I've got a Savage 99 Series A rifle that I'm having a hard time getting to group better than 2.5" for three shots. I'm trying to just find a decent hunting load, I've been mainly using the 200 grain Horandy SP but I've picked up some 225 grain Sierras to try. I've been wondering as well if I can get the 225 grain Accubond to fit my magazine without eating too much powder room.

So what is the go to powder that you guys are using in the .358? I've mainly been using H4895, but I've got I3031, I4064, H322, H335, Varget and BL-C(2) that I can use as well. I've been reading 4230 might be a powder I want to try as well.

Thanks!

Trust me, TAC is THE powder for the 358 given it being tight on capacity, also with magnum primers as maximum pressure is needed with said capacity constraint. Accurate and fast. Give the Ramshot folks a call to discuss. I now use a custom pre-64 M70 that allows me to seat to 2.9" so the 225 gr Accubond works fine, not sure about the M99 but the same weight Partition will work fine. The Sierra is a good bullet, IME with a few 358's, to prove the rifles capabilty from an accuracy standpoint. Prior to using TAC I used IMR 4320 with the 225 gr Partition or Sierra.

I e-mailed the Ramshot folks about a year ago with a question about TAC and the 358 win...

I received a nice e-mail reply stating that while TAC would work, they recommended X-Terminator for the 225 sierra and 250 gr Speer.

The 225 gr load was 44.5 grs Xterm
the 250 gr load was 42.5 grs Xterm

I tried them both out of my BLR and was very pleased with the results.

I have also had very good results with h4895 and h335 as well as IMR 4320.

My experience is that the .358 is very easy to work up.

Cheers

Hope this helps.

I just sent an email to Ramshot asking about TAC as well as other powders they would recomend for the .358 Win. Just waiting to hear back.

Are those the max charges or what works in your rifle?

Thanks!

Another vote for ImR 4320 been using it for quite sometime. IMO it works good.

Taylorce1,

Those charges listed were the max listed from Ramshot. I ran them on Quickload as well at they come in right at around the published SAMMI Press max of 58000...

It was nice that they both shot well in my rifle.

Be careful with H335...I got a little zealous with a couple of my loads and got very sticky lever action...pressure signs.
Here is the e-mail I received from Ramshot:

Mike,

TAC® will work however being slightly too slow burning it will require more compression (which is not bad)

X-terminator will be slightly more efficient albeit also compressed.

We suggest the following.



Caliber: .358 Winchester.

Barrel length: 24”

Powder: Ramshot – X-Terminator. (1st Choice)

Bullet weight: 225 grains.

Start load: 41.0grains (2000 – 2100 Ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 44.5 grains (2400 – 2500 Ft/p/sec). Full case/Compressed.

Bullet weight: 250 grains.

Start load: 37.0grains (1900 – 2000 Ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 42.0grains (2250 – 2350 Ft/p/sec). Full case/Compressed.



Powder: Ramshot – TAC.

Bullet weight: 225 grains.

Start load: 41.0grains (2000 – 2100 Ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 46.0grains (2300 – 2400 Ft/p/sec). Full case/Compressed.

Bullet weight: 250 grains.

Start load: 39.0grains (1850 – 1950 Ft/p/sec)

Maximum load: 44.0grains (2200 – 2300 Ft/p/sec). Full case/Compressed.

NOTES:

It’ important to note that SAFETY is our prime concern therefore we strongly recommend.

1. TO ALWAYS BEGIN LOADING AT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM “START” LOAD and develop loads in 2% increments towards the MAXIMUM load.

2. If at all possible, measure the velocity and correlate with our data.

Cheers!

Take a look at their 338 Fed data. Note that all 358 data is loaded to lower pressures than the 338 Fed or 308 Win for that matter. Load the 358 up to the same pressures and TAC will rule. Seems the M99 works fine at 308 Win pressures.

Thanks for the data!

Ramshot just got back with me and here is what they said.

quote:

Chad,

We suggest the following.

Caliber: .358 Winchester.

Barrel length: 24”



Powder: Ramshot – TAC®.

Bullet weight: 200 grains.

Start load: 43.0grains (2300 – 2350 Fps)

Maximum load: 48.0grains (2450 – 2550 Fps) LD ca 108%.

Bullet weight: 225 grains.

Start load: 41.4 grains (2000 – 2100 Fps)

Maximum load: 46.0grains (2300 – 2400 Fps) LD ca 106%.

NOTES:

It’ important to note that SAFETY is our prime concern therefore we strongly recommend.

1. ALWAYS BEGIN LOADING AT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM “START” LOAD and develop loads in 2% increments towards the MAXIMUM load.

2. If possible, measure the velocity and correlate with our data.

Kreyton: Was your 250gr load compressed? Care to comment on accuracy? I currently load 200gr Hornadys in my BLR but was looking for an alternative if I draw a Moose tag.

Westernmassman,

My 250 gr speer load with 42.5 gr xterm was very slightly compressed...accuracy was good.

I actually found better results using 44.5 grs of H4895 under the 250 speer. Lightly compressed and very accurate.

Good luck.
Cheers!

quote:

Originally posted by kreyten:
Westernmassman,

I actually found better results using 44.5 grs of H4895 under the 250 speer. Lightly compressed and very accurate.

I just scrapped some loads I had for my BLR today. I had been using IMR 3031 with 200 gr bullets. I tried some H4895 with a Nosler 225gr partition. 48grs gave me 2434 fps (avg for 15 shots) with 12 fps ES. The 3 shot groups ranged from .770 to .965. That's my new load for my BLR. I tried to go up to 48,5 grs which is still below Nosler's max. The group opened up beyond 1 " and the velocity only went up to 2455 fps. Plus the ES went up to 52 fps. I'll stick with 48 grs. That load will do for anything I want to hunt. I have plenty of H4895 on hand to use in my M1A.

Gun writer John Barsness did an article in Handloader magazine comparing the 338federal to the 358win. He used a max load of TAC 52grs!!!! in a Ruger hawkeye 22" barrel to get 2,750fps with a 200gr Hornady S.P. with a magnum primer in the .358win. With sperical powders they are harder to ignite plus the limited case capacity warrants a magnum primer. I tried this load in my 358win BLR and it was indeed pretty hot, i feel 50grs would be fine. Usually data for the 358 win is on the low side of pressure, hope this helps....

HI
I have a Savage 99-358 and I have not been able to get the Sierra or Nosler 225gr bullets to shoot very well. The rifle just doesn't like them.

The original Winchester factory 200gr ST was the most accurate load shot through this rifle.
I was only able to barely match it with the 200gr Sierra RN with IMR3031 and H-335.

The 250gr bullets, Hornady RN and Speer Spitzers shoot very well with 45.0gr of H-335.

I haven't done any work with this rifle in quite some time. All this work was done back in the late 70's and early 80's.
There are some newer powders and bullets to try if I get inspired again.

I have some 250gr Speer Spitzers loaded up and if I take the .358 out, that’s what I use. I would be expecting a close shot.

Just my 2¢.. hope it helps

Consider that most accurate rifles will shoot many loads well!

That the 200 gr Silvertip factory load has always been accurate for me as well as handloaded with 3031. These days I use more 180 gr Speers in my .358's.

Not all of them have been accurate right off. My first one is a 99F that I got in 1966 and I have a number of them in 99's and bolts.

The 99's shot best when the forend was clear of the action and some tape "bedding" was used under the barrel in the forend. Of course the scope was tight and proven good.

I tried all the comon .358 powders for several years, & was not satisfied with the results. I wanted 2500 fps from 225 bullets, & 2400 fps from 250's ( 20 inch barrelled BLR ). This would allow me to take the occasional longshot here in the high country.

When the Barsness article first appeared, I immediately purchased some TAC, & went to work. With mag primers & half a grain less than JB's maximum,I slightly exceeded my fps goals. The 225 Sie is consistantly under an inch for 3 shots. The 225 Partition & 250 Sp HotCore are a hair over an inch.

The biggest TAC advantage is no more compressed loads. And with the mag primers, I don't sweat using the gun in really cold weather.
Jim

I use 2015 w 250 gr Hornadys'
stellar accuracy

I have glass bedded a simi truck load of 99 Savages and they take to glass bedding like a duck to water. I would say that 98% of them went from 2 to 5 inch guns to 1 to 1.5 inch guns..

Bed the forend at centerline of barrel using the forend screw, being sure to bed the juncture to the metal, then run a small bead arount the but stock juncture and your gun will then shoot most any load.

Glassed thusly almost any 99 will shoot right beside the best of bolt action hunting rifles.

I have two 358's. Savage 99R and a custom MRC.
Both shoot nice groups using Win748 and Horn200gr.SP.

Win 748 is all I use.

I use TAC 52gr. Fed 215 primer 2600 fps at 15 feet.
I'am not going to use any more Hornady 200gr. SP Interlocks. Take a look at the pic's,I would have lost this bear for shure if I had hit the shoulder bone. Lucky I hit the heart because that's as far as the pieces went. The shot was only 75 yards.

My sav 99 in 300 is a 2 inch gun I have killed several trk loads of deer with it.

If I need more accuracy I go with something else out to 250yards I have had no trouble.

quote:

I use 2015 w 250 gr Hornadys'
stellar accuracy

Bingo, my favorite also.

Have you tried IMR 3031???