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.358s
I have never been a huge .358 cal. fan as I was largely influenced by men who were personal friends of Elmer Keith and I bought my first .338 WM in January, 1968, an unfired P-64 Mod. 70.
I think that, due largely to marketing and gun writer factors, the .338 bore got a head start on the .358 and the fabulous .358NM never really caught on here in BC, one of the few places where cartridges of it's power actually are worth having.
The .366 bore is one I now am enamoured with, typical "gunaholic" desire to experiment and, IF, the guys building my two new 9.3s would get the bleep off their butts, I would be shooting them alongside my original Obie sporter in 9.3x62, a rifle over 70 yrs. old that I have shot cloverleafs with using it's iron sights.
To me, the .338WM, 9.3x64 Brenneke and .358NM are THE best rounds for serious big game hunting and even as "defence" rifles for working in the bush, especially alone, far from help.
I would prefer the NP bullets in all of these and load 250 NPs in all five of my .338WM rifles. I would use 270 North Forks in a .358NM, IF, they DO come back and someone would import them and I use 286 NPs in all my 9.3s as does my buddy with a x64 Brenneke built on a ZG-47 action from my stash, by Ralf Martini.
I would TRY the Powerpoints, but, I am a rather conservative chap and tend to stick with what works for me, quite consistently.
The Whelen is not a round that I care for as the NM is much better and can be used in the same actions. I also do not care for the .358W. as I prefer full-length cartridges and Mauser or Mod. 70 type CRF rifles.
If, I were younger, I would build a .358WM, 1-12 twist using a CM Krieger tube, factory cut FN short mag. action and Micky stock, with Recknagels and Talleys. I would have it about 8.5 lbs. and load as above; this would be a fine BC rifle, IMHO.
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