Does anyone have any experience with the .358 STA? favorite loads?

No Sir, I dont, but if politics continues to make me feel so damn bad, I'm gonna reward myself with a beautiful stainless walnut M-70 in 358 STA thats sitting in Rednecks safe.

Then, like You, I will be on the hunt for 358 STA load data, I'm thinking the 280 gn Swift A Frames and a big charge of H-4831 SC will take anything short of Elephant.

Gunner

With the 225's RL19 is a good place to start.

R-19 and 250 Partitions.......

Wow, awesome critter there aalf! Great looking color on that bad boy

How 'bout some more details on that hunt and rifle?

Nice looking bruin!

The gun started out as a factory S/S Sendero in 7 STW. Ended up with 3 barrels, a #5 fluted 28" Lilja in 7 STW, the 26" Lilja in 358 STA, and a third in a factory S/S 375 H&H punched out to Improved.

The STA deserves a lot more respect than what it gets.

A 250 at 3000+ is no slouch.......

Yeah, cool picture! I like the coloration on that bear. Mid April?

That's a beautiful bear!

I had one before it was officially the 358 STA...but close enough that there was no real difference.Came across a large stash of .358-250 gr Bitterroots out of Sitka,Alaska,so decided to build a rifle around the bullets.

Butch Searcy put it together for me with a pre 64 M70 H&H action, Kriger 12 twist barrel,and Brown Precision stock. I used the 8 Rem Mag necked up to 35 with no other changes(I think the STA has slightly less taper).I used 8 RM cases, necked up,and also got a COW fireform load that used 375H&H brass necked down and blown out.

I arrived at pretty much what aalf and STA said and IIRC my load was about 90 gr RL19 and 250 Bitterroot for about 3000 fps.I also shot a bunch of other 250 gr bullets and also the 225 Nosler for about 3125.

It is a very impressive cartridge,plenty of mustard at both ends,and I like it a lot....but I also discovered I could load a 250 gr Bitterroot from the standard 375H&H case for over 2900 fps with over 10 gr less 4064;recoil and blast were less,and that combo shot about 4-5" less flat at 400 yards than the 358 did,so eventually I got away from it,and stuck with the H&H instead.

Both are great combo's and it would be hard to tell them apart on about anything.

The 12th day of an 11 day hunt.....1st week of May.

Ya mean this one?

That rifle is INCREDIBLE!!!

I just drooled all over my keyboard......

GALL DANG YOU Redneck yeah, that one , now I'm gonna go lay down and whine to Wifey and have her rub my back LMAO

That is the most beautifully brutal slayer I've ever seen, and I can see my checkbook from here, it's laying right over there.

Gunner

Could you imagine the sheer havoc that rifle would inflict on ANY game animal short of Ele. with a 280 gn Swift-A-Frame at 2875 fps?

Gunner

Layne Simpson had an update article on this cartridge in the November 1997 Shooting Times that lists loads. This article was a follow up to his first article in that magazine from September 1991. Both have numerous loads listed.I have mostly used H4350 and 250 grain Nosler Partitions with CCI primers and necked down .375 H&H brass. My top loads with this bullet and powder get just under 3000 fps. My rifle was built with a Douglas 24" barrel in a 12 twist on a Win Classic action that started life as a 7 mm STW and now sits in an older Winlite McMillan stock.

You scared of ele with that load?

Hell no, just an African game Warden. He may wanna write me a really PHAT ticket or throw my cracker azz in the hooscal for using sub dia. fire stick.

Gunner

One I used to load for an old Bud used necked down 375 Weatherby brass, a perfect solution for hunting stateside game.

Gunner

I do like my STA

Damn, now THAT is a rifle.

Man, you guys are gonna cause me to send a check to Wisconsin

Gunner

EDIT: State correction.

Dad gum you Redneck, why do I keep coming back to this thread.

And you being the Excellent Smith that you are, bet you could install a blued full-tailed quarter rib express rear sight and a helluva nice barrel band front to couldn't ya?

Gunner

I think that rig would look cooler without all those bells and whistles, but that's just my eyes.

