358 BLR & Hornady 250gr RN

[Slamfire]

Developed an accurate load for my 358 BLR takedown with Hornady 250gr RN. Following Hornady Handbook 7th edition using a near maximum charge of Re15 I get 2140 fps muzzle speed (chrony positioned 7m from the muzzle). The rifle used in the Hornady Handbook was a T/C Encore with a 24" barrel and maximum muzzle speed is 2300 fps. So with my 20" barrel BLR muzzle speed is about 100 fps less.

Off hand accuracy is the real test. A challenge with the BLR trigger.

358 Winchester BLR takedown with Leupold FX-II Scout 2.5x28mm

 

[GMC403]

Delete

 

[big cal]

ok try starting whit minimum load and go up by 1gr whit your powder me I like better w760 or imr4895 but it is ok whit your powder me I got in the 358 cal the 35 whelen and I fine that less powder = more accurate try it my friend and have fun

 

[Slamfire]

Swift A-Frames perform well on game. Also have the 250gr loaded and POI is about the same at 100 meters as the 250gr Hornady's. But it's a flat nose spitzer and jams when attempting to load from the magazine. Needs to be single loaded.

Good results on Moose with the 310gr Woodleigh at about 100 fps slower MV than the 250gr Hornady RN in my 358 BLR. But accuracy is final so I'll stick with my 250gr RN load.

 

[WiserFool]

I love the Hornady 250 RN as well in my 350 Mag. Only problem is, Hornady went and discontinued it.

 

[Slamfire]

Right, Hornady no longer lists the 35 caliber 250gr RN. Just like the Barnes 35 caliber 250gr X, an excellent performer but also discontinued.

 

[Lefty Dick]

Have you actually shot any game with all this bonded heavy for caliber bullet weight stuff you are loading for?

Because on the BLR I can attest to the lack of need for such things.

This is a 200 grain SP Hornady I dug out of a cow elks neck after I gave her a finisher at 8”.(2400fps)

Here a 6’6” black bear I took with a Sierra 225gr BT at around 60 yds the bullet entered the near side shoulder and exited through the ribs on the exit.

Then there was this whitetail I took in the spruce bottoms from a tree stand. With a 200 gr SP Hornady, base of the neck while he stood facing away.



These over priced and over built bullets are not required at the velocities you’ll be producing. It’s like killing flies with a frying pan. These bullets are designed for cartridges that produce way higher velocities than you ever will get from a 20” BLR.

But it’s your circus and your monkey’s

 

[Slamfire]

Plenty of wallop with the Woodleigh 310gr RN SN bonded core launched at about 2100 fps from my 358 BLR. Good performance on Moose. Shot clear through. I rather like the one size fits all approach to rifle and load selection when I go hunting. Not to be undergunned.