What is exactly the pressure limits of a 336 in 35 Rem?

[Majbg]

I read everthing btwn 33.5 to 52,000.  Is a conversion to 356 Win practical?  Its a project I always wanted to do, but was discouraged bec of alot of conflicting information.  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks bg

[Graybeard]

I believe the SAAMI pressure is about high 30,000 range. But other rounds chambered to the Marlins goes up to or about the low 50s range. Yes SSK Industries a sponsor of this site does the conversion to .356 Win. Several folks have posted here in the past of having one done by SSK.

www.sskindustries.com

[Majbg]

if the receiver only goes to the high 30's, does it do me any good to rechamber the bbl and then only be able to light load the 356 to a max pressure of the high 30's?  Am i missing something? How are all these other conversions able to shoot the higher pressures cartiridges in a 336 frame limited to the high 30's?  I've studied the past topics and have read of the pros and cons, about how marlin uses the same frames for all their 336 callibers and some of those do go to 52k.  Just looking for more information before spending the $$.  Thanks GB.  bg

[Graybeard]

Where did you get the impression that the receiver is only rated to the mid 30s? Bad info. Marlin chambers basically the same gun to rounds like the .450 Marlin, .375 Win. and now even the .480 Ruger/.475 Linebaugh. These are all over 50K pressure wise.

The cartridge (.35 Rem) is what is SAAMI rated to mid 30K range not the gun. Believe me if it isn't safe SSK is not going to do it. And they will do this conversion. In fact I picked up a second Marlin chambered to .35 Rem. just to send it to them one day to have the conversion done. And I just recently picked up 11 boxes of cases. I have the dies. All I really need to do is ship it off now.

[EDG]

It is also possible to use loads above the SAAMI limit in the original 35 Remington chamber. Such loads have to be carefully considered though.
They will noticeably boost the performance in a strong rifle but they are not controlled it is possible for them to be fired in a weaker gun if you have another. I shoot hotter loads in a Remington 760. However I make sure that I don't fire these in my Contender.
Ed

[44 Man]

What bullets do you intend to shoot?  I use rem 200gr round nose in my 35 rem Marlin.  This gun has the barrel cut to 18" and with my load 1/2 gr under listed max of 4895, does 1900 fps over the chrono.  This load is a match with this bullet.  It just hammers anything it hits!  I do not need any more velocity to make this bullet / cartridge work.  So select your bullets to match your velocity.  A conversion to 356 does sound interesting.  44 Man

[Graybeard]

44 Man, not sure if your question was addressed to me or not, but.... I plan to use the Speer 220 flat point if I ever get the conversion done on my extra Marlin 336. I agree the .35 Marlin with 200 RN bullets really hammers game. Just seems like the 200 FN at about 2200 or 2300 fps should do even more hammering. Kinda like the hammer of Thor. All I'm really interested in doing is duplicating the .358 JDJ in a 14" barrel. I used it with Nosler 225 BTs at 2250-2300 fps and it sure was a hammer. If I get it done that would give me three levels of .35 performance. The .35 Rem. with 200 RN at 1900-2000 fps, the .356 with 220s at about 2250-2300 fps and the .35 Whelen with 225s at 2500-2600 fps.

[Majbg]

Thanks to all.  GB, Thanks for the SSk info,  will drop them a line.  I have a buddy with an newer old (pre-safety) marlin 35 he wants to trade me for an old motorcycle.

[Slusser]

I was the first cutomer to request SSK to convert a Marlin 336 35Rem. to 356Win. ... about 4-5 years ago? Anyway, it was a superb job of gunsmithing by SSK. My Marlin 336 likes the 180gr. Speer Flat Point with a full case of Varget. Shoots under 1" groups @ 100yds. Myself and my 14 year-old son,Ben, have each killed a Whitetail deer with it. Ben shot his deer at about 100-110 yds. The Marlin 336 35Rem. barrel has a 1 in 16" twist vs. the Winchester Big Bore 94 356Win. 1 in 12" twist. I think that you will find that the heavy bullets,200/225/250,will not group as well as the 180gr Speer becuase of the 1 in 16" twist in the Marlin barrel. I tried Winchester factory ammo but neither the 200gr or 250gr ammo shot groups to my satisfaction. This is a delightful big-bore levergun. Accurate,light weight,short & handy,powerfull.  

