I am having problems with reloading my 358 sta. Would someone be willing to send me a couple of rounds. No need for primers or powder as I am only interested in whether they will chamber in my rifle. I suspect my dies but when I try to mic my reloads they seem ok. When I actually try to load a round they are very, very tight.
I don't think it is the chamber since the same reamer was used to make another rifle that isn't showing any of these problems.

I will gladly pay for your materials and shipping.
Thank you,
Frank

My 264 win mag Ruger did the same thing.Its something to do with the bullets where the bore diameter starts.I can only use either 140 gr remington or winchester 140 gr bullets.The rest of them hit my rifling even the 100 gr ones.I am having mine rethroated.You should have throat on your rifle checked.If the bolt is tight to close dont shoot!I also had 338 nickel cases I could never get them to work.Are you using 8mm rem mag to neck up or 416 rem mag necked down to kake your cases?

Whose brass are you using?
I heard something about a bad batch of QC brass in STA....
Also, who chambered? Maybe a headspace issue.

Frank ----- I will be glad to send you a couple of rounds, or help in any other way. I shoot two STA's. One has a tighter chamber than the other. My tight chambered barrel is a "Lilja". My other barrel is a Custom Winchester. I simply screw my die down tighter for the "Lilja" barrel and that does the trick. Let me know if you still want the rounds. I get all my brass from Superior Ammo, and have never had a problem. Good luck and good shooting.

Will the fired cases go back into the chamber and allow you to close the bolt before you do anything to them?

If so, then you are doing something to the cases after shooting them that is making it difficult to get them to go back into the gun! Probably something you are doing during the reloading process. It MAY be the dies, or it MAY be the way you have them adjusted......

Gentlemen, thank you all for the replies. I will need to reload some more artridges to check out every suggestion. I think I am doing things correctly as I have reloaded some of the cases in my remington several times without problem. I don't have go/no go gauges so I would have to go back to the smith that did the work to check for headspace problems.
PHurley, yes I would still like a couple of rounds to check things out there as well. You may remember sending me an article last year about the sta. I will gladly reimburse you for the cost or send funds now if you prefer.The rcbs dies I am using are relativly new but I am not noticing any scarring of the brass. I have all Winchester brass, same lot and I have measured and trimmed everything.
Thanks again for the help.
Re: the bolt throw. I suppose I could really force the bolt but would prefer not. I have checked several for bulges or severe runout or for irregularities but when I mic I seem to come up within tolerances of the measurments.
A mystery,
Frank

Frank ----- E-Mail me your address at phurley@peelholland.com and I will send you the cases. Glad to help a fellow STA'er. Good luck

Maybe you guys can help with a few of my questions. I am going to build a 358 STA but am curios about how long the oal really is. I have a remington 700 DM that I would like to use. The DM inside dimentions are at 3.675 and that looks like it might be quite tight. Can a gunsmith make it so that the ammunition will fit into the box without any problems. Also, what length barrel do you use. I tend to like the balance of a 22 inch barrel. And last but not least what are your favorite powder/bullet combinations and velocities. Thanks in advance for any and all information.

I have a Ruger #1 that I am going to have done in 358STA. I am looking for someone with some #1 savy that I can send it to.

35WLN ----- My Rifles in .358 STA chamberings are a Winchester Model 70 post 64 action with a "Lilja" barrel of 26 inchs with muzzle brake, and a Winchester Model 70 in the new pre 64 action from the Winchester Custom shop, also with a 26 inch barrel that I had a muzzle brake put on. Both my STA's like RL-22 powder to the exclusion of all others, and I shot them all. Lots of RL-22 may vary slightly in burning rate, start at beginning weights and work up. My primer is Fed 215M. I have shot Barnes X, Nosler Partition, Kodiak, Swift A-Frame, and the North Forks extensively. By far the most accurate bullet is the North Forks in 225, 250 and 270 grains. I have taken Deer and Elk with them and so has my son, and have never shot a better performing bullet accuracy wise and what were recovered had perfect mushrooms. Speeds are 3200 fps with the 225 grainers, 3100 with the 250 grainers, 3000 fps with the 270 grainers. Those are average highs as I use a Oehler 35P chronograph on all my testing. I can beat those speeds but when I go for accuracy I usually back off with each slightly. My hunting accuracy loads with the 270 grain bullets average 2950 fps with the Lilja barrel and 2850 fps with the Winchester barrel. My OAL will come later after I measure them tonight. Good luck and good shooting.

35WLN ----- My .358 STA loaded cartridges have a OAL of 3.569. A-Square and Nosler books give OAL of 3.650. I simply load to the maximum my magazines will let me, and load both rifles the same. My accuracy at that OAL is excellent. Good luck and good shooting.

