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JerryBobCo
Senior MemberPosts: 8,227 Senior Member
To those considering getting a .358 Winchester...
JerryBobCo
Senior MemberPosts: 8,227 Senior Member
consider the following.
As some of you know, I finally got my grubby little hands on one late last year. I even posted a thread about it, complete with pictures. When I got it, I planned to load my own ammo for it, as I figured factory ammo would be pricey and difficult to find. Fortunately, I already had a box of Winchester 200 grain Silvertips from long ago, so I at least had a place to start.
I started looking for reloading components last year, and could only find 200 grain Hornady Interlock bullets. I ordered and received 100 rounds of those. I discovered that .358 Winchester brass is produced by Winchester on a seasonal basis, and figured it would be available some time this year. Just to know for sure, though, I called Olin-Winchester this morning, and learned that the next seasonal run will be sometime next year. Maybe (my guess, not theirs).
So, there you have it.
Fortunately, I think, a local gun shop had 2 boxes of 200 grain Silvertips on hand, so I just now bought them. That potentially gives me 60 rounds of brass. Not so fortunately, I had to pay nearly $50 per box. Ouch! The box I bought 15 or so years ago was only $15.
I also made a trip to the range yesterday, and shot and chronographed the 200 grain Silvertips. At 100 yards, my rifle put 5 in 1.5 inches, and gave me a MV of almost 2500 fps. So, if all else fails, I at least have something to fall back on. Right now, my thinking is to use the brass I have from the original box, plus brass from one of the other boxes for a total of 40 rounds of brass to work with. I'll save back one box of the factory ammo just in case. If I find a load I really like, I'll consider using the 3rd box of brass.
I realize that I could use unfired .308 brass, or maybe even .338 Federal brass (if I could find any), but I'd rather use .358 brass if I could.
Just something to consider.
As some of you know, I finally got my grubby little hands on one late last year. I even posted a thread about it, complete with pictures. When I got it, I planned to load my own ammo for it, as I figured factory ammo would be pricey and difficult to find. Fortunately, I already had a box of Winchester 200 grain Silvertips from long ago, so I at least had a place to start.
I started looking for reloading components last year, and could only find 200 grain Hornady Interlock bullets. I ordered and received 100 rounds of those. I discovered that .358 Winchester brass is produced by Winchester on a seasonal basis, and figured it would be available some time this year. Just to know for sure, though, I called Olin-Winchester this morning, and learned that the next seasonal run will be sometime next year. Maybe (my guess, not theirs).
So, there you have it.
Fortunately, I think, a local gun shop had 2 boxes of 200 grain Silvertips on hand, so I just now bought them. That potentially gives me 60 rounds of brass. Not so fortunately, I had to pay nearly $50 per box. Ouch! The box I bought 15 or so years ago was only $15.
I also made a trip to the range yesterday, and shot and chronographed the 200 grain Silvertips. At 100 yards, my rifle put 5 in 1.5 inches, and gave me a MV of almost 2500 fps. So, if all else fails, I at least have something to fall back on. Right now, my thinking is to use the brass I have from the original box, plus brass from one of the other boxes for a total of 40 rounds of brass to work with. I'll save back one box of the factory ammo just in case. If I find a load I really like, I'll consider using the 3rd box of brass.
I realize that I could use unfired .308 brass, or maybe even .338 Federal brass (if I could find any), but I'd rather use .358 brass if I could.
Just something to consider.
Jerry
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Replies
That's what I do with my 338x284, and it works pretty well. The only thing I've noticed is that after sizing up, the length of the brass is below the documented "trim to" length. I don't know if it matters, but something you'll probably notice if you neck up by that much.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Sako
You wont be sorry you have one.
JAY
Sounds like a deal I can't turn down. I'll PM you.
Thanks.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Jay, is your rifle a hard kicker? Seems like mine kicks harder than any rifle I own, including my 338x284. Both rifles are M88 Winchesters. The 338 shoots a 225 grain Grand Slam at a MV of nearly 2700 fps but doesn't seem to kick as hard as the .358. Maybe it has a better recoil pad. I don't know.
I'm looking forward to giving it a try this fall.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Jerry, mine is in a Kevlar/Graphite stock that weights 10oz, the rifle with scope no shells in the mag weights 6.5lb. no recoil pad just a hard rubber pad. Its not fair to judge mine against a stock rifle.
Recoil velocity is 18.86 fps, energy is 35.92 ft. lbs. And yes it kicks like a bloody mule.
If you give me the weight of the rifle, bullet weight, powder charge, and muzzle velocity i'll be happy to look up your energy
JAY
It will make oddball rimfire look easy
Dang Jay! I don't think my 300 Wby kicks that much! 19fps velocity is pretty sharp too. Bet its still fun though!
Jerry, I don't know for sure how much truth there is to what I'm going to say here, But I read it in an article about using 30-06 brass to make .270 Win. That to do so does the same as you explain, it makes the brass just a little shorter than factory spec. The article explained that the only problem is that continued shooting would rough up or erode the throat where the brass normally would sit and you eventually would only be able to chamber those rounds instead of say factory or hand loads made from original .270 brass because as the throat got rougher the regular .270 brass would fire form to the new neck dimension and cause the case to stick. Like I said, this is not from experience but from an article I read in a gun mag. years back.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Snake, here's my original thread about my .358. And really. Do you have to ask? -:)
http://forums.gunsandammo.com/showthread.php?16912-three-five-eight
A big thanks to Tom, and all others who have offered to look for brass, etc. I really appreciate it.
Jay, as you no doubt know, actual recoil and perceived/felt recoil aren't always the same. I probably have rifles that kick harder, but it just seems that this one is the hardest kicking of the ones I have.
Gun control laws make about as much sense as taking ex-lax to cure a cough.
Now my big bore thumper is a 350 grain .45-70- - - - -.100" bigger bullet, and 100 grains more bullet weight!
Jerry
Jay, as you no doubt know, actual recoil and perceived/felt recoil aren't always the same. I probably have rifles that kick harder, but it just seems that this one is the hardest kicking of the ones I have.[/QUOTE]
Jerry, I guess I'm just old school when we thought a recoil pad just gave the rifle a " running start " at your sholder.
The worst rifle I ever shot was a 378 Weatherby mag. I sold a customer that wonted me to work up loads with the 270 & 300gr. bullets, It kicked worse than his .460 Wea.
The .358 isn't so bad now that I have a Caldwell Lead sled.
JAY
I may have some 243 and 308 brass should someone wish to trade..
You are one of them.