[belthazar48]

I am thinking about getting a big bore 94 in 356 Win. I am a reloader and have 358 win dies.
Can the 358 Win dies be used to full length re-size the 356 Win? What shell holder works best?

I realize that neck sizing the 356 can easily be accomplished, but because of the semi-rim on
the 356 case thought that a different shell-holder might be needed.
THX

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yeah I would say a different shell holder is needed being that the 356 is a rimmed case.

I'd have to look at case dimensions in loading data before assuming 358 Win resizer will work, but my guess is a fair chance it would.

Posting copyrighted material is frowned upon here so I can't post screenshots or anything like that....

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Ok, shell holder. 356 Win has the same rim diameter of .506 as 30-30. But the 356 does have a a groove ahead of the rim that measures .406 with that groove to the 30-30s .421 dimension just a head of the rim without the groove. I use the 30-30 shell holder for my 375 Win without issue, but that measures .506/.420 so it's very close. It may work for you but be careful. With the little bit of extra slop in the holder caused by that groove ahead of the rim on the 356 case, it might be a little fidgity to center it in the holder to go squarely into the die. But once it starts in it may center itself and work fine.

 

[Tnhunter]

I am thinking about getting a big bore 94 in 356 Win. I am a reloader and have 358 win dies.
Can the 358 Win dies be used to full length re-size the 356 Win? What shell holder works best?

I realize that neck sizing the 356 can easily be accomplished, but because of the semi-rim on
the 356 case thought that a different shell-holder might be needed.
THX

If you, or anyone else might want some once fired .356 brass, send me a PM. I have 50? that I have zero use for.

Thanks

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Flipping back and forth between 356 and 358Win in my Hornady 11th app, looks like the 356 and 358Win are dimensionally identical externally and I might try using the 358 dies without much worry.

Resize and seat a bullet on an empty case with your 358 dies and see how it runs through the action and into the chamber. If it's good to go, let er rip tater chip 👍🏻

 

[Tnhunter]

Flipping back and forth between 356 and 358Win in my Hornady 11th app, looks like the 356 and 358Win are dimensionally identical externally and I might try using the 358 dies without much worry.

From all my readings, they are exactly the same. Albeit, one is rimmed. I have owned two .356s and in checking those Marlins, I found that they function fine with and easily chamber factory .358

I never had a shortage of factory .356, but if I did I'd use factory .358 Winchester 200gr in a .356. When the .356 came out, there was but one 200gr load for the .358 made by Winchester. The two loads were rated; .356, 200gr .356 2460FPS and .358 rated 2490 FPS.

Not a bunch of difference.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

I thought that was the case but didn't want to say it was without being certain and looking up the specs 👍🏻


I'd really like a pre-safety 356 one of these days

 

[Tnhunter]

I thought that was the case but didn't want to say it was without being certain and looking up the specs 👍🏻


I'd really like a pre-safety 356 one of these days

All the factory 336ERs had the safety save for one that was built for a Marlin employee by special order. So all 2441 of the .356 336ERs that Marlin sold to the public were built with the new receiver with the HBS.

The Marlin .375 was visually identical to the 336ER, but most of them were built pre safety. I once owned four of the original Marlin .375s and two of the original 336ERs. By coincidence, all my .375s were pre safety and built in 1980. My two 336ERs were made in 1984 and 1985.

The two 336ERs are on the left here.

 

[Blackhawk355]

Graf and sons has Qual cart .356 in stock but it's not cheap. I got some for .350 mag, and it seems to be excellent quality

 

[shawlerbrook]

Many die sets are labeled for both 356/358 Winchester just like the 307/308 Winchester. Yes, the 30 30 shell holder is the one to use for the 356/307 Winchester. They are my favorite levergun rounds.

 

[belthazar48]

Thanks for all the replies. I went to look at my 358 dies and sure enough, it says 356/358 on the label.
A little research, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE POSTING, confirmed the shell holders are
different for the 2 calibers, and I have each on hand. Now all I have to do is pull the trigger on the 94.
You don't see a 356 Winchester or Marlin very often and perhaps, that is the reason I want/don't need one.
With a 325 BLR takedown and a 450 Marlin BLR in the stable, it would be a rare day to carry the 356.
However, when you feel that itch, usually you end up scratching it..

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Yep, expensive brass

Thanks for all the replies. I went to look at my 358 dies and sure enough, it says 356/358 on the label.
A little research, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE POSTING, confirmed the shell holders are
different for the 2 calibers, and I have each on hand. Now all I have to do is pull the trigger on the 94.
You don't see a 356 Winchester or Marlin very often and perhaps, that is the reason I want/don't need one.
With a 325 BLR takedown and a 450 Marlin BLR in the stable, it would be a rare day to carry the 356.
However, when you feel that itch, usually you end up scratching it..

I have a descent albeit relatively small assortment of lever rifles in different chamberings. From common to not so common. I totally get why you want a 356, it's really an impressive cartridge for the 94 platform, as all of those old Winchester Big Bore cartridges are. I hope to own a 356 94 Big Bore at some point. But I'm rather picky, I'd really like a pre-safety version.. but those are pretty scarce to find unfortunately

 

[Tnhunter]

Thanks for all the replies. I went to look at my 358 dies and sure enough, it says 356/358 on the label.
A little research, WHICH I SHOULD HAVE DONE BEFORE POSTING, confirmed the shell holders are
different for the 2 calibers, and I have each on hand. Now all I have to do is pull the trigger on the 94.
You don't see a 356 Winchester or Marlin very often and perhaps, that is the reason I want/don't need one.
With a 325 BLR takedown and a 450 Marlin BLR in the stable, it would be a rare day to carry the 356.
However, when you feel that itch, usually you end up scratching it..

Although both my Marlin 336ERs are now gone, I still have my steel receiver BLR/.358 which I'd all but ignored the past decade or so. I finally took it into the woods this last deer season and bloodied it again. And, I own two other BLRs that have been bloodied on big Georgia boars; a .325WSM and .450M.

At least I now know that I'm not the only guy who "needs" to have BLRs in .325WSM and .450M. 👍

 

[belthazar48]

Nice collection of crank-guns. We don't have hogs in Northern NY, and its on my to do list to hunt one before
I check out....Man, that's a lot of bacon! and the buck is a wall hanger I would be proud to tell the story to buds
while sharing some Old GrandDad

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Nice collection of crank-guns. We don't have hogs in Northern NY, and its on my to do list to hunt one before
I check out....Man, that's a lot of bacon! and the buck is a wall hanger I would be proud to tell the story to buds
while sharing some Old GrandDad

Hey! I live in CNY, between Sylvan Beach and Camden if you are familiar with the area.

 

[shawlerbrook]

Ride Red, spent many summer days on Sylvan Beach and many winter days on Florence Hill Rd chasing snowshoe hares with our beagles. Sorry for the drift.

 

[belthazar48]

Call home, Malone, NY, but hunted Tug Hill [Redfield,Osceola especially around Steadman's Trail] for 50 yrs.
until the old guys passed on and the young ones got old.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

Call home, Malone, NY, but hunted Tug Hill [Redfield,Osceola especially around Steadman's Trail] for 50 yrs.
until the old guys passed on and the young ones got old.

I love Tug Hill! One of my favorite parts of this state 🙂

 

[tex ohfive]

I have Win Big Bore's in .375 and .356 and they are great! Yes, .358 dies should be fine for the .356.

Two nifty things: 1) SAAMI specs for pressures on both the .308 and the .356 rounds are identical 2) .356 Win cases can be easily made from readily available .444 Marlin cases as the .444 Marlin case is actually just a rimmed straight tapered .308 case . 🙂