358Win Ruger Frontier - Sample Target

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Whelen B

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Been out bear hunting the last few weeks when I can. I have carried various rifles (35Rem Marauder, 44mag ranch hand, an antique 50-70 roller) but mostly have used my 358 Frontier - season opened a few weeks ago here - still no look at a bear.

However, to confirm my Frontier was shooting where I was pointing I fired off three rounds from a rest - and here's the result which is pretty typical of this rifle. This gun always shoots the same year to year - not finicky at all. It's scope is a compact 4x fixed Leupold M8 in Ruger rings (NECG peep in pic is a back up).

I waste the lower cost 225 Sierras on paper targets and hunt with the 225 partitons. Past range tests have proven that they both shoot to the exact same point and about the same accuracy. My 250gr SpeerHC loads print 2" lower at 100yds. It's these 250 SpeerHCs at 2215 fps I'm using right now for close in bear hunting. I've got a full size Hawkeye in 358 that I use for more open ground hunting (Moose last fall). But this smallish Frontier sure is slick in the thick stuff and hunting from tree stands which I'm doing now. Lots of 35cal fun - I like this gun.

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Nice rifle. That kind of consistency gives a lot of confidence.

The 358W chambering has long been a favorite here as well. I have a stainless 700 action at the smith right now getting a bbl.
 
Nice Whelen! I concur, I still like my Frontier as well.
Slightly off topic if I may, did you fill the holes in the barrel from the quarter rib when you removed it? If so, can you explain the details and/or post a pic of it please? I debated and debated with myself about sending mine off to a smith to have iron sights installed since I have no intention of ever using the quarter rib/scout config with mine. Instead of having irons installed I decided to buy a Burris Fastfire 3 and the Ruger M77 mount. I plan to mount it on the front scope mount and remove the quarter rib.
This rifle for me will be my east coast walkin' gun, or as you mentioned nice for those tight spaced hunting blinds. I however did shoot mine out to 300 yards a couple years ago just to try it. Once you have the dope, you might be surprised what that little things can do out to that distance ;)
I was also very pleasantly surprised with the accuracy of the Ruger 416 Alaskan I picked up a few months ago. That friggin thing printed MOA at 100 yards using 82 grains of Re15 under a 350 grain TSX. Runs over my chrono at 2450 fps...
I'm still experimenting with loads for the little 358 as well. Recently tried the 200 grain TTSX over TAC. I've tried the 200 grain Hornady SP over IMR3031, H4895, & TAC. I'm debating trying some 180's or 225's as well.
Glad you started this thread since it's another opportunity to post the pic of my bear taken with the little 358 :)
The next pic is the 200 grain Hornady SP I recovered from the bear.
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Great pics AG - thanks.

To keep crud out of the holes I got a box of kids coloured crayons and was just going to rub the grey one in to the holes like a carpenters coloured crayon used to fill finishing nail holes in trim. Not sure if that would be good or not. I haven't followed thru on that. Going to test it on something else first. I was thinking wax would be easy to remove if someone wanted the rib back on as I kept the parts - but am unsure about all that - experimenting.

That 200 grain Hornady SP bullet sure earned its keep taming your bear I'd say. Hope I can repeat your success soon with my Frontier.

Wish I could get Tac around here - love 2 try it with 200s myself. Those 200gr TTSX are supposed to punch above their weight class. I have some 200 TSX but some initial checking indicated that at a COAL of 2.720" the bullet is actually touching the lands - ????? - kind of odd.
 
I'll share my results with the 200 TTSX & TAC. Maybe you or others can share some insight.
I was looking for some of the 180 TTSX's but could only find the 200's when I got them. I think I'd like to try the 180 TTSX's and will pick some up when I get the chance.

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Slightly off topic if I may, did you fill the holes in the barrel from the quarter rib when you removed it? If so, can you explain the details and/or post a pic of it please?
Click to expand...
i'll try this again. Filled four screw holes with ss plug screws without a shoulder. Odd size thread so chased a close standard one with the proper die. it was only the other two recoil pin holes left i've yet to fill with crayon as mentioned. Noticed/remembered while looking at it while in my tree stand.
 
My .358 Frontier shoots sub moa with 40 grains of IMR 4198 and the 250 Hornady SP, my favorite hunting rifle.
 
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