an old style Leupold 1.75-6X. Works well on deer and bear.

WN

Have a Savage Model 99 handed down by my dad. He killed 2 deer with it and I 2 bears. Shoot the Winchester factory loads and buy a couple of boxes anytime I see it. This rifle was a re-release by Savage I believe in the late 70s??? I understand there may be some nosler-type bullets available now that would cycle thru the magazine??

One Browning BLR, One Savage 99, two Ruger 77s and a Kodiak Mauser, all chambered to the .358 Win. Nuff said?
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by Whelen Nut:
RJM

I have a 700BDL .308 rebored to .358Win. with Brown Precision stock. Shoots 200gr Hornady's, Core-Locks, 220 Speers, and 225 Sierras very well with H4895. Wears an old style Leupold 1.75-6X. Works well on deer and bear.

WN

WN..wondeing who did your rebore and do you know the total weight or your rifle...and of course the loads you use.

Same with you Paul B...what loads are you using..

Kudu..hopefully there will be a few more factory loads out now that Ruger is bringing out two models...

Thanks..Bob

Kudu..hopefully there will be a few more factory loads out now that Ruger is bringing out two models...

A sav 99 for me. 250 grn horn and a good dose of the old AA 2015 BR powder sends it along at 2370 fps with 5-6 loads per case until they get a bit tight chambering. no case seperations if neck and partial resizing with any loads in my 99.

RJM

Don't know the weight exactly but it's much lighter than my 243Win M700 Classic.

Dick Nickle in WA state did the rebore. Sadly, he passed away only a few months later. From what I understand Z-hat (Cliff LaBounty's old company) is the place to get rebores done these days.

200gr "accuracy loads" are with H4895 @ 48.5gr with CCI LR and the 220/225gr loads are with IMR4895 at 47.5gr. and CCI LR. Both with Win. 358 brass.

Thanks WN...I have spoken to Z-Hat and they were the ones who said that there was not enough meat on the barrel of my M600 .308 to do a rebore due to the possibility of running into the screws or screw holes for the vent rib. They are a little "slim" at the muzzle. Kinda glad I didn't do it as I would really like to have a gun in stainless.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by kudu4u:
Kudu..hopefully there will be a few more factory loads out now that Ruger is bringing out two models...

These guys already have quite the selection for those who don't reload...



http://www.cpcartridge.com/358win-P.htm

Bob

Bookmarked with many thanks.

RJM,

I have a Kimber 84 in 358 Winchester that I haven't had a chance to play with yet. It sure feels good though. I am a 35 caliber fan. I have two M/70 left hand 35 Whelens, a 760 Remington in 35 Whelen Improved and another left hand Winchester M/70 in 358 STA.

Headache

Headache, I am contemplating rebarreling an 84M to 358. Were you able to use the factory contour with such a large hole? Last year I chose to use a Winchester Classic Featherweight for a 358. Pac-Nor had to reduce the taper after the barrel left the stock in order to have enough metal at the muzzle. Lou

Dr. Lou,

I used the factory contour. It leaves about .100" wall thickness at the muzzle. You could always use the same basic contour but increase the diameter of the straight portion at the muzzle. This would allow you to use the factory stock without any modifications.

Headache

Headache... I have been looking at used Montanas in .308 based cartriges for a rebore. I plan on reducing the barrel length to +/-18.5" so the continued taper should be less of a problem. Who did your rebore and about how much did it cost.

This seems the least expenseve way to get a lightweight .358 without having to also replace the stock like one would have to do on a Remingtom M7 stainless.

Bob

quote:

Same with you Paul B...what loads are you using..

I'll never tell. Seriously, I haven't done all that much handloading for them yet. A guy I know got a whole bunch of ammo and stuff when his next dooe neighbor passes away. Included in all that stuff was 20 boxes of ammo marker 8.8x51MM. he didn't know what it was and offered it to me for a dollar a box. I wasn'r sure just whay it was myself, but what the hell? I bought it anyway as I figured it might make decent trading material. All the boxes were sealed, so I opened one up and found that it was genuine Winchester brand .358 Win. ammo. I've done a small amount of work using W-748, but the results have not thrilled me. I've been mostly working with the heavier 250 gr. bullets. The Savage and Browning have proper 1 in 12" twists and will out shoot the three bolt action rifles, all of which have that silly and ill advised 1 in 16" twist. I'll be doing more work witrh the .358 and .35 Whelen after the first of the year.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by Headache:
RJM,

I have a Kimber 84 in 358 Winchester that I haven't had a chance to play with yet. It sure feels good though. I am a 35 caliber fan. I have two M/70 left hand 35 Whelens, a 760 Remington in 35 Whelen Improved and another left hand Winchester M/70 in 358 STA.

Headache

Is yours the Montana?If so,can they be channelled out any more(Kevlar stock being super tuff)?

Whilst I'm on the subject.
I had a Montana in 308W that would not pickup(Bolt ran over the top of case) a cartridge every know & then .Never knew when this would happen,which was a bit of a worry(Bite-back critters).
The back of follower would not spring up into it's fully seated position(IMO) it was meant to.
But saying that,it looked like an easy fix?
As stronger forced spring steel would solve the problem?.But this was a brand new rifle .I'm not the first either.Heard of a couple of cases.

It was traded,but mostly coz I wanted another rifle .

Is it 100% confirmed Kimber will be chambering 338Fed's?When?What models?

cheers,
340

RJM,

I hate to say this but I work for the company and had a 358 barrel made up to do some feed testing. I used the standard classic contour.

340 Wby,

I have the 358 in a nice walnut stock for now. I may put it in a Montana stock later for knocking around.

I don't know if the Montana stock can be channelled out, or by how much.

The problem you had with your 308 can be fixed by the factory very easily. You should have given them a call.

Yes, Kimber is chambering the 84M in 338 Federal. They will be offered in the "Classic' and 'Montana' so far. I think they will be available after the first of the year.

Have a great day,
Headache

Mate I'd luv to see your 358W porn pic's .

Yeah I figured it could of been fixed without a drama,mmmmmmmmmm .

When's the SuperAmerica coming out?



PS-What are the chances Kimber will introduce the 358W at a later date?

quote:

Originally posted by RJM:
I am looking at building a no more than 7# bolt gun with a 18.5" barrel.

i would also like the gun to be stainless. 95% of the shots where I hunt are under 75 yards.

M7 stainless. All should come out well under 7 pounds with light weight mounts and a Leupold 1.5-5 scope.

Please keep posting about your rifles and any thoughts on my lightweight project.

Thanks...Bob

Bob,
I chopped up your post on this.
my fav 358 is a 20" #2 taper, on a mexican mauser, that is 7.25 with a 2.5 weaver on it. get a super light weight scope (i believe you can get lighter than the 1.5... a 3x compact will do it all at the ranges you are talking about)...

so, to fit your spec
ultralight stock, to your LOP, with a 1/5" dec pad. This is about the lightest stock and pad EFFECTIVE combo.
m7
tiny taper

bead blast

the end

jeffe

HEADACHE!!!!!! What do you mean you "work for the company"!!!!! Ok..so what is their problem.... They could have been the only company making a bolt gun in .358 Winchester and now Ruger has beat them to it.

I guess they think there is no market...I am hoping that Ruger shows them that they were wrong.... Anytime they want to make a Montana in .358 I will gladly be first in line....

Bob

quote:

They could have been the only company making a bolt gun in .358 Winchester and now Ruger has beat them to it.

I guess they think there is no market...I am hoping that Ruger shows them that they were wrong.... Anytime they want to make a Montana in .358 I will gladly be first in line....Bob

I'll take one in SuperAmerica .