Tycer, and all other 358 win shooters

[RKrodle]

What did ya'll think of the 358 win load data from the latest Handloader Magazine? That is some pretty impressive velocities for the 358. Have any of ya'll tried these load or have plans to? I picked up some TAC powder and will see what I can do when I have some spare time. They had a good thread going on 24 hour campfire discussing it. http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread ... ost2263728
One of the things discussed was the ability of the Lever action 358 to be able to extract the higher pressure (308 pressures) rounds due to lack of caming action with the bolt. But yet the BLR is chambered in 325 WSM, 7mm Rem Mag, and some other high pressure rounds including the 308 Win, with is the pressure they where trying to load to. But i have to admit that 2700 fps 200 grain bullets are intriguing.
WT Bullet Powder Powder grains Vel. 3 shot group
200 Hornady roundnose Norma 201 52.0 2,753 .78
200 Barnes Triple-Shock TAC 52.0 2,749 1.15
225 Sierra GameKing TAC 49.0 2,552 1.47
250 Hornady roundnose TAC 48.0 2,404 .95
250 Nosler Partition TAC 48.0 2,423 1.44
200 Silvertip Winchester factory load 2,442 1.37

[Jeff Quinn]

I have been loading the 200 grain Hornady Spire Point to 2717 fps for about 25 years now, clocked at ten feet from the muzzle of a 22 inch Savage 99-358. That is a dandy whitetail bullet, shoots flat, and very accurate.

[RKrodle]

Jeff, would you you be willing to share your load data? I've done a little reloading for the 358 but not much yet. I'm trying to collect a lot of data and them set aside some time to really set down and test it all out in my BLR.

[JDL]

225 grain cast at 2060 fps does all that needs doing for hunting big game in my BLR. 158 grain cast rounds out the rest as in small game and plinking.
JDL

[1886]

I read the Handloader article. I was at the range this A.M. testing some .358 loads in the Ruger 77 Frontier rifle when I had my mishap, see my post from today titled strange reloading event. I will go back to the range after I clean all of the powder out of the action. Will advise. 1886.

[Doc Hudson]

As long as I'm getting one hole groups with Hornady 200 gr. Spirepoints and a big dose of IMR 4198, I will settle for velocities in the 2500 fpas neighborhood.

I might change my mind if I go after something bigger than our skinny southern whitetails, but for the time being, accuracy trumps velocity or energy in the game I play.

[RKrodle]

As long as I'm getting one hole groups with Hornady 200 gr. Spirepoints and a big dose of IMR 4198, I will settle for velocities in the 2500 fpas neighborhood.

I might change my mind if I go after something bigger than our skinny southern whitetails, but for the time being, accuracy trumps velocity or energy in the game I play.

Doc, I know what you mean. But that takes all the fun out of it . Besides I bought a chronograph and I haven't used it as much as I need to.

[1886]

I tried the Barness Tac recipe in my Ruger 77 Frontier rifle. I followed his load with the Sierra 225gr BTSP to the letter except for seating depth which he did not mention. The velocities averaged 2350fps with a 25fps extreme spread out of the 16.25" barrel. He reports 2500fps with this load but out of a 22" barreled rifle. I would expect to loose between 75-100 fps in my rifle. Accuracy was very good but not as good as H4895. Tac did produce velocities about 125fps faster though. I am not convinced that the Fed. 215 primer is the best choice but I wanted to copy his formula. He states in the article that the folks at Ramshot use the 215 with Tac. I may work up to 50grs with the 215 and the CCI-250 primer. 1886.

[1886]

I tried the Barness Tac recipe in my Ruger 77 Frontier rifle. I followed his load with the Sierra 225gr BTSP to the letter except for seating depth which he did not mention. The velocities averaged 2350fps with a 25fps extreme spread out of the 16.25" barrel. He reports 2500fps with this load but out of a 22" barreled rifle. I would expect to loose between 75-100 fps in my rifle. Accuracy was very good but not as good as H4895. Tac did produce velocities about 125fps faster though. I am not convinced that the Fed. 215 primer is the best choice but I wanted to copy his formula. He states in the article that the folks at Ramshot use the 215 with Tac. I may work up to 50grs with the 215 and the CCI-250 primer. 1886.

