Was planning on using my 358 JDJ 14" Contender for Elk in CO. and my 5-shot 45 Colt Ruger Bisley for back up. For my 358 I had heard good thing about Speers 220 grain FP performance and since I very closely duplicate 356 Win rifle velocity, I picked up a couple hundred. Now wouldn't you know it, after trying literally dozens and dozens of load combinations, I just can't get the dang things to group, pattern yes, but not group. So, like the subject line say, time to start over. I'm thinking of going back to some old friends, either the 225 grain Nosler Partition (2280 fps out of my barrel) or the Hornady 200 grain Spire Point (2460 fps). Anyone shot Elk or Elk size animals with these bullets around these velocities. Both group around 1 1/4" - 1 1/2" at 100 yards. Come on Boys, I need answers, the hunting trip is less than a month away....Thanks.....RW

I've never shot the .358, but I don't think you'll go wrong with the Noslers.

When Don Shearer worked up data for .358 Bellm, he found the same thing with the Speer bullets. He had high hopes for them but had to give up on them.

225 gr. Ballistic Tips work well in this approx. weight range.

Mike

Mike, the 358 Nosler BT has given me the best accuracy ever in my 358 JDJ, but after taking several whitetail deer with them I believe they would be to "soft" for Elk if I end up taking a shoulder shot. I have know doubts they would work well on broadside lung shots....RW

Ravenwolf,

If you are going to intentionally center on the shoulder of a mature bull elk at any range over 100 yards with your 358, I think you may be in for a little trouble.

Unfortunately the velocities you are using along with the S.D. numbers which are pretty good but not great, your asking alot from your 358.

If you are hunting young bulls or cows I would say you will be fine but on a big mature bull, I would advise you slip your slug just behind the shoulder.

Elk are big critters with a very large vital zone. It will be easy for you to get around the shoulder for a good lung shot.

For hunting any elk, I would go with the 225 gr Partition and drive it as fast as you safely and accurately can.

I have heard tales of hunters hammering bull elk at 300 yards with various Contender chamberings and I know it is fully possible but I do not feel it si a good thing to do.

Get inside 200 yards, prefereably under 150 yards and either the 225 Ballistic Tip or Partition will work great on a chest shot. If you want to take shoulders out, I would use the partition and aim for the off shoulder, that way the vitals are already hammered just in case the bullet fails to break the shoulder and you will have your bull anyway.

IF the shoulder stops your bullet on the way in, well, we all know what will happen.

I feel the 358 is kind of an iffy rounds for heavy game with jacketed bullets. A heavy 300 gr class hard cast bullet at 2000-2100 fps out of a JDJ would make a better heavy game bullet but that is just my opinion.

IF a bullet is soft enough to expand at 358 JDJ velocities then it will generally over expand on heavy game.

If you get a bullet stout and heavy enough for heavy game, the JDJ has a little trouble driving it fast enough for much expansion.

This is why I generally jump from the 338 to the 375.

Go with the 225 Partition and try to avoid an onside shoulder shot if possible.

Good Shooting!!!

50

Ravenwolf Here is the load I used it is a 225gr SPBT Sierra and with 48gr of Reloader #7 This load out of my gun would shoot 1/2 grout at 100yrds

Fifty Driver, thanks for the reply. I will be limiting my shots to 200 yards or under because I would like to keep my it around 2000 fpe or over. Your advice on lung shots is very sound and that is what I would greatly prefer, but in the real world of hunting a broadside classic shot is hard to get 100% of the time. If it means I have to go thru the onside shoulder I'll probably pass up the shot in hopes of a better angle. Going to the offside shoulder after first passing thru the vitals is a better bet. My only concern is getting no expansion with the partition where the Hornady will and has given me both. Again I'm talking whitetail deer, but the Hornady didn't exibit the rapid expansion the 225 grain BT did on similar shots on deer. Maybe I should just take my 444 Marlin barrel instead and use 320 grain cast or 300 XTPs. That would limit me to 150 yards but getting close is what it is all about....RW

Paul, thanks for the load info. Have you tried the Sierra bullet on Elk and if so, what kind of performance did you get? I've never tried the Sierra 358 bullet...RW

Ravenwolf no used it on a bear hunt and it worked great I hit the bear right in the should and it put about a 1 hole out the other side at 150yds

RW,
I concur with 50's thoughts about bullet choices and placement. If you keep the range where you mentioned either bullet will work fine if you stay away from big bone. If you don't have the vital shot you want, wait or pass up the opportunity. I'm going 4th season in SW CO for elk this year. There will be four of us hunting elk and deer together and all four will use specialty handguns (3-XP's 6.5-284, 284 Win, 7.82 Patriot and 1-Encore in 30-06). Plan to pop a cow with the Patriot using a 180 grain Sierra Game King. Still riding my bike and just started up with the Nordic Track today to be in as good of shape as possible.

Ernie

Ernie

Well I know some of the big bullet guys will not agree but I love basic 180gr horndady SS/PB in my 358 win lone eagle. I use 48 gr of h322 which = 2450 fps. I have taken over ten animals including a moose with this load. Only one time did I shoot an animal twice and that was my falt. It groups better than any other round I have tried -1" moa.
The trick was getting the seating depth. Now I tried Nosler 180 and 225 partions and could never get them to be better than 4 inches. Justy my limited experience with this one gun.

Thanks everyone for the replies. Ernie, good luck Elk hunting in CO. I'll be up near Lake George, first firearms season. Both loads are going to CO with me as they both shoot fairly close together(its true and the only T/C barrel I have that will do this with two disimilar weights), give around 1 - 1 1/4 MOA at 100 and both have their attributes. I'll carry the Partition and use it on shots out to 100 yards and if I have time to set up for a shot over that I'll switch to the Hornady. Hopefully I'll have something to report back on....RW