It shoots well and is light and easy to carry while hunting. Yet, that bore diameter produces some of the best hunting cartridges available. Theres more to success than merely landing a good one on the chin. Griffin & Howe developed the semiwildcat .350 G&H based on the .375 H&H case, as well as pioneering the .35 Whelen. Copyright 2000-2023 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Then come the .30s, and now were talking business. Blocker Outdoors Finisher gloves, headcovers and other accessories are available in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Mossy Oak Obsession NWTF camouflage patterns to match various turkey hunting terrain. Also, many of these hunters have the luxury of a long season close to home. in a rimmed cartridge that would work in a lever-action rifle. [1] On a 600 pound animal like a big bull elk the optimum game range of the .308 (180 grain bullet at a MV of 2610 fps) is a useful 175 yards. The only rifles I can find in production are from Nosler, Remington and CVA. The .35-caliber cartridges usually top out at 250 grains, though if a 300-grain bullet at a slightly faster twist rate were employed, it would certainly be in the same class as the .375 Holland & Holland. Shaw will make a rifle, as will any other custom, or semi-custom, riflemaker. I would never argue that a .243 Winchester with a good bullet placed well, or certainly a .25-06 with a tough, heavy bullet, cant do the job. This standard (.30-06) length magnum cartridge drives a 250 grain bullet at a muzzle velocity (MV) of 2799 fps with 4350 ft. lbs. In 1965 Remington took it to the next level with the introduction of the Model 600 Magnum Carbine. With todays interest in long-range shooting, big scopes are in, but powerful scopes add weight. Mag. Customer experience was, and still is, the primary focus, a key to the firms longevity and success. This is comparable killing power to the long .375 H&H Magnum with a 300 grain bullet (ME 4331 ft. Any listing you find for H-4895 can be modified by loading only 60 percent of the published minimum to create some very comfortable loads. [/quote]. Mag. It did shine with 148gr Double ended wadcutters over a few grains of 700x shooting clover leaf groups at 50 yards, I used it all fall putting squirrels in the pot. They are a little short initially and after two firings they were just fine. Of course, not all .35-caliber cartridges approach greatness. The .350 Magnum has a case length of 2.742 inches, and an overall cartridge length 3.44 inches, so it will feel at home in a magnum-length receiver. The .357 Magnum is ideal for light game like javelina and will do for the smaller species of deer and antelope at short range. You can never lead if you always follow; the other cartridges were designed to chase Winchesters success, while the .35 Rem. The original Schultz & Larsens were sold without iron sights, and they were installed on my rifle afterward. THe 35 whelen did have a little more power than the 358. The norma would cost more if I had to open the bolt face. Sure, you can get away with it, especially with todays extra-heavy bullets, but I think its foolish. The fortunate few who own them want to keep them, and these are the core admirers who make it worth Normas while to continue offering brass and loaded ammunition. Where the .338 Winchester drives its 250-grain bullet to 2650 fps, the .358 Norma beats that figure by 100 fps or so, delivering over 4,200 ft.-lbs. Right now, I think that the Browning BLR lever-action rifle is the only production gun left on the market in .358 Win. has been offered in just about every rifle action type ever conceived and a few handguns. Size aside, American elk are very tough creatures. it is one nice gun and made for tight places. With the 250-grain bullet, it's better than the .30-06 on heavy game at close ranges. In the entry on the .358 Norma, it maintains that, had Norma convinced a major American riflemaker to offer the chambering in the early years, it could have become one of the greats. .358 Norma brass is a snap to make from 338 Win Mag brass. The trouble is, they didnt sell. During the spring conservation order, you can hunt with outfitters from Arkansas to Saskatchewan. They live in steep, rough country, and their long legs cover a lot of ground. An elk is bigger than anything most deer hunters have encountered, but theres still a variance; a cow for the freezer isnt much bigger than a very large deer, but a mature bull elk is different. PerH AH fanatic Joined May 8, 2021 Messages 536 Reaction score 813 Location Norway Articles 2 Jun 4, 2021 #5 What should the discerning collector look for in a potential buy? Any of these will handle just about any big game one might hunt with a .358 Norma, where you want to employ its ample knockdown power. So we see that even with a one pound lighter rifle, the .358 recoils slightly less than a .300 magnum. Real world, the Norma bitchslaps brown bears and moose as convincingly as the 375H&H. The writings of Robert Ruark certainly helped the reputation of the cartridge and the company, as Ruark put his young PH Harry Selby and the .416 Rigby rifle he carried on a pedestal. It is, as you say, a thumper. For the one perfect all-around elk rifle, Im not sure you can beat the good old .30-06. Clearly, for the hunter seeking heavy game and willing to accept this level of recoil, the .358 Norma Magnum deserves far more