Everything is bought: SS Montana 1999 action, Shelin 26 inch 1:12 Number 4 Contour, McMillian McWoody Pre 64 Montecarlo with red pacmeyer and 14 inch lop. I am waiting on barel to ship. 275grain Woodleigh PP loaded ammo on the way from Superior.

Sharp readers will note that since I joined here, I have mentioned how I always wanted a 358STA.

I was daring enough to try to on paper design the perfect cartridge that I could one day take to someone with the mechanical know to build when I started making money.

The idea centered around a balanced, powerful cartridge that could do everything with more than just ok. I say balanced in terms of pre super VLD bullets and mono expanders. The specific criteria were as follows:

1) Flat, hunting world shooting: I wanted a 200 yard zero right at 2 inches no ore than 2 1/2 to give no more than 24 inch drop at 400 yards;

2)Powerful: 2000 ft pounds on target was still touted as being perfect for elk, and had to be buffalo capable with at least .3 SD and at least 4,000 foot pounds at the muzzle and no more than 5,000 plus or minus foot pounds (African outdated notions notwithstanding, I believe in caliber and bullet weight, but math is quantifies).

3)Had to be no more than nine pound in bare bones rifle. Now, considered excessively heavy. This weight still normal in 2007 especially for a heavy (plus 4,000 ft pound rifle).

5) Some historically catch. History makes all things more interesting, if anything it fills in space when writing.

The 375 caliber was obvious. The 375 HH was a starting point. The problems were two fold. The 270 rain bullet was just shy on sectional density and the 300 grain bullet was a little slow. The easy answer appeared to be the 375 Weatherby or even the 378 Weatherby. The 378 Weatherby was discounted as being too much. I am not certain why setting here today the 375 Weatherby was dismissed. I had an basis and dislike for all things Weatherby during my tens through early twenties. I thought they were all velocity smoke and dismissed the line. However, I would not have culled the 375 Weatherby just on the name. Oh well, the 375 Weatherby is just a beautiful blonde I stood up in college.

This moved us down to the 338 caliber. He 338 Winchester Magnum had the Sectional Density and energy. I really liked 250 grain bullets in this caliber (I still do while the world has turned to 200s and 225). However, it just seemed a wee bit small. My reading suggested 2000 foot pounds at 400 was and is doable, but not with much room to spare. There was the 338 Weatherby. I had to give it Weatherby on this one. He brought the 334 OKH to market and perfected it. Still, I thought to be perfect we needed a little more bullet weight and a little more diameter. The 338 Lapua was not a thing yet. I hated and hate the RUM cases, like most hate the belted case today.

I read up on the 358 Norma, but the 250 grain bullet got it rejected.

I have always liked long cases. I had a 416 Remington cartridge. I did not have a 416 cartidge rifle. I knew the 416 was based on a necked up slightly modified 8mm Remington case. I knew the Remington was a 2.85 belted case inspired by the 375 and 300 HH. I esthetically liked long cartridges. I also liked the idea of being able to make brass from basic belted 2.85 brass or 375 HH cases if need be. These were not original criteria, but logical conclusions.

I knew about the 9.3x64 and 9.3x62. These were dismayed summarily. One did not reach the 375 HH. The other was a 375 HH by another name.

I first read about the 35 Whelen during this search. I read how as a wild cat in the 20s and thirties the bullet choice had been a 275 grain load. I read how Remington screwed the 35 Whelen up. I knew the 30/06 Springfield Case would not get me where I wanted. I read about Leslie Simpson asking either Col. Whelen or James Howe, dependingon whose article I was reading, a 35 caliber bullet of no less than 250 grains at 2500 to 2600 fps for lions. I read of Elmer Keith taking the number 2 grizzly with the 358 Whelen and 275 grain bullet. I had in the 35 Whelen history. That history of Col. Whelen, of Africa from President Theadore Roosevelt time when a man could hunt lions like they were squirrels, of Elmer Keith and grizzly bear hunting. I had history of both Africa and Unites States there in front of me with the 358 caliber rifle and 275 grain.