I worked up to 50grs of Tac with the above components. The CCI-250 primer produced velocities similar to the 49gr Tac/Fed 215 load. At 50 grs of Tac with the Fed 215 primer velocities ran right around 2425fps out of the 16.25" barrel of the Frontier rifle. No pressure signs were noticed but I do not have any means of reliably measuring pressure except velocity. Accuracy remained excellent. It looks like the Fed 215 primer does work well with Tac. This Ruger seems like one of those special arms that will shoot well with any reasonable load. 1886.

[Jeff Quinn]

I have been loading the 200 grain Hornady Spire Point to 2717 fps for about 25 years now, clocked at ten feet from the muzzle of a 22 inch Savage 99-358. That is a dandy whitetail bullet, shoots flat, and very accurate.

Certainly, but remember to start with a lower powder charge, and work up slowly for YOUR rifle. This worked great and was very accurate in my 99, and is also my favorite load in my BLR.

I use 50 grains of H-335 with a CCI 250 primer. This is over Hodgdon's listed max, so use at your own discretion.

[Tycer]

I keep Reloder7, IMR3031, Unique, Lil'Gun, Clays and Longshot in quantity. I have some partial cans of Bullseye, 4227, 4198, and others, but those five are what I plan to stick with.

I have a load I like for the 200 grainers, and am looking to find a load for 180s. I'm not sure I'll ever load heavier in the 358 because I have the 1886 I'm gonna develop a 330 grain Gould load for.

I AM looking forward to hearing the range reports on TAC.

[RKrodle]

Thanks to everyone for sharing and replying. 1886, you and I were thinking along the same lines but beat me to the punch. This time of the year, 104 degrees today, I just don't get to enthused about spending much time on the range. Although 86er and 86her came over and we did a little shooting. I now have gong set up and shoot it from under a shade tree in the yard with a sweet little model 10 S&W, it's about 170 yards out. Sometime around October or November ,when it starts to cool off some, I plan on taking some time, maybe a whole week, and just dedicate it to testing loads for the 358. Thanks everyone.

[BenT]

200 gr at 2400fps in my 356 seems to drop deer in their tracks . But since you have that chrony now you really need to have fun with it find full potential of your rifle. Plus verifing what the article is saying would be interesting . But one thing the article made me think is that I need to rebarrel my 99 from 308 to 338 federal.

[1886]

I may try something faster than H4895. Tac did well and accuracy was under 1.5" at 100yrds. This is excellent especially considering the low magnification the scout scope offers. I took someone' s advice, 86er?, and ordered the Leatherwood EER 2x7 scope. This should help shrink group size at longer ranges. I think I will give Benchmark and H4198 a shot. 1886.

[RKrodle]

I'm using 40grs of H4198 with the Hornady 200 Spire Point but can't tell you how fast it's going.

[JP_TX]

I'm sort of in the same boat with a new Ruger Hawkeye 358win. I am going with threee bullet/weights. Horn 180grn SP; Rem 200 PSPCL (350 mag bullet); Speer 220grn FP with the following loads.

Which are untested at this point so use at your own risk.

Source: Bullet: Powder/Charge: est vel Start Load est vel Max Load: est FPE at max load:

Speer#13 Horn 180SP, H335, 48grn 2511fps 52grn 2732fps 2982FPE

Hornady Rem 200PSP, AA2520 46grn 2500fps 50.9grn 2600fps 3002FPE

Lee Prec. Speer 220FP, H335 43grn 2350fps 48grn 2464pfs 2965FPE


I'm not sure that I will stay with these cobinations as I don't know how accurate they are. However, as Krodie has said, at better than 100 degrees in the shade, I'm not real eager to solve those mysteries. At least not now.

[Tycer]

Anybody seen where to obtain any of the Remington Core-Lokt 150 grain spire points? They still put them in factory .35 Rem ammo, but I can't seem to find them as a component.

[JP_TX]

I know this thread is about handloading the 358win, but for those that don't load and would like to buy factory loaded ammo other than the 200 win silvertip... Check out Conley Precision for some pretty attractive 358win loads. As long as you are willing to pay the freight, this may be your solution.

http://www.cpcartridge.com/358win-P.htm