35 Remington in T/C Contender Propellants

[Tar Heel]

Since most of the published load data for the 35 Remington cartridge is loaded for a 20-24 inch test barrel and mostly with jacketed bullets, I was hoping that some of you had done load development for the 35 Remington in a 14" Contender. If this is the case, what propellant(s) have you played with and which propellant(s) would you suggest for a 14" barrel. I am shooting a gas checked 200gr cast bullet, the Lee 358200-FN.

I would assume that faster propellants would work better in the Contender but that may not actually be the case. I'm not looking for load data, I am seeking propellant choices that you have experience with and can say perform well in a 14" barrel pushing a 200gr cast bullet.

While I appreciate theoretical prose, factual information would be preferred.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you may have and wish to share.

Attachment 178521

[Beerd]

Nice looking bullets!

Not much help but I use H4227 with 200gr jacketed.
..

[Tar Heel]

Nice looking bullets!

Not much help but I use IMR4227 with 200gr jacketed.
..

I have been contemplating 4227 since it's on the faster side...

[4719dave]

pretty bollitssss ive been looking for a 14'' super for the contender ..

[35remington]

Lost a.long post. Will elaborate later, but 322 makes around 2000 fps possible. Best accuracy at more moderate speeds.

Mine is a Bullberry 15 3/8s with 14 and a small fraction before the brake.

Loaded for the 35 in a Contender before? Standard or G2? Relevant to acceptable pressure levels. You may already know some of this so I do not want to belabor you with useless information.

[RU shooter]

In my elderly Speer 11 manual H335 is listed as top vel. In both rifle 20" barrel and the contender 14" barrel . 4198 is a close second in the contender 28 gr max with vel of 1773 fps but that is with the 200 gr speer FMJ not a normal hunting bullet .

[rosewood]

H335 is going to give your more boom than 4198 in the 14" barrel.

Where did you guys find data with IMR4227 in the 35 Rem? I haven't seen that in any of my manuals.

Thanks,

Rosewood

[Tar Heel]

Loaded for the 35 in a Contender before? Standard or G2? Relevant to acceptable pressure levels. You may already know some of this so I do not want to belabor you with useless information.

Not the 35. Have run some test loads to ensure bbl & gun mate without HS issues. I have read the 35 can be rather irksome in this regard. I have both style frames.

I'm no newby to the T/C but the 35 is a new cartridge for me in it. I load the 226-JDJ, 32-20, 375-JDJ, 411-JDJ, 41 Magnum, 45-70, and a few others. The 35 barrel came with the frame I wanted so what the heck right?

https://youtu.be/4xmvR_pumPc

[RU shooter]

H335 is going to give your more boom than 4198 in the 14" barrel.

Where did you guys find data with IMR4227 in the 35 Rem? I haven't seen that in any of my manuals.

Thanks,

Rosewood

my Speer manual and also Hodgdon has the 35 rem listed in the handgun section .

200 gr bullet TC 14"
H4227 start load 24 gr vel 1796 fps

H4227 max load 26 gr vel 1914 fps .

[RU shooter]

Lost a.long post. Will elaborate later, but 322 makes around 2000 fps possible. Best accuracy at more moderate speeds. .

never realized H322 was that potent in the .35 dug into my Hodgdon manual , H322 is only listed in the handgun section and wow! 14" TC

H322 start 38 gr vel 1947 fps

H322 max 41 gr vel 2120 !

That's 50 fps faster than any load in the rifle section ! Any guess of that max load in a 18-20" barrel ?

[35remington]

You are obviously looking in the old 25th edition. I have that too. I would suggest stopping around 38 grains. No free lunch. Faster due to higher pressures. Back off for standard frame Contenders.

[rosewood]

my Speer manual and also Hodgdon has the 35 rem listed in the handgun section .

200 gr bullet TC 14"
H4227 start load 24 gr vel 1796 fps

H4227 max load 26 gr vel 1914 fps .

Thanks!

[Tar Heel]

Interesting to note gents that those are jacketed bullets in your suggestions. With the cast variety sized at .358, pressures and velocity will be higher. I hit 1950fps with 35gr of 2520 right off the bat. I shot these over the chrony last week and am real glad I started way down at the bottom. Any first hand suggestions using cast bullets?

[Tar Heel]

I'm going to try some Varget in this beast. I'll start at 35.0 grains and let ya all know what she cooks at. The Hodgdon load data starts at 36.0 but based on my previous loads, I'm going to back it off a grain to start with.

Ready to rumble....
Attachment 179896

[GSaltzman]

Have not shot cast in my contender but H322 has performed very well for me.

[35 shooter]

Tar Heel,

That's some fine looking ammo you have loaded there. What size do your Lee boolits drop from the mould as cast?

I use the noe version of the same boolit in my 35 whelen and it's a nail driver for sure.
Your casts look great and i bet you'll have a good load in no time.

[rond]

pretty bollitssss ive been looking for a 14'' super for the contender ..

I've got one you can have, its an old 1st generation that I never could get to work right even with factory ammo. PM your address if you want to try and get it to work.

[Tar Heel]

I've got one you can have, its an old 1st generation that I never could get to work right even with factory ammo. PM your address if you want to try and get it to work.

The 35 Remington is NOTORIOUS in the T/C for head space issues due to the rimless and almost neckless cartridge. Hand-loaders can set head space with the brass using various sizing methods and of course, assuming you have fire-formed the brass in your barrel. Note that you are not adjusting HS (a datum) with the brass, you are adjusting how it (the brass) fits into the chamber and where the base of the brass ends up in relation to the frame. There is a LOT of dialog about this on the forums. Read up on it to save yourself some time.

[Tar Heel]

I'm glad once again that I started with a reduced load with this barrel. The Hodgdon online data suggests a starting load of 36.0gr Varget for 1651fps and a maximum load of 39.5gr for 1797fps. I am not shooting the jacketed bullet, I am shooting a cast bullet.

My starting load at 35.0gr of Varget (one grain less than the minimum load) produced 1800fps which is right at the maximum load data from Hodgdon. I did use Hornady cases and WLR primers which will make a small difference too. This load left an appreciable amount of burned/unburned residue in the barrel too. The amount was noteworthy and not like the usual amounts of "residue" or particulate.

I may bump this load up a little but the SD of 18fps with a sample range of 43fps indicates a pretty accurate load. I'll need to put this one on paper next.

Attachment 179924

[Tar Heel]

Tar Heel,

That's some fine looking ammo you have loaded there. What size do your Lee boolits drop from the mould as cast?

Thanks for the kind words!
They drop at .358 with Lyman #2 alloy. I seat GC and lube in a .359 size die. It rarely touches the bullet unless I have inserted it off center a little bit.