I was thinking about a caliber to fall between the 30 and 33 caliber magnums and the 375 large bore magnums. Of course the only thing to fill the gap would be a 358. So now the 358 STA is the biggest 35 caliber magnum. There are many big, big 30, 33, and 375 caliber magnums, every one striving to beat the next one. So I thought of taking a 375 Rem UltraMag case and necking it down to 358. In essance, a 358 RUM. It would be for Africa and Alaska, for the bigger antelope species, bears, and larger deer species (elk, moose, caribou), and maybe even dangerous game in the way of large cats. What do you think?

[ 09-02-2002, 08:00: Message edited by: David Boren ]

2 questions...Prefaced by....Why?

#1 Isn't the 358 STA "BIG" enough???

#2 What is this thing supposed to do that a 338 or 375 super duper won't already do just fine???

Of course the gun nut's answer to all above would be "just because" and I can certainly buy that, but I was wondering if there was some logic here?


JimF

David,

I'm sure somebody's already done it (it seems EVERY cartridge gets necked up and down before it even comes onto the market!) .

It sounds like a good, powerful cartridge, and if you want to have a somewhat unique rifle, then go for it! At least the cases will be plentiful for a while (until Remington drops them), and case forming will be very easy.

George

The bloke who runs realguns.com has already done the 358/378 with Clymer reamer and I think CH dies.

His site has the loading data for the 358/378

Mike

I saw that when I checked out clymer's website. And then contacted them about my suggested cartridge to ask if they could make a reamer for me. They havent replied, as I only asked a couple hours ago. I also just contacted Lee to see if they could make my dies. Could you tell me of this CH die company and how I would go about getting custom dies for my "358 RUM" wildcat, if I decided to make it.

David,

CH make all sorts of funny things. Don't have website handy but if you search on CH Dies or post up looking for it etc. etc.

For the 358 RUM, it will be easy. I would probably get Redding dies for that caliber. But check Huntingtons site for RCBS and special dies. RCBS no longer does what they don't have.

Redding will probably be around $140US as long as you stay with the case body. But a 358 RUM Improved or whatever might be $400US. In this case CH would be about $150US. However CH won't be much cheaper if the standard case body is used.

For reamers there is 2 good ways. Firstly, if your gunsmith has a 300 Ultra reamer with removable pilot and 358 throater you are in business.

If that is not the case then go to Manson Reamers and get a reamer for 358 Ultra. They will be about $140US for fixed pilot and $180US for removable pilot. If you get removable pilot then get a 25 Ultra as you can do the lot. A mate of mine in Australia has just ordered a manson reamer in 25 Ultra to do 6.5 Ultra. Forget Clymer and use Dave Manson.

A suggestion. A 338 Ultra necked to 358 might be better than the "358 Ultra" which will be the 300 or 375 Ultra case. The 338 is about .1" shorter than the other Ultras and this is because of the cannelure position on 338 bullets. What happens is that if you seat many of the 338 bullets to the cannelure in a cases which is 2.85" in lenght, the overall lenghth of the loaded round will be too long for the 3.6" magazine and 3.65" magazine of the M70 and Rem 700. A similar situation exists with some bullets in 358 and also 458, which is why the 458 Lott is set at 2.8" rather than 2.85"

Hope this is of some help.

Mike

David, I believe Mark Bansner in PA chambers this round.

Brad

David,
Fred Zeglin (www.z-hat.com) did this in 1998 and called it the .358 Ultracat. He makes custom rifles, so I'm sure that he can ream the chamber for you.
'puck

First I must say that I am 100% behind JimF.

That said why not go with one of the big 9,3mm instead? 9,3x64 or x70 - would also fall in the gap taht you are mentioning.

Regards

Mads

Brad posted:

David, I believe Mark Bansner in PA chambers this round.

Sometimes I wish that I lived in America.

Every time I post up something on reamers and dies I have forgotten the topic starter is American.

But we still manage to get it done although it would be a lot easier if you lived over there

Mike

[ 09-02-2002, 17:01: Message edited by: Mike375 ]

The local smith does a "35 Rock Express", basically an improved (very improved) 358/404 Jeffrey case.(Whoops) 250 gr bullets at 3200 fps. from a 26" barrel. Kicks some, but gets the job done. - Dan

[ 09-04-2002, 22:05: Message edited by: dan belisle ]

In the May 2002 American Rifleman, Bryce Towsley did just what you are looking for by necking up the 300 RUM to .358. Of course, he named it after himself, the .358 UMT. I believe he states it was built by Mark Bansner, so at least the reamers are available and don't need to be bought new.

Interesting article, but it doesn't seem to do anything the .338 RUM can't do- 225 pills at 3,000fps and 250's at 2900. Still, if you like fat bullets this is probably the cartridge for you "hole" in your armory. - Sheister

Thanx for the imput guys. This may not be filling any extremely needed space. A big 338 or any 375 would do fine. But I kinda got this idea floating around in my head, and the longer it is there... the better it sounds. It may be just me. Oh and I have to give special thanx to Puck, for the link which I will follow as soon as Im done posting this.

How about a .35 Whelan Ackley Imp. or a .340 Weatherby?

Look in your may 2002 Rifleman

A Wildman�s Wildcat: The .358 UMT
Bryce M. Towsley Field Editor set out to take the .300 Remington Ultra Mag case, neck it up to 0.358� and make it his own. Here�s how he did it and how the .358 Ultra Mag Towsley performed afield.

Guess I should look before I leep
just ran a cross it last night
but now I see Sheister already posted
it

[ 09-04-2002, 22:47: Message edited by: rfbjrpete ]