Your input appreciated on this custom Ruger please.

I always stop at Clark Bros on my way to visit family in PA.

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I do the exact same thing! Heading up that way tomorrow, also will stop at Valley Guns II in W. VA., exit 5 on I81.

I regret not getting the Hawkeye, it was a consignment gun so the price could not be lowered, but VA sales tax is less than I am accustomed to paying in NC. It had a cheap Simmons scope on it.

If you are interested in spending a little more, they have the identical gun NIB in Schman's Gun Shop in Newville PA for less than $1K

Also, on Gunbroker now is a Ruger factory .358 NIB that looks much like the OP's custom gun for less than $1K

Ok, so it's really a gift from dad...and a nice one.

What is the benefit of a 358 vs the stock 308 to justify more than double the cost? Honestly, I am not at all familiar with the 358 Win so I am curious.

GAMEOVER44 said:

Everyones forgeting it has a COMPETITION MATCH GRADE BARREL, they're expensive! I got a serial AND a metal cutout with the serial from Shilen just to prove the barrel. These Iron Sites are no push overs either their on the pricier side and are bad ass!

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Soooo....gonna show some targets? With and without the scope? It's got the goodies, so I'm betting I'm not the only one wondering how it actually shoots.

Looks like an awesome gun.

As for 308 vs. 358 There's a big difference, POWER!

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I guess my question should have been: what is the practical difference?...what can I kill in north America (Detroit?) with a 358 that I can't kill with a 308 for half the cost? Really not trying to rain on your parade. It looks like a beautiful rifle, from your dad, which makes it priceless, but I'm trying to learn something.

Oh, and I'm a born Detroiter living in the 'burbs.

As for 308 vs. 358 There's a big difference, POWER!

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I guess my question should have been: what is the practical difference?...what can I kill in north America (Detroit?) with a 358 that I can't kill with a 308 for half the cost? Really not trying to rain on your parade. It looks like a beautiful rifle, from your dad, which makes it priceless, but I'm trying to learn something.

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Power's only a part of the answer. "Versatility" is the other.

On it's upper end, the .358W equals the .30-06 in muzzle energy, and does so in a short action while also making a bigger wound channel.

Being a .35 caliber, though, it can also be downloaded to shoot light bullets at very reasonable velocities. You can even load rounds with 125 - 158gr .357mag pistol bullets, and with the right powder, use them for small game. Bunnies to bruins from a light & handy short action rifle. Doesn't get much more versatile (if you reload).

plus if i ever go on a hunt out of state (personally id like to take some Bison as theyre high protein meat).

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I know people who have taken Bison with a Muzzle Loaders. BIG BEARS ... Grizzlys ... would be a better use of the power. Black Bears, even large ones die fairly easily.
If you're looking for knock down power it's a nice gun. Got a brother in law who swears he needs a 300 Win Mag for Whitetails. Never saw one my .308 couldn't knock down. Different strokes for different folks. Met a guy at the range one day while doing RSO duties. BEAUTIFUL Custom Rem 700 300 Win Mag, McMillan stock, Nightforce scope, about 25+lbs. Spotted for him a while and then he asked if I wanted to shoot it...well YA! Gun shot like a DREAM. Not sure what I'd use it for, but if he would have offered to trade for my Ruger M77 MkII I would have left with a new rifle. ;-)

Power's only a part of the answer. "Versatility" is the other.

On it's upper end, the .358W equals the .30-06 in muzzle energy, and does so in a short action while also making a bigger wound channel.

Being a .35 caliber, though, it can also be downloaded to shoot light bullets at very reasonable velocities. You can even load rounds with 125 - 158gr .357mag pistol bullets, and with the right powder, use them for small game. Bunnies to bruins from a light & handy short action rifle. Doesn't get much more versatile (if you reload).

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Thank you. This is precisely what I was looking for in an answer.

It makes me wonder why the 358 is not a much more popular caliber. Honestly, I had never heard of it until I opened this thread (which I suppose isn't saying much considering the number of different calibers that are available).

Again, my intention is not to question the OP and the rifle his dad gave to him. I just had always heard that a 308 was capable of taking any game in north America. I've been considering stepping up from my 223/556 to something with a little more punch and really only considered the 308 Win (Ruger Scout) or a 30-06 due to ammo availability and the actual cost of the rifle.

I guess I'm looking at it from a more practical aspect (for me).

To the OP: Congrats and enjoy your new rifle.

gpjoe said:

It makes me wonder why the 358 is not a much more popular caliber.

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Many people wonder that. The consensus is that gun writers quickly labelled it as a "woods" or "brush" cartridge when it came out (a label that still sticks), so it's been perceived as a niche cartridge from the start, and never really caught on.

On one hand, it takes a pretty heavy .35 caliber bullet to get a decent BCs, and the .308 case simply doesn't have the boiler room to send those (or any 200+ grain bullet) 200+ yards without a lot of drop, so there's some basis for it's "brush gun" image.

On the other hand, it's effective range is still well beyond that which we'd associate with a "brush gun", and it'd be an effective elk cartridge to 200 - 230 yards, IIRC. With it's trajectory, though, effective range guesstimation would be important out there. But inside this range, where most hunting happens, the .358w is a real thumper, and is known to plant game with authority.

Finally, modern bullet design has improved to the point where the advantage of the bigger bullet has been mitigated somewhat. The .358w and .35 Whelen are cool cartridges (and I'd still like to have one of them), but with modern loads, a .308 and .30-06 can largely handle their task.

I'd like to know how it shoots. Just curious.

If you are happy with it, that is all that matters.

Everyones forgeting it has a COMPETITION MATCH GRADE BARREL

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Not forgetting, just not caring. Only reason for the .358 IMO is hunting (yes, I own one), and the deer, bear, etc. won't care how expensive the barrel is.

Well I feel its a tactical bolt action with the 10 round mags.
The Match Grade barrel will help with accuracy.

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A 'tactical' for what purpose?
For an accurate 'tactical' bolt action I can think of better short range OR long range cartridges. For a hunting rifle it's a great caliber.

do you know the history of this Gunsite Scout?

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Not in .358

In close quarters home protection, INSIDE a building, I'd take my .45acp

Why would you think it wouldn't overpenetrate in a HD scenario?

With .30-06 muzzle energy at the muzzle and a bullet with a much higher SD than a .45acp, penetration is precisely what makes it a good hunting round.

You like your rifle. We get it. Yeah, to each their own, but I'd be hard-pressed to think of a better overpenetrator.

Can't see photo?