How plans can change. What was to be a 9.3x57 project has now become a 358Win. project and I think its for the best.
After identifying the 9.3 barrel that I had ordered from Numrich as a 9mm with a .355 bore I have decided to biuld a 358 Win instead. Its being biult on a 24/47 Yugo Mauser action with a 24" #3 douglas barrel, NEGC sights, Timney trigger, Timney Bueler low swing safety, Burris (weaver style) QD rings and mounts. I have on order a Boyds JRS laminated stock that should come in sometime in April. Its the only stock I can find to fit this action. The metal will get a matte black Duracoat finish.
With the ability to seat the bullets (250gr Woodleigh RN) long in the intermediate action and with a 24" barrel, I'm hoping to see some pretty good velocities.
Being the opinionated group of gun nuts that you all are and knowing just how willingly those opinions are shared, please feel free to express them on the 358 Win. and the rifle which it will be chambered in.
Man, I love this stuff way too much.

Sounds like a nice project to me and seems to be a lot of chatter lately on the 35s.

good on you.
my best results, for a general hunting bullet, are win748 powder and sierra 225 BTs.

jeffe

I bought my first 358 in December and have taken 3 deer with it. I like 3031 with 200 grain bullets and so far Winchester's 748 with the heavier slugs. Great cartridge. I am building a 35 Whelen very soon. I like the 358 bore diameter.

Thanks guys for the tip on Win748. I've never used it before but I'll have to give it a try. Looking at some of the old Speer data from the 60's I was amazed at the performance the 358 was capable of.
This rifle will be used mostly by my son as a moose and bear gun at our place in Ak. The 250gr woodleighs, 250 NP, and 225 TSX are the bullets I'll load and test for it. Which ever shoots best is the one we'll use.

Don't over look the 225gr Nosler Partition. You'll get speed, expansion and penetration, while losing nothing else.
I shot one smallish bull elk with the 225gr Sierra and I think it a bit too soft. Should be great on smaller stuff though.
Sounds like a great project! Good luck! BT

Also ... don't overlook H4198 (AR2207 locally) as a suitable powder even with the 250gr projectiles.
Cheers...
Con

quote:

Originally posted by Yentna River:
.... After identifying the 9.3 barrel that I had ordered from Numrich as a 9mm with a .355 bore I have decided to biuld a 358 Win instead. .... Its being biult on a 24/47 Yugo Mauser action...
... Being the opinionated group of gun nuts that you all are and knowing just how willingly those opinions are shared, please feel free to express them on the 358 Win. and the rifle which it will be chambered in. ...

Hmmm.... Instead of the .358 Winchester, have you given any thought to the 9x57 Mauser????

The 9x57 Mauser
http://www.african-hunter.com/9x57_mauser.htm

-Bob F.

I don`t think you`ll EVER regret doing the 358 Win. Of ALL the 35s I think it [358 Win] is about the best. I made a s--t load of them while in Hawaii for hunting the bigger hogs in the heavy jungle and everyone loved them. ALL were very accurate and hard hitting.I personally like the 225 Hornady best. ALL were one shot kills and even on the wild cattle [Pipi] all went down easily. Recoil isn`t too bad and the accuracy? Well it is great too.
Good luck with your project.
Aloha, Mark

It seems most of you fellows are using the 225gr bullets. I'll try several brands to see how they do. When I think of .35 bore, I think 250gr but this is a smaller case than I'm use to working with. The 225's just might be the ticket.

Bob,
My gun smith who measured the bore actually has a pre-64 mod70 in 9x57 in his collection. We discussed using the 9x57 barrel but decided against it in favor of the 358Win for a number of reasons. Bullet avaliblity was one concern, reloading components in general would be easier to find. Also, he had a barrel and reamer on hand and could start the work sooner.
The ballistic differences (if there is any) between the two is a non-issue.

If brass gets hard to find you can make the 358 from several cases. I have a bit of .308 military. I weight them and get them close. Then send them through the 308 small base die. (They have been used in MGs.) Then one careful pass through the RCBS 358 Winchester die. Clean off lube, prime, and load. Bang flop.

Your .358 Winchester project sounds like a winner to me. Have a friend in Alaska that swears by his .358 WCF for everything up there, and he has a gorgeous Moose trophy to show for it. Good luck !!

LLS

After much research I choose a 35 cal. as well. Good frontal area, good bullet selection, an interesting selection of case capacities. I went with the .358 STA myself. I used a 250 gr. Hornady Interlock on a cow elk last year and was very happy with the results. I am told the Northfork bullets are good too.

If your bore is .355 than the grooves must be .365-.366. than the bbl is to big for .358. If you mean the groove Dia. is .355 than its to small. Rich

I like your project !
Being in alaska , your stock choice makes sence. I like plain walnut.
Other than that I would do prety much the same if I were to make a .358.
I would opt for the wrap around negc front site, with the different incerts. (tritium)
In cold rainy alaska , a leupold lo end variable or even a fixed would be great.
Negc also makes a pop on and off peep that maintains is zero when removed from weaver bases.
If I were to use that rear site I would have a pouch sewn onto my sling for it. I like things self contained...tj3006

Steve,
Your project sounds like a duplicate of what I am working on, with the exception of mine will be a 20" barreled Mannlicher stock. I bet you finish yours first though. What twist rate did you go with on the Douglas and why? I know there are 10, 12, and 14 twists avialable from various makers.
Greg

Jentna- Did you upgrade your Boyd's atock in any way? I've got the exact same project going and am wondering if the upgrades are worth it.

Ive got a 35 Whelen built on a VZ 24 Mauser, but I still wanted a 358. I thought many times about building one on an M-48 Yugo, but now Ive got a BLR. Love it!! I agree with Jeffeso on the Sierra 225,s. I also like hornady 200 gn interlocks for deer and such.

How is it that you ordered a 9.3 bbl and ended up with a 355 bore?? That sounds screwed up, I like your project though..