I hear ya Tanner, but with the medium bores and up I sure like a set of QD's holding a lower powered glass and a nice quarter rib express sight.

And I've done sent a message to Redneck, if he still has this rifle, it's bought, Hell, I couldn't take it anymore.

C4HD's got the dies, Buffalo arms has the brass, Midway USA's got stock on 280 SAF's. it's a done deal.

Gunner

Those sell for like $2500+ on the auction sites, at least on gunbroker. Only seen 3 of them, the two listed on gunbroker over time and the one Redneck has. They are pretty rare.

As a lover of 35 cals I have always wanted one. I have a tough time justifying one since I already have a 35 Whelen and a 375 H&H. One of my buddies has one that he loves though he did admit he only thought he knew what recoil was till he got the 358 STA (his is fairly light). It is a great round by his accounts.

Mart

My Ruger #1 in .338 Win Mag recoiled much worse than my Win 70 Classic in .358 STA with a McMillan Winlite stock. It does let you know it fired however!

haven't seen the one's on GB, I sure like the walnut on Rednecks STA, I know full well I'm gonna ruin any collector value this rifle may have.

I'm gonna scope it and hunt hell outta it.

Gunner

I'll take it on an elk hunt for you man!

Sure, I'll get her packed up and headin' your way Tanner.

It would make a helluva Bull Buster, those 280 SAF's @2850+ would lay the smack down on old Wapiti

Gunner

It'd be a travesty to not shoot a bull with that hammer! That's why I volunteered to do it. It's a dirty job but someone has to do it

You know you're just looking for an excuse to pack around a "manly" ten pound rifle in the deer woods.

I hear ya neighbor, I have friends with some guns they make me struggle to put on these GAY white gloves to even get handle some of these weapons GMAFB

I tell 'em hey dudes, these weapons were made to kill, why wont you Honor their builders and do so?

All I get are blank stares.

Gunner

Thats it right there Mathman, heck I'm gonna stuff it down in a 5# leather scabbard and drag that along too.

Gunner

The only white gloves I'd put on to hold a rifle with would be insulated and made from the fur of the Abominable Snowman, after I busted him with el STA, total Swift nap

Those uppity Bud's I spoke of earlier dont like it when I call 'em [bleep], throw my dirty boots up on there 25' oak tables and spit snuff in their trashcans

Gunner

gunner,85gr load of H4831sc is the ticket with the 280s this is about max in my rifle @ 2850fps...

When I tested one during the early 90's, I found it about 100 fps plus on the .340 Weatherby in velocities, through mine had a 24 inch barrel.

I didn't like the feeding in the Brevex Magnumnmauser action as the shoulder angle tended to interfere with feeding making it too clunky and nois. Wasn't my rifle so I gladly handed it back after the handloading sessions

375H&H........necked to 35, ready to fireform.......finished product.

Thanks STA, if I end up with this rifle I will give that load a go.

AGW, Bet that big Brevex was a looker though, if it were mine I'd have to send her off for a slickin' up and keep it.

Dang AALF, yer ready to rock Bro, Thanks for the pic.

Gunner

And Sir, not trying to hi-jack your post, all things 358 STA being discussed here, just trying to learn a bit myself.

But I do have a bad habit of getting excited and speaking out of turn

Gunner

Aalf, any reason you use 375 brass rather than 8Mag, other than being easier to find? Little more beef in the neck?

Not aalf or trying to butt in Tanner, but my old Bug made stellar cases from 375 WBY brass, and IIRC kept around 100 cases correctly head stamped by A-Square? case he wanted to take her to Africa.

Gunner

I've done them with both. I stock plied 1K of 8 mag brass way back when, but had some extra 375's too, as a way for more neck thickness.

If Africa isn't on the list, there's little reason to go .017" larger if you have a STA itch......

If I ever go after a big bear, I will build a 358 STA and shoot the 250 NP

I wouldn't need that much of an excuse... heck maybe after my 375 tube needs replacing.

