.35 Remington

[Buck13]

I occasionally get a hankering for a .35 Remington. I don't currently own a "real" rifle, only a 10/22, a Marlin 60 and a Rossi 92 in .357 Magnum. Many decades ago, I harvested a few pronghorns in Wyoming with a .243, which is my only experience with bottlenecked rifles other than a few range shares of things like .30-06 and 7.35 Carcarno. (I don't say "hunted" because back then, there were so many pronghorn on the ranch my dad's buddy took us to that you went out an hour before dawn, and 90 minutes later, you had a dead animal. It was a harvest, not a hunt!)

That left me with a liking for flat-shooters, but I also like not buying components. Among other things, the .35 Remington is appealing because plinking ammo could be made with .357 bullets I already have (maybe even hunting ammo: I have a couple of boxes of 180 grain XTPs). Since I live in Seattle, if I was to go hunting (unlikely, but we can dream) on the West side there are some places where the short trajectory of the .35 might make sense, although there are also Mulies in the Okanogon for which it would not be ideal.

I saw a Remington 141 that looked nice on Gunbroker recently, which sold for about $800. I was tempted to bid on it but held back. Then a couple of days later, I was looking at Remiington 8 and 81s and realized that they are breakdown rifles. That's kinda tempting, to be able to fit it inside a backpack and be discrete when transporting it. OTOH, they seem pretty heavy, and it sounds like expected accuracy is "minute of softball" at 100 yards. And, of course, a Marlin 336 would be the "reasonable" choice, and the most abundant, I guess.

Frankly, I'd probably put a red dot sight on it or maybe a low-power scope, spoiling the "vintage" flavor of these rifles, 'cause I'm getting old and squinty.

So, try to talk me in or out of these rifles and this caliber!

If I wanted to be sensible, an inexpensive bolt gun in 6.5 CM, 7-08, or .270 Win would be the obvious choice, but...

 

[Jim Watson]

I have experience with three .35 Remingtons.
First, I read in a gunzine of the day, just how versatile the Remington 600 bolt action .35 was, so I snapped one up. Sure enough, it was more accurate than a lever action and would shoot everything from revolver bullet plinkers to overloaded bear bumpers. I traded it for a .308 which I had less pleasure from and did not keep long.

Then I decided I needed a lever action and bought a very handsome Marlin 336A with long barrel and half magazine. I was dismayed to find that it would not feed my short OAL revolver bullet loads and since it was to be mostly a centerfire plinker, I did not keep it long.

In the meanwhile, a friend cropped up with a .35 Model 81 automatic. We frotzed around with it for a while but he traded it off for something USGI that he collected.

I think the Marlin is the best bet vs older guns hard to scope but you will have to get the OAL near factory standard for the lever action's tube magazine and lifter.

 

[jmr40]

I've had a few Marlins in 35 Rem. Same with 30-30, 44 mag, 22, and 45-70. I no longer have them.

If I wanted to be sensible, an inexpensive bolt gun in 6.5 CM, 7-08, or .270 Win would be the obvious choice, but...

I'm too practical I suppose and would go that route. If you don't ever plan to hunt but want to target shoot with a rifle a bolt action 223 is the cheapest, easiest route to go. If hunting big game is even remotely a possibility 6.5CM or 308 make the most sense as a dual-purpose target/hunting rifle.

If you just want something old and classic there are better choices that are older than the 35 Rem. If I had to go that route, I'd get a 30-30. Both the 6.5X55 and 7X57 are several years older than 30-30 or 35 and still match or beat more modern cartridges.

 

[someguy2800]

The 14 and 141 is also a takedown rifle. Not the most practical choice for a hunting rifle but they are fun. Before you spend your money on anything chambered in 35 remington, make sure you can source and adequate supply of brass first because it is expensive and difficult to find. As you can see, this one was drilled and tapped for a side mounted scope before I got it, but I removed it and put a peep sight on it. I shoot it with these cast bullets loaded to about 2000 fps.

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=86

 

[Buck13]

The 14 and 141 is also a takedown rifle. Not the most practical choice for a hunting rifle but they are fun. Before you spend your money on anything chambered in 35 remington, make sure you can source and adequate supply of brass first because it is expensive and difficult to find. As you can see, this one was drilled and tapped for a side mounted scope before I got it, but I removed it and put a peep sight on it. I shoot it with these cast bullets loaded to about 2000 fps.

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=86

Nice. I did not realize the 14 was also takedown. Very interesting.

Do you know if it will feed with Keith 358429 bullets? They are longer-nosed than many handgun bullets, but still maybe short compared to trad rifle bullets.

