I placed an order for some short action Montana Rifle co actions for the kids, but have gotten to thinking that I should order one for myself.

The three cartridges I've been considering are the .358 win, .350 Rem mag, and a 35 WSM. The 358 win is such a classic that it appeals to me. That said, I keep thinking that I'd want just a little bit more, something along the lines of 35 whelen performance. The 350 Rem mag seems like the obvious choice, as it has factory dies and brass, and all the case capacity I'd need. I can't really see what the 35 WSM would provide, other then a short chubby case that might not feed so well, and pricey dies.

So, what would you suggest I build, and why?

Paul, Same problem I had so I went for the 350 mag in a 700 classic. Last week I found a 358 win bbl here on the forum. It was originally a 243 Rem 600 and had been bored so now I'm going to find a 600/660 with 308 bolt face and rebbl it. My answer to the problem is get both.

easy. 350 rem mag.................load it up or down. will drop things like a house on fire......
225's at 2700.........................
boom
thud
celebrate
woofer

I built a 358 Winchester on a Model 70 short action. Great gun. Shoots under an inch with 225 Nosler Ballistic tips at 2400 fps. I've killed two deer with it. Could have been more, but I have around 16 "deer" rifles that I like to use so....

Bob257

For a short action, go with the .358 Win, it just works. I am getting about 2500 fps with 225 gr Sierra boatails and .5 MOA. If I had a long action I would choose the .35 Whelen. Pound for pound, the 358 will do anything the Whelen will do.

Hey Paul,
Tell us about the actions you're ordering. Are they CRF? Stainless? How much. I might have to start another project too.

I assume you didn't list the .35-.284 due to reamer and die costs??

I really want to show you my M99F in .35-.284. Email me your phone numbers...I can't find them.
Jerry/AK

Jerry,

Check out the MRC short action thread on the gunsmithing forum. http://www.serveroptions.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=004886

The action is essentially a copy of the Winchester M70, but it is just a tad longer, 3.1" in the magazine. The actions are being cast by Rugers casting devision. For the first batch of actions, the special price is $350 for chro/mo or ss, rh or lh.

You are correct in me avoiding the 35/284 due to die costs. I was pretty well set on the 350 before posting, but wanted to get feedback from others.

I'm planning to build .308's for all the kids on the actions I ordered, and am debating also making 358 win barrels for them as well.

I have a Ruger RS 358 wcf with stubby barrel and absolutely love the gun for PA deer hunting. I use wimpy 200 RN Hornady and have dropped everything slam dunk like Woofer said. The 225BTs shot good in both my 358s but they didn't knock deer down like the RN.
I got a real deal on a custom 358 Norma that a guy didn't pick-up. With 250 RN factory ammo it is something our state road crew could use for tunnel making. Worked up some hand loads and have been impressed with tight groups.
I am waiting to handle the new Remington 350 mag in stainless, might try one them too.
All said and done, either the 358 wcf or 350 mag will do the job out to 200 yds or so with the 350 mag being more versitle.

Paul,
Build the 358 win's and then go purchase the new Rem 673 in 350 rem mag. It my in the future get to be worth as much as the old 600/660's and then you can have the best of both worlds. I too have a love for the 35's. After my 35 Whelen improved I found a Mexican Mauser in 358 and had to have it. Now I am waiting for the 673's to come out. I hope I can convince my wife that it is an investment, this may be more difficult than before since we had twin girls in November. But they will need guns too. : : D

Elliot,

Unfortunately I was born with an alergic reaction to Remington bolt actions, and thus can't have any in the house

I appreciate the 358 win fans, and if I lived in the lower 48, there is no doubt that would be my choice. That said, I think a 225 gr partition @ 2700 fps is more in line with what I'm after.

Paul, I'm a big 350 fan (and all the 35's, for that matter). The only advantage to the 35 WSM that I can see is higher velocity. That case should get you about the same ballistics as the 358 Norma Mag, or pretty close anyhow. - Dan

Dan,

I'm sure with the WSM case, I could push 250's as fast as the 350 rm pushes 225's. That said, this is going to be a releatively light gun. I also don't want to deal with the price of custom loading dies.

The upside of the rem mag is, I'm just a reamer away from turning it into a WSM, should the fancy hit

That's true Paul. I have two 350's (but one went to Alaska with my step brother), and I couldn't ask for a better moose gun. - Dan

Paul
Go with the 350 Rem Mag. I think you will
really like it. It will be a nice little brother to your Rigby.

