Cast bullet for 35 Rem

[Shovelhead]

I am going to start handloading for my Marlin 336 in 35 REM. The only cast bullet mold I can find that looks correct is the Lyman 358315 RNGC, this being a round nose bullet is there any concern about misfires in the tubular magazine? What other suggestions do the rest of you who are handloading for the 35REM have? Thanks, Shovelhead

[Blammer]

NOE 360 180 is a dandy for me. (the one on the far right as you are looking at it.

I also like the RCBS 35 200, NOE's copy works well too. it's the one Second from the left.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/DSCN7523.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/blammer8mm/media/Cast%20boolits/DSCN7523.jpg.html)

[Yodogsandman]

I've used the 204gr Lyman 358315 for my two sons 35 rem rifles. With 11gr unique it shot 1"-2" groups at 100 yards in thier marlins. I never chonographed them but, I figure about 1200 ft/sec. Great for them to get some trigger time!

No worries about the magazine tube and the primers, 358315 was made for the 35 rem.

BTW, Cast pistol bullets were too short to feed from the magazine.

[Kevinakaq]

I am going to start handloading for my Marlin 336 in 35 REM. The only cast bullet mold I can find that looks correct is the Lyman 358315 RNGC, this being a round nose bullet is there any concern about misfires in the tubular magazine? What other suggestions do the rest of you who are handloading for the 35REM have? Thanks, Shovelhead

I wouldn't worry (and don't) about round nose cast bullets in a tubular magazine personally...some would disagree and refuse to risk it. Quite a few 'old timers' have been using round nose bullets in tubular magazines for forty years plus with zero issues.

As for a mold you would be hard pressed to do better than the 35-200 mold from RCBS.

[Larry Gibson]

RCBS 35-200-FN......case closed........

Larry Gibson

[451whitworth]

RCBS 35-200-FN......case closed........

Larry Gibson
case closed? That bullet fit exactly none of my three 35 Rem rifles. Drops too small and the nose was to large to chamber with excessive force when closing the pump forend or the lever.

[dragon813gt]

case closed? That bullet fit exactly none of my three 35 Rem rifles. Drops too small and the nose was to large to chamber with excessive force when closing the pump forend or the lever.

That's why you buy a clone from one of the custom makers. Why pay what RCBS wants when you can buy a higher quality mold in the same dimensions. That bullet design is proven across pretty much all 35 caliber rifles.

[Larry Gibson]

case closed? That bullet fit exactly none of my three 35 Rem rifles. Drops too small and the nose was to large to chamber with excessive force when closing the pump forend or the lever.

Interesting, your bullet failed to fit in any of 3 separate rifles when everyone else has been quite satisfied with the RCBS bullet. Perhaps another game afoot? Perhaps you "beagled" the mould to get it to cast large enough for what you thought it needed? Did you consider the nose would enlarge also if that was done?

Larry Gibson

[Bullshop]

The RCBS sure works good in my 1953 SC 35 Rem.

[RickinTN]

I have the NOE copy of the RCBS 35-200 and it is a good fit in my 3 Marlin 336's. The throat length in my rifles vary a few thousandths but a simple adjustment of the seating depth takes care of this.
Rick

[gunrunner8]

I use Ranch Dog 190gr bullet in my ballard rifled Marlin 35Rem with better accuracy than RCBS 200gr FP. I just wish that RD would have second design of the same bullet but heavier for my 358Win say 220-230gr or so.

[451whitworth]

Interesting, your bullet failed to fit in any of 3 separate rifles when everyone else has been quite satisfied with the RCBS bullet. Perhaps another game afoot? Perhaps you "beagled" the mould to get it to cast large enough for what you thought it needed? Did you consider the nose would enlarge also if that was done?

Larry Gibson
Perhaps? Perhaps just maybe it didn't fit straight from RCBS. I didn't modify it in any way. I don't beagle/band aid moulds to fit firearms. This is my hobby and I have no problem spending money on custom moulds. Both cavities cast .358"x.359" from wheel weights and were a bear to get the bullets to drop from. The nose was .352" and not one of my rifles has a bore dimention that large. I only bought the thing because all you hear are glowing reports about that mold's prowess in the 35 Rem. It also didn't work in my Savage 99 .358wcf. The too large nose made chambering in my pre micro groove 336 SC, Rem 141, Rem 81, and Sav 99 358 require way too much force. I had Veral Smith @ LBT cut me a 210 gr. LCFN profile dropping @ .362" and it chambers like factory jacketed rounds in all my rifles. I would like to hear what Larry and others are getting from as far as dimentions of the bands and nose and what alloy they are using. I have three .30 cal RCBS moulds that cast perfect, release bullets easily, and fit anything I've ever tried them in.

[Larry Gibson]

Cast of COWWs +2% tin the drive bands are right at .359" and the nose (just in front of the front drive band) is .350".

That you had bad results and trouble getting the bullets to drop indicates a potential individual mould problem, not a bullet design problem. Did you return the mould to RCBS?

Larry Gibson

[fatnhappy]

another vote for the RCBS 200.

