35 rem vs. a 357 max

[tipiguy]

Is one better than the other?  Which one has more velocity and/or distance?  Is one more accurate than the other?

This is assuming that bottle neck cartridge restrictions are not an issue in my state.

Thanks for the information.

tipiguy

[flyfisher]

If I were to choose one for use on deer and bear-sized game, I'd choose the 35 Rem.  I currently have neither.  From what I've seen, read, and understand about these calibers, the 35 Rem probably has a bit more velocity and distance than the 357 Max.  I would assume that both would be as accurate as you would want.

If you're asking which one is "better" I suppose that more info would be needed (i.e. what type of hunting, distances of the shots, etc.).  Both will get the job done, and I suppose that most of it is just a matter of preference.

[billjoe]

I don't have a 35Rem but I do have a 357Max.  I've heard that the 35Rem is subject to misfires for some reason.  I would check that out before deciding.

I really like the 357Max.  This is considered one of the better calibers in shorter barrels, like 10".  It's a great deer round for 100yds and less.  My 10" barrel will group 180Gr into 1-1/4" at 100 yrds which for me is better than I can do with some of my other calibers.  

I don't know if you can buy 357Max loads commercially. They are easily reloaded, but that would be a consideration if you don't reload.

Hope this helps.

bj

[KN]

I have a 35rem, and the only miss-fires I have had were attributed to not full length sizing. Once I got away from neck sizing my miss-fires disappeared. If I had to do it over again I would be tempted to go with the 357 max. Easier to reload, rimmed head instead of a bottleneck. Not that much difference in fps. Just my $.02.   KN

[Kentone]

I had a 35 Rem, now I have a 357Max.
The 35 was a 14 incher, the Max is a 10.
Max is alot of fun. I reload so bullet choice is huge.
All else being equal, I prefer Max for ease of reloading.
I could not completely eliminate misfires with the 35 Rem.

Take Care

[Lone Star]

The .35 Remington is significantly more powerful than the .357 Maxi in equal length barrels.  Using Sierra data in 14" barrels:

.35 Remington - 180FP = 2100 fps/1762 fpe
.357 Maximun - 180 FP = 1850 fps/1368 fpe

.35 Remington - 200 SP = 2050 fps/1866 fpe
.357 Maximum - 200 SP = 1750 fps/1360 fpe

To me, the 400 to 500 fpe advantage of the .35 Remington is significant.  Mine has taken deer and moose rather well.  Not that the Maxi isn't a good round - it certainly is - but it lacks the raw power of the Remington rimless.  The big case also has the advantage of using readily-available factory ammo - try to find .357 Maxi deer ammo at your local Wallyworld.

Handloaded correctly the .35 Rem has no misfire issues, but poor handloading practices can cause problems.  If you are not confident you can handload correctly, then the .357 will do well.  

[ BTW, the key to avoiding missfires is to NOT move the shoulder back when sizing.  Doing so almost guatrantees missfires and/or case separations. ]

[Jim Stacy]

It would depend a lot on which barrel length you would be using. 10" I would go with the max and 14" I would consider the 35 remington because it does produce more velocity. I have shot both and happen to like the Max best and there is, at least to me , a significant difference in the recoil level between the two. I think the max is a nice short range deer round but not for bear. If I had to chooses for bear I probably wouldn't use a 35 Remington either . I'd probably go with a 375 JDJ or simular round. Max is a nice round that pretty flexible and mine is quite accurate with jacketed bullets and OK with xcast bullets.

[helobill]

www.cnccartridge.com carrys factory ammo for the 357 max, 158 gr XTP at 1600 fps (kind of a mild load) 50 rounds for $23. So does Dan Wesson (saw it on www.bullseyeguns.com )  20 rounds for around $15.
I was looking at the same thing a while back, never made up my mind.
Bill

[Bullseye]

My experience from having both.  I would never have another 35 Rem because of misfires with factory loads, fully length sized loads or neck sized loads.  I will only pull my hair out with a round for so long and I fought that one for a couple of years.

Both are very accurate.

35 Rem has more power.

Most will disagree, but the 357 Max has a harder sharper recoil with a good twist in my opinion.  I would rather shoot the 35 Rem.

So the 357 Max would be my choice.  Now I am missing mine.  That 10" barrel is a shooter though isn't it Kentone (I do believe that is my old barrel if I remember the name of the purchaser right).

[wheelgun]

I have both and like them both. I did have a couple of misfires at first.After I learned how to resize never had another problem.The 35 rem will kill deer around here quick.

[z1]

My experiences differ from the other posts on this.  We have been shooting the 35 Rem in a Contender for almost 25 years now.  
 
A year or so ago my son had problems with misfires.  After thinking about it we realized that we had traded the frame that we had been using for his 35 with my cousin.
 
We called TC and on their advice sent the frame to them for work.  When it came back the sucker goes Boom each time the hammer is dropped. Somewhere around here I have the details of what they did to it.  
 
And we do full length resize all 35 Rem rounds.
 
We have no experience with the Max.  With the one shot kills with the 35 Rem, why do I need one.

[Lone Star]

I would never have another 35 Rem because of misfires with factory loads, fully length sized loads or neck sized loads.  I will only pull my hair out with a round for so long and I fought that one for a couple of years.

Why on earth would someone "fight" with a barrel which does not fire factory ammo?  Obviously something was wrong with the tube and it should have been returned to T/C for repair.  I had a similar problem with a .222 barrel years ago - I sent the barrel back to T/C and they replaced it.  Obviously I never had another problem with it, and the new owner is still happy with it too.  T/C is so good about taking care of their customers that there is/was no excuse to "fight" with one of their products.  If it doesn't work they will fix it.

If there was an inherent design problem with the .35 Remington case, it would hardly have lasted in continuous production for almost 100 years. Would American hunters have continued to buy a faulty cartridge?  Certainly not.

[RonF]

Right on, Lone Star!  I've been shooting a .35 Rem for at least 25 years, and the only times it's failed to go boom are the few times I didn't resize enough (after several firings) to let the thing lock up tight enough.  I do not believe for one minute that there is an inherent problem with the T/C-.35 Rem combination.

RonF

[jhalcott]

I had one of those RARE t/c barrels in 35 rem that went "click " half the time.I tried it on three frames,2 sets of dies and a lot of tricks hoping to make it work.Returned it to T/C twice! Best I could get was 5 out of six to go bang.I finally sent it to JDJ for rechamber to 358JDJ.NOW it goes bang 100% of the time! It was accurate when it was a 35rem and really helped me control the flinches. I have turned down a couple 35rem barrels since and would only buy another if I could try it on my frame first.  jh :grin:
  Oh btw,the ammo that went "click" always went bang in a Marlin 336 later.

[Bullseye]

Well Lone Star, my barrel did go back to T/C a total of three times.  I currently have nine barrels and have sold many others and the 35 Rem is the only one that ever gave me problems.  If you think that their was not a problem with a large percentage of them (for whatever reason) then you must not believe what you read because it has been said by many people in this forum and others many times.