popularity than it has received. As it was released in the first century of the . exlcusive user. Our editors have hand-picked these essential pieces of gear to make you a more successful hunter when you hit the game trails this season. I will go with the 35 Whelen BUT 9.3x62 will be cool due that you already have a 350 Rem mag, if you're opening the bolt face the 358 STA better option than Norma and 338-06 could be a nice choice too. Mag. Here the elk offers hunters an advantage because the vital zone, like body size, is at least twice that of any deer. Cartridges of .25 caliber and below are not ideal elk cartridges, especially if a big bull is a potential. Compare the Queen of the .35's, the .350 Remington Magnum--the original short (.308 length) magnum cartridge--with the new generation of short action magnums. Back in the late 70's I picked up a custom 1903 in 358 Norma Mag, awesome rifle, very accurate and it put a thump on deer, I bought it hopping to get a moose tag back in MN, never did and sold the rifle. From there, you can work up until you find a load that gives you the accuracy and velocity you want. Ive obviously left the door wide open. I rely on, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. Hammer Women Of Distinction Award, Women's Wildlife Management / Conservation Scholarship, National Youth Shooting Sports Cooperative Program, Remington Model 700 American Hunter Rifle Project, Behind the Bullet: .458 Winchester Magnum, Behind the Bullet: .300 Winchester Short Magnum, NRA Women | Understanding Sectional Density (SD), 10 Most Versatile Long-Range Hunting Cartridges | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Fiocchi USA Appoints David Blenker As New CEO After Anthony Acitellis Retirement | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal, Behind the Bullet: .17 HMR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, How to Properly Clean and Store Your Rifle After Hunting Season, X-Vision Optics Launches Thermal Impact Scope, First Look: Blocker Outdoors Finisher Accessories, 10 Most Versatile Long-Range Hunting Cartridges, X-Vision Optics Launches Thermal Impact Scope | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New For 2023: Smith & Wesson M&P FPC | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Launching 2023: KelTec R50 Rifle | NRA Family, New For 2023: Glock 47 MOS | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Savage Arms 110 PCS | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Davidson's Winchester Model 1895 Texas Ranger's Edition | An Official Journal Of The NRA, #SundayGunday: Colt King Cobra Target .22 LR | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Product Preview: Holosun SCS-MOS Green | An Official Journal Of The NRA, 3 Self Defense Myths That Just Won't Go Away | NRA Family, How to Properly Clean and Store Your Rifle After Hunting Season | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Shotgunning 101: The Perfect Gun Mount | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Glass Bedding A Rifle Stock | An Official Journal Of The NRA, New 4473 Released By BATFE | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Member's Hunt: Road Trip | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Springfield Launches New Online Shopping Experience | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Preview: Sarco, Inc. 2nd Amendment Pint Glass | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Riton Optics Celebrates 10th Anniversary | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Top 4 Ways to Carry a Binocular | NRA Family, Preview: Mission First Tactical 24-oz. G. Joined: Sep 2009. Mag. I have never lost an elk, and I do not recall ever tracking one for recovery. 35 whelen vs everything else - Mississippi Gun Owners The .357 Magnum revolver cartridge has also gained considerable popularity as a combination rifle/pistol cartridge and lever action rifles for the .357 Magnum sell pretty well. This means that the momentum of a rifle's reaction will exactly equal the momentum of the bullet and powder gasses ejected from the barrel. Not only that, many different bullet moulds were made for casting .358 bullets in some of the most fanciful shapes. and .358 Norma Mag.). This raises the obvious question: Why, with so many modern cartridges around of more or less equal power, chambered in readily available rifles, is there this lingering interest in, and loyalty to, the .358 Norma? These were, primarily, the Schultz & Larsen (Denmark), the Husqvarna (Sweden) and a few Browning High Powers made by FN in Belgium. Moderate, safe, bland and predictable. I'm sending my 270 tikka off to JES rebore to get it punched out to 35 whelen. Cartridges that in many cases cannot match the killing power, at normal hunting ranges, of comparable .35's. These include some of my favorites, such as the .358 Winchester and .45-70. Hornadys LEVERevolution pushes the performance up a notch with a 200-grain pointed bullet at 2225 f.p.s. And the hunter must have full confidence in his or her choice. And, as any fan of the .35-caliber cartridges knows, there are quite a few bullet weights to choose from within the caliber. The company has chambered several rifles in the cartridge including models in bolt-action, pump-action and semi-automatic. figure of 0.300 is desirable, and comparing similar cartridges, youll see the .350 Rigby comes in a bit behind the other popular