Norma Powder?

[BHR]

I'm working on loads for my 358 Win and noticed in the Barnes manual that Norma 201 was a good powder. Anyone know where to get it? Anyone have any other good powder sudgestions for the 358 W? So far my best results have come from IMR 4198. Still looking for something a little better. Thanks

Paul

 

[T Bone]

Can't help you on the search for Norma powders.

Curious about the 358 win though. Its an underrated cartridge IMO. It'd be a great thumper out to 200 yards or so.

Is this in your Kifaru rifle? What kind of accuracy do you get in those skinny, short tubes?

 

[BHR]

T Bone,

Yes, this is for my Kifaru rifle. I also have a 7-08 barrel which gets amazing accuracy. My .358 loads are not to this level... yet. With a little more speed and accuracy, and good bullets, the .358 should be good for anything out to 300 yards. With the 20 inch barrel, I'm losing about 100 ft per second compared to published data. Sometimes more and sometimes less. Barnes has a new 35 caliber XLC 225 grain bullet I'd like to try. The XLC's work real well in my 7-08. If I can come up with a good load for my .358 this winter, I'll be using it for Black Bear this spring. Reloading is a lot of fun, and adds a whole new dimension to hunting. Kind of like making your own flies for fishing! The Kifaru rifle is very spendy, but all in all it was a good investment. How's your pack working out for you? The only negative I can see with Patrick's packs are the weight. Does the design compensate for the extra weight?

Paul

 

[1_pointer]

Paul- Good luck with the XLCs. I can't imagine there'd be anything on this pond that they wouldn't be adequate for. Kind of a shame that Patrick can't produce the Rambler anymore. Seems like a great business venture for a good 'smith though.

Have you tried any of the Ramshot powders? There in MT and are reported to be very temperature stable. Beings that I may shoot in 100º in the summer or 0º or lower in the winter I kinda like that.

 

[danr55]

Norma 201 has been out of production for about 18 years. I just sold my last 2 pounds of it before Christmas. Sorry..

 

[Calif. Hunter]

I am eagerly awaiting my barreled action in .358 Win - I have no experience yet in reloading this cartridge, but there does not seem to be a "magic" powder that provides an extreme advantage over other suitable powders. IMR has 3031, 4064 and 4320 that all seem to work well with different bullets. Hodgdon has H-335 and H-4198, Alliant has RL-7.

If anyone has some experience in loading this round, particularly as to accuracy loads, please share! I would probably use either 225 or 250 gr bullets.

I guess I will have to try and see what works in mine when I get it.

 

[BHR]

Pointer,

No, haven't tried Ramshot yet. It sad to hear about Patricks problems with insuring the production of his guns. This may turn my gun into a collectors item however, being that it's the first and probably only one of a few that was made for a southpaw!

Dan,

Dang! How much did that powder go for?

C. H.,

I've tried IMR 3031 and haven't had much luck with it, either in speed or accuracy. Just picked up some IMR 4895 passing through Missoula today, and will give that powder a try.

Paul

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 01-24-2004 14:14: Message edited by: BHR ]</font>

 

[danr55]

BHR, I got $5.00 a pound for the N201..

 

[BHR]

Dan,

Your either a very generous guy or a real B. S.er. I leaning towards the later.

C. H. or whoever is interested,

I tried the IMR4895 but didn't get much for speed with my short barreled .358. I was only getting about 2300 fps with the 225 gr. X bullets. Another problem is that it was a compressed load. If stay with Barnse and 225 gr. bullets, they are now only made in XLC. No room to add any more powder. I'm getting 2400 fps with the IMR4198 with plenty room for more powder. This may be my best bet or would it be worth trying H4198 as well?

P S Anyone have any recipes for Speer 250 gr. bullets in this caliber? I have some bullets but no Speer manual. Thanks

Paul

<FONT COLOR="#800080" SIZE="1">[ 01-26-2004 16:52: Message edited by: BHR ]</font>

 

[Calif. Hunter]

Thanks for the info. I have a Speer manual at home, so I'll check it later tonight for load data with the 250s.

 

[Calif. Hunter]

For 250s, Speer has:

Powder Min Max velocity
H335 41.0 45.0 2119 - 2333
AA2015BR 42.0 38.0 2141 - 2314
H322 39.0 43.0 2053 - 2289
IMR4064 40.0 44.0 2039 - 2264
BL-C(2) 43.0 47.0(c) 2031 - 2261
IMR4320 40.0 44.0 2007 - 2241


Lee shows with 250s -

AA 2520 44.0 48.0 2390
BL-C(2) 43.2 48.0 2374
AA2495BR 46.0 2303

 

[BHR]

C. H.,

Thanks.

Paul