Pivi

Thanks for that great photo. You mention that the .358 STA that you show is the "first version" which is simply the 8mm Rem Mag case necked up.

What are the other versions and how do they differ from the first version?

quote:

Originally posted :
My dies came from Fred Huntington who sold out to RCBS originally.

Fred Huntington owned and eventually sold RCBS to Omark Industries, but not TO RCBS...he founded RCBS during WWII and owned it for over 25 years. He used to come visit occasionally in Edmonton. The last time I recall was in the early 1970s and at that point he still owned RCBS.

After he sold RCBS, he still made a lot of "custom" dies for RCBS and their customers...he was then located right across the street in Oroville from RCBS doing business under the then new business name of Huntington Die Specialties...IIRC.


(BTW, the first RCBS products were not cartridge loading dies, but bullet-swaging dies and presses...hence the name Rock Chuck Bullet Swage.)

Alberta Canuck ----- Thanks for the clarification. When I got my first STA I called RCBS to buy dies, which were not listed anywhere in any of the catalogs. RCBS told me to call Fred Huntington and gave me his phone number. When Fred answered the phone, I told him I wanted a set of dies for the .358 STA. He said "I am looking at a set hanging on the wall and I would be glad to sell them to you". He was very informative and friendly, and impressed me as to what a gentleman he was to a total stranger. We talked for a while about the STA and what a good round he thought it was. My facination with the STA grew, then two days later I had my dies in the mail. Starting from scratch with a magazine article by Layne Simpson that Mr. Huntington told me about, I was on my way with a new toy. I shoot many chamberings, and agree with Simpson that it is perfect for the Big Bears, with a choice of bullets from 185 grains to 310. I considered it superior to the .375 H&H, and went on to the .416 Rem for the next size for African animals. Good shooting.

phurley

I too consider the 358 STA far superior to any 375 caliber cartridge. It is far more versatile, and a great many choices of bullets for different duties. In fact I have had mine to Africa many times, and while I did not shoot buffalo with it there is no doubt that the 280 Swift I was using would have done the job as good as any 375. I also used to carry a few loads of the 310 gr Woodleigh solids at a modest 2500 fps just in case I needed deep penetration. It is an excellent cartridge.
Michael

22 WRF

I know 2 versions of the 358 STA. The first one was designed by Layne Simpson,simply necking up the 8 mm Remington magnum.He came along with the 7 mm STW and 7 mm STE ( shooting times easterner).A-Square later modified slightly that case,with a reduced body taper and a sharper shoulder and marketed it as a proprietary cartridge.The first version of this cartridge is now often called "358 STW"

quote:

Originally posted by Pivi:
The first version of this cartridge is now often called "358 STW"

Both reamers have also made their way to Australia. The first version is listed as a 35/8mmRemMag (because that's what it is), whilst the second is 'proper' and marked as a 358STA.
Cheers...
Con

Pivi

Back when I was making brass for the 358 STA I started using just 375 HH brass, run it thru the die, load a light bullet and fire form to chamber. This made excellent brass, and still have most of it today after being shot many times. I found the best use for 375 HH brass was to make 358STA, 458 Lott or 470 Capstick out of it. I am not sure what else you could use it for?

Later I picked up several hundred 8mm Rem cases, this was easier than doing the 375 because you could actually have a load that was pretty close to specs for the 358STA. Once fired it of course fire formed to the STA case, less taper, sharper shoulder and such.

By the way I sent samples of this to your guy Ray. He should have these this week for you.

Michael

Thanks Micheal!
I'll let you know when they arrive

Well,the 375 H&H is also the base for one of my favorite cartridges: the 375 Weatherby ( and 375 JRS too)

All of my initial brass was 8mm stamped, necked up to .358 caliber. Now all my brass comes from Bell, stamped .358 STA, it can be bought from several sources. I have never heard it called STW. When Layne Simpson and Kenny Jarrett built the first one, it was with a "Lilja" barrel, and they called the Shooting Times Alaskan. My best accuracy is from once fired brass. Superior Ammo loads the STA with several bullets, including North Fork. I have shot several Swift A-Frames from 225-250 and 280 grains. It is very good but not as accurate as the North Forks. My PH in the Selous of Tanzania said he would not hesitate to let me use it on Buffalo with the 270 grain North Fork. I had my .416 Rem with me and used it on the Buffalo, just to keep peace in the gun vault. Good shooting.

How about recoil?

Pivi ----- I have muzzle brakes on both of my STA's. The recoil is about like an unbraked .300 Winny. I have brakes on everything I shoot above the .300 Win and up to the 50 BMG. Good shooting.

Well,I shot a 416 Remington rifle and handled it quite well ( although I am not a seasoned big bore shooter) . Anyway , if it is like an unbraked 300 WM , the 358 STA recoil couldn't be considered the best option for a day at the range.Ouch!

.... Pivi; these are world class GREAT rounds , but not really designed for Blastin ...........
. For one reason , you wouldn,t want to overly heat up the throat .......
.
. For blastin a load with a 180 gr cheap SP and UNIQUE would work well

Damn

I was just about ready to have one of my winchester classic actions barreled to .358 STA and I got to thinking about this business of necking down that .375 Ruger to .35 caliber.

Anybody done that?