35 remington for Elk ?

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Zoer

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I just acquired a very nice marlin in 35 Remington and am considering taking it on a combo mule deer/elk hunt this fall.. The rifle shoots the 200 leverevoulution extremely well ,,, I also loaded some 220 speers up and the marlin also shoots them submoa . I was hoping to get some opinions from someone who hunts Elk with the 35 rem … The rifle carries much better than any of my bolt actions and the hunt will be in rough heavily timbered country
 
When I was stationed at ft. Lewis, WA, I hunted with a gentleman who used a .35REM in a Marlin lever gun and had killed multiple elk with it. The area we hunted was just south of S. Helens and was predominately timber with some clear cuts. Shots under 100 yards were the norm. His son used either a .308 in a model Savage 99 or a bolt gun, both with iron sights and used 220 round nose.
 
When it first came out I bought one and it was billed as a short range, heavy woods rifle good for deer .Not for long range shooting. Never hunted Elk but I think it would be ok under 200 yards as long as you have it sighted in for that range.
 
I have 2 1/2 Leupold on the marlin. Sighted 2” high at 100 comes in 2 “ low at 200 with the Hornady Leverevolution 200 grain ammo. I have a 288 yard steel target at my range and the drop off from 200 to 288 is significant. I am thinking anything over 200 yards isn’t a good shot with the 35 rem for both trajectory and killing power. I am happy to hear people have cleanly taken elk with the 35. Only thing faster than a four legged elk is a wounded three legged elk. Unfortunately I know this from experience
 
Nice! Mine wears a 4x, and I also have it 2” high at 100.

Mine LOVES the old Rem 150 Core Lokt, but I could only load one in the mag with one chambered because of the pointed bullet. I would get “touching cloverleaf” 3 shot 100 yd groups with that ammo. Rem 200 gr RN shoots a tad over an inch at 100.

I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot at an elk or lesser critter if the range was short with the 200 gr load. I think you’ll be just fine :thumbup:.

Stay safe.
 
I have 2 1/2 Leupold on the marlin. Sighted 2” high at 100 comes in 2 “ low at 200 with the Hornady Leverevolution 200 grain ammo. I have a 288 yard steel target at my range and the drop off from 200 to 288 is significant. I am thinking anything over 200 yards isn’t a good shot with the 35 rem for both trajectory and killing power. I am happy to hear people have cleanly taken elk with the 35. Only thing faster than a four legged elk is a wounded three legged elk. Unfortunately I know this from experience

That sounds like an awesome setup. What vintage is your rifle? A picture or two would be awesome....
 
My 35 Remington is a 336 made in 1959. My Uncle and hunting mentor gave it to me last deer season, one of the best gifts I’ve ever received. I intend to use it for steep country mule deer next month and will definitely be sending him jerky if I’m successful (I usually am, knock on wood).

I’m ashamed to report that I haven’t shot it yet but will soon. Scope is a Leupold 1-4X20 mounted LOW.


DFA63C80-0A20-4B2C-876C-88112E0B0F00.jpeg
 
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Marlin 336CS with a Leupold VX-III 1.5x5x20mm scope. Shoots 200gr LR ammo great and even better with handloads, dialed in about 0.5 inch high at 100 yards. No elk down here to hunt but has done just fine nailing wild hogs.
 

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I have had my Marlin 336 for 45 years now and have taken many deer with it. Love the Marlin and would never trade it in. Power with the Remington 200 gr. cor-locs is phenomenal! I only had to track 2 deer since using it and the blood trail was big. Shot deer out to 150 yards with a good shot placement.
I don't think you will have any problems with a 220 gr. shooting at elk.
The only problem I have is finding ammo to feed the beast! When I do see it I grab it.
 
When it first came out I bought one and it was billed as a short range, heavy woods rifle good for deer .Not for long range shooting. Never hunted Elk but I think it would be ok under 200 yards as long as you have it sighted in for that range.

Just so that I understand you:
you bought a .35Rem in 1906, and you’re still with us?
Congratulations!

I love the .35Rem, and if it was all I had, and I had elk in my neighborhood, I’d certainly use it. However, I have at least a dozen better western elk/mule deer rifles.
 
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Just so that I understand you:
you bought a .35Rem in 1906, and you’re still with us?
Congratulations!

