Anyone load for 35 Rem?

[brewer12345]

I got Dad's Marlin out the other day to check the zero on the scope since I drew a bear tag and this cartridge has a reputation for being good bear medicine. I only fired a few shots, but from an improvised rest at 100 yards it made a 1 inch group with Hornady Leverevolution factory fodder. Curious about the state of affairs with this cartridge, I went looking for more factory ammo. As expected, there was nothing available on ammoseek. I went to look at gunbroker and it looks very much like the going rate is about $100 for a box of 20! I have never really shot this rifle much, but it is handy, accurate, and dropped a pair of hogs several years back like it was the hammer of Thor. I have a bunch of factory stuff, but I think I'd really like to do a bit of load workup.

I was thinking about playing with Varget and a selection of bullets. I have Sierra 200 grain RN, Hornady Leverevolution 200 grain bullets, 180 grain Speer flat points, RCBS 200 grain cast, and of course I could try 158 grain JSPs (although not as a hunting bullet for big game). I think I have a pound of Leverevolution powder floating around somewhere, and I have some other odds and ends that might be suitable (H4198, Tac, not sure what else). My notes say that I tried a mild load of Unique with a 158 grain coated cast bullet, but the accuracy was sort of uninspiring.

Anyone load for this cartridge? Suggestions?

 

[AJC1]

They make tons of autopsy videos, and if your handloading for literal bear you may find them helpful. The lever revolution loads in 45-70 are brutal but if it's him or me it's an easy choice.... Buffalo bore might also be a good choice.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

My go to load is with the Hornady 200 gr. interlock using 39 grs. of 4320.
This load in my 141 has never failed me.

I went looking for more factory ammo. As expected, there was nothing available

I've always reloaded for the .35 Remington, but am always willing to buy factory for just shootin'.
While I do not look every week, I have not seen a box of standard 200 gr. RN since 2008 - Sandy Hook.
Only a few boxes of leverlution at high Cabela's prices.

JT

 

[troy fairweather]

The hornady flex tip bullets would be the last thing id use, be it bear, or deer. I've had great luck with 3031, I would think varget would work good but not sure if you get the most speed. Ipi would use the 200 Sierra, great 35 rem bullet.

 

[Catpop]

I use 3031 under Speer 200 RN. I want to try Pb, but haven’t acquired any boolits for that yet.
Off topic a bit: I have tried .312 150 gr boolits in my 30-30 micro groove 336, but so far am still chasing that accuracy rabbit.

 

[Walkalong]

I have Sierra 200 grain RN

Those are excellent bullets for the .35 Remington. Have any H4895 or similar powder? TAC? H-335? IMR3031 is an old favorite for 35.?

 

[shootstraight57]

I parous the LGS in my area and when I see any Remington Corel Locs in 200 gr. round nose I snatch them up. My Marlin 336 loves them!
I stopped reloading some time ago so I am hooked on the LGS.

 

[brewer12345]

Those are excellent bullets for the .35 Remington. Have any H4895 or similar powder? TAC? H-335? IMR3031 is an old favorite for 35.?

Have a little tac and h4895.

 

[brewer12345]

The hornady flex tip bullets would be the last thing id use, be it bear, or deer. I've had great luck with 3031, I would think varget would work good but not sure if you get the most speed. Ipi would use the 200 Sierra, great 35 rem bullet.

What is wrong with the flex tips?

 

[troy fairweather]

What is wrong with the flex tips?

To soft they pretty much explode even at 35 rem velocity, had friends use them and get stopped by the shoulder. Plus you have to trim your brass past spec.

 

[brewer12345]

To soft they pretty much explode even at 35 rem velocity, had friends use them and get stopped by the shoulder. Plus you have to trim your brass past spec.

I have heard the too soft complaint. I plan to start with the sierra and maybe speer bullets anyway.

 

[troy fairweather]

I have heard the too soft complaint. I plan to start with the sierra and maybe speer bullets anyway.

The Sierra are probably the best bullet made for the 35 the old cor lokts were great but they haven't actually been cor cokts in like 20 years. Speers are great just wish they had a 200. The 180 are great on deer and should work fine on bear tho I'd get some 220s if bear were the main game. Speers are cheap to, not sure how available they are now tho, a good lead bullet with a wide meplat is very deadly of of the 35 rem.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I use 3031 under Speer 200 RN.

This ^^^^
When I first started loading .35Rem I used the Lyman’s “accuracy load” of 36gr IMR 3031 and a 200gr Sierra JRN-SP. I still use that combo in my Marlin 336T. It just works. For cast I buy 207gr FN from Hunters Supply and add a gas check over 35gr 3031.

 

[brewer12345]

This ^^^^
When I first started loading .35Rem I used the Lyman’s “accuracy load” of 36gr IMR 3031 and a 200gr Sierra JRN-SP. I still use that combo in my Marlin 336T. It just works. For cast I buy 207gr FN from Hunters Supply and add a gas check over 35gr 3031.

I will have to keep an eye out for a pound of 3031.

