[HiBC]

Long ago a woman friend of mine needed a deer rifle.She wanted a lever action.I fitted a Savage 99 to her,.300 Savage.Put a Leupold 4x on it with a 12 in duplex.I told her if the deer was smaller than the duplex,it was more than 150 yds and to get closer.
Well,she wasn't much for being told how to do anything.Later,she told me the deer was smaller than the duplex.She leg hit it,then kentucky'd up some and killed it.

I do think that 99 Savage is a fine rifle./..just about exactly as fine as the 7x57 cartridge.

Now,if you neck a 7x57 down then ackley it,you get a .257 Ackley Improved.I have been using one over 20 yrs.I won't give a load,but its a 115 Ballistic tip at 3050.It just plain kills.Farthest antelope,just over 400 yds.Most are about 200.

I have better choices for elk,but,if need be,I'm sure it would kill elk just fine with one condition.I am willing to let the elk walk away if I do not have a shot ,through ribs at heart/lung.

I know of a number of elk that went right down for a 165 gr ballistic tip .308 out to 300 yd.

I do not shoot at moving game.I do not think in terms of "upping my chances on running game" I shoot when I have a steady,precise shot that will bust heart/lung.I lost one antelope when I was 16.that was enough.I'm 61 now.

Not a thing wrong with your .358,fine cartridge.You do your part,it does its part.

I'd suspect a 2700 fps 160 gr Nosler from a 7x57 will blow out the backside of any deer ribcage you hit with it,and,I would expect every bit as much trauma in the wound channel as a 200 gr or 225 gr 358.I bet a stout 175 gr 7mm handload will penetrate anything your .358 will.

I believe the Jack OConnor statement was exactly right.Another gentleman who found the 7x57 effective was Finn Aagard.I think I spelled his name wrong.

If you can shoot,a .250 Savage will kill deer just fine.A Savage 99 .250 Savage