I figured if a 270 grain, 375 caliber bullet was just under .300 Sectional Density, than a 275 grain, 358 caliber had to be just over. I did a quick check and sure enough .307. Well, if a 300 grain, 375 caliber bullet at 2500 feet per second penatered well. A slightly smaller 358 caliber bullet a little faster at the same Sectional Density would be a hell of a penetrator provided projectile integrity could be maintained. If I could get 2750 that would really flatten bullet flight over the 375 HH. Bullet Integrity? Oh hell, You are going to be a rich lawyer; just get Nolser to make you some Fail Safe bullets.

I remember holding that 416 Remington cartidge in my right hand thinking, “How am I going to get it to 2750? 2800 would be better? The Remington!” I told my college professor the next day, “I have come up with the perfect cartidge. It flies flatter and delivers more energy than he 375 or 338. All you have to do is neck up the 8mm Remington Case for 358 caliber, and use a 275 or 280 grain bullet. You could still use the 250 and 225 grain bullets if you did not want the horsepower of the 275 grainer. There is no reason you could not get at least 2750 feet. You would want a 26 inch barrel. But I like long barrels.”

“All you need to do is change your major to engineering.”

“Elmer Keith never went to school for engineering.”

Not two weeks later I found a Shooting Times article written by Layme Simpson introducing the 358STA. I thought, “Good thing you did not change your major.”

The 358 STA is great.

Quite a few of us in Australia had them and with a 1 in 14 twist and RCBS dies.

It's a very parallel case. About .505 at the shoulder as I remember.

I found 340 Wby brass was best as full power loads would fit in that case.

Well, if that won't kill any elk sized critter on the planet I don't know what would.

LHeym500 —- I have been shooting two STA’s since 2005. Both are Customs, one from Winchester’s Custom Shop, the other from a rifle builder from Wyoming with a Lilja barrel. My son and I have been using them for Elk and in areas that contain dangerous game. I have many loads with all the many bullets, powder, primers etc. My magic powder is RL-22, primer Fed 215M. My magic bullet is the 270 grain Northfork with the 225gr and 250gr bullets of the same maker close seconds. I will be glad to share all my loads with you. Each barrel is a different adventure, my Lilja barrel is 50-75 fps faster on all loads, both being very speedy. You are in for a great ride my friend, enjoy every minute. Good Shooting.

quote:

Originally posted by phurley5:
LHeym500 —- I have been shooting two STA’s since 2005. Both are Customs, one from Winchester’s Custom Shop, the other from a rifle builder from Wyoming with a Lilja barrel. My son and I have been using them for Elk and in areas that contain dangerous game. I have many loads with all the many bullets, powder, primers etc. My magic powder is RL-22, primer Fed 215M. My magic bullet is the 270 grain Northfork with the 225gr and 250gr bullets of the same maker close seconds. I will be glad to share all my loads with you. Each barrel is a different adventure, my Lilja barrel is 50-75 fps faster on all loads, both being very speedy. You are in for a great ride my friend, enjoy every minute. Good Shooting.

Phurley5: When the project is complete, I will gladly take you up on it. I have paid all the markers. Now I just have to live long enough.

I do not have a 35 however I have thought about a 358 STA and I think you have the right recipe with a 270 gr. at about 2800 FPS for a versatile cartridge. Perhaps a 250 TSX. I always thought the Barnes 250 gr 338 was a bit too long.
Never really understood all the destain over a belted case?? I do not have any inaccurate rifles and many of them have belted cases.

EZ

LHeym500, what do you plan to use this gun for primarily? Brown bear, moose, and elk?

Elk and Red Stag. I have really gotten bit by Red Stag in Europe. This year the 35 Whelen gets the nodded.

The most common target will be milk jugs and 10 gallon buckets.