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I use H4895 in my BLR 358 Win. but IMR4895 is suggested in Speer #13 manual for the 180 gr. FN. and Win. 748 with Large Magnum primers.
Rifle used was a Savage 358w. 99

 

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Any particular reason why you choose Speer 180 gr. FN to shoot out of a Savage 99 358 W.?
Come to think of it, I bought 5 boxes when they were cheap and already had an open box. My BLR and the Win. 94AE-356 W. shoot Spr. 180gr. FN not too well. But the first time out with HDY. 200 gr. FTX. It was another story

 

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Both my BLR and SS Hawkeye 358s shot the Sierra 225gr very well. I do not recall shooting a deer with one, but did take an average Maine black bear in 2015 with it. The bear dropped in it's tracks.

View attachment 940823

Yes, I shoot Sierra 225 GameKing. in my BLR 81 358W. and after the last time at the range with the Win.94AE 356W. my go to bullet is HDY's .358" 200gr. FTX. the best accurate load ever.

 

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IME the Speer 180, like most HotCore bullets, doesn’t expand to a large dismeter but holds together and penetrates well. Below is a photo of one found under the hide in a caribou.

View attachment 940782

Can you tell me the MV. and approximate range the caribou was harvest with the bullet pictured.

 

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I have 5 sealed boxes and one open of Speer .358" 180gr. FN bullets and I figure I use them in two 336 35R. i have at MV. of 2,302 with LVR powder as printed online Hodgdon data. At this MV. and bullet weight it closely matches the 300 Savage. But would be better than a 300 Savage in a woodland hunting situation. JMO.

 

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Not in .358” 180gr. But in .200gr. Hornady has tac powder with a 200gr. bullet at Max Muzzle Velocity 2700fps. In HDY #11 manual. Data can be adopted for other 200gr. Pill

 

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Just my two cents, but it sounds like the Speer 180 is too hard for use at the lower velocities, but at 35 Rem speeds I got absolutely amazing accuracy with it, and others I shot with had similar results. But as was said, 2 inches at 100 yards is all you need, there are darn few benchrests in the hunting grounds, and field accuracy is a whole 'nuther matter. I water-tested the Speer 180 twenty years ago, got good (not great) expansion, but bear in mind the recovered bullet diameter isn't always the best indicator, those folded-back petals were perpendicular as the bullet passed through flesh.

Oh, and BTW.....we overthink this whole process. Put a decent bullet in the boiler room and get out the skinning knife!

This is true, I guess everybody is looking for that silver bullet.
Well, I have 5+ boxes of Speer's .358" 180gr. FN. I don't hunt much anymore. I own rifles meant for hunting, and I load for it too. But there isn't anything that put a smile on my face when my shots are in the X ring. IMO if you don't have confidence in yourself and the rifle you take a field, why bother going.
Once again, I guess a good round in a rifle that you know will hit where it should, and all that's left is patience and skill.