 

[gotboostvr]

I absolutely loved my old 35Rem Marlin 336. Phenomenal cartridge.

Have you considered a 350 Ledgend though? Balistics are very close. Plenty of choices of firearms and ammo. Can even use the same bullets.

If you want a 35Rem, you want a 35Rem and the 350L won't scratch that itch. But if you want something that'll do the same thing (except be chambered in a lever action) the 350L is worth a look.

 

[someguy2800]

Nice. I did not realize the 14 was also takedown. Very interesting.

Do you know if it will feed with Keith 358429 bullets? They are longer-nosed than many handgun bullets, but still maybe short compared to trad rifle bullets.

The only pistol bullet I've ever tried feeding through it is a 180 grain XTP. The 141 doesn't have any issue that I am aware of with short overall length.

 

[Riomouse911]

I love my .35 Rem 336, it will literally bench-shoot 3-shot cloverleaf groups at 100 yds with the (now discontinued) Rem 180 gr Core Lokt (single-loaded). I’m glad I still have a few boxes left on the shelf.

Ammo is few and far between, but once you have some components its easy to load for.

Good luck with your search.

Stay safe

 

[herrwalther]

I am going to recommend against 35 Remington right now. Granted I love my Marlin 336 in 35. I have developed some great hand loads for it where I can shoot dime to nickel sized groups at 100 yards depending on how much caffeine I had that day. It has slayed more than a couple freezers worth of deer and is my favorite hunting cartridge.

However, ammo and components are both hard to find. I have enough primers, bullets, and powder on hand to load about 1000 more rounds. But no cases to put them in. With the current buyout of Marlin, the only in production 35 Remington rifle I know of is a new model by Henry. And it can be awhile before there are enough Henrys in hand to get ammo companies making 35 Remington again. Current prices are about $60 per 20 when you can find it.

I am not saying 35 Remington is dead, I hope it never will be. But it is on a ventilator.

 

[redneck2]

For a while, the .35 Remington was very popular in Indiana because of goofy deer laws. You couldn’t use a rifle, but you could use any handgun bigger than .244. A lot of guys got Contenders in .35 because it fit the laws.

Anyway, ammo is (or at least used to be until a few years ago) very common here

So, is it a logical caliber? No. But shooters seldom do anything logical. If it turns your crank, go for it.

 

[Griffen]

You mentioned a Rossi .357 magnum. I just bought one of those and found some Buffalo Bore .357 magnum rounds that claim near 30-30 performance. I just had them arrive yesterday and have not taken them to the range to chrony and test accuracy, so we’ll see if they perform.

That doesn’t satisfy the .35 Remington choice, but could be an option.

 

[d2wing]

It's a great round. My dad killed lots of deer with one. My Remington pump was my first deer rifle.

 

[Rubone]

I like my 81, it was a deer rifle in the UP for many years before I got it from a friend. It had been her father's. And then I got a 336 since I liked the round. However out here in big open country I don't hunt with either.

 

[Buck13]

For a while, the .35 Remington was very popular in Indiana because of goofy deer laws. You couldn’t use a rifle, but you could use any handgun bigger than .244. A lot of guys got Contenders in .35 because it fit the laws.

That's awesome. Not sure I'd want to shoot full-power .35 Remington out of a handgun much, though. Of course, if I get into the caliber I'd handload, so I could take the edge off a little by using starting loads.

 

[Buck13]

You mentioned a Rossi .357 magnum. I just bought one of those and found some Buffalo Bore .357 magnum rounds that claim near 30-30 performance. I just had them arrive yesterday and have not taken them to the range to chrony and test accuracy, so we’ll see if they perform.

That doesn’t satisfy the .35 Remington choice, but could be an option.

The Rossi I have has the rather silly 24" octagonal barrel. It's not the best balanced rifle in town. I'd have preferred the 20" round barrel, but that was what was available at the time. It also has an aftermarket aperature sight, which is nice except that it shoots high with anything over 125 grain bullets. I need to get a taller front sight and swap it, or get a smith to do it, and have been putting that off for a long time.

 

[SwampWolf]

I am not saying 35 Remington is dead, I hope it never will be. But it is on a ventilator.

The fine .35 Remington might be dying but my favorite .35 caliber lever-action rifle (the .358 Winchester), has been attracting vultures for the past several years. But the last breath hasn't been gasped-yet.

 

[Remington1911]

I love the Remington cartridges, however like another poster said, you are going to have issues finding ammo, and if you reload issues finding brass.....sad but the way it is.

