Author Topic: 35 rem? (Read 1357 times)

huntinhick · « **on:** August 19, 2010, 12:19:31 PM »

Alright you all got me thinking that a 14" 35 rem might be a good addition to my contender collection. I have a 30/30 AI and am looking for something bigger for ELK. I don't think I am up for 375 JDJ. However it was said 35 rem has less felt recoil than the 10" 44mag and I shoot that. so the question is would this work on elk and would it work better than my 30/30 AI? I do plan on working my way up to 375 just not there yet.

thanks
carl

Slowpoke Slim · « **Reply #1 on:** August 19, 2010, 06:03:56 PM »

Why not just buy the 375 JDJ now, and work up loads from small to tall as you get used to it?

It's really not as bad as people make it out to be. My 14" 45-70 muzzle tamer barrel kicks harder (with smokeless loads) than my 16" braked 375 JDJ does.

You could start with the "starting loads" and the 220 gr flat point bullets, and I bet you'd be surprised at how mild it really is. Work your way up from there.

If that seems like too much of a good thing, then how about a 309 JDJ instead?

I have a 14" 35 Rem bbl, and I would personally not consider it very good elk medicine. Sure it will kill an elk, under ideal conditions, but I think there are too many variables you cannot control when hunting to risk it. I like having more of a power margin. Elk are a majestic animal, and deserve to be killed with a swift and final end.

If you were in the Phoenix, AZ area, I'd let you shoot mine to try it out.

The best solution would be a 375 JDJ for elk, a 309 JDJ for big deer, a 35 Rem for lesser big deer, a 30-30AI for medium deer, and, well you get the idea...

HHI-7420 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 20, 2010, 08:30:20 AM »

If you want to go .35 cal. for elk, why not rechamber the .35 rem. to .358jdj. Excellent round for deer and up. Pat

huntinhick · « **Reply #3 on:** August 20, 2010, 01:15:13 PM »

I thought about the 309 JDJ, from what I understand it is the equivilant of the 308 how is the recoil on it?. I am worried that the recoil on the 375 minght be to much, if it can be loaded down that is how I would go.

Curtis · « **Reply #4 on:** August 20, 2010, 01:53:37 PM »

Quote from: huntinhick on August 20, 2010, 01:15:13 PM

I thought about the 309 JDJ, from what I understand it is the equivilant of the 308 how is the recoil on it?.

I can tell you about the 375 JDJ soon, as I just bought a 14" with no brake from a fellow member here. I've got some TC factory 220 grain loads to try before I start hand loading for it so the phrase "trial by fire" comes to mind.

The most unpleasant thing I've shot from my Contender to date is my 44 mag 10" octagon barrel with open sights pushing 300 gr XTP max hand loads. That barrel with no scope is just too light to mitigate any recoil effect. I'm thinking a scoped 14" heavy barrel should be easier to handle no matter the caliber, but I've been wrong before!

Curtis

Ken ONeill · « **Reply #5 on:** August 21, 2010, 03:02:55 AM »

The .309 JDJ, .338 JDJ No. 2, .358 JDJ and .375 JDJ are all so superior to the .35 Remington, that there's no comparison. All 4 can be loaded milder than standard, to full charge, as the shooter gets more comfortable with greater recoil. I'd pick the latter 3 for bull elk.
With some barrels, .35 Rem. misfires can make a grown man cry. My last 1 left my house 30 years ago.

huntinhick · « **Reply #6 on:** August 21, 2010, 09:03:30 AM »

Curtis,

I am looking forward to hearing your opinion of the 375 JDJ. I agree about the 10" 44mag being rough, I have a 10" bull barrel with a 2x7 scope on it and it is still a hand full. I read a post on here that talked about not holding on so tight and letting the gun move in your hands a bit and it helped a lot. I have been shooting the hornaday leverloution through it and I am getting the hang of it. I just got my reloader set back up before I deployed and I just traded for some 44mag dies so I will play with it when I get home.

thanks everyone for the replies, as always great advice given here.

Carl

Curtis · « **Reply #7 on:** August 21, 2010, 02:37:24 PM »

I'll let you know, Carl. Hopefully I can get some range time in soon. Between other things competing for time and the 100+ degree heat, there's not been a lot of shooting lately. I've also got a new-to-me 357 that wants to be shot and a 410 Contender barrel to pattern, so I'll get out there eventually.