choices of the day. factory load is a 250-grain Oryx bullet listed with a muzzle velocity of 2723 f.p.s. The .270 WSM and .270 Weatherby deliver more energy, but all three are fine. I believe in quality optics, but quality and magnification are not synonymous. Looking for previous installments of our "Behind the Bullet" series? Sure, we experiment a bit with other bore sizes, but in the end it always comes back to the .30 caliber. The 358 Norma is a sure mag round, but expensive ammo and brass. and is probably a better deer and black bear cartridge at woods ranges than the more popular .30-30 Win. Just have it rebarreled to 9.3X62, and you will have a 358 Norma with five in the magazine! The .300 Rem. Honestly, the concept of being overgunned is somewhat mystifying to me, provided you can place the shot. .35 Caliber Cartridges - CHUCKHAWKS.COM Can Coolers | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. Choose at least medium weight for caliber: 140 grains in 6.5mm and the lighter 7mms; 140 and 150 grains in .270s; 150 to 160 grains in faster 7mms; 165 or 180 grains in .30 calibers. The .358 Norma Magnum is a rifle cartridge introduced in 1959 by Norma. While the American mainstream wont accept the .35, they are not unloved. So while some of my rifle choices may have been oddball, none of the rifles Ive used for elk have been exactly wrong. Id mate it with a good 180-grain bullet, top it with a one-inch-tube scope (to save weight), and go elk hunting. all were more powerful-and may have been excellent hunting cartridges-but they are gone; rejected by the shooting public and banished to the junk heap of obsolescence. Thats a question I just dont understand. was also the only cartridge of that original Remington family that was based on a different parent case. On those gray, moody November days when I am feeling blue I take my Remington Model 141 pump-action rifle in .35 Rem. Looks like I'll do a Whelen. Mag.They have almost identical case capacity, but the .358 Norma Mag. The 338/06 when compared to the .35 Whelen only beats it with the lighter bullets and not by much. The main problem with such potent cartridges is that they kick hard in rifles light enough to carry all day in steep places. bruce. Today, rifles can be made very light, but that can also be overdone because light rifles are whippy and hard to control when youre out of breath and have to settle in for a quick shot. For anyone with an experimental or fanciful turn of mind, the .358 Norma and the many .358-inch diameter bullets are a gold mine. Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. Elk bullets must be tough enough to provide adequate penetration. Compare the .308 Winchester and the .358 Winchester, which are based on the same case, and the .358 wins hands down. Hornady has a Superformance load with a 200-grain SP at 2910 f.p.s. Ill bet its been awhile since those cartridges have been seen in a hunting camp. The .35 Caliber Cartridge Family(.357 Mag., .35 Remington, .356 Winchester, .358 Winchester, .35 Whelen, .350 Rem. Included in that have been a whole bunch of deer, hogs and a bear or two. Maybe it's a regular BDL? was designed for the American market, but sadly no American riflemaker ever chambered the cartridge in a cataloged gun. Your rifle is your most important hunting tool, and knowing how to properly clean and store it when hunting season comes to a close is critical in keeping it in tip-top shape. Winchester and Hornady both offer 200-grain loads at 2475 f.p.s. Mention the Rigby name to any rifle aficionado, and odds are that the famous .416 Rigby cartridge will come quickly to mind, and with good reason; it is an undeniable classic. The .358 Win. But the .416 is certainly not the only cartridge to bear the Rigby surname; read the works of Walter Dalrymple Maitland Karamoja Bell, or Col. Jim Corbett and the .275 Rigbybetter known as the 7x57mm Mauserwill get all sorts of praise. From the .35 Winchester (1903), .35 Remington (1906) and .351 Winchester Self-Loading (1907) to the later .358 Winchester (1955) and .350 Remington Magnum (1965), there has always been at least one .35-caliber cartridge in use. But starting in the late 1950s, the .338 bore size gained considerable tractionthanks to the emergence of the .338 Winchester Magnum. So it is fair to say that, over the years, .35 caliber rifles at least have caught the interest of the gun and ammo manufacturers, if not the general shooting public. Equal in importance is that you can hit the elk. Mag. A failed product is often said to be ahead of its time, which is usually just a polite way of saying nobody wanted to buy it. America's Rejected Caliber | An Official Journal Of The NRA There werent many factory .358 Norma Magnum rifles mademost were Husqvarnas or Schultz & Larsensbut many American gunsmiths converted the Mauser 98, Springfield 03-A3 and the like to the big .35, as it made an absolutely perfect choice for those headed north to Alaska. Ive seen many elk taken cleanly with a .270 Winchester, and my own longest shot on an elk was on a big New Mexico bull at 400 yards using a .270 Winchester with a 150-grain Nosler Partitionone step and down. This new model featured two new cartridges, the .350 Rem. There is certainly no lack of .358-inch diameter bullets to choose from but brass is limited. Though still under construction, Im eager to take the classic cartridge into the hunting fields.