.358 Win. cal.

[Model94Guy]

Have become enamored with this cal. after reading Chuck Hawkes reviews and am curious about what anyone who owns one thinks. Have a chance to buy a Model 70 at a great price. Even 2nd hand info is welcome.

[mark501w]

Gotta be a rare gun never seen one.

[ditchdigger]

I have a Savage 99 in .358 Winchester. I bought it knew about 35 years ago. The recoil is pretty stout. It's accurate enough out to 200 yards.

[Fjold]

Gotta be a rare gun never seen one.

They're not rare, just not to popular out west. It's the 308 round necked up to .358 caliber. It's more used in the north and east in forested country.

[buffybuster]

35 Whelen = 30-06 necked up to .358"

358Win = 308Win necked up to .358"

They are very fine hunting rounds for moderate ranges for big game. Also you can load "38cal" pistol bullets for plinking or small game.

[Whiterabbit]

358 is the second most versatile caliber in use today. Right behind 45 caliber. Everything else is a comparatively distant third.

[mark501w]

I know what a .358 is but, a mod 70 in .358?

[gun toting monkeyboy]

It could be rebarreled... I have a .35 Whelen, basically the .30-06 version, and it is a good gun. I looked at both it and the .358, and decided that since I was rebarreling an action, I might as well go for the plus sized .35 caliber. It was a close decision, but the fact that .358 was more or less discontinued is what tipped it for me. Nothing wrong with it though. If you get a good deal on it, there is no reason not to grab it.

-Mb

[2761377]

I know what a .358 is but, a mod 70 in .358?

the .358 winchester was first introduced as a chambering for the Model 70 in 1955 according to CotW. presuming the OP's rifle in question is a pre-'64 model 70 it is a very desireable rifle, worth a premium over .270 or '06.

[Model94Guy]

Thanks guys, that is a lot of great info, also learned Browning makes a new BLR in the .358, will let you know how it goes.

[vincewarde]

My thought would be to go with 35 Whelen if you are looking for a serious hunting rifle. IMHO the extra capacity of the 06 case makes a big difference when you get to 35 Caliber. Much more than 30 Cal.

[Whiterabbit]

45/70's in trapdoor rifles or shot from muzzleloaders has been killing just fine for centuries. Meplat kills, at any speed

[smle-man]

Had a FN rifle in .35 Whelen and loved to load it with a now discontinued 275gr RN bullet. It was a thumper! The .358 is good medicine but not a long distance shooter, it drops pretty quickly at range. More an east coast or upper Midwest hunting round.

[FLIGHT762]

I have a BLR 81 in .358 Winchester. Great little rifle. Taken one deer with it.

Easy to hand load for. Easy to neck up 308 Winchester to .358 with a tapered neck expander.

[-hanko]

I know what a .358 is but, a mod 70 in .358?

Specifically, a Model 70 Featherweight.

-hanko