.358 Winchester

History

This cartridge came over 30 years later than the .35 Whelen which is based on the .30-06 Springfield. The relationship in performance between the .358 Win and the .35 Whelen is similar to that between the .308 Win and the .30-06. It created a round more powerful than the .35 Remington and .348 Winchester.

Some think that the cartridge is only good as a short-range and woods round, but it is adequate for any North American big game. Another benefit is that this round can be loaded with very light loads for informal shooting using smaller powder charges and bullets designed for the .38 Special and .357 Magnum. If the 250 grain bullet is used, it is reliable against the great bears.

Popularity of this cartridge has dwindled but Browning Arms Company still produces the Browning BLR in .358 and numerous other rifles, such as the Winchester Model 70, Winchester Model 88, and the Savage Model 99 are available on the used gun rack; a number of companies (see availability below) still produce the ammunition. Noted web firearms author Chuck Hawks agrees with the Speer reloading manual that 'The .358 Winchester is one of the best woods cartridges ever designed.

Performance and Availability

Winchester occasionally offers one load for this cartridge; the Winchester Super-X Silvertip. It consists of a 200-grain (13 g) pointed soft point bullet with an advertised muzzle velocity of 2,490 ft/s (760 m/s), and an advertised muzzle energy of 2,753 ft·lbf (3,733 J).

Hunting Shack offers a choice of two loads, 225 grains or 250 grains.

Buffalo Arms also offers a choice of two loads, 200 grains or 250 grains.

Old Western Scrounger currently offers a 250 grain load.

And, while temporarily suspended, Hornady offers a 200 grain, soft point load with a muzzle energy of 2,720 (ft-lbs).

Cartridge cases can be formed from .308 cases.