RCBS 35-200-FN holy cow, what an awsome boolit!

[MBTcustom]

I finally broke down and bought the RCBS 35-200-FN mold because I had tried some of them in one of my rifles and have heard nothing but rave reviews from everybody who has used them.
I got the mold yesterday, and found it to be well made and nicely finished and it came in a nice little green box.
Today, I decided to slip this baby under the silver stream and see how it does.:bigsmyl2:
Heres my pot heating up with the mold to the side and my special castboolits coffee cup in the background. (just for the record I just set my coffee there for visual effect, I keep my cup well away from the melt normally)
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12290907.jpg
So I cast up about 100 boolits. The mold worked well, although it took a while to get broke in and the boolits stuck to the left side like glue for the first 30 cycles. I took a break at that point and when I started back up, it was less picky.
After casting those 100, I decided to sort them by wieght, and thats when the quality of this mold realy started to shine. out of those 100 boolits, the maximum spread of weight was 1.5 grains. :holysheep
I found about ten boolits that were 207.0-207.5 grains and I culled them out. I got 5 that where less than 206 and I culled them out. Other than that, I had a pile of 62 that where 206.5-206.9 and I had 38 that were 206.0-206.4. I culled the 38 and kept the 62. I took an unbiased sampling of the boolits and measured them with my precision micrometer. They all measured .3593:shock:
Next I put on the annealed gas checks and and ran them through a .360 sizer.
After pan lubing with FWFL I loaded them in my .358winchester brass over a mild charge of IMR3031.
I headed to the range with 50 rounds thus loaded.
I started out figuring to slam a bunch of them through a target just to see if they hit the paper at fifty yards.
Here's the group I shot:
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12291342.jpg
That's 25 rounds fellers! 25!
By the way, thats a darn sight better than what I got at the same distance with copper jacket boolits:
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12282246_1.jpg
After that, I decided to hunker down and do some serious shootin to see what this baby can do!
I taped up a new target, adjusted my scope, fired seven shots, adjusted my scope one last time, and fired a 5 shot group.
Here's that target (please forgive those two fliers, I punched the trigger) :
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/Photo12292213_1.jpg
That makes this one of the most accurate rifles I own, at least at 50 yards.
Absolutely amazing.

[338RemUltraMag]

Glad to see groups like that, I hope to get them results with my 30-06. BTW is that a coleman dual fuel stove??? I got one just like it and thought about using it but worried about the pump up part.

[Dan Cash]

Excellent, Mr. Goodsteel. I have thought about that mould to feed my .35 Rem. but have no yet acted upon the thought. Perhaps I will now.
Dan

[94Doug]

We kept trying to tell ya....

Doug

[seagiant]

Hi,
Happy with mine and hope to do as well with my old Rem.141 rifle in 35 Rem.

[MBTcustom]

That's a regular coleman stove. Its all I have ever used.

[Hickory]

That's a regular coleman stove. Its all I have ever used.

You might want to consider moving up :grin: into the 21st century.

[white eagle]

You might want to consider moving up :grin: into the 21st century.
what does that have to offer :popcorn:
looks as though he is doing just fine [smilie=s:

[Hickory]

I, too, started out with a Coleman stove.

It did not take me long to realize that an electric pot was the way to go.
1) No toxic fumes to worry about.
2) No dangerous fuel to deal with.
3) Conveniences of electric outlets.
4) Can cast indoors in the winter with proper ventilation.

But, maybe I'm wrong to suggest to anyone a better way. ;-)

[longbow]

I started casting over an old natural gas 2 burner stove many, many years ago. I graduated to an electric pot and found I did not like it so returned to the natural gas stove. I have also used a Coleman stove and now use a propane stove.

The electric pot was a different but not better way... at least for me. I prefer the gas stove and ladle pouring. It has served me well for most of 45 years.

Different strokes.

Longbow

[Lefty SRH]

I'd be curious to see what that boolit would od in my Marlin 336 in .35 Rem.

[7-30 Waters]

I'd be curious to see what that boolit would od in my Marlin 336 in .35 Rem.
This bullet design sized to .360 shoots very well in Marlin micro-grooved rifles. Ramshot Tac or H4895 have been my go to powders for my Marlin 336C in 35 Rem. Good bullet for whitetail deer when cast from wheel weights.

