.358 Winchester

The .358 Winchester is a .35 caliber rifle cartridge based on a necked up .308 Winchester created by Winchester in 1955. The cartridge is also known in Europe as the 9.1x51mm.[2]

.358 Winchester
From left: .308 Winchester, .338 Federal, .358 Winchester
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	USA
Production history
Designer	Winchester
Designed	1955
Manufacturer	Winchester
Produced	1955
Specifications
Parent case	.308 Winchester
Case type	Rimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter	.358 in (9.1 mm)
Neck diameter	.388 in (9.9 mm)
Shoulder diameter	.454 in (11.5 mm)
Base diameter	.470 in (11.9 mm)
Rim diameter	.473 in (12.0 mm)
Rim thickness	.054 in (1.4 mm)
Case length	2.015 in (51.2 mm)
Overall length	2.780 in (70.6 mm)
Rifling twist	1-12
Primer type	Large rifle
Maximum CUP	52,000 CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 180 gr (12 g) SP 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s) 2,914 ft⋅lbf (3,951 J) 200 gr (13 g) SP 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 2,776 ft⋅lbf (3,764 J) 250 gr (16 g) SP 2,200 ft/s (670 m/s) 2,687 ft⋅lbf (3,643 J)
Test barrel length: 24 Source(s): Hornady[1]

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.[1] 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[2] 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."[3][4]

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).[5]

Hunting Shack offers a choice of two loads, 225 grains or 250 grains.[6]

Buffalo Arms also offers a choice of two loads, 200 grains or 250 grains.[7]

Old Western Scrounger currently offers a 250 grain load.[8]

And, while temporarily suspended, Hornady offers a 200 grain, soft point load with a muzzle energy of 2,720 (ft-lbs).[9]

Cartridge cases can be formed from .308 cases.[4]

See also

• List of rifle cartridges
• 9 mm caliber
• Table of handgun and rifle cartridges

References

1. Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading Vol I (6th ed.). Hornady Mfg Co. 2003. pp. 539–541.
2. Barnes, Frank C. (2006). Skinner, Stan (ed.). Cartridges of the World (11th ed.). Gun Digest Books. p. 83. ISBN 0-89689-297-2.
3. "The .358 Winchester". Chuck Hawks.
4. Speer Reloading Manual Number 13. Speer, Blount, Inc. 1998. p. 372.
5. "Super-X Silvertip". Winchester.com.
6. "HSM Ammunition Product List" (PDF). Hunting Shack. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
7. "22-.35 Caliber Smokeless Ammunition". Buffalo Arms.
8. "358 Win 225GR RN". The Old Western Scrounger. Archived from the original on 2014-11-03. Retrieved 2014-11-03.
9. "358 Win 200 gr SP". Hornady Manufacturing Company. Archived from the original on 2014-10-28. Retrieved 2014-11-03.

External links

• Winchester's Sleeper. . .358 WCF, by Paco Kelly
• .358 Winchester Reloading info from Accurate Arms.