358 Winchester Powder Choice

S

Slugo

CGN Regular
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Location
Brant County, ON
I'm curious about what the best choice for reloading the 358 Winchester is. The only cartridges I currently load for are the 300 Savage and the 308. I use IMR4320 for both. I recently purchased a new BLR in 358 and would like to load as factory ammo is big $ and availabilty is limited. I'm thinking of loading a 200gr. RNSP corelokt as the round will only be used for whitetails in thick cover. I've had excellent results from this bullet in 30cal./180gr.

After extensive searching, I find many people using IMR3031. IMR powders are readily available here, so that shouldn't be a problem. My loading manual shows data using IMR4320. Is there an advantage to switching to 3031, or should I stick with 4320 as I currently keep it in stock?

Any thoughts/comments will be appreciated.
 
Hello,

The following load is one that I use in my 358 Win and appears to be safe in my gun.
This load may not be safe in your gun.
I suggest that you reduce your load by 10% for starters.

Browning BLR with 20" bbl
Win 358 brass
Sierra 225 gr BT
WLRM primer
51.0 gr IMR 4895
Measured velocity is 2550 fps +/-
The first 3 shots measure about 1.25" center to center.

This load has accounted for 10-12 Moose and several Deer.

The Nosler #3 reloading manual calls for 49.5gr to achieve 2530 fps. It took 1.5gr more in my gun to achieve the same velocity.

Good Luck
John
 
3031 is what I use in my 358, I load Hornady 200gr Spitzers. I have also used 4064 with good results. Other powders I have tried are 4320, RL7, AA2015 and W748 all with varying degrees of sucess in my rifle. The biggest problem I have found is bulking out and not being able to load a maximum charge. I was using reformed brass from a 308 but have since gone to 358 WW brass and this has given me more powder capacity. If you can get the RL7 to shoot in your gun you will be able to load a max load otherwise the other powders will bulk out, go with the fastest burning powder your gun can accurately shoot and all will be well. The 358 is a great cartridge. I never loaded more than the 200gr bullets but then again I have never used it for anything more than deer.
bigbull
 
I use 46.5gr of IMR4064 behind a Hornady 200gr SP in my Model 88 (reformed .308 brass). This produces consistent 1" groups at 100 metres. I have not shot a deer with it yet, but I am confident it will do the job.

Good luck and have fun.

James
:)
 
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