Ok, so my gunsmith calls me and tells me that the BR stock I bought isn't going to work with the Ruger M77 tang safety that my grandfather gave me 20 years ago. We had been working on a 15 pound 6mm Ack to shoot pasture poodles with. As I have tons of other rifles but no heavy varminter.

So I start thinking about all the other calibers that will work on a 30-06 length Ruger action and this is what I came up with.

338 WCF I have one alread in a R93
300 WCF I have one already in a R93
264 WCF I have one already in a R93
9.3x62 I have one already in a R93
9.3x64 I have one already in a Sauer.
8x68 don't want to confuse the gunsmith on the mag box and follower.
35 Whelan I have one already in another tang safety Ruger.
7mm, 257, and 240 Weatherby not really all that interesting
7mm Remington same as above
416 Taylor not what I had in mind
458 WCF crossed my mind.
308 Norma too similar to the 300
375 Ruger, I can buy one already made.

But then my father chimes in and tells me I should build something I will shoot alot, and could possibly take to Africa, and also use as a guide gun in Alaska.

Well, then I thought 358 Norma, what else is that cool?

So it's going to have a Douglas #5.5 25 inch fluted barrel, and a Bell and Carlson fiberglass thumbhole stock. I thought about the Boyd thumbhole laminate, but I like the B&C design more. Reminds me of the old Lawson design. Burris 30mm rings, and a Burris 3-12x50 Euro scope. I ordered the 1 in 14 barrel so I can shoot 250 and 280 Swifts.

What do you think?

I "think" it will be VERY heavy to carry. A # 5 Douglas is .700 muz and a 5.5 is even heavier. That big 30mm Scope will make it weigh a ton.

I'd also get a 1-12 twist, a 2.5-8 Var III Leupold, a 24" barrel about .675 dia.

Enjoy the fun of building it.

D99 ----- The only thing cooler is a .358 STA. Good luck and good shooting.

Strike that.

I talked to the smith he says it's a 1 in 12. I keep thinking the 1 in 14 is for heavier bullets but it's the opposite of that.

If you're going to be guiding/ walking a lot , a 22"-23" barrel will work just fine and a #3 contour instead of heavier. Also agree with previous post, a 2.5-8 is a better choice for glass.
just my .02
sbsmith

quote:

If you're going to be guiding/ walking a lot , a 22"-23" barrel will work just fine and a #3 contour instead of heavier. Also agree with previous post, a 2.5-8 is a better choice for glass.

I agree with the others. A long heavy barrel is not needed for the 358. I have a 19" Mannlicher that gives 2700fps with factory 250s. A good 2x8 or at the most 3x9 will give you all the scope you need. As I get older the less lbs I like to carry in my rifles.

I have always liked heavier rifles. My go to rifle is a Sako AV 30-06 fiberclass at 9 pounds scoped, and a Remington M700 Sendaro in 25-06 (the heaviest caliber for that rifle).

At 32 weight isn't an issue. Heavy rifles don't move when your shooting them. At least for me. A fly wieght rifle isn't one I can shoot very well.

I think I will like it. That 25 inch barrel stiff barrel will give me what I want. A 25-06 in a 5.5 barrel would be heavy. A .358 hole will be quite a bit lighter.

I like that big Euro scope too. 3-9 is great for somethings, but I like that big objective when whacking wild boars and stags with it at night.

I like your heavy barrel idea also. All of my hunting rifles have 20" varmint barrels and they just feel a lot steadier to me. At 58 now a weight lifter all my life that little 8.5 to 9 lb rifle doesn't feel like much to carry all day.

I think it will be a fun gun, and that my grandfather gave it to me makes me want to use it.

I did a search for 358 Norma and Ruger M77 and it looks like I asked the same quesion 6 months ago and then a couple years ago.

I must be getting soft in the brain.

Glad to see it is finally coming together.

D99,
I'm still drooling for a 358Norma, but every time I have the readies, I go buy another donor action , this time a Brno602 in 300WinMag .
Plans are for a rechamber to 300RUM then eventually the full length 35/300RUM.
Definately keep it a 1:12" and use your prefered heavy contour. You can always cut it later on.
Cheers...
Con

d99,your idea is great go for it ,i built my 30-06 on a #5 ss hart barrel, kept it long to 27.25 inch yes its top heavy but does she shoot Grin,your young enough like you said enjoy that 358 norma magnum,she will point and shot better also, hey guys different weights for different folks rember its his party! regards jjmp

quote:

I have always liked heavier rifles.

Good! You get to hump the M-60.

Great choice! you will never regret it! 280gr. @ 2650 or 250gr. @ 2800+ will make you smile.

Gee I lived in Buffalo, NY for 4 years (one of the least desirable places in US to meet a woman, depressing place) , so I would go with .35Newton.