favorite 358 Winchester loads

[yorketransport]

Does anybody have a favorite 358 Win load they want to share? I just got my hands on a new 20" barrel for the Savage, so now it's time to have some fun.

I've been playing with 180gr XTPs to get the scope on paper and they're actually shooting pretty darn well. They hang right around 1" at 100 yards. I'm trying to decide on either a good 200gr bullet or a 225. The accubond sounds interesting but I'm not sure that it will expand reliably at the low velocities.

So if anybody has some first hand experience I'd love to hear it.

Andrew

[257 Wby Mag]

Noslers max load with 48.5 grains of WW 748 has always served me well, pushing a Sierra 225 SGK. I've had 358's in 99 savage, 88 Winchester, and a BLR.  Great caliber....

[CP]

Check out the 35 cal Northwoods page http://35cal.com/loading.html#7600 – lots of good 35 cal info there. 

[yorketransport]

I've been telling myself for years that I was going to put together a 358, but I always get distracted by something else. When I saw a guy selling this 20" SS McGowen for $70 I decided that it was a sign that I needed to have this barrel!

 He had been shooting cast bullets through it and he couldn't figure out why the groups had gone in the toilet. I took it home and soaked it in Kroil for a day. I pushed a bronze brush through and strips of lead came out! Cleaned it up and it's like new.

It's been a while since I have been really excited about a new barrel, but this one has me pretty pumped.

Andrew

[finnman]

I will also be looking for a good hunting load for my .358 Win. soon, I have purchased about 8 boxes of various factory loads, and right now I have it shooting a 250 gr. Speer Hot Cor and it is grouping 1 1/4" at 100 yards. I plan on using this caliber on my Oregon elk hunt this fall. I bought a brand new Browning A-Bolt in .358 Win. from a wholesaler back east. 20 " barrel, wood stalk, I added a new trigger spring, so got the pull down to about 2 lbs. I also topped it with a Leupold VX III 1.5 X 6-32mm scope! Nice light and accurate.
I also had my doubts about the accubond, I think I will go with either the Grand Slam or the Noslers. Good weight retention and reliable expansion. With hand loads I think this rifle is very capable out to 300 yards.

[yorketransport]

I just found out that Nosler is making a 200gr Accubond in 35 caliber. I think this could be just the bullet for the 358. I think I'm going to try the Accubond and maybe the 200 gain TSX. I'll just pick whichever one shoots better.

I have a VX-3 2.5-8x on the 358 now and I'm pretty happy with it. I love the low to mid range variables on a short barreled woods gun.

Andrew

[257 Wby Mag]

I've found the 358 is stomping along at such modest velocity, the SGK's perform great on bucks and bulls, they're accurate, and cheap. The accubombs might not be a bad thing though....