The Accurate Reloading Forums
358 STA
09 June 2005, 15:39
boilerroom358 STA
Who has one of these? How do you like it? In your opinion is recoil tolerable in a rifle just under 8 lbs( I weigh 240 lbs)? Will this fit in the magazine from a 7mm Rem Mag (a M70 SG is what I'm considering rebarreling). I'll measure eventually. Do you like to use 8mm rem Mag brass or 375 H&H?
-------------------------------
Too many people........
09 June 2005, 15:54
jeffeossoshesh..
even for me, recoil is rough in a sub 8# gun.. you can get headstamped brass, but 8rem, 416 rem,m 375 weatherby are the easist to make from.
jeffe
09 June 2005, 19:39
ramrod340I built one when I built my 7STW. Found that with a lot more barrel, powder and recoil I could get 125fps more than my factory 358 norma in a 21". Unless you are immune to recoil it will get your attention is a less than 8# rifle.
In a M70 the easiest thing is to contact the factory and get a 300Wby mag box ejector and bolt stop. Or you can remove the spacer and shorten the stop and ejector. I've done it both ways and just buy the replacements now.
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
quote:
Originally posted by boilerroom:
Who has one of these? How do you like it? In your opinion is recoil tolerable in a rifle just under 8 lbs( I weigh 240 lbs)? Will this fit in the magazine from a 7mm Rem Mag (a M70 SG is what I'm considering rebarreling). I'll measure eventually. Do you like to use 8mm rem Mag brass or 375 H&H?
Boilerroom, get ahold of Dan Beslisle, I'm pretty sure he has extensive experience with this calibre.
09 June 2005, 22:01
Paul HIt'll recoil more than a 7 mag

I considered building one, but settled on the 350 rigby, essentially the same as a 358 Norma. If I'm going to put up with more recoil, then I wanter a bigger bullet, not more speed. But, if you want a 400 yd moose gun, it's probably about as good as it gets.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
10 June 2005, 00:14
boilerroomquote:
Originally posted by cobra:
quote:
Originally posted by boilerroom:
Who has one of these? How do you like it? In your opinion is recoil tolerable in a rifle just under 8 lbs( I weigh 240 lbs)? Will this fit in the magazine from a 7mm Rem Mag (a M70 SG is what I'm considering rebarreling). I'll measure eventually. Do you like to use 8mm rem Mag brass or 375 H&H?
Boilerroom, get ahold of Dan Beslisle, I'm pretty sure he has extensive experience with this calibre.
Well that don't surprise me. Everytime I consider an odd calibre he has extensive experience with it.

-------------------------------
Too many people........
10 June 2005, 04:38
fritz454I'm Building one on a win 70 action. I want it to weigh in at 9 lbs with a scope. Should get your attention but when you're looking at an elk across a canyon you'll never feel it. I think 8 lbs is just about right for the rifle alone. Add a scope, a full magazine of cartridges and a sling and you'll be at 9 or 9.25 lbs. Perfect.
John
I've used one for 5 yr. Mine is on a Sako L691. 7lb. with scope. Recoill is similar to 375 H+H. It is the best rifle I have for long range shooting. Lots of heavy,long bullets. 250gr. @ about 3200. Approx 1000 rd. thru this one from 125gr. handgun bullets to 250gr. Northforks. I also have a 35/404imp. It would prob get a few more fps but I've never really pushed it. You will not be sorry if you go this route.If you contact me I will go thru my data with you. Mark
A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man, which he proposes to pay off with your money. Gordon Liddy
10 June 2005, 15:33
boilerroomMuch appreciated.