 

[EricBu]

Following this thread with interest. 35 Rem is going to be a winter project for me this year. I bought a Marlin 336 on impulse a couple years ago, and haven't gotten to it yet. 600 bucks, and gun is pristine, I'd swear it probably has less than a single box of ammo through it. I cleaned it, and put it in the safe. I plan to use the Sierras and Speers. I will be working load up from scratch without load data, planning to use Shooter's World Precision Rifle, which has very similar characteristics to Varget. Probably also try SW Tactical Rifle, which has similar characteristics to H335. It will be a fun project, and hopefully I come out of it with a good shooter. Goal will be to reproduce the velocity and performance of the old Remington 200 core lokts as close as possible out of the 336.

 

[Ru4real]

To soft they pretty much explode even at 35 rem velocity, had friends use them and get stopped by the shoulder. Plus you have to trim your brass past spec.

I bought 10 boxes of 200g Hornady interlocks 358 cal bullets about 10 years ago. Still have 600 left. Excellent bullet in 358 Win or 35 Rem, thick jacket with a red soft plastic tip.

The bullet was redesigned at some point and got a thinner jacket. Junk now, IMO.

 

[25-20 WCF]

…the old cor lokts were great but they haven't actually been cor cokts in like 20 years….

Where did you hear this information? I purchased new production bullets from Midway in 2019, they are visually identical to those in a box of factory ammo I purchased in 1985. I couldn’t see any obvious differences - same scolloped jacket nose, same profile, same cannelure position. I didn’t section them, what about bullets made in the past 20 is different?





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[horsemen61]

Where did you hear this information? I purchased new production bullets from Midway in 2019, they are visually identical to those in a box of factory ammo I purchased in 1985. I couldn’t see any obvious differences - same scolloped jacket nose, same profile, same cannelure position. I didn’t section them, what about bullets made in the past 20 is different?




.

I to would like know what if any difference has occurred

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m a long time fan of the .35Rem.

Remington after Vista took them over dumped a bunch of junk bullets on the reloading market. For two years or so, they also sold some loaded ammo that lacked the scallops. Failure to expand and jackets separating were also reported.

New production seems to follow old specifications.
I preferred the Remington Corlokts, however, I shot them from reloads at 2,250fps. Accuracy from my 336C is marvelous. Besting many of my bolt action rifles.

The next best is the Sierra 200gr RN. Accuracy is superlative. I had a Remington Model 760 that would shoot clover leafs at 100yds.

I have the remnants of an early production of the Hornady 200 FTX. I experienced failure to expand. I shot a 180lb 8pt buck 25yds. Bullet penetrated the top of the heart leaving a pencil diameter hole all the way through. Punched ribs in and out. No blood trail. I got lucky and found the deer laying in a fire break on my property line, 200yds from where I shot him. I too have heard of excessive expansion in later lot#s. Hornady 200RN are intended for the .35Whelen so might not expand adequately from the .35Rem.

I subsequently bought the RCBS 200 FN. I run them at .360” from WW with 95/5 solder added. Mine cast to 218gr. I shoot them at 2,050fps over 39.5gr of BLC2. 34.5gr of H4895 runs 1,975 but not quite as accurate. They drop deer just as well as the old Corlokts.

I now use LVR with jacketed bullets in the .35. 2,300fps is easily attained from a strong.35.
To quote John Barsness: factory .35’s are loaded to “burrito farts” pressures....

 

[Bush Pilot]

To soft they pretty much explode even at 35 rem velocity, had friends use them and get stopped by the shoulder. Plus you have to trim your brass past spec.

I'm curious, why would that particular bullet design require any different trimming than any other 35 caliber bullet?

 

[brewer12345]

I'm curious, why would that particular bullet design require any different trimming than any other 35 caliber bullet?

I believe they are relatively long bullets for cartridge and 35 Rem typically has a short throat. So to make it fit Hornady trimmed the brass a little shorter than standard.

 

[25-20 WCF]

For a definitive comparison of cup-and-core bullets: https://www.marlinowners.com/threads/35-remington-bullet-performance-part-ii-handloads.5328/

Due to the ogive and flex tip length on the Hornady Flex Tip bullets the cannelure had to be placed further back from the tip. To maintain the SAAMI overall cartridge length the case had to be shortened to allow crimping in the cannelure.




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[GooseGestapo]

Conventional wisdom is as 25-20wcf related above.
However, as I routinely trim my .35Rem brass to SAAMI minimum spec, I find that seated to the cannelure and crimped with a Lee factory crimp die, it’s not necessary to trim the cases below the minimum spec, or “trim-tp” length.
Some other actions besides my Marlin M336 my require the additional trimming.

 

[Bush Pilot]

For a definitive comparison of cup-and-core bullets: https://www.marlinowners.com/threads/35-remington-bullet-performance-part-ii-handloads.5328/

Due to the ogive and flex tip length on the Hornady Flex Tip bullets the cannelure had to be placed further back from the tip. To maintain the SAAMI overall cartridge length the case had to be shortened to allow crimping in the cannelure.

That brings a little more clarity. The only 35 Remington I load for is aT/C and I haven't tried this particular bullet.


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[troy fairweather]

I'm curious, why would that particular bullet design require any different trimming than any other 35 caliber bullet?

Think it the ojive on the bullet, when you look at a loaded round you will see why they trimmed the brass.