KAK 358 Winchester 16" Mid Gas AR-10 Barrel- Stainless

Using this barrel, I built a .358 Win carbine on Aero Precision M5 receivers with KAK heavy buffer, Sprinco Orange recoil spring and Odin Works adjustable gas block. I call it Thumper. Set up with Hornady 200gr factory ammo, started from gas off and fired one round at a time, opening the gas until it locked open on the empty mag, then 2 clicks further. Function has been 100% with factory or handload ammo. As previously stated, recoil is broadly comparable to a 20ga shotgun. I haven't had the opportunity yet to do extensive load workups with this rifle, but i have produced a load that shoots a 220gr Speer Hot-Cor FP at 2300fps that seems to be roughly MOA accurate. This load would be sufficient for Whitetail, Mule deer, and even Elk inside 200yd. My to-do list includes working up a load with 225 Partitions, A-frames, or TSXs loaded to near max SAAMI for tougher game like hogs and bears. Factory-loaded ammo for .358 Win can be rare, but Hornady and Buffalo Bore both have loads in production that can usually be found online easily. If you're a handloader like me, this caliber is not hard to feed. I use factory .358 brass when i can, but .308 cases neck up easily in a standard FL sizing die. I haven't hunted with the rifle yet, but most reports I've found of the .358 claim quick, clean kills with minimal meat loss, even from less than ideal angles and shot placement. The net result is a relatively light, fast-handling rifle that operates just like a normal AR but can take any game on the continent with the right load, uses standard DPMS-pattern .308 bolt heads and magazines, and loads to full capacity (i.e. 20rds in a 20rd mag, unlike many of the boutique big-bore AR rounds that reduce capacity by a factor of 3-5).

Used this barrel and the double ejector bolt to assemble a LR358 carbine over the holiday. I had a DPMS upper/lower with a SASS 4 rail hand guard so its heavy. Reamed a MWI 308 brake to 0.399 and it kicks like a twenty gauge....well maybe a little more. Used a KAK LPK, gas block/tube, and a 308 carbine buffer spring combo. All good stuff. Never any complaints on KAK parts. Trigger is pretty darned good as is. I had an opportunity to test for function with just some flip up sights. Ran a box of Hornady 200gr SP factory ammo through it without one hiccup. Shot at paper plates about 60 yards away off hand. POI was a little high but I didn't have the time or a rest.......next time. Very pleased. All the plates were dead, very dead. I would imagine this little carbine will drop most anything at close range. I look forward to seeing if 225 spitzers and 250 hot cores will feed like this Hornady ammo did, Nice job KAK.