NOE / Ranch Dog 359-190 is a keeper!

[JSimpson65]

A few months ago I purchased a used, but well cared for Marlin 336CS, caliber 35 Remington, and took it to the range for the first time today. I had purchased a Lyman 358315 originally, then got in on the NOE group buy for the traditional lubed version of the RD 359-190 gr. boolit. I had already loaded some of the lymans w/ 22 and 25gr. AA5744, which should have been around 1600 (22gr) and 1750 (25gr.). I don't own a chrono, so these are my estimates from reloading manuals. I also loaded some of the RD359-190's, oven heat treated wheel weight alloy, w/ 33gr. H-335 (est. mid 1800's velocity) and 35gr. H-335 (est mid 1900's velocity) to see how they might perform as short range hog hunting loads. The AA5744/Lyman 358315's were OK at 50 yds, but nothing to write home about. I attributed this as much to myself as to the rifle/load. I then moved to the NOE/RD, 33gr. H-335's and the following was the result of 8 shots at 50 yds. The 8 shots were just over 1" at 50 yards. The group with 35gr. H-335 opened up slightly, but was still pretty good and could have been my shooting error as much as the load.

I know there are lots of folks on this board who wouldn't consider this anything to write home about, but it's with open sights and my 45yr old eyes and I'm not the most experienced guy around shooting open sights so I'm pretty happy with it. Now I need to load up a few more and see how it does at 100yds. I fired about 30 rounds total and not a bit of leading could be seen, so I was happy with that. Overall a nice afternoon at the range playing hooky from work, so can't complain about anything.

[Ole]

I shoot the 359RD190 bullet in my .357 Max (14"TC) and it's very accurate @ 1800-1900fps.

Michael knows what he's doing when he designs a bullet!

[Blammer]

good shooting! Looks like a keeper!

[JSimpson65]

good shooting! Looks like a keeper!

Thank you sir. I believe those are your gas checks on them boolits! Definately seem to be minute-of-pig accurate within 100 yards or so. Just need to adjust the sights up a bit as I didn't want to adjust them in the middle of a group.

[excess650]

If you're shooting "open sights" and like the compactness and portability, do yourself a favor and invest in a good RECEIVER SIGHT. It will increase your sight radius by 50% and you simply look through the aperture and superimpose the bead on your target. I like either a gold bead or green fiber optic front sight.

I have both the Ranch Dog and NOE versions of that bullet, but haven't shot any of the NOEs as of yet. While Ranch Dog does have good designs, and his Lee molds are excellent dimension wise, I find it easier to cast good bullets from the NOE vs the 6 cavity Lee.

[1Shirt]

Great Blt! Have a number of RD's molds, and they all preform extremely well! Now if Michael would just put one out in about a 300+ grain for 375 H&H, I would be really tickled!
1Shirt!:coffee: