Got it yesterday and now trying to figure out how to feed it. I know where there is a bag of 50 new cases. Can't I reload them with standard 358 Win. dies? Anyway, think I will mount a Leupold 1x-4x when I can pick up some bases. Can't wait to shoot it now.

.358 dies will work just fine. You will have to find the proper shell holder as the .356 is rimmed and the .358 is not.
Brass can be found, I have read of some using .358 brass in a pinch with good results.

Winchester used to do a yearly run of 356 Win, I'd assume they'll start doing it again if the current panic subsides. Right now, ammo/component companies aren't making anything obscure.

I think you can use 358 brass,but you can only use 356 load data.The outside dimensions are the same but the 356 brass is thicker.I have used 358 brass in mine.I also picked up some 307 brass and ran it through the 358 sizer die and it works fine also.

SAAMI specs are identical, 52,000PSI for either. The Accurate Powder Companies manual lists the same loads for both.

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
SAAMI specs are identical, 52,000PSI for either. The Accurate Powder Companies manual lists the same loads for both.

Look in a loading manual.The loads are different and a 94 or a 336 cannot take those pressures.

If I remember correctly the 356 Win uses a 30/30 shell holder.

quote:

Originally posted by OLBIKER:

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
SAAMI specs are identical, 52,000PSI for either. The Accurate Powder Companies manual lists the same loads for both.

Look in a loading manual.The loads are different and a 94 or a 336 cannot take those pressures.

There are a couple of ways to look at this data comparison.

One is to look at SAAMI standards for the two. Rich is dead on with his statement that SAAMI standards are exactly the same for both...52,000 p.s.i. (piezzo, not c.u.p.)

Another way is to look at loading manuals. This method is a little more shaky, as it depends on which bullet company's or powder company's manual you look in....they all did their testing in their own different test barrels, so naturally their max loads recommendations may vary all over the place.

In the Lee Manual #2 for example, the Max recommended load for the .356 Winchester with 200 grain bullets using either IMR or Hodgdon 4198 is 40.0 grains. Their max load of 4198 for the .358 Winchester is 41.0 grains.

Clearly that is no great difference and could easily just indicate the differences in the two test barrels.

But with 250 grain bullets, they recommend identical maximums using Bl-C(2)...48.0 grains (which generates 52,200 piezzo p.s.i.).

So, "you pays yer money and takes yer choice" as the carnival barkers used to proclaim.

Me, I use identical loads in both my .356 Win and my .358 win, both of which are lever guns, the .356 being a Win. M94 XTR and the .358 a Browning BLR.My load is 44 grains of either Nobel (Gevelot) #3, or Norma 203, pushing 250 grain Silvertips, of which I still have a supply. (I am NOT recommending this load to ANYONE, just reporting what I use.)

Neither rifle has ever showed a problem with my loads (and I occasionally shoot .358 ammo in my .356).

Ref proper shellholder for 356/307 Win--I'd be surprised if a 30-30 SH would accept either case. Base diameter of 30-30 is .421"; base diameter of 356/307 is .469". The extractor groove on 356/307 would have to be extremely deep to fit, and I doubt this would be done in a case designed for higher pressures.

Dave Manson

Lee lists the same shell holder for 30-30 and .356.

http://leeprecision.com/rifle-...s-shell-holders.html

I stand corrected. Redding does as well, so they must be centering the case using the rim diameter--rather than base diameter--and making the center of the SH sufficiently large for 307/356 to clear. Learn something new everyday.

Dave Manson

I have an old stash of once fired 307 brass, which is the rimmed version of the 308. They just just need to be sized up the .358 and your in business. They have been wasting space in my reloading shack for about 12 years. PM me a mailing address and they are yours. I will never have anymore use of them, as I no longer own a 307 model 94, and never will again.
Matt

The 307 brass is on it's way. Does anyone know the easiest way to size up from .308 to .358?

I vaguely remembered that there was a case forming die available somewhere, so I googled it. Here you go (From Reddings on-line catalogue):

356 Winchester From 444 Marlin
83227 358 Winchester/356 Winchester Trim Die $58.00

This is a form and trim die. Just run your 444 brass through, trim, and full length resize.
Matt

FWIW, I used 358 brass in my 356 with no problems with extraction.