350 rem mag

[ronmar]

Does anyone shoot the 350 Rem Mag in their Encore rifle?  I am thinking of buying one for moose and elk.  My experience with the 358 cal is the 358 jdj in my contender handgun.  It is a killing machine.  I have taken elk, wildebeest and eland using the 225 gr nosler partition.  Need info on the 350 rem mag.
Ronmar

[Dixie Dude]

From what I understand, ballistics are almost identical to the .35 Whelen.  Barnes TSX 225 gr bullets are supposed to be the best with Reloader 15. 

http://www.35cal.com/

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,100788.0.html

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,121982.0.html

[persistentprogrammer]

I had one and I just got rid of it. It kicked pretty bad, so I put on a muzzle break. After the muzzle break was put on, it was too noisy and people next to me had to get up leave until I was done. Loading the belted cases was a huge pain, about 1 out of 8 cases wouldn't load because the belt would get caught on the extractor.

I traded it off for a 35 Whelen!!!

[ronmar]

Guys, thanks for the info.  I think i will get an Encore rifle barrel chambered for the 358 JDJ (35x444).  It should produce velocities between the 358 win and the 35 Whelen.  I already have a contender pistol barrel and dies for the 358 JDJ and will only have to work up a load.
Ronmar

[T.R.]

350 MAG is one of the original short magnums.  As I recall, Remington introduced this cartridge during middle years of LBJ in the Oval Office.

Gun writers criticized this cartridge and the model 600 carbine.  Yet hunters across North America bought it and liked the way it downed large animals.  In 2003, Remington responded to numerous letters asking for the 600 again.  This time, Remington built it a little differently and called it the model 673.   350 MAG was one of many cartridges available in this handsome rifle.

This rifle never really sold well.  350 MAG did not get any fresh press from the shooting industry and the cartridge has faded again.  In my opinion, it should be more popular than it is.  The only factor which would keep me from buying a 350 MAG would be ammo supply.  I'm not sure how to predict production volumes and availability. In contrast, 35 Whelen is still chambered in new rifles.  Ammo production is still current.  In a pinch, a knowledgeable handloader could enlarge case mouth of 30-06 to form 35 Whelen cartridges.

Good hunting to you.
Jack   

[Lone Star]

...I think i will get an Encore rifle barrel chambered for the 358 JDJ (35x444)....I already have a contender pistol barrel and dies for the 358 JDJ and will only have to work up a load.

I would caution against this idea unless you can be very careful.  This is akin to the .45-70 issue of guns with different strengths chambered for the same cartridge.  Unless you label all your loads very carefully you risk putting an Encore load in the Contender, with almost certain damage to the latter if fired.   Too, you have no pressure-tested data for high pressure .358 JDJ loads.  In light of these facts,  I would strongly recommend a .35 Whelen instead.


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