35 Remington factory loads on deer

[rickt300]

I just picked up a 14 inch 35 Remington barrel for my Contender and the only factory load easily available is the 200 grain Remington RNCL.  How will this load perform at the somewhat reduced velocity from my 14 inch barrel on deer? I just won't have time to do more than sight in before deer season and this will be the load I'll use.

[BRL]

It'll do the job nicely even at the lower velocity. I know many who take deer with a .44 revolver in a 4" or 5.5" barrel with the 200 grain bullet at a velocity well under that load.

[quickdtoo]

Here's a detailed article on 35 Rem terminal performance in a rifle, the 200yd performance should give you an idea of what to expect from the 14" barrel at shorter ranges. The second link takes forever to load, but has velocity data for the 14" Contender on page 2.

Tim

http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/35remington/factoryloadpart1.html

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/cs/Satellite/IMO_GA/Story_C/The+.35+Remington?packedargs=pagenum%3D2

[rickt300]

Excellent links, thanks. Looks like the factory loads get pretty good speed. I went looking for the 200 grain RNCL's today and found none at the local Academy or the Walmart. I found 2 boxes of Hornady Evolution 200 grain ammo but shied away from it because the cases are supposed to be shorter than standard Remington cases and I plan on reloading them. Bills guns will have the Remington ammo in stock but today I just didn't have time to get there before he closed.

[kevthebassman]

IMHO, you're missing out by shying away from the Hornady LeverEvolution.  I flattened a big fat doe yesterday with my .35 Rem and LeverEvolution ammo.  That round flat-out works.

[rickt300]

I went to Bills Guns to get my Remington ammo but he said some gun show type bought all he had. Had to settle for the Winchester 200 grain load.  Last year I saw 35 Rem ammo in Walmart but not this year.

[rickt300]

I've had a cheap BSA Red Dot laying around for a couple years. Used it for a while on a 30-30 14 inch barrel and it did ok. This is a 1 inch tubed version and a button you push to get brightness where you want it. Anyway I took this mounted on my 35 Remington barrel to the range. The police were training with AR15 rifles on the 50 yard range so I was stuck using the 3o yard range for sighting in. No misfires, took 8 shots to get it 1 inch high at that range. Recoil is there but not unmanageable. Very accurate in my opinion. I fired two shots into one hole.  I may put a rear sight on it later and sight it in with irons, not sold on the red dot but it will be okay for now.

[Rodent]

If you do not reload, there is nothing better than the LeveRevolution by Hornady. That was all that I used in my 14 inch Contender. Now I reload for it.

Mike

[rickt300]

I found two boxes of 200 grain Remington Coreloks at Dicks Sporting Goods, a buy one get 50% off the next. Good deal now I will shot some of them at 50 yards this time.

[Graybeard]

The expansion ratio of the .35 Remington is such that you really lose very little in a 14" barrel as compared to the more normal 20" of a lever action rifle. You might drop 100 fps but no more and don't bet on that much even. It does just fine within its range limitations which in my opinion are at most about 150 yards. The short fat bullets just don't have the BC and the round doesn't impart enough velocity for much more. Inside 100 yards it's a real hammer on game tho. Nothing in my opinion beats the various 200 grain round nose bullets in this round and the Remington one is as good as any.

I'm not impressed by what the LeveRevolution ammo supposedly brings to the table on this round. Adding a pointed nose just isn't gonna matter. They might add a bit of velocity using their light mag technology but could just as easily do it with the old RN bullet if they would.

If you want/need more from this round than the 200 RN delivers Tim Sundles of Buffalo Bore Ammo loads the Speer 220 to 2200 fps. That's the most powerful factory load you can buy in this round. If you need more you need a larger case to push it with.

[quickdtoo]

I found two boxes of 200 grain Remington Coreloks at Dicks Sporting Goods, a buy one get 50% off the next. Good deal now I will shot some of them at 50 yards this time.

Be sure to download the coupon for their rebate if you haven't taken advantage of it already.

Tim

http://www.remington.com/library/promotions/2008_load_up_on_savings.asp

[rickt300]

I got the coupon at Dick's. Good deal really. At any rate I have done some shooting and reloading already. I shot at 50 yards and almost can't believe how well this barrel shoots. With the red dot sight I had no trouble getting shots to touch. I loaded up the 8 empty cases I had with 38.0 grains of AA 2520 under a 200 grain Corelok and it seems to be a bit faster than the Remington factory load. If I had more time I would have gone to the 100 yard range but I felt it was well centered at 1 inch high at 50 yards. Recoil isn't that bad and muzzle blast is better than I expected. This will make a good truck dash gun for sure.
As to reloading I am using a set of LEE dies in 358 to load the 35 Remington cases with. I can't quite size the total length of the case neck but enough to hold a bullet properly. Even after having been fired three times the cases fit easily and the action closes with little resistance. I also noticed the low pressure the round is SAAMI'd at, cases should last a lont time.

[223Shooter]

I shot my "anterless" deer here in Wisconsin just last week with my 35 Rem handload using the Hornaday 158gr JHP for 357's. Shot the button buck at 80 yards. Bullet entered right behind the right shoulder and exited on the opposite side with a hole about silver dollar size. The deer jumped up then staggered slowly away for about 20 yards then dropped dead. I also handload the 200gr Rem CL's but decided to give these 158's a try. I am well pleased.....enough that I will probably use these JHP's for close range coyotes as well. They are very accurate out of my Marlin 336. Love my Marlin 336....

[rickt300]

My 358 Winchester dies won't size the necks down enough to hold pistol bullets. At least not Sierra or Hornady JSP's.  I don't really like battery powered sights but I shoot the pistol so well with the red dot on it I will hunt with it some. My sand box test on the 200 grain Remington RNCL's was very positive, good expansion.