[richhodg66]

I need to get one of those molds. I have the 200 grain Lyman RN, but am hearing from everybody how great the RCBS bullet is. I have an old Marlin and a Remington 700 to feed.

[MBTcustom]

Want to try it? I'll send you some. Shoot me a PM.

[richhodg66]

Cool! PM sent.

[Mk42gunner]

I was thinking about getting the Ranchdog mold for my Marlin, but the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards the RCBS boolit. It should work well in my Whelen and hopefully in the soon to be .358 Norma Magnum.

Just waiting on tax time.

Robert

[MBTcustom]

From what I hear, this boolit is the cats in everything from 38 Special to 358 norma. I don't know quite why its so good, but I'm not complaining.
Part of what makes it work is the bore riding nose, but its a very small bore riding nose that is only .095 tall. I have tried other designs that didn't cut the mustard and had a much longer bore riding nose. I tell you one thing for darn sure, If I knew of a boolit that worked this good in every caliber I own, I would be broke very quickly.

By the way, I am just waiting on this stove to bite the dust and then I will get an electric pot, but for the moment, I will just have to deal with only having to wait 20 minutes to melt 30Lb,s of lead, and having infinite control over the temperature.
Its been 10 years so far though and the darned thing wont die. My last stove bit the dust, and I was about to start scraping my money together for the electric one when my sister gave me her ex-husbands colman stove......for free. There it sits in the picture, doing the same thing it has been doing since I got it.
I confess though, sometimes I wonder about the bottom pour feature and if it works any better than what I have got.

[cbrick]

Yep, this really is an outstanding bullet design. It's done very well in everything I've shot it from including my 357 mag 10" FA revolver. That revolver and the RCBS 35 200 fired a perfect 60x60 and won me a State Championship in long range revolver. I give full credit to the gun & the bullet, the FA was simply kind enough to allow me to hold it while it did it's business. :mrgreen:

Rick

[beagle]

Probably, "the best" .35 bullet design. My old .35 Remington Marlin loves 'em./beagle

[MBTcustom]

Hey MK42gunner, While you are waiting on those taxes, you want me to send you a few of these? PM me.

[smoked turkey]

I like mine too. I do wish RCBS would make a heavier boolit that could be used in the 35 Whelen. I'd like to see a 35-250-FN, or a 35-275-FN. Seems to be a "need for something like that. It is a very accurate design, and although I haven't taken any animals with it, it looks to be a dandy for hunting.

[cbrick]

RCBS Does make a 35 cal 250 gr.

Rick

[Mk42gunner]

PM sent to goodsteel.

Robert

[MBTcustom]

Actually, C-brick sent me a sample of that very boolit, the RCBS 35-250-FN (actualy he sent me quite a few samples.) but thats the part I cant understand, because although that particular test rifle loved the 200 grain version, It didn't do so hot with the 250 grain version.

[RugerFan]

My .358 Win shot the RCBS 35-200-FN really well also. Best accuracy at hunting velocities was with H4985.

[johnly]

This bullet design sized to .360 shoots very well in Marlin micro-grooved rifles. Ramshot Tac or H4895 have been my go to powders for my Marlin 336C in 35 Rem. Good bullet for whitetail deer when cast from wheel weights.

I like the bullet design as well, but mine might drop bullets at .3595" on a good casting day. I like RCBS molds, but I've seen a lot of diameter variation from mold to mold.

John

[GabbyM]

Just in case no one has seen an RCBS 35-200-FN.
Here's one on the left next to my fat nose 205 grain with a wider front band.
I pretty much just copied the RCBS design and changed some dimentions for a custom oversize fit. That particular RCBS mold would drop a bullet close to 220 grains.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=32&pictureid=503

I’ve a 240 grain bullet from Mountain moulds that also looks similar to the RCBS bullet.

I sold my original RCBS bullet to a fellow who was willing to use it as a single cavity mold. Like so many of the RCBS and Lyman molds it cast two different diameter bullets.

[Bret4207]

Good for you! I love the 35-200FN, great design. Haven't found a 35 the doesn't like it yet.

On the Coleman stove, why frick up something that works? He, (and I!), have found that simple works fine, and a lot better than those BP cheapies so many complain about. As far as I'm concerned, that IS 21sxt century casting gear!

[MBTcustom]

Whenever I need heat, I prefer gas. It just works better. My hotwater heater is gas as well as my furnace and my clothes dryer. I hope to get a gas stove in the kitchen someday too, but I'm waiting on the electric one to die.

