356 Winchester

[Doug627]

I have posted a couple of threads dealing with older firearms. Thank you for the replies. I loved them all. I have been looking for rifle in 358 Winchester for some time. They have either been priced out of my budget or not the firearm I want. Then I ran across a Marlin 336 in 356 Winchester. I believe the 356 Winchester is the same as the 358 Winchester but with a rim. What are your thoughts on the cartridges as to similarities and differences? Do any of you hunt with either cartridge and what have your experiences been? One of the problems is the availability of brass. I found a couple bags of new 356 Winchester brass but it is rare. The 358 Winchester can be made from 308 Winchester brass. Can you use 358 Winchester dies to size 356 Winchester brass?

 

[WR Moore]

Per the case drawings in my Hornady manual, cases are the same except for the rim design. So, dies should work, but check the die makers listings.

 

[rockquarry]

I think 356 load data has lower powder charges than 358 Win.

 

[CH4]

Rim notwithstanding, they’re the same cartridge - I’ve actually used 358 in a Win 94 356. No problem with extraction, but loads were a little lighter. The 358 being one my pet cartridges, I’ve had several rifles chambered for it. The only rifles I still have are a 99 Savage and custom M70.
Great round that hits above its weight class. Great flexibility - 150/180 (357 mag) for plinking to 250 grain for big game. My favorites are the 225 Sierra and 225 NBT. Hits like the hammer of Thor. Shot a coyote in the neck at 100 yds with a 225 Sierra, decapitating it.

 

[DWalt]

The main difference was rimmed vs. rimless on the same case, also the factory .356 load had a flat nose bullet.

 

[Venom6]

Yes, .358 dies will work, just need a different shellholder. Some Marlin (and some Win. 94 Big Bores) will function with .358 brass; the extractor has enough swing to clip over the "rimless" rim, hold the case against the bolt face sufficient for ignition, and has just enough grip to extract the case. I wouldn't trust it on a bear hunt, but for practice and plinking it might be an option. I did this in a Marlin .307 I let get away.

 

[mtgianni]

I have owned and sold both a 356 BB Winchester and a 358 Browning BLR. I currently own a 358 bolt rifle.
I confess to being a long time bullet caster and shooting mostly cast in almost all that I own. The 356 was best for me with jacketed bullets with the Speer 180 and 220 bullets in the Winchester. I think Marlin has the same twist. Many of them have a long enough extractor to eject 358 brass. I would not depend on a hunting round to do so but might a range round.

I loved hunting with my levers in heavy timber in western MT. I don't do that in SW MT as the country is much more open. My powder of choice was AA2015 for the 356 and it works well in the 358. Book velocity for that and the 180 gr Speer is over 2700 fps. Whitetail don't get up when they take one of those rounds.

I don't think Speer is still making these so I would look for old stock.

 

[38magnum]

ruger tried a 358 few years back, discontinued as that stupid magazine apparently couldnt handle a huge cartridge like the 358

 

[biku324]

If you can't find a small quantity if 356 Win brass, you might stumble across some 307 Win brass you can neck up. I think they still make a run of brass and ammo for each every 3-5 years.

My 356 was a Win 94 Big Bore - nice rifle, but as heavy as a bolt gun, so there really wasn't much advantage.

 

[sandog]

I couldn't find a lever in .356 so I made one.
I got a deal on an older Glenfield 30/30 that had some surface rust and a water damaged stock. The rifle had been put away in a damp case.

I tossed the stock and sent the barreled action to Jesse Ocumpaugh in Oregon who did an excellent job reboring, rechambering to .356 and test firing.
When I got the barreled action back I sandblasted the light rust away and Cerakoted the metal in Sniper Grey.
Ordered a 336 Deluxe stock from Marlin for $180 and the new .356 was taking shape.

I worked up a load with the Hornady FTX and A2015 powder.
It was sub MOA out of the scoped carbine, and I was certainly pleased when I shot this 300 yard target.

 

[mtgianni]

Graf and Sons used to commission a special run of 356 & 307 brass annually. They may still do the same.

 

[Liftrat]

I hunt elk with a BLR in 358 (Nosler 225 gr Partition), and have shot a Winchester 94AE in 356. I'd say recoil is comparable, but the stock on the 94 made it uncomfortable for me. I think the 358 is a good woods cartridge, say out to 200 yds., though all my shots have been much closer.
All the input above is good, and the only thing I might add is that I've heard you can make 356 out of Marlin 444 brass. Never tried it, but it might be an option . Good luck.

 

[DWalt]

Dimensionally, reforming a .444 case should work.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Dimensionally, reforming a .444 case should work.

If 444 will work, then 30-40 Gov't or 303 British should too. That's where 444 came from originally! Along with 8x57R, 8x58R Krieg, and 7x57R.

Ivan