Gunsmithing 358 caliber AR15

[AKONA]

Hi,
As the weather gets colder I started to collect ideas for a couple of winter projects.
I have a few 308 bolt face AR15 bolts and extensions leftover I never got to use before and I was thinking on turning a barrel in 358 caliber.
Initially I was thinking something simple that could use 358 and 357 bullets and the Indiana hoosier seems like a good idea.
But then I realize I have the 358 winchester reamer and later I could run a BR/BRX reamer behind and end up with a larger case capacity.
So the chamber would look more like a "358 BRX" type of deal. Case capacity will be around 42-43gr of H2O with lapua brass and 40-41 with
308w or 358w formed brass.
The idea would be to shortchamber with the 358w and then with the same pilot finish with a nice Bench Rest reamer and shorter neck.

Any thoughts?
Thanks.

 

[mcfred]

Dtech 358/25 WSSM?

Dtech Custom AR-15 WSSM Upper Recievers - D-Tech - Custom AR-15 Upper Receivers

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

What are your goals for such a conversion? Is there no caliber easily/already available that would accomplish same results?

 

[AKONA]

This is the idea:

-Use 308 bolt face (which I already have)
-use once fired 308w brass (have truck loads reload / form).
-can shoot both 358 and 357 bulk deal caliber bullets. (also have truck loads of them).
-superior ballistics to the 35 rem. 180/200gr bullet ~2600-2650fps.

I have several calibers already so this is a decent "use what you have" type of deal. I believe it will be fun to shoot.

No WSSM. the bolts I have are 308 bolt face for the standard shank.

 

[AKONA]

What are your goals for such a conversion? Is there no caliber easily/already available that would accomplish same results?

Using the 356-358 bullets is one of the objectives. I am getting leaner in caliber departments and all I use now over .308 is 355-358 and the 430 mostly pistol.
I thought about cutting a 16" carbine for the 9x25 dillon that I might do at some point anyway. A good way to spend some of the 356 and 357 bullets but I want more speed for a 358.

 

[AKONA]

Any input on reaming BRX style that way or better go with a straight hoosier?

 

[MarinePMI]

This is the idea:

-Use 308 bolt face (which I already have)
-use once fired 308w brass (have truck loads reload / form).
-can shoot both 358 and 357 bulk deal caliber bullets. (also have truck loads of them).
-superior ballistics to the 35 rem. 180/200gr bullet ~2600-2650fps.

I have several calibers already so this is a decent "use what you have" type of deal. I believe it will be fun to shoot.

No WSSM. the bolts I have are 308 bolt face for the standard shank.

Isn't this why the .358 Winchester exists?

 

[AKONA]

Hi,
yes. Great choice for the AR10/dpms platform.
I am building a lighter one on the AR15 however so cannot go more than 1.7-1.8 case length.

 

[BERTMAN77MK2]

Any pics or updates ??

 

[stangfish]

358 Nexus or 358 Gremlin

 

[TonyRumore]

I've done a few in .357 Auto Mag. Not quite the ballistics you're probably after, but it works well in an AR.

Tony Rumore
Tromix

 

[texote]

know of any gunsmiths that do 358 winchesters

 

[MarinePMI]

know of any gunsmiths that do 358 winchesters

Any gunsmith that does a .308. The reamers can often be had cheap these days (I got a .358Win reamer from Midway, because it wasn't selling and was discounted to something stupid, like $45).

 

[Geno C.]

I use a 358Win in a Montana 1999 bolt gun for hunting in the woods. It's not a speed demon but it goes the job done. Mine is a 10 twist to shoot heavier bullets so I haven't tried the pistol bullets but it loves 250 interlocks. I would be interested to so the velocities you get out of a br or brx version if you get it done.