[HeavyMetal]

I had a 35-200 go through my hands last year!

My BIL had sent me a package with about 15 molds in it and asked me to fix and sell them so he could add "usable" molds or buy parts for his double stack frame kit project!

Most of the molds were BP stuff but a few were later designs and the 35-200 was one of them.

The 35-200 was swapped for a 4 cavity Lyman 429421 with the square grease groove.

Before it left my shop I used it to make up a couple hundred to try out in my 357 Contender barrel a Hex 10 incher with an old Lobo scope on it.

Sure enough they shot like a house afire!

New rule in shop: always try a mold before you swap it off!

Good news was the 429421 dropped boolits at 430 and was like shuckin peas from a pod!

The BIL was very impressed with the trade, sadly he's was the fellow that rolled his Quad last December and died.

All his casting stuff is now at the number 2 sons place along with all the guns. The son is busy doing the life thing but I will get up north here in Feb or so and show him how this stuff works.

He never loaded a round when Kyle was alive so he'll now have a new respect for what was getting supplied to him.

Meanwhile I'm looking for a deal on an RCBS 35-200 or a GB for a 4 or 6 cavity copy.

Wonder if that boolit would work as well as a FB instead of a GC design?

[7-30 Waters]

I also shoot this bullet in a 357 Maximum, 357 Herrett, & 350 Rem. Mag with superb accuracy.

In my 350 Magnum when running the bullet at 1650 fps it shoots one hole groups at 50 yards.

In my 12 Contender barrel for the 357 Maximum it will hold 5 shots under an inch at 50 yards. Solid deer medicine in my book.

As stated, I don't think there isn't a 35 caliber gun you can shoot this bullet in.:cbpour:

[357maximum]

I believe the RCBS 35-200 to be thee best over the counter 35 boolit one can buy. I have yet to try it in any reasonable 35 load where it has not worked good enough for 150 yard deer hunting. That list includes 3- 35rem marlin 336's ...1-micro and 2-early 50's ballard rifled guns, 1-rem 141 pump, 1-rem 81 auto, 1-357max custom encore and several others that I am sure I have forgotten.

Out of all my over the counter moulds it is the one I use the most. BaBore from BRP improved on it a slight little bit but alas them moulds are no longer available. :sad: My RCBS 35-200 is not going anywhere until they cook my butt and spread my ashes.

My reamaining 1953 Marlin 336SC in 35 rem in particular will shoot that boolit well with any of the 3031,748,h335, blc-2 range powders. That boolit is still 1 to 1.5 MOA accurate out to 385 yards iffin ya hold yer mouth right. I would never do it, but I know darn sure it would still clobber a whitetail at that distance from my 35Marlin.

[jlchucker]

I need to get one of those molds. I have the 200 grain Lyman RN, but am hearing from everybody how great the RCBS bullet is. I have an old Marlin and a Remington 700 to feed.

I started with the Lyman 206 gr, then got the RCBS. The Lyman shot decently, but not as good as the RCBS, and my 35 Remington loading is all for leverguns. I've still got the RCBS mold and am not a bit surprised at the groups depicted in this thread. At some point I'm going to get a Ranchdog mold for comparison--after he comes out with that boolit in standard lube grooves.

[cbrick]

Actually, C-brick sent me a sample of that very boolit, the RCBS 35-250-FN (actualy he sent me quite a few samples.) but thats the part I cant understand, because although that particular test rifle loved the 200 grain version, It didn't do so hot with the 250 grain version.

My experience also. If I remember that thread correctly you were looking for a bullet of 250+ gr and someone else was already sending you the 200 Gr, that's why I sent you the 250. Anyway, I agree, the 200 has shot better in everything I've tried them in.

Rick

[singleshot]

Based on the rave reviews here, I can't argue that the RCBS mould is the best all around 35 caliber boolit. But, it seems to me that the Ranchdog is the best Marlin 35Rem mould made, maximum powder capacity, good accuracy, good throat fit, and exceptional terminal performance. Mine really seems to like my micro-groove barrel.

[MT Gianni]

Whenever I need heat, I prefer gas. It just works better. My hotwater heater is gas as well as my furnace and my clothes dryer. I hope to get a gas stove in the kitchen someday too, but I'm waiting on the electric one to die.