Curtis

huntinhick · « **Reply #8 on:** August 21, 2010, 02:58:46 PM »

Curtis,

I understand about trying to make time shooting I am sitting in afghanistan and all I can think of is a new to me 30/30 AI barrel that I haven't even shot yet! I look forward to your review.

Curtis · « **Reply #9 on:** August 21, 2010, 03:52:47 PM »

I hear you Carl, thanks for your service. If I didn't already have a 7-30 Waters filling that niche I'd be looking hard at 30-30 AI.

Curtis

hunterspistol · « **Reply #10 on:** August 21, 2010, 03:55:10 PM »

   From what I've read, the 35 Remington isn't a real hard recoiler. They say it lends itself well to lead bullets.
   Myself, I went to a 41 Remington Magnum in a 14" barrel. I've shot it to 50 meters so far, it kicks only slightly harder than my Ruger Blackhawk in the same caliber. I'm not a big guy either, about 160 lbs. The hardest I've been kicked is the 357 in a 10" barrel, spanked my hands till they sting. That was from factory loads and not lead bullet reloads that could be manipulated.
   In a 14" barrel, I'd recommend using a slow powder if you can. Not real slow but, enough to not snap the bullet to velocity. That can take some recoil off a guy's hands. I use 2400 and 4227 a lot.
   Ron

huntinhick · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2010, 10:18:34 AM »

Curtis,

Have you had time to try out the 375 JDJ?

Carl

Curtis · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2010, 07:44:11 PM »

Planning on going to the gun range on Thursday. I'll let you know.

Curtis

Curtis · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2010, 11:34:51 AM »

Carl, I can now report first hand on shooting the 375 JDJ from a 14" barrel with no muzzle brake. First, I can say that this barrel is a keeper. The recoil is brisk to say the least, but not overly painful or altogether unpleasant (assuming you have grips that fit your hand well, to spread the load). I would say it is a small step up in intensity from my 10" scoped bull in 44 mag shooting max loaded 300 grain XTPs. Barrel length helps I think. I shot 21 rounds and my son shot four (because I wouldn't give it up, not because he didn't want more). That is all of the T/C factory ammo that I had.

At the shot, my Contender jumps up off the bags about six to eight inches but for the most part the felt recoil is straight back. It only tried to get in my face once, and that was after I got comfortable with it and was trying a very relaxed grip to try to get my group size down. I will say that I had to be very concious of my trigger discipline. This caliber will teach flinch if you don't guard against it mentally. My groups were not the best (mostly three to four inches at 100) although I did manage one 2" three shot group.

This is a caliber that will require some practice with in order for me to become proficient with but I'm not sure I want to put in any 100 round sessions with it. I really need to shoot more in all of my Contender calibers and my shooting will improve in this one too no doubt. It was very windy today which moved my body around and I left my favorite rest at home, but that is still no excuse. Bottom line is that load development, hunting and an occasional range session to make sure I still "can" will be the extent of my shooting this one probably. It is not one that I will pull out for plinking fun and I will never put it in the hands of a novice shooter.

Curtis

huntinhick · « **Reply #14 on:** September 30, 2010, 07:31:56 AM »

Curtis,

Thank you, that was exactly the kind of review I was looking for. sounds like I will start shopping for a 375JDJ barrel. I guess if I think it is a little to stout for me I can always send it to magna port and get it tamed a little. I am going to put some of the pacmeyers decelorator grips on my contender I hope that also helps tame it some.

thanks
carl

Curtis · « **Reply #15 on:** September 30, 2010, 03:25:46 PM »

Carl, I tried my Pachmeyer Gripper grip for a couple of shots and took it right off. I don't know if the Pachy Decel has the deep checkering on the side but on the Gripper it was TOO grippy and scrubbing my hand badly. Smooth hard wood was more to my liking, but I am not familiar with the Decel grip first hand.

Curtis

Connecticut Yankee · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2010, 04:24:23 PM »

Don't overlook the .358JDJ, plenty for elk and can be loaded down to 35 rem balistics if you want. I shoot mine a lot with 200 gr lead and unique for a light fun round at the range. But for hunting I have a 220 softpoint that will take anything I might hunt. the 35 cal bullets are readily available and not to expensive. I have a 12" hunter barrel that was rechambered from 35 rem and a 20" carbine from JD Jones, both Very accurate.

John M