Lee Loader

Picked up a Browning BLR in 358 Winchester. Figure it should be great with cast bullets for deer in the woods I hunt, and hogs! Anyone casting/loading for a 358 Win? I have Mike's TLC 359-190-RF mold. But any other cast bullet load info is appreciated, as well as any jacketed bullet/load info. Thanx

I think the .358 is an under-appreciated calibre. It can be loaded light to heavy for woods or more open ground with a variety of bullet weights. Don't have one anymore but I preferred a 200-220 grain flat meplat cast for the woods running in the 2200-2300 FPS range. I no longer have my reloading records from then but I believe the powder was Varget. It can be pushed faster but that isn't necessary or desirable for the close quarters I used to hunt. I decided to keep the 35 Remington because of the rifle, (760 Remington). It was faster and lighter than my 336.

This was and still is my bullet of choice. It is a commercial cast (25 Brinell) .358 205 grain.

I used 2400 and 300-MP pistol powders to push a 216 gr cast bullet at about 1825 fps. I killed about a half a dozen deer with it without problems.

NOE copy of RCBS bullet

I used IMR 3031 at a max charge to push a 200 gr Hornady JSP to 2500 fps. It was extremely accurate. I shot a small doe and it ran 200 yds. Maybe it penciled through, or the doe just had a strong will to live?

I'm using a Savage bolt action with a Shaw barrel I chopped to 20".

Now I have a 232 gr bullet mold. I've played with some plinking loads, but haven't taken it hunting.

I also loaded some 200 gr Hornady RN at 2250 fps. Accurate, but I haven't taken it hunting either.

I have a bunch of bullets to try , 8 gr of Unique with a 358-125 , and 358432 148 gr WC .
I got a bunch RCBS 35-250s that shot very well off the books with IMR 4350 . Low pressure about 35-38 kpsi 2100 fps ...... If not for a tossed check , .5" in a Santa Barbara 98 with a 1-14" Adams and Bennett 22" barrel and a Weaver k4 .

Lee 358-200 was good too but I don't have notes for it .

I have 4 other moulds I haven't even tried . The 35 XCB , 358430 , 358-158 RF ..... I think there's another too.

Thanx All!

After nearly 3.5 years of passive searching this afternoon I got a 35-250 RCBS ! That gives me some 8-9 35/38/9mm moulds for everything from 380 to Whelen . Gives me bullets for 380 ,9mm , 38 S&W , 38/357 and the 358 . Now all I need to full fill my wonder lust is a 9×57 .