THE 358 WINCHESTER A True Hunters Cartridge
A Classic With Style And Lots Of Punch
I passed by my neighbor’s house the other day and we took a ride in his completely restored 1955 Chevy Bel Air, two-tone mint green and white. It has been since 1968 that I road in one of these classic cars. I did not expect much when he ask me to ride with him because I forgot just how cool it was. Man what a ride. That V8 just rumbled in a hypnotic way while stirring my emotions, bringing back memories of cool times and the ride was easy and smooth. Many don't know what it is like to ride in a classic that has character and style. Sometimes we don’t know due to a lack of experience with an old version of something and how it is so simply wonderful.
That is how I think it is with the 358Win cartridge. What a wonderful, simple, accurate and efficient design that has a style of it’s own. It has been around since Winchester introduced in back in 1955. The 358Win can be acquired in chambering by more than one company. I truly am impressed not only with the cartridge but with my Ruger M77 Hawkeye chambered in 358Win topped by a VX-III 1.5-5x20mm. Of course you can get it in a Remington Model 7 or a Brown BLR.
It is a straight-forward design being necked up from 308 to 35 caliber and of course fits in short actions which reduce weight but also enhance it’s accuracy potential. Without a doubt I believe the 358Win to be a true hunter’s cartridge. Now what do I mean by the statement that the 358Win is a true hunter’s cartridge? Let me give the following examples that will help us understand.
The 358Win is truly a hunter cartridge in that it is a 0-300yd big time thumper. Throwing a 225gr bullet down range with velocities that are perfect for thick brush while providing enough energy and momentum to drop any hog,deer, elk, black bear, moose and yes even brown bear. You will not do long range shooting with this cartridge but what ever you hit with in 300yds with out a bunch of hold over is dead and usually falls right where you hit it.
Most hunters in North america even some elk hunting out west is any where between 30 and 100yds. Often times an animal is partially obscured by intervening brush or timber and we desire our bullets to penetrate that slight cover with reasonable certainty.
On top of that we want to punch a good size hole in the game when in thick cover so as to have a blood trail if tracking is needed and the animal is not instantly dropped.
It becomes really important to knock down your game quickly when you hunt in an area where lots of other hunters hunt. On top of that and especially when in tick woods and in some areas of North America and Canada, you could encounter large game unexpectedly and the extra margin the 358Win gives a hunter, just might be needed.
To put it simply, the 358Win classifies as medium-range cartridge that offers possibilities, that aren't there with lesser cartridges. If Nosler would only chamber their M48 Custom rifle in this cartridge I truly would buy it the day it came out. Those are not idle words. I believe it to be the perfect answer for Nosler's Custom Rifles in having a true contender that could handle large and even dangerous game. All this while being housed in the M48 short action with a 22" barrel and giving the hunter confidence in taking anything from a deer to a brown.
In fact I believe the M48 should be chambered in 358Win even before considering the 30-06. I have written and tried to encourage Nosler in this area. To many 358Win rifles are being purchased to day and to have a top notch high quality rifle like the M48 in 358Win would certainly attract discerning rifleman like me and others.
Ballistic Chart
358Win Ruger Hawkeye
225gr Accubond
2555fps
Ramshot TAC powder
Sight in at 3" high at 100yds
1000 foot pounds energy as minimum on deer size game
Yards--------Velocity-----Energy-----(above/below line of sight)
0--------------2555------3261-------------(-1.5")
100-----------2348------2275-------------(+3")
220-----------2213------2232-------------(Zero)
275-----------2010------2095-------------(-5”)
313-----------1941------1881--------(-10” P/B-hold top of shoulder)
371-----------1837------1686--------(-10” from top of shoulder)
390-----------1804------1626--------(-14” from top of shoulder)
The cartridge is highly accurate as demonstrated in an out of the box Ruger Hawkeye with no extra work of any kind done to the rifle.
Three shot group using AA2495BR
Ballistic Chart
358Win
225gr Sierra SBT
2471fps
AA2495BR
Sight in at 3" high at 100yds
1000 foot pounds energy as minimum on deer size game
Yards--------Velocity-----Energy-----(above/below line of sight)
0--------------2471------3050-------------(-1.5")
100-----------2256------2542-------------(+3")
210-----------2031------2060-------------(Zero)
263-----------1927------1855-------------(-5”)
300-----------1857------1723--------(-10” P/B-hold top of shoulder)
355-----------1756------1540--------(-10” from top of shoulder)
373-----------1724------1484--------(-14” from top of shoulder)
The 358Win is just to good of a cartridge and certainly a very useful one at that, to be forgotten or neglected. Easy recoil considering you are throwing down range a 180gr, 200gr, 225gr or even a 250gr bullet and the thump it gives down range on game is impressive. Easy to load for and very forgiving when it comes to finding accuracy with many powders like, IMR3031, IMR4198, RL-7, H4895, IMR4895, IMR4064, IMR4320, Varget, Tac, AA2495BR, BL-C2 just to name a few. I call it "A LITTLE BIG THUMPER" and what a thumper it is and what a joy to carry in the field.
In this day and time of speed and more speed, one just needs to drive a classic to appreciate the easy drive. The same is true of the 358Win. One has to take one to the range and then to the field and see what is so cool about this classic from 1955. You won't be disappointed in the least, I promise. In fact you will be surprised at how it handles, just how easy it is to drive while giving you so much in return. By: Mike Price
