Reloading .358 Win Ruger M77 Carbine

[4fifty8]

• new from Ruger features 16.6" barrel https://www.ruger.com/products/HawkeyeHunter/specSheets/67107.html
• looks rather cool with aftermarket muzzle brake
• Hornady .358 Win brass / BR-2 / A2015 / Re15 / 2400 reduced load
• Hornady 250gr SP / Woodleigh 310gr / CamPro 38 Super 180gr plated
• no recommendations - near max loads - safe in my rifle ONLY
• compared to my 20" barrel BLR muzzle speed loss about 60 fps about what I expected
• typical LC6 trigger breaks clean with creepy heavy pull weight 5~6 lbs easily improved then should group tighter but ain't too bad as is
• 310gr @ 2025 fps mv for hunting

Leupold FX-II 4x33mm for hunting

Nikon 3-9x42mm for plinking with CamPro 180gr

 

[4fifty8]

• possible to make .358 Win brass from .308 Win. I just run it thru my .358 Win FL resizing die works for me
• Speer Reloading Manual No.12 says when using reformed .308 brass to reduce starting loads by 5% & work up from there

 

[4fifty8]

For comparison Doubletap makes .358 Win. 310gr Woodleigh Weldcore ammo: https://doubletapammo.com/collections/358-winchester/products/358-win-310-woodleigh-weldcore-20rds

Rated 2075 fps mv (24" barrel) vs. my 310gr carbine load 2025 fps (16.6" barrel) - only 50 fps speed loss with way shorter barrel.

 

[Bare]

That rifle looks sooo good. Even the brake looks fantastic.

 

[4fifty8]

Neck resizing doable with my RCBS FL sizing die screwed out 2 turns & de-primer pin lowered works for me not a recommendation.

 

[4fifty8]

• today tried Hornady 38 cal (0.357" dia.) XTP HP / 2.2cc Lee dipper ~28.5gr A2015+polyfil tuft / Remington NP .308 reformed brass / BR-2
• no recommendations for demonstration only - moderate pressure load safe in my rifle ONLY - Nikon Omega 3-9x42mm scope
• good accuracy my trigger fix sure helps now it's ~2.5 lb pull weight & no creeep

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

I dig the setup fer sure. You gotta try out the Hornady 110 gr XTP bullets over 36 gr of 4198 with held in place like you did with the 158 gr
load. Ye should get around 2600+ fps from the rifle without worries. The best part is the explosive result on targets like water jugs & water filled
pumpkins. T'is the season fer it.

 

[WhelanLad]

Noice.... No brainer on the .308 brass sized up to 35...
But do tell me more about these Heavy LC6 triggers... I didn't think they could be adjusted??

Mines a Whelen mkii Hawkeye , heavy but Crisp trigger....

Nice groups and different set ups on the same gun eh

 

[DeerHunter898]

But do tell me more about these Heavy LC6 triggers... I didn't think they could be adjusted??

The easiest way is the Timney replacement trigger. If you put the Timney trigger/sear and stock spring in one rifle, and put the stock trigger/sear and Timney spring in another rifle, you can generally end up with two very crisp, light triggers with one Timney kit.

 

[4fifty8]

Ideas from Gemini AI on LC6 trigger improvements as always AI responses can include mistakes so its answers should be checked - no recommendations here -

 

[WhelanLad]

Cool thanks excuse the derailment