356 win

I like mine. Really need to reload if you have one. Even brass can be an issue to find sometimes. I have made 356 from 307 with no issues. Put a Williams peep sight and a Skinner brass blade front sight. Haven't had it out hunting in a while but maybe this year not sure yet.
 
I have a Marlin 336ER in .356 Win. It's a very solid performer. Scoped with a low power variable.
My son took a black bear with mine last September. A through shot diagonally using Speer bullets.
It is pretty well a reloaders cartridge, although I have seen some factory ammo at gun shows.
I have a lifetime supply of brass but .358 Win brass will both feed and extract just fine in my rifle.
Personally I don't see the BLR as a better choice unless you like BLR.
It's a matter of preference. There is also the Mod. 94 that the cartridge originated with.
If you want something more mainstream and available buy a .358 Win.
In the real world a majority of the animals won't notice the difference between a .356 Win, a hand loaded .35 Rem. and a .358 Win.
 
303EppsFan said:
Personally I don't see the BLR as a better choice unless you like BLR.
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I really don't like either. A 760 in 30-06 is better than both. :)

I see a number of practical reasons to pick the BLR over the Winchester.

1. The BLR will take heavier loads.
2. The BLR will accept pointy bullets so there is quite a few more bullets in more weights to choose from.
3. The BLR comes with a very good detach. mag system.
4. Brass for 358Win is easy to make from 308.
5. I would prefer the scope mounting system on a BLR over the Winchester.
6. A BLR in 358 would be easier to find as a rifle.

I respectfully don't see one advantage the Winchester in 356 offers over the BLR in 358 unless you just want to exercise full gun-loonyism and go for the odd'er of the two. :)
 
Heated debates on other forums as to whether a 336 will safety take over 40,000 cup pressure and I know they made them in .375 win also . Marlin does not approve of conversions to either from existing 30-30;s or .35 Rem. My self i went with a 30-30 re-bore to 38-55 in a pre -crossbolt safety 336 half mag.Should be no issues there.
 
SuperCub said:
I really don't like either. A 760 in 30-06 is better than both. :)

I see a number of practical reasons to pick the BLR over the Winchester.

1. The BLR will take heavier loads.
2. The BLR will accept pointy bullets so there is quite a few more bullets in more weights to choose from.
3. The BLR comes with a very good detach. mag system.
4. Brass for 358Win is easy to make from 308.
5. I would prefer the scope mounting system on a BLR over the Winchester.
6. A BLR in 358 would be easier to find as a rifle.

I respectfully don't see one advantage the Winchester in 356 offers over the BLR in 358 unless you just want to exercise full gun-loonyism and go for the odd'er of the two. :)
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The BLR in 358 win is likely to be cheaper as well. The LNIB one on the EE right now is an example of that.
Some day I have to try one of those 760's you are always promoting. Maybe this year before moose season.
 
I got my 94AE 356 from a online auction for a little less then a BLR. Everything else everyone else has said about the BLR vs the 356 is pretty much true. I managed to buy 150 356 brass so I’m set that way for quite a while. I do find that the 94 might be a bit slimmer and carry a little nicer then the BLR and I think the trigger on this one is better then the trigger on my last BLR. There’s no point in trying to hot rod the 356. But even my 200gr load at 2350 went thru a quartering away bear taking out one shoulder, then into the dirt 12-18” before ricocheting back up and away.
 
If you do like BLRs they are very very strong.
As strong if not stronger than the Ruger #1.
The .358 Win brass can be made from generic .308 Win.
The 336s and Win 94s in .356 Win like all rear locking actions are not as strong as front locking lever actions such as the BLR and Win 88.
 
