Well guys my next rifle purchase will be in a BLR choosing between the .358 and .308. My hunting is 95% for deer, with the odd pig hunt or elk hunt maybe in the next 5 years. My hunting conditions are about 70% hard woods where shots are in the <100yd range, but occasionally I will sit looking over a green field where my shot could be up to 300yds. My choice of rifle and scope are made, I just need a little more info about the .358. I have owned a few BLRs in .308 and know what it can do, the .358 I've only heard things from a few people, and their responses were very varied. From what I understand, only a few companies load for it, and to get all the pontential out of the gun you really need to handload for it. Is that correct? And as to range restrictions, I've heard keep it under 200, its fine out to 250, and 'if you know what your doing' its a 300yd gun. Well, I haven't seen a ballistics chart on it so i'm asking you guys for some personal experice and stories with the .358, also if you could point me to a good ballistics table that would help. Thanks in advance.

AFAIK, there is only one factory loading of 358 Winchester, which is Winchester's 200 grain Super-X Silvertip. It probably has reasonable terminal ballistics. You may have trouble finding stores that stock it.

Matt, I've had my 358 BLR for about two years now and there is only one factory loading for it as Uncruel stated. The factory loads should work fine but you get such a larger selection if you load for it. You can go from 180 grns up to 250. I normally load the 200 grn but if I decide to go for elk I'll probably go with the 225, though I'm sure the 200's would also do the job. I've loaded both SP and RN, with good results. Been a great shooter and I think an underrated woods gun.

I have some of my groups posted on this thread:

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=28076

Also while I was out yesterday, there are some 8" steel gongs at 200 yards that I was hitting no problem. I think it's easily a 200 yard gun. Here's a link to Winchesters ballistic table for their 200 grn silvertip:

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrdetail.aspx?symbol=X3581&cart=MzU4IFdpbmNoZXN0ZXI=

Well I couldn't read the attached chart posted by nitro, so here is what I found at conely's website:

http://www.cpcartridge.com/358win-B.htm


the flatest shooting load using 180gr barnes X basically has it 2'' high @ 100yds, zero'd at 200yds and only 9.2" low @ 300yds still having 1500ftlbs of energy plenty for whitetail. I could live with that easily. In fact thats right on line with normal 180gr loading for a .308. But here is what really has me looking hard at the .358, on the upper end of things say shooting a 250gr Nosler Partition you are 2 3/4" high at 100yds, zero'd at 200 and still only about 11'' low at 300yds but with almost 2000ftlbs of energy (1953). That should be a great elk load. One question I have for you guys that have owned the .358, how does it kick in the blr? I know the blr is a light rifle, that's one of the reasons I like it so much, but the kick in it shooting 180gr loads in my .308 was really sharp, I actually perfered shooting my 45/70 because it has more of a good push than a sharp kick. I would think the .358's recoil would be worse. I'm sure a good aftermarket pad and heavy hunting clothes would tame the recoil just fine but I'd like to hear your comments

Matt, I didn't think the recoil is bad at all and in fact I think is was comparable to my 270 Win. Now I have loaded some warm loads while testing the 225 Barnes TSX bullets that had a little more recoil to it but it is very manageable, I think in part to the pad on the BLR. Some can be a tad sharp but then again, not bad and not enough to have me thinking of the recoil when I'm shooting. Don't know if you've seen this article on the 358 from gunblast:

http://www.gunblast.com/Browning-BLR358.htm

Ya, I read that article a while back and recently reread it once I started giving the .358 more thought. Honestly right now i'm leaning towards the .358, but I still have a lot of studying to do on it. I'd love to hear more first hand accounts from shooter on this board.

Ya, I read that article a while back and recently reread it once I started giving the .358 more thought. Honestly right now i'm leaning towards the .358, but I still have a lot of studying to do on it. I'd love to hear more first hand accounts from shooter on this board.

Hi Matt, I have a early model steel receiver BLR with the perch belly magazine that hangs below the receiver chambered in 358 Winchester.

I like the rifle, though where I use it I'd be hard pressed to get a 200 yard shot, most are more like 40 - 60 yards. I did find that the little rifle kicks fairly sharply when shooting off the bench. For deer, I really favor a 200 gr bullet - just can't see needing anything heavier than a 225 grain even for larger game. Of course, the heaviest thing I'm likely to shoot where I hunt is a feral hog. I do prefer a 225 grain bullet for that.

BLR in 358 packs good, kills well & leaves an excellent blood trail - what more could you want?

Due to limited factory loads, I really consider it a hand loading proposition if you want the best performance.

Had a Winchester M88 in 358 and a Marlin 444 at the same time. Recoil with the 358 was a little less. If you ever plan on hunting really big game then get the 358. Reloading is the only way to go with that round. Cases are easy to make from 308 brass. I used the 250 grain spitzers for everything.

Helo Matt, and all.

Wonderful cartiridge, the 358 Win, but it admittedly loses allot of its appeal if factory cartridges are the only option. Not that the Winchester offering is not a good bullet, its just that not everybody has it. So, if restricted to factory rounds only, then I would recommend a 308.

That would be the only reason to recommend the smaller parent over his strapping child, in my mind. My gun is really (Sub moa) accuratte, handles wonderfully, has better than average manners recoil wise, and it hits game like a freight train.

I think the differences in reach would be slight, as both of your choices are BLR carbines. My 308 is a carbine as well, (rem 7), and my BLR is more accurate at distance, with the excellent Hornady 200 grainer SPIT. I have no issue with 250 yards, and would take that shot all day with the deer round mentioned above.

