I believe what you're asking is converting 358WIN to 35REM?

If that be the case then check out this thread by one of our resident experts on 35REM, Flat Top:
.308 Win to 35 Rem
Jack

 

I think what he is asking is can you convert a Marlins 336 to 358 win. In short yes you can but need to use 356 win load data.

 

Ok I was not specific enough, I want to convert a RIFLE to 358 Win.

 

I'd keep my eyes open for a Winchester model 88, Browning BLR or a Sako Finnwolf in 358 Win.
The rotary lever actuated bolt actions of these rifles can withstand 358 Winchester pressures.
The SAAMI working pressure of around 59,000 PSI for the 358 Win round does seem kinda high for a Marlin 336 action.
What's the point in the conversion if the gun can only shoot watered down 358 Win ammo?
These are educated guesses on my part and I haven't deeply researched the topic so please don't beat me up if you don't agree.

35 Rem ammo is a lot easier to find than 358 Win ammo around here.
Unless they have moose or really big bears in your area I would stick with the 35 Rem.
Easier on the wallet and shoulder.

 

Could be Bryon, his question wasn't entirely clear to me.

Jack

 

blammer, just realize that 358WIN pressure is too high for a 336. Hence, Bryon's reference of 356WIN load data.

Are you familiar with Flat Top's 35SG? If not and you're looking for increased power, do a search on 35SG.

Jack

 

thanks for the info! I was starting at the basics, if the rifle won't handle the pressure then it's out. I'll likely have to look for something else.

I'll check out Flat Tops 35SG. thanks!

 

Browning BLR is one of the few you can get in that caliber.
Any particular reason you're looking to do this?

 

Blammer, as an option, you might talk with Adam at Ranger Point Precision (supporting vendor) regarding converting your 336 to a 356WIN. Great guy and does quality work.

Then again, you can always go with a BLR in 358WIN. I prefer the Marlin platform but the BLR's are a quality rifle and they offer it in 358WIN.

Jack

 

I had a savage model 99-358win lever gun in my hands at a gun this fall, he also had a model 71 in 348win I bout that one, gun shows a good place to start looking for what you want !!

 

have a show here this coming weekend, I may have to go..

 

Just had a Marlin 30 AS rebored to 356W, but if brass availability is your only issue, I would stick with the 35 Rem. Loaded ammo and brass are around and more available than 356/358 if you are patient and search the web, gun shows and lgs's. I did it for the "cool " factor.

 

Or a Savage 99-358.

 

i have a BLR & a model 99 in the 358win.
both are fantastic out to 250 yards or so.
i would keep the marlin a 35rem...
then sell it to fund a BROWNING BLR 358 WINCHESTER as those are easier to find.
you would not be disappointed!

 

I think the BLR is the only levergun currently manufactured in 358 Win.
Good luck getting parts for a Winchester 88 or the very rare Sako Finnwolf if needed.
The BLR, essentially a lever actuated bolt action, is very strong; even stronger than the Winchester 92 action.
If you go with a BLR spend the extra sheckles for the takedown version.
Much better for portability in ATVs and planes and makes for easier cleaning from the breach end.
There is still some new factory 358 Win ammo still being made but to do the caliber justice you should get into handloading for it.

You don't have to go the Dillon automated press megabucks route.

The Lee handpress and a die set will load all the ammo you need for hunting.
You can get the whole shebang for less than $100.

 

I bought my son a new BLR "take-down" model in .358win a little over a year or so ago, and we really like it. He put an Elk down with it the very first time out hunting with it too.. bam! I had to do some searching around to find a new TD model in the caliber, but glad I did... now I want another..

 

a 35 Rem rifle will convert to 358 win but of course you would need to use flat point or flex tip bullets for the tube magazine. And you will need to seat the bullets more deeply since the 358 win's over all length is too long for the 336 action. That takes you to the 356 win. If you do a 356 conversion you would need to change your bolt and go with the standard 30/30 bolt since you have a 35 Rem rifle. (35 Rem bolt will work fine with the 358 Win) 356 win head spaces on the rim which is probably better when you are talking about higher pressure loads. 358 and 356 are rated for the same pressure. The difference in velocity is simply do to the fact that the bullet is seated more deeply and takes away a little powder space. The real difference is negligible.

The 35 Rem is at the muzzle what the 356 Win is at 100 yards. Even the hopped up 35 Rem Hornady FTX factory load at 2200 fps cant touch the 2450 fps of my hand loaded 356 Win with the same bullet. That extra 250 fps just happens to be the difference between the 35 calibers ability to transfer hydro-static shock to an animal. Below 2200 fps 35 caliber bullets do not have hydro-static shock. Will they still kill? Not likely! Just kidding. Of course they will. But you will get more bang flops with the 356 than the 35 Rem.
Pb

 

Dropped a big cow elk in 2013 with my 336C in 35 Remington and the factory 200 grain LeveRevolution FTX ammo at slightly over 80 yards. The dead animals snout was less than 10 yards from the POI when I pulled the trigger.
I've taken moose with the 200 grain factory loaded green box 35 Remington core-lokts.
They never went very far either.
That's enuf bang flop for me.
If I go 358 Winchester it will be with a rifle that was designed for 358 Winchester.

 

I have two Savage 99s in 358 Win. - sweet rifles in a hard hitting cartridge. You can still find them but the 358s are pricey.

You might try finding a Marlin originally chambered in 356 Win. - a rimmed cartridge designed to approach 358 ballistics. In fact, the 356 performs very favorably with the 300 Savage which is a great round.

Adam would probably re-chamber a 35 Rem. to 356 if a client wishes but he does not offer that conversion as standard due to liability risks.

A lot of us here on MO have 336s with the 35 Rem to 356 conversions (including me) and consider it safe but, if you go that route, you're on your own. :biggrin:

T.S.

