.358 Winchester

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name= .358 Winchester


caption=
origin= USA
type= Rifle
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer= Winchester
design_date=1955
manufacturer=Winchester
production_date=1955
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=.308 Winchester
case_type=Rimless, bottleneck
bullet=.358
neck=.388
shoulder=.454
base=.470
rim_dia=.473
rim_thick=.054
case_length=2.015
length=2.780
rifling=1-12
primer=Large rifle
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=180
btype1=SP
vel1=2700
en1=2914
bw2=200
btype2=SP
vel2=2500
en2=2776
bw3=250
btype3=SP
vel3=2200
en3=2687
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=24
balsrc= Hornady "Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading vol I, Sixth Edition"; Book by Hornady Mfg Co, 2003 pp539-541]

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 8.8x51mm. "Cartridges of the World 11th Edition", Book by Frank C. Barnes, Edited by Stan Skinner, Gun Digest Books, 2006, ISBN 0-89689-297-2 p. 83]

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 .35 Win and the .35 Whelen is similar to that between the .308 Win and the .30-06. It created a round more powerful than the .35 Remington and .348 Winchester.

Some feel that the cartridge is only good as a short-range and woods round, but it is adequate for any North American big game, providing more energy than the .30-06 at close ranges. 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

Popularity of this cartridge has dwindled but it is still available from Winchester Repeating Arms Company and Browning Arms Company. 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." [http://www.chuckhawks.com/subscribers/rifle_cartridge_page/358Win.htm The .358 Winchester by Chuck Hawks (subscription required)] ] "Speer Reloading Manual Number 13"; Book by Speer, Blount, Inc., 1998 p.372]

Performance

This round has a pressure limit of 52,000 CUP.Fact|date=May 2008 Winchester currently offers one load for this cartridge; the Winchester Super-X Silvertip. It consists of a 200 grain pointed soft point bullet with an advertised muzzle velocity of 2490 FPS, and an advertised muzzle energy of 2753 ft-lbs. [ [http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrdetail.aspx?symbol=X3581&cart=MzU4IFdpbmNoZXN0ZXI= Winchester.com] ] Cartridge cases can be formed from .308 cases.

ee also

* List of rifle cartridges
* 9 mm caliber

External links

* [http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/358_wcf.htm Winchester's Sleeper. . .358 WCF, by Paco Kelly]

References