Ruger compacts/frontiers...question.

[Wrong Way]

What was the largest caliber they came in? I know they were made in 300 WSM, and advertuised in 325 WSM...did they ever come in a 350 rem mag? I'm looking high and low for one of these little rifles, but would like to have a better idea of what exactly was available.

 

[Whelen B]

No they never were made in 350RemMag - not the compacts or Frontiers.

My understanding is they came in 243, 7-08, 308. I'm not sure whether they made them in 260Rem or not - I think some were. But a very few were made in 300WSM and even fewer in 325WSM. A year ago Wes at Epps told me he sold one or two in 325WSM. I don't think the WSMs are chambered now at all. While I'm sure they work OK and reports indicate they shoot accurately, I believe the WSMs to be a bit impractical in a 16" tube - in strictly ballistic terms anyway.

For this year Ruger announced the target grey stainless Frontier version in 338Federal and 358Win. I think Ruger won't make many of these but that's uninformed conjecture on my part based on what I've seen in the past.

I believe the 358Win loses the least in that short tube and thererfore I prefer it. I snagged one (ordered it and waited 3months). My son shot it hunting without ear protection once and reported no ear trauma at all with the loads I developed. I tried it at dusk also to see if it was a serious flamethrower. Again with the load I have fashioned for the short barrel, there was no more flame than any other 22" tube rifle I have. The next best is the 338Fed in my opinion, then 308, and so on.

They are GREAT little hunters - I really like mine. You should get one.

 

[Wrong Way]

From what I gather the 300 WSM pretty much duplicates 30/06 ballistics from the 16" tube...how does the 358 stack up?

 

[Whelen B]

I just got the 358 and very quickly developed a few adequate loads for bear hunting, I'm getting 2160MV with a 250gr and 2345MV with 225s. We've been hunting the gun this past week with those loads.

Based on my past loading experience with 358, and also reports and data from XP100 shooters using 14 1/2" barrels, I believe 2200MV or slightly more with a 250, and 2425MV with a 225 or slightly more is reasonable to expect with more load development. Time will tell of course. One pistol shooter reports 2450MV with a 225 with a 14 1/2" tube.

For comparison the 30/06 is supposed to a put a 220 out at 2400MV.

Just my opinion - I like the 358's larger frontal area as I think it packs as much or more punch than the 30/06 on big game - when woods hunting anyway.