35 Remington & 180 grain Speer bullet

[T.R.]

My son is a huge fan of Marlin 336 in 35 Remington.  It was his Uncle's rifle featuring 24 inch barrel with no barrel bands. 

We hunt elk together northeast of Sundance, Wyoming.  Although 200 grain core-lockts are effective, he has a source for hand loaded 180 grain Speer flat tip bullets.  Groups of 3.5 inchs at 150 yards are the norm for this outfit.  The Speer shoots flatter than the 200 grainers while damage to chest organs appear about the same.  Recoil is about the same, too.  Is the lighter Speer a definately better bullet for 35 Remington?  I'm not sure but he thinks it is.

I read up on Buffalo Bore ammo that features 225 grain bullet.  Trajectory is mediocre but performance is claimed to be superb.  Anyone have experience with this specialty ammo?

TR

[BBF]

I had owned a Marlin in 35 Rem many years ago and have used the 180 gr Speer and all the available 200 gr factory ammo available. That bullets holds up better/ more penetration/ then the WW  loads. The grouping of your rifle is acceptable although not as good as it could be. The only other recommendation I have is to try some of Speer's 220 gr FN's.

[quickdtoo]

Here's a good read on 35 Remington factory ammo and handloaded bullet performance.

Tim

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

http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/35remington/35rempart2.html

[Bigeasy]

T.R

I never owned a .35 Rem., but I have shot a lot of deer with a .35 Whelen and a .358 Win. BLR.  I tried the 180 Speer in the 358, and thought it opened a little quick on big Maine deer.  180 grains is a light for caliber bullet for a 35, with low sectional density (less penetration).  On elk size game, I would look at a heavier bullet to maximize penetration, even at the expense of a couple inches more bullet drop.  I'd bet the Nosler 225 grain would work well, but you would be limited to two shots with a tube fed lever action.  I always had good luck in the .358 with the Hornaday 200 grain bullet on deer anyway..

Larry

[Happy]

I use the 180 Speer FN over BLC2 on deer with good results Have the gun set up so I can also use the RCBS 200 gr, RNGC lead bullet over varget and keep the sight set the same .Never lost a deer with a chest shot, but the bullet usually stay inside the animal too, and I keep my shots in about one hundred yards .

There are some new hotter  loadings on Marlins owners forum, which might be of interst , since the marlin 35 can tolerate more powder  than the older Remington auto ever could . this brings this cartridge on the heals of the 356 W,which might be better suited on Elk sized game .( Rem 35 is  one who will help )

I never have tried the Hornady flex tip bullets , but this too might be something to look at .
Happy hunting  

[Sweetwater]

The last elk I shot was with 183gr FNGC cast bullet in 32WSpl. It was way over 100 yards. I think the 180gr Speer in 35Rem is a superior load. Agree a 220gr Speer might be better for Elk for bone bustin' - I do know a 175gr Sierra in 8x57 is totally adequate, though I prefer a 200gr Nosler Partition. Put your shot in the boiler room and start carving.

My pet peeve with the gummy tips, and I don't use them for this reason, is the "what if" scenario. What if someone I'm mentoring "gets the wrong box" out of a cabinet and sticks some other plastic-tipped spitzer in a round for a tube magazine and no one catches it. Don't need that kind of excitment in my life.

[Happy]

My pet peeve with the gummy tips, and I don't use them for this reason, is the "what if" scenario. What if someone I'm mentoring "gets the wrong box" out of a cabinet and sticks some other plastic-tipped spitzer in a round for a tube magazine and no one catches it. Don't need that kind of excitment in my life.
[/quote]

If you are reloading I would doubt if you would ever load a spitzer type bullet in a 35 rem.Then I suppose some one could do this for a single shot. Then too some one could be looking down the barrel too to see what happens when you pull the trigger .
 If you bought factory rounds only then that could not happen .

[BBF]

Off hand I don't know any other cartridge that would chamber properly in a 35cal Rem rifle.

[Sweetwater]

IF someone less experienced were loading 35Remington at my loading bench and reached into my drawer with it's boxes of bullets and pulled out spitzers intended for my 35Whelen, they very easily could be loaded into 35Rem cases and later fired by same less experienced individual "thinking they were gummy tips".

I didn't say it bothered anybody else. I've seen some pretty unbelievable stuff tried by the "less experienced". This is one event I am avoiding. Not sure what any of this has to so with OP - I possibly slipped off topic with a rant, for which I will apologize.

Back on topic: the two cows in the picture - put your 180gr Speer in the boiler room of either one and start carving. I don't know of any hunter who carries a 35Rem that feels undergunned on elk. Just do it.

[BBF]

I don't know of any hunter who carries a 35Rem that feels undergunned on elk. Just do it.