Paul,
You know I've got 358 AND 376 built on mexican mausers (short actions) ,, the 358 is the STUFF with a 20" tube.. 2525fps with sierra 225 gr sp bt... and I would LOVE to see a 225 RN part. nosler on this...

that being said...
the 376 is a "better" round... 225s at 2950, and 300s at 2500+.. and it's "legal" in africa for everything...

jeffe

Jeff,

After my experience with making brass for the 350 Rigby, and the expense and trouble with getting 500 J brass, I'm not about to get another chamber with oddball brass, so the 376 Steyr is out. I'm also not a huge fan of of short actions. The only SA rounds I'm really interested in are a something in 6.5mm and a 35 caliber, the 6.5X284 and the 350 rm. Then again, maybe I should go with the 6.5 RM as a switch barrel companion to a 350 rm, hmmmmm...

Your on the right track now.

For a switch barrel rig , I believe I would go with a 6.5 WSM and a .35 WSM , Paul . True , the dies will likely cost you more , but the short short Remington mag dies are not in the low price range either . Brass can be mail ordered for the Remingtons , but it is not at all that common in my expereince , and cutting down longer mag cases would be a PITA . I think WSM brass will be in good supply for a long time , and it should be a one pass operation to neck them ........

[ 01-29-2003, 02:29: Message edited by: sdgunslinger ]

The upside of the rem mags is if they fall short of my expectations, if brass becomes hard to find, and if the WSM's really take off, it will be no big deal to poke a reamer in the barrels to open em up

Paul, got to put my 2 cents in. I'm not a rich glob trotting hunter. I have used the .358 in a win. 88, savage 99 and Browning81. Most of the game I've taken drop like a rock when shot with a .358 win.( 31 bear to date, bunch of wild hogs and too many deer to count plus 1 moose) Reason to make one is recoil. I can control the rifle and back on target very quickly if a second shot is needed but it is usually not necessary. I have also owned the Remington Classic in .350 Rem Mag and the old .35 whelen. The .350 will out perform the .35 whelen. Now it comes down two, If a bolt fan go with the .350 Rem but don't expect smooth feeding due to the belt plus it only holds four with a lever, go with the .358. But I recently had a Rugar MKII rebarreled to a .358 win. with a 3 inch bbl. for a little more vel. However in my BLR81 with a 20" bbl I can drive a .250 grn to 2350, a .225 to 2550 and the .200 to well above 2600 Read the remarks Paco Kelly makes about the .358 on sixgunner.com or talk to the Kirafu rifle co. in Colo. Oh ! if you look in the very newesr\st sierra manuag I'm in ther with a very big bear shot with a .358 some where around page 668. Good luck !

Crock,

Is that you? Yeah, I know the 358 win is a fine round, and it will nearly do what I want, but the 350 Rem mag definately will. I'm somewhat immune to recoil, so even 250's @2400 shouldn't be too bad on the shoulder. I always like to have a little bit too much gun, then not quite enough. Currently my only centerfire is a 350 Rigby pushing 250's @2700 fps, it is relatively heavy at an estimated 10#'s, but quite comfortable to shoot.

Paul, in that short MRC action you should be able to use a COL of about 3.1". That ought to get you pretty close to what I get in my 350 RM, which is 2615 fps with 250 gr Speers. Works wonderfully. 60 gr of IMR 4320, COL of 3.17", in this particular combination. 20.75" barrel. Try it, you'll like it. Man I've posted on a whack of 35 threads today. I must be turning into the 35 caliber pimp. - Dan

Dan,

I know the 350 is good for more then 250's @ 2400, but the gun I'm envisioning will be fairly light.

I'd rather use a slightly larger case running lower pressures, then maxing out a smaller case, thus my decision against the 358.

Paul

Check with this person from Western Alaska.

golsovia@hotmail.com

Maybe you know him. I have corresponded with him and he has used the 358 on a goodly amount of game. It sounds like he carries it more than any other rifle he owns and he owns several.

Yes, he used to post as Alaska Saint Michael on the old All Outdoors Coffee Shop. I've corresponded with him many times in the past. Actually I should drop him a line as it's been awhile since I've been in touch.