Gas Range, Fireplace, Water heater, boiler, dryer, bbq and a smelter burner re-orificed. It helps when you are in the business. Don't change what works well for you.

[cabezaverde]

I was thinking about getting the Ranchdog mold for my Marlin, but the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards the RCBS boolit. It should work well in my Whelen and hopefully in the soon to be .358 Norma Magnum.

Just waiting on tax time.

Robert

Robert,

What are you looking for in a 358 Norma? I have a rechambered Ruger 77 I might be willing to part with.

[Mk42gunner]

cabezaverde,

I have two 98 Mauser projects in .35 Whelen, one of which isn't finished so it is going to become a .358 Norma. I already have a bolt with a magnum face, I just need to rent a reamer and headspace guages.

I was debating going with a .338-.358 or the Norma chamber, but then smokemjoe got sick and sold his dies for the Norma. Plus if I ever need to sell it, the factory type chamber will be easier to sell, not that I am planning on selling but things happen.

Robert

[94Doug]

I think that NOE should get some samples of that RCBS 35-250 boolit for a future run of moulds!!

Doug

[cbrick]

I think that NOE should get some samples of that RCBS 35-250 boolit for a future run of moulds!!

Doug

NOE did make the RCBS 35 200, I got a 5 cav in this bullet. If you want the 250 gr I think RCBS still makes it in an iron two cav.

Rick

[94Doug]

Yup, I have an RCBS that Buckshot HP'd, and The NOE. I wouldn't mind a 250 grainer though. They are a semi-custom mould, so the price would be less from NOE than RCBS.

Doug

[white eagle]

the only thing better is to have it hp'd
I had Erik do mine

[Old Goat Keeper]

I do believe that is the same boolit that Fordwannabee (THANKS buddy) supplied me with to try in my 35 Remington Marlin and the 356W EER Marlin. Have heard only good thing s bout it and the Ranchdog 190 boolit.

T-o-m

[moorman]

Old thread I know but I have just joined the forum looking for info on this mould, Im in the UK and have found a (used but like new) RCBS 35-200 FN (no handles) for a good price. Am I correct in thinking this is a gas check bullet?, can it be used without? I shoot a marlin 1894c which is FUN, cast a few 158gn with my club and want to get my own set up, I have Lee stuff on order; a double 158gn RNFP mould and lube n size kit. Can I make my own g.c.? thanks.

[MBTcustom]

You bought the best boolit mold that has ever been made in 35 caliber. It is a GC boolit. You can make your own gas checks if you invest in a GC maker tool, but honestly, I like the Hornady copper ones.
You can use any gc boolit without a gc. A seal is a seal.

The boolits should drop from that mold at .359 with a .350 nose. (I buy one for myself every year on my birthday, and they are all the same.)
I'll tell you a trick: push them through a .360 sizer with FWFL (Felix World Famous Lube you can read how to make it in the lube section). Awesome in everything I have tried upto and including my 357 revolver.
If you load them in a 357 you need to use 38 special brass otherwise you'll be crimping on the ogive.

[imashooter2]

Hello moorman, welcome to the board!

Yes the RCBS 35-200-FN is a gas check design.
Yes it can be used without a check, although results will vary depending on many variables of gun and load.
I'm not sure this is the best design for an 1894C... Nose to crimp is pretty long and you may have feeding problems.
Yes you can make your own checks. There are pretty refined check makers available on this board from our Vendor Sponsors.

[moorman]

Thanks guys, amazing resource you have here!

Goodsteel; will look around over here for gas checks, we have suppliers here but its like getting blood from a stone, always on back order, or not available.

Imashooter2; will try without gas checks first, understood re boolit length, got 38sp brass but normally run .357 to keep fouling to a minimum.

This forum is great:grin: I wanted to know if I could fit a lee handle to rcbs mould and the answer was there! "yes, but needs a bit of grinding" thanks....

some of my fist attempts.......78980

[farmbif]

Last week midway had the RCBS 35-250SP on "clearance" for $72 so I bought one. Anyway I just got it and just for the heck of it I went back to the midway site and I was amazed to see they still have them in stock but the price is $124.99. Does anyone know the hows and whys of Midway's "clearance" items. now I'm considering load data if I want to try it in the Marlin 35 rem or should I just use it in the Rem 700 35 Whelen? I was thinking about 40 grains of Imr 4198 in the whelen. Any info would be a help.