[Majbg]

Slusser, Thanks for the reply.  Are you able to shoot full 356 loads from your marlin?  What velocity are you getting?  Are they published loads from the manuals?  Thanks.  Going to make a decision real soon.  bg

[Slusser]

BG,
Sorry that I haven't been here lately. I have a chonograph but I have yet to set it up and use it for any load development.The W-W factory loads did not shoot well in my SSK re-chambered Marlin.The factory loaded ammo did fire/function flawlessly. My first handload( one of five test rounds )did not eject and was stuck in the chamber. I did not full-length size the once fired factory loaded cases and had to re-load 'em with full length re-sized cases, all cases trimmed to minimum length, case mouths crimped into the bullet cannelure, used Hogdon Varget instead of H322 or H335 and got benchrest accuracy with the Speer 180 grain flatpoint.These fired cases eject smooth and the the case neck/mouth area is pretty clean and lightly disclored.Fired primers look good.Bore of Marlin pretty clean too after 10-15 shots.Try this load combo first.These loads don't re-coil as bad as the factory loads either. Call me at 616-654-8609,6AM-4PM,EST if you need any more info.

[Dr. A]

This may or may not apply to what has been said here.  I shoot a 356 originally chambered that way.  Tried Varget the other day with the 200gr. RN, and felt it was a bit slow. I didn't really push it, but started with the min. dose for a 358, and worked up a couple of grains, and it showed little promise other than it was accurate.  Significantly slower velocities than the following.   H4198 and H322, 2520, are all superior in performance, and I am sure they are higher in pressure.  These may not be the loads for a converted rifle.  Shooting those bullets at 2400 plus is simply a toast to modern engineering.  You better hit what you aim at, because it will red mist a rib cage at 100 yards with no problem.  The 220 Speer may be a bit more appropriate if you want the bullet to penetrate a larger animal.  I have a feeling this is pushing that bullet to its maximum effect.

[Harry Snippe]

I read a lot about converting the 35 Rem to 356. Some reports I have had suggest that the loading then should be kept to the minium side.

Guess  you need to try it out after you have the work done. Some have also reamed the 336 out to 358W.
Well I think there was a reason Marlin never carried the 307 chambering as with the 308 W.  50 K seems a bit high for this action.

With regards to loading .You can fill the case with Varget and not have any pressure issue's with the 35 Rem. I did this with my 205 GC RCBS bold  lead bullets. very good performance with lead, but other powders are better for the jacketed bullets.
I also load 42.5 grs of BLC-2  with the 180 speer bullet, remington case's Federal match primers , and they perform a lot better than the factory loads. No pressure signs and case's come out cool.
I am sure that I could up the powder charge.
I have yet to try the 220 Buffalo load. here that the recoil is a bit more than the doughy factory 200 gr. loading too.
I have yet to have any one say that they did not down a deer with the 35 remington with the mild factory loads.

What I am saying is. you can load up the 35 Remington for the 336 quit a bit over the factory offering, so why spend the money? you will still have a 150 yard range gun.
Need more power , then invest in a 358W in a BLR  or go to remington for one of the 35 Whelens.
I enjoy the 336/35 for what it is . I have upped the performance and the grouping with hand loads.
Then for the 200 -250 gr. bullets with a bit more powder ,I also invested in the 358W blr.

[Lloyd Smale]

both full does of varget and benchmark have worked real well for me in the .356 with 180s I dont push the .35 though as im a firm beleiver in not exceeding the loads published in the books. If those marlin heavy .35 loads happen to make it into a weaker gun there could be problems. Like was said the .35 kills just fine at factory load levels so why push it. As far as the .356vs.358 the .356 will do anything the .358 will and do it in handier rifles!

[Lone Star]

Layne Simpson wrote a piece on hot-loading the .35 Remington in the July 1982 issue of Handloader.  He recommended the loads for use in "strong rifles such as Remington Models 760 and 600 or Winchester Model 70."  Here is what he got up to safely in his M760:

150 - 2543 fps
180 - 2420 fps
200 - 2395 fps
250 - 2061 fps

Without pressure equipment he didn't know what the presures were, but they were safe in the Remington.  They are still pretty far behind .356 load performance.

[ND Sharpshooter]

Gentlemen,  

Your posts make for very interesting reading.  I've gone the other way with my woods rifle, a Marlin .35 Rem. I use a 210 grain cast bullet and enough Herco to send the cb off at 1450 fps.  This load has always gone thru our ND white tails---even on "raking" shots and left good blood trails for the 20 to 45 yards me deer have gone after being hit.  Also, with open sights or a low power scope you can see the deer react to the hit.

Years ago when I could handlethe recoil I had a BLR in .358 winchester.  I used a 225 grain LBT slug at 2300 fps.  It kicked like crazy...also killed deer like crazy.  Shoulder and neck can no longer take that much "fun" so have moderated my loadings.

I've taken more deer with a Marlin .357 Carbine than with any other one firearm.  I load a 170 gr cb to about 1600 or a 180 to about 1450.  This is my all time favorite woods and fun rifle.