358's

WhelanLad

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Australia AU
Gday fellas, just back in from two days hunting the Sambar in new-to-us pine plantations! good times , a lot of deer seen, in the vicinity of 30 between us 2. anywhow I lugged the bloody Ruger .35 Whelen up the hills with me again, I did in excess of 6.5 k both days and really felt the weight on my shoulder-
Yep, why didn't I take the Kimber?? well, I'm back into the Big Cal bandwagon and putting the thump on these Stags while they are in Rut over winter...

So I am back thinking along the lines of a lighter platform, budget big cal....

my options are to Try and find a Swap trade on the Ruger 303 for something along the lines of a 358 BLR ... however id like to know if someone has a BLR 358 and a Ruger of some sort, if the weight is too similar to make that exercise worthless.... Google gives me a rough idea - very similar.?!

The other then is to find a knock about Tikka but a Re barrel job is another $600 ontop and Don't think T3s were ever in .358win..?

Question then goes to- How much lacking is the 358 to a Whelen outto 300 meters if needed, the whelen drops only a little more than the 708 at 300 both respectively sighted- eg- the whelen can be 300 no problem.


Would like to keep with the Whelen chambering but think its goin to be Costly to make that happen... Alternative to Whelen is a 9.3x62 but not something id want to shoot at 300m as too much drop .. yeah??

Marlin x7 sounds cool in 30-06 then source some kind of barrel on the cheap?

GRRRR, reaching out for some CGN wisdom!?

WL
 
Best would be to find a model 7 or short action Remington 700 and rebarrel . The 358win will push a 250gr@2400fps and a 225gr @2500-2550fps.. It's works well out to 250-300yds
 
Well Laddie................stretch'in the legs of a .358win out to 300 Y/M's is just that.
At least in my s'periance.
Hundred yards with 180's will best 200's at least a couple inches.
Tossing the 250's will put you below the +'airs 'bout 5-6" compared to the 180's
There is no magic for long range shooting with the BLR in yer flavouring.
 
Best would be to find a model 7 or short action Remington 700 and rebarrel . The 358win will push a 250gr@2400fps and a 225gr @2500-2550fps.. It's works well out to 250-300yds

hmmm yeah I see a few actions for sale too... rem 700s etc... maybe a 'in time project' hmm
 
Well Laddie................stretch'in the legs of a .358win out to 300 Y/M's is just that.
At least in my s'periance.
Hundred yards with 180's will best 200's at least a couple inches.
Tossing the 250's will put you below the +'airs 'bout 5-6" compared to the 180's
There is no magic for long range shooting with the BLR in yer flavouring.

Looky it would be in the odd chance that icant close a Gap, I know with the Whelen I am GOOD TO GO at 300 but NO further for me, maybe I would just have to say 250m MAX on a 358 Win..... no real problem I guess.. at 300m the 7mm08 does the job and if in big country I would opt for the light 7, for just general weekend hunting around here, not uncommon to walk a lot, an shoot em under 100m, say 150m would be a good average, 200 being FAR.
 
Say I go to Build one, a Reminton 700 Action ($645) and have a TSE barrel standard ($600) chambered and put on.... I may be able to cut a few costs but havin a local gunsmith do what he can to it, id like to rechamber a barrel but I don't have many options there either unless a second hand 358 pops up or along those lines..

think that's the sensible way to go about havin a sweet whelen....

WL
 
Gday, mate do you mean modern rifle SAY T3 and actual handloads..... id use 250gr id say or thereabouts (lesser/230?) to keep her flyin bit straighter a bit longer..
factory ammo is mild say, can u pump em up much more tho

if you choose well your bullet and your load the 9.3x62 is still more than usable at 300 and even over ...
 
Ok, lets be Cereal for a minute...
Factory T3 338 Federal- done ,, is it enough for the thump with a 250grainer? or is some 220 preferred.
I know of one for around $750...............

So with the Gunsmith, he could Run a Ackley Improved thru it , correct?? an I just neck size cases via 308 brass... not worry on brass life so much , FLS thru a 338 fed die, have chamber so standard ammo chambers..... right?

OR

run a 3006 reamer and do a 338-06..... now we're talken yeah??? id get away with all this under $1000 incl $700 for the gun. maybe less for gun.

thoughts please



EDIT** ... All this and Buzz Kill, the rifles been sold 2 weeks ago... been on the shelf for 3 years. anyway..

Can the 9.3 be loaded hot enough with a 232 Woodleigh or 250gr to match Whelen....... this may be it..

WL
 
Last edited:
Can the 9.3 be loaded hot enough with a 232 Woodleigh or 250gr to match Whelen....... this may be it..

WL

The 9.3 should be able to do a little better than the Whelen. The case has less taper and slightly more capacity, more like an improved .35 Whelen, with a slightly bigger bullet. Keep an eye out for used Husqvarnas as well, they have skinny barrels for the calibre. My 9.3 Husky will do 2625 with 250 grs, and 2450 with 285's, and I'm not even maxed out.
 
The 9.3 should be able to do a little better than the Whelen. The case has less taper and slightly more capacity, more like an improved .35 Whelen, with a slightly bigger bullet. Keep an eye out for used Husqvarnas as well, they have skinny barrels for the calibre. My 9.3 Husky will do 2625 with 250 grs, and 2450 with 285's, and I'm not even maxed out.

Gday 9.3,
yeah right! that is good to know, get away with using Varget powder?

oh man, them huskys all you guys have are no where near as common down here!! I wish

WL
 
I use RL 15, but a lot of guys use Varget and the results are very similar.

I have heard of people loading 250 grs up to 2700 fps, which puts it right up there with the .338 WM. Recoil would not be so much fun off the bench in a light rifle. I have also heard of 285's being pushed at 2500+ which is just a whisker away from the .375 H&H factory loads.
 
Kimber Hunters are now available in "L" action. 30.06 works well for our larger cervids (moose and elk). Forgive me for asking but would that caliber suit your needs? (I know nothing about Sambar). Its the kind of rifle that may allow you to pare down your collection. Light, accurate and reasonably priced. I have one in .308 that is a one-holer.
 
Just put your Whelen in a lightweight synthetic stock , my ruger M77 35 Whelen weighs 7.25lbs scoped , light enough for any hunt and with a 225gr@2700... No need for anything else .... Though there is something sweet about a 6lb 358win.
 
Back
Top Bottom