358 winchester

m1978

m1978

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Was curious if there is any love here for the 358? I’ve often thought of getting one in a blr or other short/light rifle.
 
358 is a fine cartridge. However make sure you are comfortable with the strange aspects of the BLR.
Everyone whom I have talked to that actually removed the splined roll pins regretted this afterwards.
This rifle by design you should learn to clean with solvents and brushes, most importantly, minimal teardown.
Now I have never handled the takedown variant only the earlier non takedown steel receiver.
But IMO just for the cleaning aspect the takedown BLR is the way to go.
 
It depends how you hunt (how far you want to shoot) A 308 with a heavy bullet will do a similar job up close but the .308 cartridge is more versatile for different distances. There is no rule that gunnutz need to take the most practical route, however! :)
 
The .358 is in my opinion one of the best hunting cartridges ever developed. But that is the same opinion everyone has of their personal favorite. Some hunters even admire the .375 Ruger.
 
I like it and have owned a couple of BLR's chambered in .358.

I wish I could find a nice bolt action in that caliber though.

But as Gatehouse mentioned, you might be better off with a good old .308 for most practical purposes.

If you are not a reloader however, finding ammo might be a challenge.

Even if you do reload, brass and bullet availability is limited.
 
I have a great love for the .358 Win. I have been shooting it for more than a quarter century, although I fell into it accidentally with a borrowed rifle (long, sad story). Since than I have had at least a dozen... I liked them all, but stuck with three, a Pre-81 BLR, a Ruger M77 Mark II Carbine and a Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier. The Little Frontier with 16.5" barrel gets to the woods a lot, I have an inordinate amount of confidence in that rifle out to 300 yards, which is more than many give it credit for. I have fired it and it's predecessor at big game animals, 30 or so times, only once each, all died, some spectacularly. Considering it's effect on game is reminiscent of a high velocity "splash" cartridge, very quickly (often immediately)eating dirt... unlike the high velocity "splash" cartridge, there is little meat damage. The three animals pictured below, hit the ground immediately on impact. Also pictured are a pair of Ruger M77 Mark II .358's and the BLR .358. You will not be disappointed choosing a .358 Win for hunting... I have found them to be very accurate and forgiving of a variety of loads.
 

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I love my .358s. And my BLRs. I have a pistol Grip BLR in .358 (blued) and a takedown BLR in .358 (stainless). Also have a Ruger M77 in .358. A little more recoil than a .308. My bucks from 2019 and 2020 both fell to the mighty .358. BLR is a real field rifle.....tigger is a little heavy, but its handy, light, quick to the shoulder. Great for a stand or walking. Not so great from the bench, with the lever action and sharp recoil.
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358 Win never a commercial success but never seems to lose its appeal either. 358 brass easily made by resizing 308 brass with 358 Win full length resizing die.
 
It is a great cartridge. I have 2x Savage 99, a Ruger Hawkeye, and a Ruger American.

All shoot well, and hit with authority.

As noted, it a solid 300 yard cartridge, which is good for most of us.
 
I have a newer BLR takedown straight stock in .358 with a scout scope, I am more of a bolt action fan but it is unlikely to ever get sold.
 
Hoyt, That ruger rifle with the ebony fore end cap and iron sights, what model is that and is it hard to find? I like that one.
 
It's a ballistic twin to the 9.3X57 which is a useful round, but its real advantage is that it's chambered in Lever Guns.
 
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hoytcanon said:
I have a great love for the .358 Win. I have been shooting it for more than a quarter century, although I fell into it accidentally with a borrowed rifle (long, sad story). Since than I have had at least a dozen... I liked them all, but stuck with three, a Pre-81 BLR, a Ruger M77 Mark II Carbine and a Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier. The Little Frontier with 16.5" barrel gets to the woods a lot, I have an inordinate amount of confidence in that rifle out to 300 yards, which is more than many give it credit for. I have fired it and it's predecessor at big game animals, 30 or so times, only once each, all died, some spectacularly. Considering it's effect on game is reminiscent of a high velocity "splash" cartridge, very quickly (often immediately)eating dirt... unlike the high velocity "splash" cartridge, there is little meat damage. The three animals pictured below, hit the ground immediately on impact. Also pictured are a pair of Ruger M77 Mark II .358's and the BLR .358. You will not be disappointed choosing a .358 Win for hunting... I have found them to be very accurate and forgiving of a variety of loads.
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Nice KILL's there ! and Rifles - Thxs for the Sharing ! :cool: RJ

I too had a BLR 358 Win for a Few years - I likes the Sierra 225 gr bullets in it ! Sadly i SOLD it ! RJ
 
m1978 said:
Hoyt, That ruger rifle with the ebony fore end cap and iron sights, what model is that and is it hard to find? I like that one.
Click to expand...

Yeah, it is a beautiful rifle, Ruger M77 MKII RSI, converted to an RLS... unfortunately there were only 25 made in 1993, so it is close to impossible to find.
 
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