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.358 JDJ

Over the years I have had several .35 Remington caliber barrels for my TC Contenders. I have always found them to be very accurate and mild recoiling barrels but sadly lacking in power for game much bigger than deer. I have often promised myself to "someday" send one to JD Jones at SSK Industries (590 Woodvue Lane, Wintersville, OH. 43953 AC 740-264-0176/7217) for conversion into a real "Hand Cannon" the .358 JDJ.



ALL DATA BELOW IS FROM MY PERSONAL TESTING IN MY PERSONAL BARREL. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND DO NOT ASSUME YOUR BARREL AND MY BARREL WILL GIVE THE SAME RESULTS. THEY MAY AND THEY MAY NOT. MY DATA GENERALLY WAS DERIVED EITHER FROM THE ABOVE LISTED SSK DATA OR FROM DATA ON THE .358 JDJ IN AN ARTICLE IN ISSUE # 153 OF HANDLOADER MAGAZINE WRITTEN BY GARY SITTON. FOLLOW ALL NORMAL HANDLOADING SAFETY PROCEDURES AND WORK UP TO THESE LOADS WHILE WATCHING FOR PRESSURE SIGNS. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR SAFETY--NOT ME.

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TESTED 7-20-98

OAL = 3.080" FOR SIERRA BTSP AND NOSLER PT
OAL = 3.150" FOR NOSLER BT

CASE : RP .444 MARLIN --> .358 JDJ

BULLET : SIERRA 225 BTSP 2245 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.75")
(3 @ 100 = 2.8")

BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT 2226 fps (3 @ 100 = 0.95")

BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2278 fps (5 @ 100 = 2.2")
(4/5 = 1.6")
POWDER: AA 2520 - 52.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200
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TESTED 7-22-98

OAL= 3.020" FOR NOSLER PT
OAL = 3.150" FOR NOSLER BT

NOTE: PRIMERS BEGINNING TO FLATTEN--REDUCE LOAD BY ONE (1) GRAIN.

CASE : RP .444--> .358 JDJ

BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT 2224 fps (3 @ 100 = 5.4")
(3 @ 100 = 1.55")

BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2282 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.8")
(3 @ 100 = 2.0")
POWDER: AA 2520--52.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI-200

NOTE: Nosler 225 PT group #2 had 2/3 shots in 0.3" and Nosler 225 BT group # 2 had 2/3 shots in 0.8".
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CASE : RP .444 --> .358 JDJ

BULLET : SIERRA 225 BTSP 2001 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.2")
(3 @ 100 = 1.2")

BULLET : HORNADY 180 SPSSP 2060 fps (3 @ 100 = 0.8")
(3 @ 100 = 0.9")

POWDER: IMR 4320 - 50.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Group #1 for the Hornady 180 had 2/3 shots in 0.8" and group #2 had 2/3 shots in only 0.15".
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CASE : RP .444 --> .358 JDJ

BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT 2096 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.1")
(3 @ 100 = 1.3")
POWDER: BL - C2 - 48.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Group #1 had 2/3 shots in 0.05" (Not an error) and group # 2 had 2/3 shots in 0.2".
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CASE : RP .444 --> .358 JDJ
BULLET : SIERRA 225 2038 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.8")
(3 @ 100 = 2.7")

POWDER: XMR 2495 - 50.6 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: The first group had 2/3 shots in 0.5".
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TESTED 7-27-98


CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT 2201 fps (3 @ 100 = 3.5")
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2195 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.2")
POWDER: AA 2520 - 51.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Nosler 225 PT group had 2/3 shots in 1.7".
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CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : SIERRA 225 2114 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.1")
(3 @ 100 = 1.8")
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2135 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.9")
(3 @ 100 = 1.0")
POWDER: XMR 2495 - 52.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Sierra 225 Group #1 had 2/3 shots in 0.5" and Nosler 225 BT Group #1 had 2/3 shots in 0.9".
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CASE : .358 JDJ
BULLET : SIERRA 225 2085 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.1")
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 1895 fps (3 @ 100 = 3.8")
POWDER: BL - C2 - 49.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Sierra 225 had 2/3 shots in 0.25".
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CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : SIERRA 225 2083 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.9")
(3 @ 100 = 1.8")
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2077 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.7")
POWDER: IMR 4320 - 51.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Sierra 225 Both groups had 2/3 in 0.9". Nosler 225 BT had 2/3 in 0.5" for group noted. I fired another group of 3 also but the point of impact was so high on paper the way the gun was sighted in I lost one of them. The other two were only 0.7" and the third could have been as close as 1.5" - 2" but I couldn't pick it out in all the holes in the well used backer board.
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TESTED 8-3-98



CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : HORNADY 200 SP 2268 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.95")
(3 @ 100 = 3.85")
BULLET : RP 200 PSP-CL 2214 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.95")
POWDER: AA 2520 - 54.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Hornady 200 SP Group # 1 had 2/3 shots in 1.0"
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CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : HORNADY 200 SP 2160 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.95")

BULLET : RP 200 PSP-CL 2188 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.2")

POWDER: IMR 4320 - 52.8 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

NOTE: Hornady 200 had 2/3 shots in 0.9" as did the RP 200 PSP-CL.
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TESTED 8-20-98



CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2178 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.7")
(3 @ 100 = 1.8")
BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT 2141 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.8")
POWDER: AA 2520 - 51.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : CCI - 200

Note: Nosler 225 BT group #2 had 2/3 in 0.5".
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TESTED 9-4-98



CASE : RP .358 JDJ
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT 2228 fps (3 @ 100 = 1.9")
BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT 2276 fps (3 @ 100 = 2.75")
POWDER: AA 2520 - 51.0 GRAINS
PRIMER : WIN LR MAG

NOTE: Both loads put 2/3 shots in 0.5" with a flyer each time opening the groups to the numbers noted above.
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TESTED 9-16-98


CASE : RP .358 JDJ ONCE FIRED CASES (FIRE FORMED ONLY)
BULLET : NOSLER 225 BT
BULLET : NOSLER 225 PT
POWDER: AA 2520 - 51.5 GRAINS
PRIMER : WIN LR MAGNUM

NOTE: This is the load that was selected for use on the combo mule deer/elk hunt in Colorado in October 1998. I didn't fire it across the chronograph this day since it was only a one-half grain increase in powder from the previous test. I believe the velocities will be slightly over 2250 fps for the BT and right on 2300 fps for the PT. I did fire a single group with each of them on the above day and the results were: BT: 3 @ 100 = 2.9" with 2/3 in 0.55" and for the PT: 3 @ 100 = 1.8" with 2/3 in 0.25". I have since fired numerous groups with these two loads and when I do my part they can keep 3 in an inch at 100. Most often two are touching or very nearly so and the third is off from them by a half inch to as much as a couple of inches depending on how well I'm holding that day.
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The .358 JDJ is serious handgun medicine. Meant to be taken when you need something for sure 'nuff big game. Sure it'll work for deer and even turkey as I proved in the fall '98 hunting season here in Alabama. But it is at its best when pitted against bigger and tougher game like big boar hogs, elk, moose, and even bear.

I personally think this is a superior round to the much more highly touted .375 JDJ except for use in Africa where the minimum caliber of .375 is often required. Bullets of .375" are made for use in either the .375 H&H Magnum or the sedate .375 Winchester. Those for the .375 H&H are intended to be driven at 2650-2700 fps in the 250/270 grain weight range and the JDJ struggles to get them up to 1950-2000 fps. I just don't see how they can be expected to expand properly from the JDJ beyond 100 yards when launched at those velocities. Bullets for the .375 Winchester are all flat nosed and shed velocity quickly. Bullets of 220 grains can be driven to about 2250 fps according to data from SSK but the one most commonly used is intended for the .375 Winchester and is a bit soft for that velocity. Should be an excellent performer where expansion is required and quick put downs are wanted. From what I read it lives up to that.

Bullets in .358" are made for either the .35 Remington and are round nose or for the .358 Winchester/.35 Whelan. Bullets for the former in 200 grain round nose configuration at 2300 fps out of the .358 JDJ are moving only about 300 fps faster than from the .35 Remington in a rifle which is what they were designed to do. They should be very terminal on thin skin game like deer at that velocity. Bullets of 225 to 250 grains designed for the .358 Win/.35 Whelan are designed to be pushed about 2300 to 2600 fps and the .358 JDJ can get them up to 2300 for the 225s and about 2200 for the 250s. That's a lot closer to design spec than the .375" bullets from the .375 JDJ. So, my conclusion is the .358 JDJ is one fine round for the really big stuff. Try it and you'll like it, but hang on tight because it is bad at both ends.