358 STA [Shooting Times Alaskan] Range Report

15-inch Encore .988? diameter barrel with Fish Gill Brake \ Burris 3x12 \ Warne Steel rings \ SSK 3 screw flat bottom forfend \ 1-14? twist \ Weighs 7.70 pounds.

Brass: Hornady 375 H&H
Primers: CCI-250
Bullets: Hornady 200 SP, Barnes 200 TTSX, Nosler 200 AB, Sierra 225 GK

Accuracy: Outstanding if I do my part

Powders:
A4350, H4350, IMR 4350, IMR 4831, R19, VV N160.
I?ve selected H4350 as it provides the best overall velocity with excellent accuracy.

Picture of my preliminary range work at 50 yards:


Velocity:Recorded by Lab Radar
Hornady 200 SP: 88.0gr H4350 = 2750fs used for sight in
Barnes 200gr TTSX: 88.5.0gr H4350 = 2845fs / 90.0 grains H4350 = 2895fs warm
Pet load = 200gr TTSX 88.5gr H4350 = 2845fs 1.5 inch high at 100Y
Nosler 200gr AB: 88.5gr H4350 = 2830fs
Sierra 225 GK: 86.5 gr = 2666fs / more testing needed

Picture of three rounds at 200 yards, my first shot got away from me to the right while the last two are spot on.


Brass:
Relativity easy to make using 375 H&H Mag. Layne Simpson designed this cartridge with the Remington 8mm Magnum as the parent, 375 H&H is easier to find.

Conclusion:
A bucket list caliber / cartridge now complete
Flat shooting with excellent accuracy
The weight of the Encore and fish gill brake really tame the recoil (love the SSK fish gill brake).

Good shooting
D.

I?ve always wanted that cartridge.

Pretty cool.

OH Yeah,,,,, Good shooting. I can see why that Barnes and H4350 is your pet load. That combo should serve you well.

Cool!
I would urge caution on trying to run it up to what one could do in a bolt rig.
Other than that, enjoy!

VERY COOL, WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO HUNT WITH IT? SEEMS LIKE IT COULD DO MOST ANYTHING IN THE LOWER 48, AND EVEN BIG STUFF IN ALASKA.

That is awesome. The 358 STA is a power house. I haven't heard anyone speak of that round in years.

Accuracy seems very good. You'll drop anything you aim at with that combination.

Very impressive round with a lot of history. You certainly wouldn't have to shoot anything 13 - 14 times with that gun and bullet combination. #singleshotsrule

Holy smokes! That is a stout round.



TRUTH

Wow what a beast! Perhaps the coolest 35 caliber handgun I have seen. Enjoy shooting this hammer.

Just when I thought my 356 Winchester was impressive. Your 358 STA is very impressive. It should be about as good of Elk, Moose and Bear Medicine as can be had in a handgun. Looks like it is a shooter also.
On deer of any size, I would think the old Speer 180 and 220 would both work exceptionally well. I used both in my old 35 Whelen rifle years ago. They put deer down as if hit by lightning.
Keep us posted on your hunts with it.

Bob R

Truly outstanding!!!!

Ditto what everyone else has said! That is one impressive handgun!

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments, it?s a ball to shoot. It will see action in a few weeks, plan to start out with it for Indiana?s deer opener.
D.

Good luck in the IN. season and report back to us.

That's a definite beast. Looks like it can double as a club for when they get really close.

Thats a nice handful of gun.

buck, I know the STA is a big cartridge that`s been around for a long time and to be shooting it out of a handgun and get the groups you did deserves a well earned "good for you"...

I used the old Speer 250 gr. Hot Cor in my .35 Whelen Improved on Colorado Elk for a number of years, and never recovered a slug. More recently I have been using the 250 and 225 gr Nosler Partitions for bear and large Blacktails. Average retained weight is 67%.