Thank you for that last post. I measured my COL @3.60. I settled there by putting a bullet in upside down and backing off when it just did touch the lands. I have been loading Barnes XFB's which are a bit longer and I am now wondering if I shouldn't cast the chamber to get a more precise fit. My col was set originally for my rebarreled Remington.
New food for thought.
Thank you
Frank

I am also shooting Barnes and that may be where the rub is. I will have to test at the reloading bench and by doing a chamber cast.
I am wondering about the 26 inch barrels. I have a 24 and am not getting your velocity. With the larger case and being overbore is the longer barrel the only other factor or are you also shooting with higher pressure?
Thanks again.
Merry Christmas
Frank

Frank ----- Be sure to check your magazine to make sure it will take your OAL. I worked up loads for a .340 Wby once and two weeks before an Alaska hunt discovered that my OAL was a smidigeon too long for my magazine and had to back off slightly on the length, luckly it didn't affect accuracy. -----Two things on speed, and I cronograph constantly to verify exactly with the Oehler 35P. First the longer barrel will definitely give more speed as will fireforming the cases. Secondly,I use Superior Ammo cases that I can load the unfired cases and hunt with excellent accuracy. However, if I fireform I can get 1-2 more grains of powder with only slight compression, thus more speed. I use RL-22 powder and buy two four pound canisters each time of the same lot. Lots will vary slightly with burn speed, therefore when changing lots back off a couple of grains then work back up. ----- I have pushed speeds to show signs of pressure on the bench, would you beleave a load that sent a 250 grain bullet 3194 fps with only slight cratering, but have never hunted with a load that shows even the slightest signs. I certainly don't want a sticky bolt while in the field. ----- Whatever you do try that 270 grain North Fork bullet as well as the Swift A-Frame 280 grainer, they are awesome, with the North Fork giving me one hole groups, when I have a good day at the trigger, the Swift 1 inch groups that in my opinion are very respectable for a hunting bullet. Good luck and good shooting.

Thgank you for the post and for sending the rounds.
The Rem. I am using was formerly a 375 so the magazine is plenty long enough. In fact I was more concerned about the cartridges travelling too far to jump the ramp before entering the chamber. Especially with a push feed, but that problem never materialized.
I thinkthe 35p will be my next purchase. I don't really feel confident with the Chrony I purchased used but dismissed it to the shorter barrel and never really pushing the limits of the powder capacity.
Where are you purchasing Superior brass? I think I would like to try some. I always run my brass through lighter loads- a simple fieforming and to get a feel of the rifle- and then start trying for velocity when I practice.I have never tried North Fork but really like the Swift in my 416 and 458.
Thanks again for the help
Frank

Frank ----- Superior Ammo of Sturgis SD is where I get my brass. You can get prepped 8mm Rem brass or brass stamped .358 STA, the later being more expensive. The number is 1-800-677-8737. I have bought .340 Wby, 257 Wby, .416 Rem and Rigby from them, and have always been pleased. They prep at trimmed too lengths. I wore out a Beta and Gamma model Chrony, no real gripes except a few funny readings on bright sunny days, broken Diffusers and printers, etc. The Oehler proofs itself and gives you the real stuff that I have confidence in. Good shooting.

Thanks again for the information. I will give them a call. I like the idea of correct headstamps/
Frank

Where can I get reloading data for the 358 sta? Does Superior Ammo's take alot prep work, and how many firings do you get?

If you haven't already figured the problem out, I would suggest checking the seating die. It may be turned down too much and attempting to put a roll crimp on the case. This can cause a slight buldge in the neck if the cannelure is not lined up or if there is too much crimp. Either case can make it difficult to impossible to chamber a round.

Also, chamber a round as far as it will go without really forcing it, then inspect the case for any shiney spots. These will tell you where the problem is. Tarnished brass is the best for this.

Outside of a bulge in the brass, the neck may be a bit thick in the cases you currently have. When you seat the bullet the neck may be expanding just enought to cause you problems. I've had this when I attempted to form some 7mm-08 cases from some extra 06 shells. In order to use them, I would have to had neck turned them.

Just a thought

Turok

I have been using the Barnes book and an article from a magazine sent to me by PHURLEY.

I haven't received any brass yet but it has to be easier than resizing and the benefit in my opinion is the proper headstamp.Send me an e-mail if you don't have the number 3 reloading book.

Turok your suggestions will be worth looking into. I am reloading some of the cases for the third time but I suppose the brass could flow forward and thicken the necks. I don't have a gauge for that but a mic may show differences in different pieces of brass. I haven't tried them all.

Frank

WLN ----- You can find loading information on the .358 STA in the Barnes books, Nosler books, and the A-Square book. I will send you the article by Layne Simpson that appeared some years ago in Guns & Ammo, if you like. E-Mail me your address. ----- All cases I have bought from Superior Ammo have been fully prepped except for primers, and ready for loading. Good luck and good shooting.

PHurley, thank you for sending the sta brass. It is definitly the chamber as the brass would not even drop in without a bullet. I will be down south at the end of the month and will have my smith look it over while I wait.
Thank you very much for the help.
Frank