Just picked up a .358 BLR, I will be using it for deer and the occasional piggie. I see that there is only 1 factory load excpt Conley's stuff. I have a friend who has loading equipment, I have searched and found quite a bit of info on the .358.


What do you guys reccommend for a bullet/powder combo? I was thinking 200-225gr, powder I have no idea. Would I be better off with Spitzer, RN, or FN bullet? Shot will be 150 and under. 150+ would be an extreme rarity around here.



Thanks

Bearcat check the loadswap section. It's listed at the top of the page.

Good gosh, I forgot all about that section! Thanks for the reminder!

Whitehunter35 recommended some great loads to me, 48.5 grns of IMR 4064 and the 200 grn Hornady bullet. Great thing about the BLR is you can use spire points. I've gotten some excellent groups with my BLR. You can see them in this thread:

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=36644&page=15&pp=15

That load seems to work well with most of the 200 grn bullets I've used it with, esp the Remington Core Lokt, Hornady SP, and Sierra Pro Hunter. I've also gotten some decent groups with the heavier bullets (225 Sierra Game King and 220 Speer FP). I don't have them with me right now or I'd give more info on them.

My favorite load with the .358" 200 grain Hornady Spire Point is 49.0C grains of IMR3031 ignited by a CCI-250 magnum rifle primer. It is a compressed load and over book max but is safe in my BLR. I started at 45 grains and worked up in one grain increments and highly recommend this method.

Seat the bullet as far out as the magazine will allow then verify that it will chamber normally. If you encounter any resistance near the end of the closing stroke, reduce the cartridge O.A.L. .010" and try again. Repeat as necessary in order to obtain normal chambering.

The crimping groove will be slightly above the case mouth but crimping is not necessary or recommended. The bullet tip will not be deformed upon firing and the bullet will not be set back into the case. This is prevented because the bullet tip is kissing the front of the magazine. Upon firing, there will be very little momentum available to deform the bullet tip or allow bullet set back.

Thanks for the help guys!

I am wanting to scope the gun so it will come up quick and be good in the brush, but still be able to get some distance out of it if need be. I have shot quite a bit but have never fooled with a fixed power scope. Would you guys recommend a fixed 4X or a 2-7 scope?


Thanks

I have a Leupold VX-II 2-7 on mine. Ideally I'd like to have a 1.5-4 or 5 power. I use mine when I hunt the woods and shots are generally 100 yards or less. I've also still hunted with it and if you're looking for quickness to pick up an animal, I'd definately look at one with a lower power setting for a larer FOV.

Also FYI..the loads I worked up in the heavier bullets that shot well in mine are 49.0 grns of IMR 4064 with the 225 Sierra and 51.0 grns of Varget with the 220 Speer FP. They're safe in my gun but work them up in yours if you decide to try them.

Thanks, the more I thought of it the low power varible made more sense.

Thanks for the loads also.

Had a Win M88 in 358. Used Hornady 250 gr spire or RN and WW748 powder. Good accuracy.

Bearcat,

Welcome friend, glad to have you.

Many great 200 grain loadings around, they are seemingly the most accuratte and will sure kill any deer that ever walked. I like the 225s for a woods bullet, and have been working towards getting one to work for awhile yet.

If memory serves, my 200 grain loading is 48.5 grains of IMR 4064, with the Horn spitzer- which is mild but plenty accuratte. and the 225 grainer is 43 point something ....9? think so- grains of 3031 with the Sierra. I haven't had much luck with the 225 parition bullet, yet, but I'm still working on it. That parition seems to me to be the right choice when you might have a date with Mr. Pig.

My BLR has an issue with blunter nose bullets, is not nearly as smooth when cycled, but its not all that bothersome. Reckon it only has applied thus far to the 220 Speer and 250 Horn, but a man can feel it when its going on.

Other than that, great gun, might be a little particular with what it likes, but this thing of ours, what a fine and pleasant misery!

Best to all you fellows.

Steve

whitehunter, thanks for the help.

Stupid question time; how do I know if I have a BLR Lightning??

Nevermind, figured it out..... duh......

I have a 358win with a 20 1/2 inch barrel. With either the Hornady or Rem pointed corelokt 200gr bullets H4895 worked great for me. I settled on 47.0grs of H4895 with the 200gr spire point, win brass, and fed 210M (match) primers which average 2488fps. Hornadys max listed load is 48.7grs. so there is still more potencial if ya need it.

I worked up to 46.5grs with the nosler 225gr partition that went 2430fps. No pressure signs but I stop there and I am going to play with the OCL to find the most accurate OCL for that bullet.

For deer and pigs I think the 200gr pointed rem or hornady are best the rem being a little tougher but still a fast expanding bullet for deer sized game. The speer 220gr should be a very good for bears and pigs fairly cost effective too. I went straight to the partition as my bear through Elk/Moose load once my load is established 50 rounds should last a life time.

At 38-40 bucks a box for the winchesters reloading seems cheap. Even chonleys ammo just buy 60 rounds if ya do.

Gents,

Brother Tjen, I owe you a cool one. I've been on a bit of a slump the last couple of three years to end up with a decent 225/ 220 grain load for this outfit, and the only one that worked decently was that 3031 load, that happened to be the first of several that I tried. I have this notion that 3031 can't get quite fast enough, so I tried other powders, slower powders, semi-compressed powders, ball powders, ball powders with magnum primers, no good.

I did some grey matter exercise looking at burn rates and load densities, and decided that H4895 is in exactly the right spot. At the instant I decided this, the clouds parted, the sky cleared, angels were heard singing........ except, I had no data for 4895 and a 225 bullet. Doh!

Like I said, I owe you one.

In other semi-related news, I took out my new Ruger Hawkeye 358 for its first serious, post zero wring out. The 200 Horn load that is my standby did as well as with the BLR, sub inch, in fact. I saw that as encouraging. The other thing that I was happy about is that a Re-15 250 Horn RN load that my BLR hated, (2.5" on its best day, and ten inches low) shot point of aim with the Ruger, and grouped beautifully.

Since I am feeding two 358s these days, I went to Midway this week, and they are in seasonal blackout for 358 brass. I have some new R/P 308 laying around, but I do prefer the right headstamp, just for the sake of neatness and order. I'll give them a little time to kick loose of some brass, before i start with it.

Best to you fellows,

Steve

Thanks for the replies

Whitehunter35, Please post your results for the 225gr parttitions and H4895. I did not have acutual data for that combo just studied what was there for H4895 for both the 200gr and 250gr bullets and proceded very carefully.

I double checked my data and its 46.0grs with the 200 spire point ( max listed is 48.7grs). It clocked at 50 degrees 2450fps and the same batch at 70 degrees went 2480fps ave. I think I will bump it to 46.5grs for the cold weather. Also 46.5 is the max I loaded for the 225gr partitions. This is not the max load for my gun but without actual load data I stopped there, its traveling at 2430fps. I will have to verie the OCL to see where it becomes accurate.

The 200gr spire's group at 5/8" at 100yrds. The 225gr partitions about 2" and the same distance to the lands .030" as the spire points dosn't work (no shortcut).