Anyone use, or know of someone that regulary hunts AK with a 358 Win? Although I have many favorite cartridges, the 358 is my real favorite. Lou

The 358 win has been on my wishlist for yrs it just never happened. I once loaded 100 225 Sierra'a in 338 cases for fireforming to 358 Norma specs, along the way a few caribou and a moose got involved, if there was a big difference because they were only going 2350fps it escaped me. I wouldn't feel undergunned with a 358 Win at any sane range including the biggest brown bears, 225 Np would get the nod for bears.

From the flatlands of Michigan, I think the 358 would be ideal for AK. No flies on that chambering...

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Anyone use, or know of someone that regulary hunts AK with a 358 Win? Although I have many favorite cartridges, the 358 is my real favorite. Lou

Model 70, Savage 99, Model 88, M/S---or ??
Inquiring minds---

. I had a Savage 99 in 358 and hunted with it ..
A friend in Hoonah that hunts with one in a Ruger 77 ,and a friend in Sitka who uses a 358 in the Ruger Scout rifle ..

Hal Waugh used one and claimed it was a fantastic cartridge for Kodiak bears

Many, many moons ago, I dated a girl from Alaska. Her Dad hunted the big bear with an '06 and 220 grain bullet ammo. He was gone when I met here, but she said he never encounterd any problems with the '06 not getting the job done on the big guys...

Don

I've allways been intriged by the .358 but I've never had one ether.
I shot blackbear,deer and buffalo with my .35 whelen and it works great. Not to mention a bunch of hogs down in Florida.
The load data I've seen for the ,358 is'nt far at all behind the whelen. I'd say it's close enough that the game woulden't know the differance.

Wow, thanks for the great responses. To me the 358 is a very versatile round and built it with black bear in mind, but never contemplated using it for brown bear. Lou

I wasn't to overly impressed with the one I own on a 98 action fed find put I couldn't get it to shoot with into 3 inchs. I guess If I could have gotten it to shoot around 1.25 or so I would have kept it. But after trying several bullet weights and powders It was one of the few guns that I don't regret selling.

A nice option for the 358 Win is the original Browning BLR lever actions before they made them lighter weight. Very strong action, real Browning quality back then, nice wood as well.

You can find them used in excellent shape for around $600 sometimes cheaper ... There are a few on gunbroker (none of them mine, if they were I'd keep them)



Chuck

I had a beautiful Marlin 336 in 35 Rem that I was going to have Noneman(sp) convert to 358, but ended up dumping it in a trade. Nicest wood on a Marlin I had ever seen. I have a beautiful Sako AII Deluxe in 22-250 I am thinking about rebarreling to 358. A Finnwolf would make a eat 358 lever gun. Lou

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Anyone use, or know of someone that regulary hunts AK with a 358 Win? Although I have many favorite cartridges, the 358 is my real favorite. Lou

I have owned 3 a 99A 358 & a neat Model 100 Win
in 358,and a Browning BLR in 358. Never hunted any of them but talked to an old bush Alaskan that hunted a 99 358 for years said it was a fine rifle.

Thanks for the replies. Lou

I'm a big 358 fan, including a 357 Mag. Marlin 1894, 35 Rem. Marlin 336, 35 Whelen Savage 110, and a 358 STA Zastava Mauser. I've not got around to the 358 Win. version yet, but I've come close to several conversions over the years including a Nonneman convert of a 336 Marlin to .356 and actually buying a .308 Win. Rem. 600 for a 358 Win. rebarrel. Too bad the 308 shoots so good I can't give it up. Someday I'll get a 358 Norma barrel twisted up for my Savage 116 platform. There are other intriguing wildcats out there right now including a 358/308 Marlin coversion on a 336 action and a 358 Ruger on their 375/416 case. The latter would be an excellent reason to get more 275-300 gr. 358 big game bullets on the market.

For me a Win model 88 carbine in .358 win, using those soft Hawk bullets, would be ideal.

I'm a huge a 35 cal fan... have a 35 remington. 358 win mag, 35 whelen, and a 350 remy mag guide gun.

I searched and searched for my 358 win mag until I came across one of those stainless Browning BLR's in a .358 win. It's all weather and all purpose. It's actually my "Little" deer gun as it is the least powered rifle I own. I love it and wouldn't trade it for a winning lottery number. Depending on the load, it shoots plenty flat, and hits a ton. I've hunted mule deer and elk at good distances with it and have had great success. In fact, I use it more than any rifle I own.

I've never been grizz hunting, so I can't say, but it is an absolutely ideal pig gun.

Folks claim it's a "brush" gun, but loaded up with 200 grained bullets, I wouldn't hesitate to hunt sheep with it. Jack it up to 225 or 250 (250 u almost run out of case capacity) grained bullets, and I'm sure it would be great medicine for brown bear. I highly recommend it.

quote:

Originally posted by Colonel_Klink:
For me a Win model 88 carbine in .358 win, using those soft Hawk bullets, would be ideal.

I had an old Remington 788 that originally was a .243 converted to a 358 Win by Stan Jackson in Anchorage here. Has a Douglas Premium bbl on it and it shoots 1/2" groups with Sierra bullets. Everything else, it shoots 1 1/2 to 2" groups just like you'd think it should, go figure. I also had Stan do a 358 Norma Mag on a Montana Action w/a Douglas bbl also. That thing shoots 1 moa or less @ 100 yds everytime. I recently traded for a Ruger M77/MKII 350 Rem Mag. I love the 35 calibers. You can't beat them for Alaska. I'd love to hit a black bear w/that 358 Win tho. It's an old classic cartridge and very close to the 35 Whelen in power. I'd have no qualms about shooting a brownie with either one of them, esp the 358 Norma Mag.

In the next week or so I am sending Stan a Sako AV to have him swap the current 375 H&H barrel with a Sako Factory 416 Rem barrel and widen the barrel channel. Looking forward to having him do it. I have heard a lot of positive things about Stan's work. He also was very helpful on the phone and willing to get the work done while I was in Anchorage from the bush. Lou

I would love to have a Savage 99 in this caliber. My BLR has been a solid performer on game.

I've got 338-06 and a 9.3x62 so a 35 Whelen always seemed to me to be "lilly guilding" to use Elmer Keiths phrase. But I can easily justify a 358 Win. I want one of the new stainless Ruger Hawkeyes, especially now that they don't look as bright as Excaliber. I will be very disappointed if I can't get it to group with Hornady's 250 gr round nose. We don't have great bears, but I think one would be comforting when you have to walk into some thick mesquite or weeds to see if the hog you shot that ran off is dead because you have to get pretty close to find out. Another plus with that load is it should have a similar trajectory to a 30-30, another fave of mine.

Here's one for $550. I have done business with this firm and found them to be excellent. Lou


http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti...ions.asp?User=667950

Here is my .358 Win, I haven't taken any game with it yet but from shooting it I wouldn't be afraid to use it on anything within 300 yards. I have a Whelen as well but I got a great deal on this Savage 99, can't wait to try it on some large game. I might even consider taking it to AK to hunt black bear in the future.

Thanks for the heads up, Doc.

I'm having a 358win built on a styr 1912 action over at AK custom.

I love the 35's but something about the 358winny that I always wanted.

I think it would make a decent all around gun up here.

Joel, I know what you mean. I have already built two 358 Wins, and have a as new Sako AII Deluxe in 22-250 that's screaming to have a 358 screwed on it. Lou