So if finally finished my 358win build on my Savage weather warrior with accustock. Unfortunately the cheapest donor rifle I could find was in 300savage. I know it's blasphemy to even talk about defacing such a caliber, but i did. I bought a ER shaw kit from midway. It only took around 6 months and 4 backorder changes but I got it. I put it all together and shot some factory hornady 200gr thru it just to sight it in and get some once fired brass to set my dies up. Shot 1.5". can't complain about that right out of the box with factory ammo. I'm gonna try a bunch of different bullets with X-terminator as that is what Ramshot advised me to use first. I want to try the new 200gr AccuBond first, and I have both 225 and 250 PT that i load for my fathers 35whelen. I post up what i find but it'll be a while as my range is snowed in. sorry for the crappy pics.
savage 358 build
- Thread starter barthowes
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,420
- 6,290
Should be a fine rifle. I've had a couple of .358s, and each was a thumper.
CatskillCrawler
Handloader
- Jul 30, 2011
- 1,205
- 4
That looks very sharp and the cartridge? Can't say enough good things about the 358Win. I would not overlook the 225gr Sierra GameKing for WTs and BB. It was designed for Whelen velocities. It's also fairly cheap and shoots well out of most rifles.
Congrats!
Congrats!
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,368
- 9,000
Congratulations on your new build, looks nice. I like those big holes in the barrel.
JD338
JD338
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,807
- 6,139
I like it!
But when I saw the thread title I was really thinking "Oh cool, somebody got a great old Savage 99 lever gun in .358 Win! Those are kind of rare!"
Alas... Not to be. Still, it is a very cool rifle you've got there.
But when I saw the thread title I was really thinking "Oh cool, somebody got a great old Savage 99 lever gun in .358 Win! Those are kind of rare!"
Alas... Not to be. Still, it is a very cool rifle you've got there.
- Thread starter
- #11
I thought I was SOL as there were no local ramshot dealers and online was all backordered. But the Local (an hour away is local for my region) reloading shop has 1 pound of TAC available and CCI LR Mag primers. I will be trying this with both the 250 and 225 PT as I have them on hand. I will post any results I get.
atmoshpere
Beginner
- Jun 8, 2011
- 196
- 0
I've been looking at doing something similar to this for a while, but I wanted it set up like a scout rifle with iron sights available and the ability to forward mount a scope.
I looked at doing it just about like you've done, but I found a used savage scout(newer model with accu-trigger and accu-stock with DBM) that was in great condition for a good price in 308 win so I'm going the re-bore route now. $225 to JES here in Oregon gets it shipped back to me ready to shoot with a 3 groove. This option saved me some 'smith work as everything was set up to go. The other nice thing was that this is an identical action/mag setup as my 284 so I now have either 2 mags for the 358 when I carry it or 2 for when the 284 gets fielded. Nice to have interchangeable parts!
Your setup looks nice! Is it a centerfeed DBM? Model 16? I know the mag on my model 10 allows a 3" COL, is it the same on yours? I'd be interested in a range report if you get the chance! Has anyone ever shot 180 tsx out of a 358 win?
I looked at doing it just about like you've done, but I found a used savage scout(newer model with accu-trigger and accu-stock with DBM) that was in great condition for a good price in 308 win so I'm going the re-bore route now. $225 to JES here in Oregon gets it shipped back to me ready to shoot with a 3 groove. This option saved me some 'smith work as everything was set up to go. The other nice thing was that this is an identical action/mag setup as my 284 so I now have either 2 mags for the 358 when I carry it or 2 for when the 284 gets fielded. Nice to have interchangeable parts!
Your setup looks nice! Is it a centerfeed DBM? Model 16? I know the mag on my model 10 allows a 3" COL, is it the same on yours? I'd be interested in a range report if you get the chance! Has anyone ever shot 180 tsx out of a 358 win?
ATM, never shot anything lighter than 200's in my 358, but I tell ya, for a closer ranged elk rifle, you would love a 225 PT or AB at around 2450-2500 in the 358. It would work really well for elk in the timber and still have the ability to hammer elk further than 300 yards as well. Plus, it would be a great carrying rifle.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,420
- 6,290
SJB358":2uelft3v said:
Excellent advice. I have taken bison with 250 grain Hornady InterLock. While the bullet was not moving exceptionally fast, it did hit hard.
- Thread starter
- #15
it had a hinged floor plate internal magazine that is huge, allowing me to load way farther than my lands are.
I just setup my sizing die and set the shoulders back on all my case .005" from headspace( I only hunt so i want to ensure it will always feed) and have less than a full box of the 225gr PT on hand that i'll set .010" off lands to see what charge of TAC it likes. I have 80 of the 250gr PT but i don't really want that heavy for WT deer. Hopefully in a couple weeks I'll post some results. Then I'll have to either bite the bullet and buy some more 225PT at full price or wait till SPS has some more 2nds.
I just setup my sizing die and set the shoulders back on all my case .005" from headspace( I only hunt so i want to ensure it will always feed) and have less than a full box of the 225gr PT on hand that i'll set .010" off lands to see what charge of TAC it likes. I have 80 of the 250gr PT but i don't really want that heavy for WT deer. Hopefully in a couple weeks I'll post some results. Then I'll have to either bite the bullet and buy some more 225PT at full price or wait till SPS has some more 2nds.
barthowes":1xsk2xps said:
With the ability to seat those bullets out further, you'll have almost no trouble making 2500 in your rifle without leaning on it hard. Tac should be excellent, but don't overlook W748. It works really well for a few of us here. I get mid 2400's in a 20" barrel and a limited mag length. That 225 Sierra or PT will be sheer death dealers for anything you point it at, and in most rifles I've seen, they shoot to the same POI of one another.
atmoshpere
Beginner
- Jun 8, 2011
- 196
- 0
Good info guys, thanks! I've got both offerings from Nosler in 225gr 35 cal on my wishlist already, I was just curious if the 180 flatbase tsx had been tried by anyone. Many people seem to really like the 225 Sierra GK for the 358 win also.
Dr Mike I'd imagine that a 250gr in the 358 win would just mosey right on through to the other side of just about anything you pointed it at!
Dr Mike I'd imagine that a 250gr in the 358 win would just mosey right on through to the other side of just about anything you pointed it at!
Silent Sam
Handloader
- Dec 22, 2010
- 294
- 0
Haven't tried any TSX's or anything under 200gr. Velocity is NOT where it's at and trying to get to "familiar" velocities by going light sacrifices SD & BC, and doesn't gain anything. I use the 200gr Hornady SP for deer only because I still have some loaded. The 225gr bullets are the ticket in the 358 IMO. Best balance of velocity and BC and enough to penetrate any large game. The Sierras and Partitions group together with the same loads for me. The Sierras are probably tough enough at 358 velocities but if I'm paying for a hunt I use Partitions. I always considered max range to be where bullets slowed to 1800fps. On moose and elk that still has you holding on hair with a 200yd zero. Below that expansion would be questionable and drop, drop rate, and TOF become problematic.