 

It is actually even safer than a 336 conversion to 307 (which I have done and love). The pressure drops much faster in the larger bore barrel. I have run some 308 reloads single shot in my 307 with no ill effects. No sticky extraction, little head stretch on max loads. No different than shooting it out of my 308 bolt gun. And yes I worked the loads up very carefully! It really is all about the length the gun can cycle. Yes a bolt gun can contain more pressure before failing. But I don't ever plan on reloading that high of pressure in my lever anyway.

 

Wow the old clam shell loader, that's what we called it , now the model 88-358, I was in a LGS when a man came in with one, said he wanted to sell it, what do you want for it said the store owner, 2,000 dollars its rare the store owner said number one, the 88 was a POS gun and the 358 never did make it, the man walked out he was not happy !!!

 

I have been living and hunting in Alaska for 50 years and almost all of that is with a .338 Win. Mag. During the "off season" I carry a lightly customized Marlin 1895 45-70 loaded with 400 grain Kodiak bullets from Alaska Bullet Company. I do like the rifle and the 45-70 case. I also think lever guns could be more popular with some new calibers.

I would like to see 45-70 Govt. or modified .348 Win. case necked to .411 and .358 caliber. I am not wanting to turn a Marlin lever gun into a 500 yard hunting rifle. I do think there could be better calibers for hunting with a 'traditional" styled lever gun. A 250 grain .35 caliber bullet that duplicates the .358 Win. and a 300 grain .411 caliber bullet at 2,300 fps mv would be great and more versatile for hunting.

Many of our big bears are killed every year with much smaller bullets then a 400 grain .45 caliber bullet.

The hand gun bullets would be cheap practice for either caliber and both are a large enough caliber where cast bullets could be effectively used. It is probably wishful thinking on my part. I know existing calibers come close to my .358 wish, but they don't quite make it and nothing in .411 caliber is available. Woe is me!

 

The 358 win is a great caliber, I also like the 338 Federal, it takes a little less effort to make your brass from 308 win brass but it is a hard hitter and a little more range because of the bullet BC.

 

Got a little chuckle from this ^

It's entirely true and accurate info, it's just that when I was pondering whether or not to get an early BLR in .358 that I'd looked at, being able to make brass for it from .338 Federal brass (which I had access to a decent supply of) without having to start at .308 and work all the way up from there, was one of the reasons I ended up getting it. Made up a few hundred pieces without too much fuss or muss and don't recall losing a single one in the process.

Of course, that being the case, one of the gun shops I stop at every once in a while got in a whole mess of old Winchester .358 unprimed brass... :laugh:

 

I had a 88/358 & 99/358, never really used them that much. Shoot a few deer with 88. Bought dies and loaded a few, then got 99
which I liked better than the 88. Got the 99 all tuned up and took to Canada spring bear hunting as " back up" gun. Never fired a shot
at game with it, gave to Canadian friend. He claims its best thing since sliced bread. He has used it with good results on black bear
and moose, for over 30 yrs.

 

A 99 in .358 is worth a fortune where I am. And online people are listing them high to start. Hope your Canadian friend sends you meat!

 

30 years ago Savage 99s weren't sought after like they are now. You could buy all the 94 Wins you wanted for $100 ( not pre 64s)
Marlin 336 brought less, and Glenfield models bottom of heap. Hindsight is 20/20, if I had all the guns I have traded or sold, I would
be a millionaire. I always took two rifles with me in spring bear, for two reasons. In case something broke on my main gun and one
I wouldn't cry if lost out of canoe. $100 dollar rifle made a nice gift to friends who always helped me out. Guns and Ammo have
always been higher in Canada,not to mention the exchange rate in those days.

 

OK, here is my Marlin 336 in 358 Winchester. Rechambered by Bill Morrison of Bradford, Maine. It is a tack driver, longest kill was 300 yards on a nice 8 point buck, standing head on. I had a range compensating scope, now it has a 4x12 Cabellas that I will swap out to a Leupold after deer hunting season. I can only load pointed bullets as first loads, round nose Hornaday 200g in slightly shortened virgin Winchester brass 50 grains of IMR 4064 is the max load, very accurate. The 200 gr RN went completely lengthways tru the 8 pointer, mushroomed to 100%, copper was on his haunches, lead was gone. Trust me, the 336 is strong, and the .358 brass is much stronger than .35 Rem. Shouldn't say, but I bought it at K Mart for $89 in 1974 when I got out of the Army. Re stocked it myself.

 

hydrex,
Outstanding job on the stock work using an excellent looking blank.

 

35 Rem. ammo and/or components just does not seem that difficult to find to me. A little online search turns up quite a bit of each.
Bass Pro for one currently shows the rem corelokts in stock and on sale.
Now if you're just itching to try something different I can sure relate to that. In leverguns the Browning BLR is chambered in .358w.
Ive always been a fan of the Rem 760 and so picked up one in a .308w reasonable then sent it to JES for a rebore to .358. That way you don't have to worry about pressures being too high or having to sub load data for a different caliber. Just my 2 cents.

 

I was able to purchase 500 once fired remington brass pretty easily when I first got my 336 35 Rem a couple of years ago. Bought them from 3 different people in a short amount of time when I started looking for them. And look up Grumpa on this forum if you can't find them. He makes them from 308 brass. Top quality too I hear.
Also I have found .35 Rem. both Remington and Hornady at multiple locations in Dallas. Don't see near as many .358 Win. Bullets for sell. Don't get me wrong. The 358 Win is a nice round. Would love to have a Savage 99 in .358. But I don't believe you should go away from the .35 Rem because you think brass or bullets are hard to find. Perhaps they are hard to find where you are from but they are plentiful in my part of the country


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