New User

[jimp]

Just wanted to say Hello and ask a question.
What are the folks reloading 358 using as a favorite powder? Anyone using RL-15? Seen it used for 308, 338 Fed. Just not any info for 358. If so can you suggest a starting load?
Thanks
Jim

 

[DrMike]

jimp,

Welcome to the forum. I hope you will feel free to hang around with a bunch of gun cranks and contribute your experiences. Tell us about your rifle and what loads you've tried to this point. What bullet are you shooting in your 358?

RL15 will work with many bullets, to be certain. I have not used it in any of my favourite loads. Reviewing my notes, I see that in the past I've used a lot W748, H335, IMR 3031 and IMR4895. More recently, I've focused on some newer (and perhaps faster) powders such as TAC, 10X and Benchmark. Give us an idea of what bullet you want to shoot and what particular powders you have access to.

 

[jimp]

DrMike - Bullets on hand are Speer 220 & 250 gr., Nosler BT 225 gr., Seirra 200 & 225 gr. and Rem Corelokts 200 gr. both RN and Pt.

Powders I have on hand are IMR 3031, 4064, 4320, 4350. Plus the RL15.

Rifle is a Browning 81. Trying to find something for the Rem bullets as I picked up a bunch fairly reasonable.

The reason for the question on the RL15 is I have much more of it than the others. Use it in a 308 Win, 30-06 and 35 Whl. I can find data for these but not the 358 Win.

Thanks in advance
Jim

 

[JD338]

jimp,

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you here.

There is some good information here on the 358 Win that can be found by doing a search. Here is one that comes to mind-
http://noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ht=358+win

Where about are you located in mid MI? I am north of GR.

JD338

 

[bullet]

Welcome to the forum. IMR4895, Tac, AA2495BR, W-748, IMR3031, IMR4064, IMR4198

When using Tac use 215 Fed Primers or Rem 9 1/2M or CCI250 for best results.

The Sierra 225gr, 225gr Partition and the AccuBond but in your Browning the AccuBond is not a good choice. 225gr bullets are optimum bullets for all work in a 358Win.

 

[DrMike]

RL15 will fill the case on almost any of the bullets you name. It would not be my first choice for the 358. IMR3031 and 4064 are each good powders that will serve you well. You can find a wealth of data on the Hodgdon web site that will give you a suggestion of which powders they use (including Winchester, IMR and Hodgdon). The current Speer Manual does not list RL15, and for a reason. All the loads would be seriously compressed. With the 220 grain Speer FN, this manual lists a maximum charge of 48 g. of IMR4064 and a maximum charge of 47 g. for IMR3031. For the 250 g. Speer SP they list maximum charges of 44 grains of IMR4064 and 42 grains of IMR3031.

 

[Elkman]

jimp
Welcome to the forum I know that you will enjoy it here. Lots of info and very knowledgeable people.
I use 3031 in all of the rifles that you mention. Don't have any 15.

 

[jimp]

Thanks guys, I will give the 3031, 4064 a shot. Have used IMR4895 have not loaded many. Think I will have to keep them fairly mild as in addition to the 81 I also have a rechambered 760 I picked up awhile ago.

JD338 - Located east of Lansing, hunt west of Clare & in the UP just outside of Big Bay. Figured 358 would work well in cedar swamps I hunt in. Long shot is 50 yds, but if they don't fall right there it can be major pain finding and dragging them out.

Again thanks to all you.

 

[Greg Nolan]

Welcome to the forum.
This is "THE" place for info on anything "shooting". Good people with great knowlege , some of whom you've aleady heard from, and a lot of friendly discussion and opinion on just about everything from everywhere.
Enjoy :grin:

 

[onesonek]

Personally I think RL-15 would be a great choice. No disrespect to DrMike, but I tend to like high load densities. In my experience, I have found they give more consistant velocites and pressures, seemingly resulting in more consistant accuracy, than faster powders with lower load densities.
Now with that said, I also have quite abit of experience with RL-15, and likewise Varget. I threw Varget into the question, as I find the 2 powders very very close. When I can't find data for RL-15, I use starting loads for Varget. Generally RL-15 will max out in my test loads about 1 grain more then Varget. Varget according to Hodgdon Manual is the slowest recommended powder, and generally gives the best or good velocity with both bullet weights mentioned. I would start with 47 gr. on the 200, and 45 gr. with the 225 of RL15, (Varget starting loads). Pressure would be relatively mild and it may give all the accuracy and speed you need for short to modest ranges. Accuracy is always first with speed second. RL-15 has always given me very good and consistant accuracy. Varget has a very good reputation when it comes to accuracy, but I have had better results with RL15when testing both powders.
My choice if I was going to a faster powder would be H4895. Although, H335 and BLC2 would be good ones too.

Dave

 

[bullet]

Personally I think RL-15 would be a great choice. No disrespect to DrMike, but I tend to like high load densities. In my experience, I have found they give more consistant velocites and pressures, seemingly resulting in more consistant accuracy, than faster powders with lower load densities.
Now with that said, I also have quite abit of experience with RL-15, and likewise Varget. I through Varget into the question, as I find the 2 powders very very close. When I can't find data for RL-15, I use starting loads for Varget. Generally RL-15 will max out in my test loads about 1 grain more then Varget. Varget according to Hodgdon Manual is the slowest recommended powder, and generally gives the best or good velocity with both bullet weights mentioned. I would start with 47 gr. on the 200, and 45 gr. with the 225 of RL15, (Varget starting loads). Pressure would be relatively mild and it may give all the accuracy and speed you need for short to modest ranges. Accuracy is always first with speed second. RL-15 has always given me very good and consistant accuracy. Varget has a very good reputation when it comes to accuracy, but I have had better results with RL15when testing both powders.
My choice if I was going to a faster powder would be H4895. Although, H335 and BLC2 would be good ones too.

Dave

Varget, gave me good velocities like Tac but was not as accurate as the Tac, I did not try RL-15 but if accuracy is better than Varget it would yield good velocities. All my hunting loads are compressed and accurate in the 358Win without a lot of pressure. In the future it would be interesting for me to try RL-15 and compare it to all the load work I did and see how it stacks up.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have had good luck with both IMR 3031 and 4064 in my .338 Federal. The reason that I mention this is that they both use the same case, have similar ballistics with the same sectional density bullets and have similar loading issues.

I use 3031 with lighter bullets and 4064 with heavier bullets. I have had issues trying to get enough 4064 into the case for lighter bullets without bulging the case shoulder with powder compression. I guess the case capacity is really the limiter with 4064.