I own both the BLR in 358 and the '94 Big Bore in 356. They are both great rifles and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Both of my rifles shoot acceptably well for me with factory ammo and 1" groups at 100 yards with their preferred handloads. While the older BLR has a terrible amount of creep in the trigger, I am used to it from years ofshooting and hunting with it, andI know exactly when it will break. It has been my main backup rifle when archery hunting and guiding, or truck hunting with an oldtimer with limited mobility, and bear hunting for years. It has accounted for numerous elk, moose, black and a grizzly bear. The aforementioned oldtimer used his BLR 358 on a cow bison in '07. (as a sidenote: I also own the Marlin and '94 in 375 Win andhave used them to take numerous moose and bears over the years; another great cartiridge when used within its limitations. I have also rebarrelled a Model 88 to 338 Federal that is fun to shoot, but as yet have not harvested any game with it; will be hunting moose and elk with it in the upcoming season!)

For truck/atv/sxs hunting, the BLR is nice due to the ease of loading unloading with the detachable magazine, whereas the '94 is slimmer for carrying all day in the brush while still hunting or spot and stalking. I have the BLR set up with a Leupold VX-3 1-5 scope in detachable rings, whereas I use the '94 with open sights.

Performance wise, they are very close, and no animal from deer to grizzly bear is going to, or has noticed, the difference in which it was harvested with.

At the end of the day, it is really up to the individual to decide which firearm will best suit their personal preferences, hunting style and environment they will be hunting in. Either way, you will be a winner because you will have a fine rifle that will perform admirably on all big game without a lot of bloodshot meat, and will be a joy to own, shoot and hunt with!
 
Thanks for the info blackram. I lucked out and found a new 550 cz 9.3mm rifle. Its test target is from fall 2017. Must be one of the last ones made
 
SuperCub said:
I really don't like either. A 760 in 30-06 is better than both. :)

I see a number of practical reasons to pick the BLR over the Winchester.

1. The BLR will take heavier loads.
2. The BLR will accept pointy bullets so there is quite a few more bullets in more weights to choose from.
3. The BLR comes with a very good detach. mag system.
4. Brass for 358Win is easy to make from 308.
5. I would prefer the scope mounting system on a BLR over the Winchester.
6. A BLR in 358 would be easier to find as a rifle.

I respectfully don't see one advantage the Winchester in 356 offers over the BLR in 358 unless you just want to exercise full gun-loonyism and go for the odd'er of the two. :)
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I'm sure the BLR is very good as is the .358 Win. But the OP asked about .356 Win.......so......Marlin made about 2400 336ER's in .356 Win. Not sure how many Mod. 94's were made.
 
m1978 said:
Thanks for the info blackram. I lucked out and found a new 550 cz 9.3mm rifle. Its test target is from fall 2017. Must be one of the last ones made
Click to expand...

Nice! CZ makes great rifles and the 9.3 is a great caliber!
I have a Sako Model 85 Hunter LH in 9.3x62 on order. Can't wait to get it. Will pair nicely with my matching 6.5x55.

I also finally found a Marlin 336ER in 356 Win and am importing it from the US. Been looking for one for over 20 years As 303EppsFan stated, Marlin only made 2446 of these. Finally, the mate tMarlin 375S.
 
Personally, I would not going looking for a .356 Win... if you are not already into the cartridge, there way better options listed in the posts above... having said that, the .356 Win is one of my favourite cartridges. I already have a 94 Big Bore and 400 brass and dies, and it has been in my head for many years to make a Ruger No.1 International or possibly an "A" in .356... it WILL happen someday in the not too distant future.
 
While I've never owned either one - I like the 356 and the 375. Although I've shot the 307. I was looking into that 356 caliber and seen that Winchester most often produced them with the 20 inch barrel and may have produced them with a 24 inch barrel. If I was to get one, I would likely prefer the longer barrel.

I've seen pics for the Winchester 94AE in 7-30 Waters with a 24 inch barrel. Sorry I could not paste it here.
 
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I bought one brand new in 1987. I sold it in the early 90’s and a few times have regretted it but given todays lack of ammunition availability and price when you do see some I have no regrets having sold it. It really was a beautiful rifle though. I had topped mine off with a Bushnell 1.5-4.5 x24 and it was a nice compact and not overly heavy bush rifle. The pic above is exactly what I had.
 
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