Load development 35Rem-.357 bullet

[Possum]

Anyone shoot 38/357 bullets in a .35Rem?  I have been shooting a 180gr Hornady and while it expands well, it is totally destroying the deer I am shooting.  Just wondering what a 150gr 357 bullet would do.  Anyone go experience in this area and a favorite load?

[RonF]

I think the handgun bullets are going to break up way too quickly at .35 Rem velocities.  I've shot 125 gr, 140 gr, and 158 gr handgun loads in mine and they are fine for groundhogs, but I don't think they would do well on deer - they are too lightly constructed.

RonF

[RonF]

I forgot to mention that you may want to try the 180 Speer flat point.  It seems to me it expands a bit less violently than the 180 Hornady.

RonF

[C A Plater]

Never had much luck with pistol bullets in my .35.  Accuracy was not very good and now do just 180 and 200 grain jacketed and 205 grain cast.   The 200 Sierra does about 1835fps making 1.5-2.0" groups @100 yards all day long in my Contender barrel.  The 180's so far have proven to be less accurate in the pistol but my Marlin loves them.

[poule d'eau]

I have used the bulk Remington 180 JHP's for a few years in mine, I have not killed anyting with it but steel critters. But I will have to say that the JHP's group almost as well as the SPT's. The Spt's are maybe 1" smaller at 200, an average group at 200 is around 3-4". I have been using some of the surplus AA2200, just because  I have a bunch of it and this caliber is pretty hungry if ya know what I mean. Some of TC's barrels can be a little fickle on different bullets.
As to the hunting side of this I would be inclined to try the Nosler 180 Partition-HG's. They are pricey, $26 per 50, but the should give full penatration with out blowing up and they should expand better than some of the rifle bullets.
Jeff

[Lone Star]

IME the handgun bullets are just way too soft for deer.  They are designed for in some cases half the velocdities you can get in the .35 Remington, so it's no wonder they don't perform well.  I've had excellent performance with the Speer 180 FNs and the Remington 150 CoreLokts on deer.  The 200 Corelokts are good as well.  Why spend $25/box on revolver bullets when you can spend half as much for bullets designed for the cartridge that perform just as well or better?  Kinda like forcing a 5# sack to hold 10# of horse manure.... :-D

[T/C nimrod]

Hornady 200 gain RN needs a minimum of 1600 fps for complete expansion. This bullet is probably not a good choice for use at handgun velocities - unless we are talking about 50 yards or less. The single shot pistol bullets are designed for just that - single shot pistols. The varmit bullets offered by most manufactures' are also used in single shot handguns with stellar success, (Hornady .284 V-max). Why?, because of design.
 Lone Star, I don't quite understand your statement about handgun bullets being too soft for deer (thin skinned game)? The velocities that are generated by the 35 Remington in handgun trim are not that fast, I've been able to push a 200 grain to 1900fps, and I don't consider that fast at all. What you are saying that a 120 grain single shot bullet skipping along at 2300 fps+ is too soft for medium size game? Hope knowbody tells my 7-30 Waters that..........
Call any bullet manufacturer, tell them the velocities the 35 Remington is producing (either muzzle or beyond), and see which bullet they lead you to.

That doesn't even bring into account the twist rate that most T/C barrels have in the 35 Remington - anything under 180 grains is probably a gamble as far as accuracy is concerned.

[hellbilly75]

I use 158 gr hornady xtp split tips.  Not sure of the exact load off the top of my head.  The bullet will "fail" every time.  I've killed 7 deer with them and the bullet always comes apart but I've never had one go more than 20 yrds.  5 of the 7 died in their tracks.  I've used 180 gr spire points with similar results.  The 200 gr round point bullets seem to punch small holes in and out.  I've had deer run up to 100 yrds with those.  Also, all of my experience with any of these was at 50 yrds or less so take it for what its worth.  I can't shoot much further than this where I hunt,  too brushy.

[tipiguy]

I really liked the result of the deer I shot last year with a Hornady 180 SSP.  Damage to the meat was less than a lot of 30-06 kills but the deer didn't go more than 25 yards.

What about black bear?  Thinking about using it this year in PA.  Is it too soft for a 300-400 lb. bear?  Or if lucky even larger?  Is there a better round for a 12" contender in 35 Rem?

tipiguy

[T/C nimrod]

What about black bear?  Thinking about using it this year in PA.  Is it too soft for a 300-400 lb. bear?  Or if lucky even larger?  Is there a better round for a 12" contender in 35 Rem?

tipiguy

Can't help you here. Don't have any first hand experience. What do you mean when you say a "better round"?

[cbagman]

:shock: We have been using the Winchester 180g XTP in .357 Herrett and .35 Remington on deer and I shot one doe with the Herrett at 30 yards and the damage was not excessive..My hunting buddy loads it in .35 Rem in a Ma##in 336. Last season he got lucky and got a big 8 pt and a large doe and neither was torn up.. I shot a doe with a 120g Hornady HP in a waters carbine and it did mess things up a lot more than my .35 cal loads..I think for the .35 calibers the 170g Sierra flat point Silhouette or that Speer 180 G flat point is a better choice for deer or black bear (although I have never felt the urge to shoot a bear)... :oops: cbagman