-------------------------------
Too many people........
10 June 2005, 18:27
Headacheboilerroom,
I built A left hand M/70 358STA. Yoy will need the magazine, follower, ejector and bolt stop for the longer calibers such as the 375 H&H/416 Rem Mag. The rear bridge of the receiver should be machined to the rear to increase the ejection port. This will remove the forward scope base hole and you will have to drill and tap a new hole at .330" from the rear scope base hole to match the Safari Express patern.
Headache
10 June 2005, 18:38
phurley5I shoot a couple of .358 STA's, both on Model 70 actions. The first is a custom produced by Winchester for A-Square several years ago. I really don't know the weight, a guess would 91/2 to 10 pounds with scope. I put a muzzle brake on it and is about like my straight barrel .300 Winny in recoil. A real sweety to shoot, it has been with me to Colorado, Alberta, Alaska and Africa, and with North Forks from 225, 250 and 270 grain bullets has one hole accuracy and will deal with anything that walks. The second is a Model 70 Custom post 64 action with "Lilja" barrel and H&S precision stock,(I replaced a stunning custom thumbhole that murdered my trigger hand). It also has a brake, the same accuracy as the other rifle and gets 50 to 150 fps faster speeds than the Winchester barrel. Both have 4.5 X 14 Leupold Vari X 111 scopes with fine duplex crosshairs. It is my backup and my son's number one Elk rifle. In 2003 he killed a nice Bull at 125 yards with the 270 grain North Fork passing through both shoulders and then killing a cow bedded down 25 yards behind it with the bullet lodged in the scull on the offside. ----- From a .358 nut you will not be sorry for choosing the STA if you practice enough to become proficient with it's use, any of the Model 70 magnum actions will work.

Good luck and good shooting.
phurley
10 June 2005, 23:24
short44Does anyone have an extra 358 STA shell they could let go ?
Dwindling the worlds lead supply one cat at a time!!
11 June 2005, 01:11
boilerroomYou guys are making me drool.
There is actually two of us thinking of chambering for this round(save money on the reamer). If you had to make a purchase for a rifle to re-barrel to this round would the M70 magnum be the way to go? How about a Ruger?
-------------------------------
Too many people........
11 June 2005, 01:24
phurley5boileroom ----- Years ago I asked the same question of my gunsmith. After 10 minutes of words I cannot repeat here about the Ruger trigger, I quitely accepted his reccomendation of the Model 70. I was thinking then of building a STA, then was lucky enough to find the two I have on GunsAmerica. If I were starting from scratch today I would use the Model 70 action and Lilja barrel. Lilja built the first barrel for Layne Simpson and Kenny Jarrett when they came up with the idea. I have a great article by Simpson if you would want a copy, it was invaluable to me when I started reloading for the STA.

Good shooting.
phurley
11 June 2005, 01:31
boilerroomquote:
Originally posted by phurley5:
boileroom ----- Years ago I asked the same question of my gunsmith. After 10 minutes of words I cannot repeat here about the Ruger trigger, I quitely accepted his reccomendation of the Model 70. I was thinking then of building a STA, then was lucky enough to find the two I have on GunsAmerica. If I were starting from scratch today I would use the Model 70 action and Lilja barrel. Lilja built the first barrel for Layne Simpson and Kenny Jarrett when they came up with the idea. I have a great article by Simpson if you would want a copy, it was invaluable to me when I started reloading for the STA.

Good shooting.
I'm not a fan of the triggers on the two Rugers I've owned but I have to say the rifles were really strong and reliable. Trigger work can be done and theres always replacements. I'm a fan of both the M77 II and M70 for reliability and durability.
Could you scan and e-mail the artical? I don't want to be too much of a pain. Thanks for the offer.

-------------------------------
Too many people........
11 June 2005, 01:55
phurley5boileroom ----- I will attempt it with help, if you don't get it with a couple of days send me a PM and I will snail mail it. I am a complete neophyte when it comes to computors. My business has the scanner and when I fetch the article from home I will give it a go.

Good shooting.
phurley
11 June 2005, 03:25
Paul HI guess you can call me a Ruger fan, but I personally think the M-77 mkII has a well designed trigger, it's just that Ruger doesn't properly finish it. Mechanically it really isn't a different design than the M-70 trigger, it just doesn't have any adjustment. Stoning and polishing the parts result in a smooth trigger, a lighter trigger return spring is sometimes need, and an overtravel screw finishes it off.
I'd say most gunsmiths badmouth the Ruger w/o ever having worked on them. They can produce a rifle just as accurate as any of the other common hunting bolt actions on the market, given a good truing and a properly fit and chambered barrel.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
11 June 2005, 03:34
ramrod340A STA would not fit in my MKII can you just buy a magazine box and parts for the H&H version?
As usual just my $.02
Paul K
11 June 2005, 03:48
Paul HThere was an article in Rifle about how to make a mkII fit a full length magnum round, I believe all that was required was fitting the longer magazine from the magnum ruger. I had a copy of the article but don't recall where I put it.
__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
11 June 2005, 03:55
boilerroomquote:
Originally posted by phurley5:
boileroom ----- I will attempt it with help, if you don't get it with a couple of days send me a PM and I will snail mail it. I am a complete neophyte when it comes to computors. My business has the scanner and when I fetch the article from home I will give it a go.

