I do so dearly love the way people will take a thread and get away with the original subject at hand.
Frankly, I kind of like the idea of a Ruger #3 in .358 Win.
A nice reasonbly lightweight thumper that still won't beat you to death.
I could go for one myself. I have had a couple of #3's in 45-70 and those hurt with powerful loads. because nowadays they have some collector value, I didn't do anything to mine and finally sold them off.
What I think I wold do, as long as you're doing it to be a .358 is I would add a Pachmeyr Decelerator recoil pad. They do make a difference. it would also serve anther purpose as well. I'm not a particularly lrge individual, but I find that the butt stock on the Ruger #3 was designed for a midget.
By adding that pad, the stock will be more of a normal legth, the pad and extra length will, IMHO make the recoil a heck of a lot more tolerable. As I didn't want to alter my 45-70s, I used a slip on pad and the added length did make a difference.
I only have one question though. Is the barrel at the muzzle thick enough to allow boring out to .358"? I'm OK with the 1 in 14" twist rate. That's a lot better than Ruger doing it with a 1 in 16" twist.
I have five rifles in .358, two Ruger 77s (tang safety model) a savage 99, browning BLR and a Kodial Mauser. The browning and savage came with the peope 1 in 12" twist that Winchester used in their .358s but the other three are 1 in 16" twist and frankly, they don't shoot worth a damn. I also have three rifles in .35 Whelen, a Ruger 77 tang safetym Remington M700 Classic and a custom Mauser. The Mauser came from an estate sale and has a 1 in
14" twist and is avery decent grouper especially with the 225 gr. Barnes TSX. The other two have 1 in 16" twist rates and are somewhat mediocre when it comes to accuracy. Dunno what they were thinking but somebody had his head in a warm dark place.
As you have probably guessed, I like the .35's. The only real draw back with the .358 is finding brass and ammo. It's one of the cartridges Winchester loads or makes brass for on a "seasonal basis".
I have a friend that deals in componenets and he got me a sweet deal on 500 rounds of Winchester .358 bass.
So, I'm good to go forever.
Paul B.