Lyman 358318 250 gr. RN

[Jäger]

the 6.5 might have done better if it didn't take an odd two diameter bullet, and probably would have done a lot better if Winchester had a little better security with their test materials.

It was a big favorite with sheep and mule deer hunters around here in the 60's - the ones who didn't think they were adequately armed with a .270 or 30/06. But those guys usually had another rifle at home that they used if they were out for elk or moose instead.

Those guys look like pikers, with the cartridges many hunters today think they need for climbing up mountains to chase sheep.

 

[malar]

NOE makes a beautiful copy of the 358318.
I have a 4 cavity and it shoots great in my Whelen.

 

[Rockydoc]

What would be the best rate of twist for cast bullets in a 35 cal barrel? Like if I were to re-barrel my 264 Win to 358 Norma Mag.

 

[Ben]

I think a good balance would be 1 - 14

 

[fiver]

1-12 or 1-14 would both work, I have a 12 on my 358 win and it handles 250's just fine.
now I ain't tried them slow, but if I were I'd rather have the 12 anyway.

 

[Jäger]

What would be the best rate of twist for cast bullets in a 35 cal barrel? Like if I were to re-barrel my 264 Win to 358 Norma Mag.

If I were building my Thor's Hammer from scratch, rather than buying it in the box as a 358 Norma, I'd settle on my primary jacketed bullet, then look at what I was most likely to use for cast, and then play with the twist calculators to make a decision on what twist looked most likely to work well for both.

Pick my most likely bullets first, and THEN start contemplating which twist.

I used 250 grain Partitions and other flavours in the 358 Norma for quite a while before the Barnes bullets arrived; I dropped down to a 225 grain Barnes in Thor's Hammer after that, the 200 grain in the 35 Whelan, and the 358 Winchester has always been fed 180 grain Barnes. My brothers and I have been tipping elk and moose over with Barnes bullets long enough by now that I have great faith in them. I have no doubt the other monolithic bullets like Barnes work equally as well.

Cast bullets were just a plinking/shoot for fun afterthought when I was doing that. The twist was already established when I started casting for the .35s. My plinker/fun loads for those were (and still are) the RCBS .357-180-SILH 430 and .35-200-FN 565

RCBS bullet moulds don't seem to get much respect, but for me at least these have been very forgiving moulds for a casual amateur like me to get great results from on all of my .35 caliber rifles.

If I was getting serious about hunting with Thor's Hammer, I'd probably go to my default, Accurate Moulds, and give this one a try along with something different in one of his two cavity combos:

 

[RBHarter]

The 1-14" 358 Win I have is pretty good . I loaded the 35-250 in it with a full case of IMR4350 probably 2 gr to spare for base contact 2100 fps mild recoil . Elk 225 yd or less I would think , moose might give me pause . That is inside the jacketed data for speed but not a viable powder for data , it is over 30kpsi as there's no mummies .

 

[Spindrift]

I have only one .35 caliber rifle, a .35 Whelen. I chose 1:14 ROT. It shoots well with a wide range of bullets, 155-310 grs. And subsonic loads with 220grs. I have never tried factory bullets, though.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

The 35 is very forgiving. I tried to get a faster twist when I assembled my 350 SCR. But as its so new I only found one maker offering 1:14 & he had been out of stock for months and NOW idea when he might have more. So I bought a Faxon barrel 24" 1:16.
So far ONLY stabilization issues have been 1100 fps 270 and up. 250@1050 shoot perfect round holes to 125 ish. (Have not checked farther) When pushing them faster sat 1400, my Accurate 36-270c mold also delivers perfect round holes. So what a paper sheet says, aint always gospel truth.
Having said that, Yes I would but 1:14 and try for faster if ya know Heavy for Caliber is your goal. Knowing that you cannot over stabilize a bullet.

My358 is for heavy bullets as it has the PC to motivate them best. So my small supply of Hornady 275's or ample supply of 250 Oryx bullets are my choice. With 4350 my oryx loads top 2800 fps.
My Whelen shoots the 225 Accubond or Partition.
My 358 shoots the Sierra 225 or Speer 220
My 35 Rem shoots Hornady 200g psp or FTX
My Maxi/Legends are 180 & less.

Im not a fan if the liberal safe/homogeneous bullets. (Other then pb ) But respect the Barnes tsx/ttsx lines. I have shot them and they are plenty accurate.

Always and forever wanted a 358 Norma. Its a do it all caliber for me. With the tredjectory very close to the 30/06 can be a respectable distance caliber. It brings the fpe and thats best with heavies. Thats what I prefer. I bought that Accurate 36-270c for the Whelen but its right at home in the Big Lady too.

cw