.358 win for moose

[triton]

Just picked up a blr 81 in .358 I was wondering what you guys think on the max killing distance on a moose would be? I would be using factory loaded 200 gr ammo. Everything i've read says about 200 yds. I figure I would ask you guys as you are the real experts. How much more real advantage would I gain by handloading this cal?

One more question How would this cal compare to a .308 win using factory ammo?

Thanks fellas!

Dave.

 

[bjjzak]

Reload that puppy with a 225 gr Nosler Partition and go to town. 200 yds is fine, a good shot could do 300, but half the fun is getting in close. (When you have a critter come up and sniff the muzzle of your rifle, you've done well!) The 200 gr factory load in the 358 is more of a deer and similar game load, and to make this gal shine, you need to handload, if only for the variety of bullets you can use. Another good bet that doesn't cost a lot is the 250 gr Speer hot cor bullet.

A good 308 load in the 180 gr range would be kinda close to the 200 gr factory load in the 358, and equal if you used something like the High Energy or Light Magnum loads. However the 180 gr load in the 308 is a moose load, unlike the 200 in 358.

But when you start handloading the 358, it will widen the gap between the 2 quite nicely. Although the BLR is a strong gun, don't get too carried away with hot loads. As a last thought, get yourself a copy of the Lee loading manual, 2nd edition, it has a ton of good loads in it from various manufactures. Lots on the 358 as well. Good luck!

 

[JohnnyJ]

My 358 Win(Browning BLR with 20" barrel) likes the Sierra 225 gr BT with an appropriate charge of IMR 4895 and measured velocity is 2550 fps +/-
The first 3 shots measure about 1.25" center to center.
This load has worked very well on a dozen or so Moose and several deer so far. They only need to get hit once!
My longest shot to date was 250 yds.
The velocity is low enough that this bullet gives good penetration and good expansion. A stoutly built bullet at these velocities might not expand reliably or as much.
The larger bullets intrude on the powder space and velocities are not high. I haven't tried any 200 gr bullets yet and I'm sure that they can easily be loaded to exceed 30-06 200gr velocities.
Check the ballistics on that 225 Sierra SBT at 2550 fps and you will see that it is easily a 300+ yd hitter and up close it is an impressive hitter. Of course that all depends on the shooter.
Good Luck
John

 

[Why not?]

My buddy has hunted with only one rifle for the past twenty-plus years, an 18 1/2 inch 358 Winchester. Several of the guys on the board here know him.

He has tried quite a few different bullets, but for many, many, years now has used nothing but the 250 gr Speer spitzer loaded to 2250 fps. He has killed literally tons of moose, bear and caribou with that load, almost always with a single shot.

The rifle is a rechambered Rem Model 600. It was a 35 Rem and someone had rechambered it when he got it. The 1:16 twist stabilizes the bullet well enough that he has killed several big bulls at very long range. One was close to 400 yds on the last day of the season.

Any animal at 300 yds or less is in serious trouble if this "man with one gun" decides he would like to put it in the freezer! I will bet a hamburger and a Dr. Pepper that your experience will be the same.

Ted