[frankenfab]

I think they lower the price until their inventory is reduced to the level they want.

[lightload]

Maybe as ploy to encourage browsing resulting in impulse buying.

[cwlongshot]

Revisiting older threads in this bullet.

Its a good one that stood tge test if time.

I have had a Lyman copy for twenty years. I lent it two years ago and its now gone.

I just picked up a replacement. I went with the original an older RCBS used Mold. I should have itnin afew days and im hoping its as good as that Lyman mold was.

I saw some mentions of the great Norma Magnum. I also have oen of these. This bullet isnt me t for the NM for Me. But the accurate 36-270 I just ordered is! ;)

High hopes for this ol timer.

CW

[rockrat]

Feel your pain. Lent my 31141 mold to a neighbor, who then claimed I never did. Found out later he lent it to someone else. That was the end of lending any molds except in unusual circumstances

[Newtire]

I started casting over an old natural gas 2 burner stove many, many years ago. I graduated to an electric pot and found I did not like it so returned to the natural gas stove. I have also used a Coleman stove and now use a propane stove.

The electric pot was a different but not better way... at least for me. I prefer the gas stove and ladle pouring. It has served me well for most of 45 years.

Different strokes.

LongbowGood to have the gasoline version of the Coleman stove around. It heats up the lead hot enough to get good fill out on big boolits. I couldn’t get my little propane stove to get the lead hot enough to get good fill out on Minie balls.

[Gibbs44]

Just ordered the Lee copy. I'm hopeful for something that my .35 likes. If it's as good as I've heard, I'll upgrade to to real deal, if I can find one that is.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

[cwlongshot]

I actually like the LEE better then the RCBS Sully. (Larger meplat)

[Gibbs44]

Cool, well now I'm doubly excited. I certainly like the Lee price better.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

[Old Caster]

I used these in a Model 10 Smith shooting IDPA matches because I could load them very lightly and still get power factor. I don't remember exactly what my load was or how fast they were but I remember around 550 or so and the recoil was so light that when they did the power factor test which I easily passed, they insisted on pulling a bullet because they didn't believe that it was that heavy. The only thing I didn't like was only 30 or so bullets to a pound.

[Good Cheer]

Need to get some testing done so I can decide which one to hollow point.

[stubshaft]

I use this bullet in my 35-30/30. It doesn't need to be hollowpointed!

294324

[sharps4590]

I use this bullet in my 35-30/30. It doesn't need to be hollowpointed!

294324

I'll second that, heartily!

[Tripplebeards]

My 35 Rem 336 is the most accurate cast boolit rifle I own. The first group I shot testing it with 40 grains of varget is my 100 yard group in my avatar. I shot a 3 shot group right after at 200 yards that measured 2 1/4” at 200 yards! Zeroed at 100 yards the load drops 9” at 200 yards. I ran it through my chronograph. The average velocity was 2087fps. I use 50/50 COWW and pure lead with 2% pewter added to the total. I use our group buy 200 grain RCBS clone HP’s with the round pin.

https://i.imgur.com/m6GMWFl.jpg

I’m going to try the same load one of these days when it warms up out of my Remington 7600 carbine chambered in 35 Rem. I’ve shot one deer so far with the load. Knocked it off it’s feet and it never flinched. Did a post on it.

[Gibbs44]

Finally got my Lee clone in and went out into the cold to try it out. Actually I'm kind of impressed with the little two holer. Anyone use it in a .357? I was just kind of looking at it thinking about how it might work in my old model Blackhawk stuffed in 38 cases.

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[Good Cheer]

.35 Remington is a classic case (bad pun) of a great cartridge having its neck cut short for the use of jacketed bullets.
Fortunately we can still make real boolits work despite the engineer's best efforts.:razz:

[Good Cheer]

Finally got my Lee clone in and went out into the cold to try it out. Actually I'm kind of impressed with the little two holer. Anyone use it in a .357? I was just kind of looking at it thinking about how it might work in my old model Blackhawk stuffed in 38 cases.

Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

It would offer the advantage of putting a lot of the lead outside of the brass.
A long time ago I wanted to try the #358315 with a hollow point plug to make it a shorter WFN but never did.

[Gibbs44]

Roger that, but my main purpose for them is the old 35, but as a side project it seemed doable for the 357.

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