I love the .35Rem, and if it was all I had, and I had elk in my neighborhood, I’d certainly use it. However, I have at least a dozen better western elk/mule deer rifles.
Sorry new to me, in my area was just becoming popular. I am getting pretty old.:):):):)
 
I just bought a 35 Remington a little over a year ago. I had always wanted one and finally hunted one down. I load 200gr Sierra bullets in mine. You can bump up the power a little by reloading. I have only killed two Elk (but not with the 35 Rem) and both were under 65 yards. I could have easily killed the first with a 44 mag handgun and am sure I could have done the same with the second one. I thought Elk would be a long range hunt but both were just like still hunting deer. The 35 Remington would have worked just fine on either one of them.

I don't think killing Elk is the hard part. Finding them is whats tough about Elk hunting. And when you find them you better be quick on the shot. And a low power scope is a great idea. I really like the 2x7 scopes I own. I have a Leopold and a Nikon Pro-Staff. Here is a good read from Paco Kelly on the 35 Remington.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/35remington.htm
 
I live and hunt in what's considered brush country. I did my first deer hunt with my Dad's Marlin 336 in .35 Rem. I own that very gun today. I moved into a Browning BLR in .308 Winchester which is my rifle of choice for deer hunting, but I still hold that Marlin in high regard. We are in an active Elk range so I have many visiting my garden yearly. Many have been taken with .35 Rem in this area.
 
My Marlin 35 was formally owned by my Uncle Larry who enjoyed several hunts to Canada for moose, bears, and woodland caribou, During the 1960's he hunted every year using his overtime money and always came home with lots of meat. Since I've owned it, several wild hogs have been toppled shooting 200 grain core-lokt ammo. The mighty 35 is a keeper!

Good luck with your deer & elk hunts.

TR
 
I'm sure it'll kill elk if you're willing to live with the range limitations. But there are better options for hunting rugged country. I own about a dozen Marlin and Winchester lever actions, the Marlins are the heaviest rifles in my safe. In fact about 1/2 my bolt rifles weigh the same or less with a scope mounted on them than the Marlins weigh unscoped.

But using the most efficient tool for the job isn't always as important as simply using what you enjoy hunting with.
 
I'm sure it'll kill elk if you're willing to live with the range limitations. But there are better options for hunting rugged country. I own about a dozen Marlin and Winchester lever actions, the Marlins are the heaviest rifles in my safe. In fact about 1/2 my bolt rifles weigh the same or less with a scope mounted on them than the Marlins weigh unscoped.

But using the most efficient tool for the job isn't always as important as simply using what you enjoy hunting with.

Rubbish.

A 336 in 35 Remington weights 7 lbs. And half your bolt actions do not weigh less than 7lbs scoped. Such a silly thing to say for no apparent reason.
 
There are some pretty light bolt guns out there now. With a scope they probably weigh as much as a 336 with irons.

For example. Savage Axis is 6.3 lbs unscoped and unloaded. 6.2 for Ruger American Rifle.

I’m a lever gun fan and don’t own any bolt actions and have had this argument before. Lever guns are light but you can’t compete with plasic/composite stocks and pencil barrels of which lever guns have neither.

None of this is to say one is better than the other but just looking at a few facts: Bolt gun is less expensive if you get a budget one. More accurate out of the box. Look and feel better with scopes. Longer range in the typical calibers they are chambered in. Weigh little without scope and only marginally more with one.
 
There are some pretty light bolt guns out there now. With a scope they probably weigh as much as a 336 with irons.

For example. Savage Axis is 6.3 lbs unscoped and unloaded. 6.2 for Ruger American Rifle.

I’m a lever gun fan and don’t own any bolt actions and have had this argument before. Lever guns are light but you can’t compete with plasic/composite stocks and pencil barrels of which lever guns have neither.

None of this is to say one is better than the other but just looking at a few facts: Bolt gun is less expensive if you get a budget one. More accurate out of the box. Look and feel better with scopes. Longer range in the typical calibers they are chambered in. Weigh little without scope and only marginally more with one.

Agreed, pretty easy to put together a LW hunting bolt gun rig these days that won't really limit your practical range.
 
Rubbish.

A 336 in 35 Remington weights 7 lbs. And half your bolt actions do not weigh less than 7lbs scoped. Such a silly thing to say for no apparent reason.
It really isn't that hard to do, especially now, with some custom bolt guns weighing 6 pounds or less, scoped!

I built a 280 Remington on a Rem. 700 action back in the 70's, it weighs 7 pounds scoped...

I always called it my mountain gun, because I built it for a sheep hunt...

DM
 
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