Good shooting.
No hurries. I'd hate for you to have to part with your article. I guess a copy of some sort would be the way to go. I'll PM you an e-addy. I share your ignorance towards computers also.

-------------------------------
Too many people........
11 June 2005, 04:05
boilerroomquote:
Originally posted by Paul H:
I guess you can call me a Ruger fan, but I personally think the M-77 mkII has a well designed trigger, it's just that Ruger doesn't properly finish it. Mechanically it really isn't a different design than the M-70 trigger, it just doesn't have any adjustment. Stoning and polishing the parts result in a smooth trigger, a lighter trigger return spring is sometimes need, and an overtravel screw finishes it off.
I'd say most gunsmiths badmouth the Ruger w/o ever having worked on them. They can produce a rifle just as accurate as any of the other common hunting bolt actions on the market, given a good truing and a properly fit and chambered barrel.
Ruger's a tough rifle and I'd be happy to own another one for a work horse. I have the brands I turn to accuracy and then theres the rifles I turn to for reliabilty. A little work on the trigger and a qulity barrel and I don't see how it could not be accurate if the smith and the shooter did their end of the job. I had a M77 II in 270 that was super accurate out of the box. I pulled many a shots because of the stiff trigger but never cared in those days. My M77 II in 7mm Rem Mag was never a very good shooter but I've killed 75% of my game with it and its rolled on quads, down slides while strapped to back packs on my back and into rocky creeks while I was crossing slimey logs 10 feet high. A fellow bought it less than a year ago and the scrstches were not deep at all on the canoe paddle. He E-mailed me and said he was completelty satisfied with his purchase. I kinda miss that old warrior.

-------------------------------
Too many people........
12 June 2005, 07:04
phurley5boileroom ----- An excerpt from the article by Layne Simpson. "A nutshell description of the .358 Alaskan is that is shoots as flat as the .300 Magnums and delivers more energy at all ranges than Holland's .375 Magnum. It's perfect for smashing both shoulders of a big bear at close range, yet shoots flat enough for Elk, Moose, and Caribou in open country." I have been shooting both my STA's for three four years now and can attest to it's power on Elk, Deer, Hartebeest, Zebra, and Impala. Your Province should be the perfect place for this great round.

Good shooting.
phurley
12 June 2005, 22:59
boilerroomA graet choice on my moose/griz combo hunts.
-------------------------------
Too many people........
12 June 2005, 23:33
short44So no one can let a shell go for my bullet board ?
Dwindling the worlds lead supply one cat at a time!!
12 June 2005, 23:42
phurley5short44 ----- Let me know what you want good buddy, and I will send you one. How about I seat a bullet in an unprimed case. If that will do, I'll be glad to accomodate.

Good shooting.
phurley
17 June 2005, 02:46
short44Thank you phurley... I just got this beast of a shell, man its not a small one by no means, Thanks for adding one more to the board... This is what you guys use as a smallgame round for up north right ?

Dwindling the worlds lead supply one cat at a time!!
17 June 2005, 03:15
Paul HCome to think of it, my 350 Rigby is my smallest centerfire rifle

Guess it's time a get a 300 mag so I have a small bore

__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
17 June 2005, 03:28
short44Damn the biggest I have ever had was my 30-06.. I have a 44 mag now. Now my brother has a Sako in 338 Lapua mag, why he has that for north Florida deer and hog I'll never understand ?
Dwindling the worlds lead supply one cat at a time!!
17 June 2005, 05:04
Paul HMy wife claimed my .308, so that left me with the 350 Rigby, 458 Lott and 500 Jeffrey

__________________________________________________
The AR series of rounds, ridding the world of 7mm rem mags, one gun at a time.
17 June 2005, 06:10
short44I take it that you dont go squirrel hunting ?
Dwindling the worlds lead supply one cat at a time!!