225 Nosler Part's take this gun into echelons above deer territory, and it makes a dandy pig, black bear, elk, moose round, although the available range is impacted.

Excellent round, I don't think you would regret it.

Best,

Steve

You might want to take a look at the new 338 Federal, kind of an in-betweener. Don't know if Browning is going to chamber it, but it looks like a great deer/elk combo.

You might want to take a look at the new 338 Federal, kind of an in-betweener. Don't know if Browning is going to chamber it, but it looks like a great deer/elk combo.


After a little reading the 338 federal sounds like a great idea, I might give Browning a call and see what they say as to plans to offer the BLR in 338. I just wonder about the recoil, those blrs are light!

I have been shooting a BLR in .358 for 21 years and recoil has never been a problem. About 10 years ago I bought another .358 BLR from a local pawn shop that had a "Quiet-Brake" brand muzzle brake on it. It is not as ear-bustin' as some brakes and is certainly not quiet, but with game in the cross hairs, I don't notice the decible increase. The recoil is substantially reduced, which is a big plus bench shooting at the range. The shooters on either side of my bench don't care for my braked BLR. I do try to time my shots so as not to affect their shooting.

The Winchester 200 grain factory ammo seems mild to me. I have experminted with reloads from 180 to 250 grain bullets and now load the 250 grain Nosler partition for all big game. Using the 'Loads form a Disk" ballistic program I found that with it's higher ballistic coefficient, the trajectory is about the same as the lighter 200 and 225 grain bullets. In addition, retained energy is higher at all ranges. Then there is the bonus of higher sectional density for greater penetration.

If recoil is a problem for you, look at the pistol gripped BLR in .358. The stock is straighter on it than the straight grip model.

I have been shooting a BLR in .358 for 21 years and recoil has never been a problem. About 10 years ago I bought another .358 BLR from a local pawn shop that had a "Quiet-Brake" brand muzzle brake on it. It is not as ear-bustin' as some brakes and is certainly not quiet, but with game in the cross hairs, I don't notice the decible increase. The recoil is substantially reduced, which is a big plus bench shooting at the range. The shooters on either side of my bench don't care for my braked BLR. I do try to time my shots so as not to affect their shooting.

The Winchester 200 grain factory ammo seems mild to me. I have experminted with reloads from 180 to 250 grain bullets and now load the 250 grain Nosler partition for all big game. Using the 'Loads form a Disk" ballistic program I found that with it's higher ballistic coefficient, the trajectory is about the same as the lighter 200 and 225 grain bullets. In addition, retained energy is higher at all ranges. Then there is the bonus of higher sectional density for greater penetration.

If recoil is a problem for you, look at the pistol gripped BLR in .358. The stock is straighter on it than the straight grip model.


Thanks for the reply. I've never considered myself recoil shy by any means. I've shot plenty of 444 marlins with 300 xtps and 270gr gold dots, and an 1895GS with 300gr partitions, 405 beartooths, and factory 405 rems. and I would much rather shoot those from a bench than my last stainless blr in .308. I like the looks of the straight grip BLR much better than the pistol grip ones although I haven't shoulder'd a pistol grip model yet. To be honest with you I can't imagine the pistol grip model fitting me as well as the straight one. If I do go with the .358 its good to know that there is a muzzle break option out there if the recoil is too harsh. About how much was the part and installation if you don't mind me asking? The recoil in the field has never bother'd me, but at the bench my shoulder starts feeling it after about 20rds.

Matt,

The muzzle brake, black stock and matte finish were on the steel framed BLR/.358 when I bought it. There is no way of contacting the previous owner because the shop that I bought the rifle from was blown away by Katrina.

MATT
I have two blr's in 358 and there are three more owned by my sons. THIS IS THE BEST DEER GUN MADE FOR HUNTING IN
WI !! I have never tracked a deer over 50 yards yet that I hit
wit this gun. Just about any gun made will kill a deer if you can hit a vital spot or it stands still long enough to get a good shot at it. I make drives in the deep woods and over hills and threw swamps and lots of brush too. When you jump one sometimes you have to shoot fast at one thats running.
40 YRS OF HUNTING AND THATS THE GUN FOR ME!! I load
with IMR 3031 AND THE REM. 200 GR RN . Pull the trigger
with that and the deer is going to have a bad day. I shoot
out to 225 yards, but would take a shot to 250 or 275 with it.
Have had a 3o-06 - 270- 7mm-08 - 243- 308 over time but
I love the BLR IN 358 AND SO DO MY SONS.
GOOD LUCK Don

MY GRANDSON NOW HAS ONE TOO !! 04/27/06 Don

After last year's deer hunt, I've decided that the .358 Winchester is too much gun for deer...

I haven't fooled around with factory loads, as the ballistics would seem to indicate that Winchester has missed the point of its own cartridge, that is, a heavy bullet thrown out hard and fast. My own personal loading for the .358 BLR is the Sierra 225 gr. BTHP over a case full of 4320. Accurate enough for any sniper, and as stout as Ron Rico 151.

Here's what that load will do to a medium sized white tailed buck: On a head-on quartering shot to the shoulder that slug pulverized the front shoulder, traversed the entire boiler room, broke the opposite hip, and came to rest just under the hide. It made a tremendous mess of the boiler room, and destroyed a LOT of meat. The .358 would be a good elk round...

That said, next year I intend to go back to the Savage 99 in .308 w/ the 150 gr. bullet...

Supermag, good to always hear field results of rounds, have you thought of going to a lighter bullet such as the 180 grn Speer or 200 grain bullets of various makes? I wonder if any of them would work a little better on deer for you.