 Agreed, the distance would be the only limiting factor.
I put away a number of mule and fallow deer with the old WW Silvertips and Power Points and once I started reloading for that cartridge with 220 gr. Speers  two moose got bagged as well.

[Sweetwater]

You betcha! It does get it done!

[T.R.]

Thank you very much for the test info and insightful wisdom.

My son's rifle shoots Winchester 200 grain ammo very poorly.  We observed occaisional keyholing on a cardboard target !  So we pulled the bullets from remaining ammo and his friend loaded the Winchester cases with 180 grain Speer.

His longest shot was taken in 2001 on an elk hunt about 7 miles from Devil's Tower, Wyoming.  The medium sized bull (approx 600 lbs) was hit through the chest organs from broadside standing position at about 175 yards or so.  The animal flinched as if stung by a bee and trotted toward the timber.  Next shot struck about length of an open hand palm from first shot.  The elk tottered in a semi-circle and crashed to the ground.  It struggled for a moment to get up and then it was over.  We found both bullets balled up under the hide.  Internal damage was about the same as my .308 with 180 grain FEDERAL Hi-Shock ammo.

Raleigh has toppled many mulies with his 35.  We're not trophy hunters and rarely pass up a legal buck.  But very large or medium sized mule deer react the same to a solid hit through the chest organs.  Typically, the animal bounds away but topples after a few jumps.  They don't getaway.

180 grain Speer bullet is a keeper!

TR

[BBF]

The reaction of game you described is very typical for chestshots with medium to large calibers at modest velocities.

[Savage .250]

I know your talking ,hand loads  but have you considered  Hornady 200 gr Leverevolution ammo?
    I use them in my 336-35 Rem and they will knock a hog stupid!   I know your talking about Elk.   

[Daman]

IF someone less experienced were loading 35Remington at my loading bench and reached into my drawer with it's boxes of bullets and pulled out spitzers intended for my 35Whelen, they very easily could be loaded into 35Rem cases and later fired by same less experienced individual "thinking they were gummy tips".

I didn't say it bothered anybody else. I've seen some pretty unbelievable stuff tried by the "less experienced". This is one event I am avoiding. Not sure what any of this has to so with OP - I possibly slipped off topic with a rant, for which I will apologize.

Back on topic: the two cows in the picture - put your 180gr Speer in the boiler room of either one and start carving. I don't know of any hunter who carries a 35Rem that feels undergunned on elk. Just do it.

All I shoot is Spire Points in mine, but my 141 has a twisted tube to off set the bullets.

Daman

[Sweetwater]

All I shoot is Spire Points in mine, but my 141 has a twisted tube to off set the bullets.

Daman

Why can't those type of tubes be put on a levergun? Sure would be an asset to ballistics and bullet availability? Just a question.

[Daman]

All I shoot is Spire Points in mine, but my 141 has a twisted tube to off set the bullets.

Daman

Why can't those type of tubes be put on a levergun? Sure would be an asset to ballistics and bullet availability? Just a question.

I don't really see why they haven't done that yet. I know that you can't convert say the one off my pump to your lever because mine loads from the underside and the whole tube pumps when you work the action.

Daman

[Sweetwater]

you'd think our engineers could figure that one out. after all, it is all mechanical.

thanks for the response.

[silverbuzzard]

best "fix" to the tube magazine is a Browning BLR. I know, not the same but mine is sure growing on me !

[Daman]

you'd think our engineers could figure that one out. after all, it is all mechanical.

thanks for the response.

Hey watch the engineers comments that is what I do for a living! 

You are right. It should be doable. The tube magazine construction would probably take longer therefore increasing price, but it could be done.

Daman

[Sweetwater]

That comment was made with all due respect. My Dad's an Engineer and I should hve been.

The army, in their infinite wisdom, made me an accountant - now I am neither. I spent 9 years with UPS back East and the last 24 years surveying the West. Presently hitting the 6 month mark on unemployment. another day older and deeper in debt.

[EPHESIAN]

Hi Sweetwater

I have been lurking around this site for quite a while. I've gleaned much good info here at Graybeards. I am also very fond of the .35 Remington. Have one in a 336RC Marlin. I wish I had one in one of the Remington pump rifles. Don't mean to hijack this post, but I'm a surveyor in Pa. I am self employed and business has been getting slower each year since 2008. Not much new building and development going on since the "anointed one" got elected.

Best wishes to all here.  Mike

[dpe.ahoy]

Welcome to ya.  I wouldn't mind finding a Remmy pump in 35 laying next to my slippers in the morning my own self!  It could bunk with my other 3-35 Rems, 2 Marlins and a 21" Contender.  DP

[Daman]

They show on gunbroker every now and then, but they are steep. Mine was made in May 1924 by my gunsmiths Remington history book. I think it was a very early one cause most places don't even show the 141 being produced that early.