There is one on GB...http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=295389543

But this auction interests me more...http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=294581256

But I'm saving for a hunt. Just need to keep repeating that...saving for a hunt...saving for a hunt...

That was the sole purpose of my build. I knew I wanted to go on a Brown Bear hunt some day, so when I stumbled on a killer deal on a cancellation hunt, I was ready, as I had to leave in 7 days.

Previous load work was done strictly around that bullet. My bear was shot at 100 yards laying on a moose kill. First shot, quartering on. The bear jumped up so fast, I thought for a second I missed. 2nd shot was a slight quartering away, center punched the ribs, breaking the off shoulder. The bear hit the deck, but got right back up, so I offered up another dose, 2" from the last shot. He was done at that point, but got another just for good measure.

250's at 3000 gives out 5K of kinetic energy, and he soaked up three of them before tapping out.

This is one of the two found under the hide after breaking the off shoulder:

Wow. I want that 375 H&H!

They made a few like those (stainless, walnut and red pad) in 416 Rem Mag. I passed on one a few years ago and have been kicking myself ever since. That barrel contour is a bit heavy in 375 and worse in 358 but is about perfect in 416. IMO!

The next one I find will be mine!

I agree and think the 375 H&H should have a #4 contour at 22" or 23" myself. Those factory tubes are too beefy.

Here's your chance for Rednecks twin!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=295389543

Anybody seen hide nor hair of Redneck, I gotta send him some money?

Gunner

Wow! That thing is a beauty!

BC, go back to page two of this thread and take a look at the wood on Rednecks rifle.

Gunner

Ya mean this one?



[/quote

.

wow

Aint that the damn truth I'm trying to dream up what glass this little Honey needs to wear.

Right now thinkin' a matte 2.5-8 Leupold in a set of Talley matte low QD's.

Gunner

sounds good

Gunner

Did you buy it?

Been using an STA for around 15 years now. My favorite load is 86gr H4350 and a 250gr NP. This load runs around 2975 from my 23in barrel.

For brass I use 8mmRM, as I had someone pay a debt to me with several hundred cases. I have used 375H&H cases in the past that worked as well. I have 20 cases with proper headstamp made by A-square. They are such a piece of crap that I have been afraid to use them.

I will be working up a load for elk next year with the 200gr TTSX. The 250gr NP would work fine, but I want to play with these light bullets and see what it will do.

I had one. It was fun, for a while. I don't recall my charge weight, but I was shooting 250 gr bullets and H4831 and getting 2800 fps. This was not the fastest load, but it was the most accurate I tested. I shot a few elk with it... it worked.
I had it built to take to Alaska, then decided not to move there, so I sold it. It was just way more gun than needed for elk, and I found the .300 Jarrett that preceded it to be a more destructive round for elk... but they were both way more than necessary for my use chasing elky critters. I did like that Jarrett though, liked it enough to shoot the barrel out.

No Sir, not yet, Redneck must be on vacation.

Gunner

Thanks Kodiak and Cobrad, I have rifles that FAR exceed the performance of the 358 STA, but this stone fox ole Redneck has up there in his vault is a bit different, even though I can find no reason or justification for ownership, I still think it's a very cool rifle.

And one I would be proud and honored to call my own, and ballistically speaking a 280 gn. SAF is no slouch in anyone's book.

Gunner

Also have a beautiful little Stainless/Walnut Featherweight M-70 in 243 Winchester, dont You guys think this 358 STA would make it a fine Big Brother?

.

Gunner

,

Rare is right - only 90 were ever made.. The last one on GB did sell for $1900 - but it had quite plain wood...

I've never done a quarter-rib install - and quite frankly I'd be terrified to even try it on that fine rifle..

That might be a job for a guy with experience in that addition.. Just bein' honest here..

Another reason Redneck is a good smith and person!

Just had to bring these purty pics up for another look or two.
Gunner

Well, did you buy it?

Or is Redneck still changing the subject every time you ask about it?

MMMMMMMMMMMM...better go with B.

Gunner

That sucks.

Oh, it could be bought, it is however a fantastic weapon, and I couldnt blame him if he were a bit sweet on it.

Gunner