I have one Remington 8 and one 81, pretty much same gun different stock. I can say in taking them down and putting it back together again, I don't think it could be more easy. I don't think they are "heavy"....lets call them thick. You look at them and then pick it up and think where is all that weight at. Another thing that needs to be said is these things are not something you are going to take apart with a flash light in the dark and enjoy putting it back together again. It is a design from 1900 and it sure does have all the little doo-dads inside of it to show that. Then you need "da wrench" if you hope to take the barrel nut off and check out the spring, forget about taking it off if you don't make one or find one, you stand a better chance making it.

All that said I love them, they do thump, long recoil will do that. My 8 is in 30 rem, and is a joy to shoot, 81 is in 300 savage and it is punishing to shoot factory loads in, just not enough meat there to calm it down.

I think that with many things our last two years is going to kill off some cartridges.

 

[Buck13]

I have enough primers, bullets, and powder on hand to load about 1000 more rounds. But no cases to put them in.

Well, there is this:
https://ammunitioncamp.com/product/35-remington-brass/

However, I am a little suspicious since none of their products seem to have any reviews. Is this a real company? I saw some reasonably priced Federal .38 full wadcutter ammo advertised a few months ago; luckily I mentioned it on the Bullseye-L forum and someone pointed out that it was a scam site!

Jeez, Remington doesn't even list .35 Remington brass on their site. I guess they have no intention of making any more? It's a little weird, given how many of these rifles are out there. Obviously not in numbers like .30-30, but it's not like this is some obscure import like the 7.35 Car.

 

[Riomouse911]

I bought 50 primed, nickel plated .35 Rem cases at the end of August from Dogleg7 on the components page. They came vacuum sealed and in perfect shape. Check there, he may still have cases for sale.

Like any of the off-caliber rife cases today they were a bit spendy at 2 bucks each, but these new ones (added to my stash already) should last me for quite a while.

Stay safe.

 

[Buck13]

The only pistol bullet I've ever tried feeding through it is a 180 grain XTP. The 141 doesn't have any issue that I am aware of with short overall length.

Did you crimp them in the lower or upper crimp groove? Or did you have the newer ones that only have the upper (deeper seating) groove?

 

[Remington1911]

Well, there is this:
https://ammunitioncamp.com/product/35-remington-brass/

However, I am a little suspicious since none of their products seem to have any reviews. Is this a real company? I saw some reasonably priced Federal .38 full wadcutter ammo advertised a few months ago; luckily I mentioned it on the Bullseye-L forum and someone pointed out that it was a scam site!

Jeez, Remington doesn't even list .35 Remington brass on their site. I guess they have no intention of making any more? It's a little weird, given how many of these rifles are out there. Obviously not in numbers like .30-30, but it's not like this is some obscure import like the 7.35 Car.

When I was hunting I found two places that had 30 rem brass, this is pre covid. That place in texas that I always forget the name of that sells all kinds of long dead brass, but it is spendy. And Graff had some. The graf has a graf head stamp, not sure who makes it for them.

 

[Buck13]

I bought 50 primed, nickel plated .35 Rem cases at the end of August from Dogleg7 on the components page. They came vacuum sealed and in perfect shape. Check there, he may still have cases for sale.

Like any of the off-caliber rife cases today they were a bit spendy at 2 bucks each, but these new ones (added to my stash already) should last me for quite a while.

Stay safe.

Thanks for the tip.

Seems like the scarcity of brass argues against the autoloaders. Better to have a lever or pump and eject the brass carefully into a container, rather than have it thrown behind the line and stepped on by some oaf!

 

[rdnktrkr]

Ammo might be your biggest obstacle with the 35 rem, brass is hard to find and a bit pricey. I reload with 200gr fp bullets and it is a hard hitting brush gun, if you want to hunt at longer ranges I would look for something that can take better aerodynamics bullets, 35 Wheelen (more pricey ammo) or change calibers

 

[herrwalther]

However, I am a little suspicious since none of their products seem to have any reviews. Is this a real company? I saw some reasonably priced Federal .38 full wadcutter ammo advertised a few months ago; luckily I mentioned it on the Bullseye-L forum and someone pointed out that it was a scam site!

I think it is. I found the website yesterday because a coworker was looking for some 15 or 17 round magazines for his Taurus G3C. They had some on the website but they would only let him add 2 to his cart, when he only wanted one. Sounds and smells like a scam to me.

 

[gralewaj]

The 14 and 141 is also a takedown rifle. Not the most practical choice for a hunting rifle but they are fun. Before you spend your money on anything chambered in 35 remington, make sure you can source and adequate supply of brass first because it is expensive and difficult to find. As you can see, this one was drilled and tapped for a side mounted scope before I got it, but I removed it and put a peep sight on it. I shoot it with these cast bullets loaded to about 2000 fps.

https://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_id=86

That's cool...