Advice sought (.358); I think I know the answer...

[Hunter-Habib]

You don't need that new rifle. It needs you. Now go purchase it immediately & give that poor rifle a new home.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Once you go to a 35 caliber, others just don't measure up anymore.

@MS 9x56
Once you use a fast 25 anything else 270 and under just don't matter either.
A fast 25 a good 7mm like the 280AI and a Whelen and your set for 99 percent of your hunting. You could even get by without the 7mm but a bit of variation is nice.
A 25 cal 80gn Barnes TTSX @ 3,800fps shoots flatter than a shit carters hat for a long ways out or load it with a 120gn A Frame and go hunt bigger shit
Bob

 

[Scott CWO]

@rwp315
Easy fixes. BUY ANOTHER ONE. That way regrets will be gone
Bob

You really should have been a psychologist, mate. Lol.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You really should have been a psychologist, mate. Lol.

@Scott CWO
Yeah, Nah a mad bastard like me giving psychological advice would be like putting a dingo in charge of a kids playground. Not a smart move.
Bob

 

[MS 9x56]

Ruger calls that finish, "Target Grey." I have several Target Grey Mark II's, it is a great finish... I say again, grab that rifle, you will not be disappointed.

Who on here has ever seen a grey target? Other than an Eland that is. Honestly where do they come up with this crap?

 

[rwp315]

@rwp315
Easy fixes. BUY ANOTHER ONE. That way regrets will be gone
Bob

Yes but not for $400. it was such a well balanced rifle. I think 20-22” barrel? Not as long as my 35 Whelen.

Thanks

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Who on here has ever seen a grey target? Other than an Eland that is. Honestly where do they come up with this crap?

@MS 9x56
Elephants are grey as well.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yes but not for $400. it was such a well balanced rifle. I think 20-22” barrel? Not as long as my 35 Whelen.

Thanks

@rwp315
Hopefully you haven't had a brain snap and sold your Whelen. At least with the Whelen you can load it down to 357 hand gun velocity or stoke it up to a tower of power with up to 4,300fpe if bone crushing power.
Bob

 

[rwp315]

@rwp315
Hopefully you haven't had a brain snap and sold your Whelen. At least with the Whelen you can load it down to 357 hand gun velocity or stoke it up to a tower of power with up to 4,300fpe if bone crushing power.
Bob

No never will.

 

[rwp315]

No never will.

Also enjoy your 35 info.

 

[MS 9x56]

@MS 9x56
Elephants are grey as well.
Bob

Quite so Bob but rather than a target I humbly submit they are more like a barn door with legs.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Quite so Bob but rather than a target I humbly submit they are more like a barn door with legs.

@MS 9x56
At times I couldn't even hit a target that size from ten feet.
Bob

 

[7x57Joe]

Buy it or you'll be sorry! The .358 is a fine round that will take care of anything in N. America, Europe, and plains game of Africa. As has been well stated, no need for expensive boutique bullets as the cup and core gets the job done. I use my own cast bullets in 7.62 cases and have never been disappointed. As much as I admire the 7x57, the .358 isn't very far behind.

 

[hoytcanon]

I sat down at the loading bench last night and put together 300 rounds of .358 Win with 50.0 grains of W748 and 200 grain Hornady SP's at 2.725"... this is a proven load with dozens of heads of game under its "belt." It is my general use load in the .358... I do have a stouter load and bullet for big bears, but for the most part, this is not required.

 

[MS 9x56]

The challenge is finding projectiles for it if you are picky. I pretty much only wanted 225 Nolser Partitions or Swift A Frames. They were hard to find for a while. Not a bad round but something to consider. Also I tried resized 308 brass and it always came up a bit short and didn't seem to headspace right. I fiddled with it for a while then spent money on 358 brass. Worked better but another thing.
Those are the negatives. On the other hand it's a very effective round without a ton of recoil. My Scout rifle wears a traditional scope so it's actually fairly similar to what you are considering (just not .358). I like the rifle a lot. It handles like a 30-30 but with way more range.

The 358 Winchester really doesn't need premium bullets good old fashioned Cup and core will drop most critters in their tracks. I have found round nose bullets to be extremely effective on game.