[fishnbob]

I too just bought a RCBS 35-200 and my mix of clip on w/w's and 2% tin drop at 209.6 and 210.3. I just loaded up 20 rounds and none will chamber in my 336 Marlin. Are the molds too large for a fit? Should I send it back to RCBS? What say ye?

[DeanWinchester]

I've never seen a finer NON-custom 35 caliber boolit than the RCBS 35-200.

[Kevinakaq]

I too just bought a RCBS 35-200 and my mix of clip on w/w's and 2% tin drop at 209.6 and 210.3. I just loaded up 20 rounds and none will chamber in my 336 Marlin. Are the molds too large for a fit? Should I send it back to RCBS? What say ye?

I recently started using that mold as well fishnbob with a 336 Marlin. What is your oal? Mine is 2.420 and have no problems cambering. I'm using wheel weights as well.

[Bullshop]

I am wondering if this problem is only with new molds. They may have replaced the cherry and started out on the robust side for dimensions so the cherry would last longer after a few sharpening's.
I have had my mold for maybe 25 years so it may have been cut by a different cherry.
I just went and retrieved an as cast sample cast in COWW type alloy.
Bottom drive band - .3604"
Mid drive band - .3604"
Top drive band - .3599"
Nose at top drive band - .3532"

[Duckiller]

If you size soon after you cast the boolits use a flat top punch and flatten the boolit slightly at the bottom of the sizing stroke. Works for a 30/30.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

I bought a couple RCBS 35-200 FN molds from another member here. Both had all bands enlarged to .360 by Eric, and the front driving band lengthened...as well as having one of the molds made into a plain base (I wouldn't have wanted to pay that bill).

SO they drop large, with 94-3-3, and my technique:
base band .362
mid band .362
top band .361
Nose just above top band .351

My Rifle is a 358win, newly built custom Mauser (arg 1909 action).
I haven't done any bench work yet (shooting)...no scope on rifle yet.
I loaded and test fired some of the RCBS, I had a couple feeding issues.
If I didn't crimp, the boolit would get shoved into the case, If I seat to crimp groove and apply a moderate crimp, the boolit nose is a long ways away from the throat, I don't like that.

I also have the NOE 358009 which seems to fit my deep throated rifle very well, but WILL NOT, AT ALL, cycle from the Mag to the chamber...the maker has the rifle back in his possession trying to rectify the feeding issue (he thinks it's a follower problem...that's another long story).

btw, the member who previously owned the two RCBS molds didn't have glowing reports about the 35-200 FN (before and after mods) in his rifle/s ...actually he had very little to say at all about them, except he wanted to sell them, But when I asked why he offered them to me, he did say he had another mold (or molds) that worked better for his rifle/s. Now I take that with a grain of salt, every gun can want something different, my rifle may end up liking these...or maybe not. I was lucky enough to buy these at a very fair price, I won't lose a dime if I need to sell 'em.
Jon

[Blammer]

jonb, you may want to edit, I think 262 is a bit small... :)

[MT Chambers]

You may need your bullets on the large size as those Marlins are micro-groove bls., turned me off buying a .35 Rem....yet my '94 AE in .356 is a tack driver.

[jabo52521]

I use Ranch Dog 190gr bullet in my ballard rifled Marlin 35Rem with better accuracy than RCBS 200gr FP. I just wish that RD would have second design of the same bullet but heavier for my 358Win say 220-230gr or so.
Got a few of these left. PM if you'd like to try them out.114330114331

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

jonb, you may want to edit, I think 262 is a bit small... :)opps..Hey, I got the nose size right ;-)

[theMickster]

I've got a NOE 360-200 and it fits both of my marlins great. I don't have a bullet right here to measure, but it fits the throats very well.

Mick

[Bullshop]

I don't know why the nose diameter on mine is coming out so much larger than others at .353+. Maybe I am measuring too tight against the front drive band.
Still it has not been a problem in my early Marlin. It also does very well in my Ruger 357 mag.
Jon B if those extra fat modified designs don't work out for you I would like to trade you out of one.

[fishnbob]

I recently started using that mold as well fishnbob with a 336 Marlin. What is your oal? Mine is 2.420 and have no problems cambering. I'm using wheel weights as well.

Mine measures 2.423", some are 2.419" so I don't see any problem there. I think the weights of the dropped boolits tell the problem. 10 grains too heavy. 0.355" at the front of the crimp band.

[fishnbob]

I stand corrected. I trimmed my brass to 1.900" and seated it tight behind the crimping groove, took the Lee Factory Crimp die and crimped it where I couldn't see the back edge of the crimp groove and it now chambers okay. I can see rifling marks on the boolit nose but that ain't no problem. I just shot 5 of them into a 2 3/4" bullseye @ 50 yds. off my bench with no sandbags. Just resting my elbows on the bench and my rear in the seat. The load was 35.1 grs. of IMR 3031. The boolits drop at 209.6 and 210.3 grs. I separated the boolits into 2 groups for accuracy. A while back I shot some good groups, like 1/2" at 50 yds off sand bags.

[Shovelhead]

I appreciate the feedback from everyone. Could I make arrangements with any of you who are casting the RCBS 35-200 to procure a few to try in my rifle before I invest in a mold? Thanks, Shovelhead