galenaholic
posted this
30 April 2010
I'd have to go double check but yes, I think it may be too long for a BLR. RCBS has a 250 gr. bullet that is apparently a special order deal ($100 when I bought mine.) and I think it too may be too long for a BLR. I'm basing that on the magazine for my gun which is the first model BLR with the magazine that hangs down. The newer guns may have slightly longer magazines. I have several rifles (5) in .358 and even the one based on a Mauser will not let me use #3589/358009 because while the magazine is long enough, the throat is too short and none of the gunsmiths in my area have a reamer long enough to correct the problem. The only alternative is seat the bullet deep enough so that it will fit and then the base sticks out into the powder area of the case. I can get away with the 250 gr. RCBS bullet in the Mauser but nothe BLR, 99 Savage or my two Ruger M77 tang safety guns. Now that I think about it, the throats are all too short in all of my .358s so even if the magazines were long enough, there would still be a problem.
I know Paco Kelly uses #3589 in a .358 but I'm wondering what the throat is like in his rifle. I asked him once when he was on Sixgunner.com but I never got an answer. I'm thiking that the bore riding nose would have to be just so to be a slightly snug slip fit into the throat and lands.
Now if you're hunting in “Griz” country and you're worried about the bears, you might consider a stiff load using the Barnes 225 gr. TSX bullet. I know it's not a cast bullet but when it's my hide on the line, I look at what might be the best way to go. I've only tried that bullet in my .35 Whelen and I get half inch 3 shot groups almost as a matter of course.
The area where I like to hunt deer, provided I can draw a tag sometimes has elk or bison (buffalo) come onto the deer's range and the state doesn't like that. Last time i hunted threr (2 years ago now) if you spotted either elk or bison, you could buy a tag and go get one. I suppose one could just buy the tags as a just in case type deal but they ain't cheap. Two years ago, an elk tag was $75. This year they were $125, and that's for a resident tag. Non-resident just plain have to bend over.
You know, it would really be fun if I could get a crack at a bison. I wouldn't be at all afraid to use #3589 on one or an elk for that matter. Well, I'll cross that bridge when the opportunity shows up provided I can draw a tag for that area.
Paul B.
