The .35 caliber

[Petrol & Powder]

I’ve owned and shot handguns from .22 rimfire to 45 Colt and they all have their place. For reasons that I once understood but can no longer articulate, I’ve been drawn to guns with bore diameters near that magical .35” mark.
I just find that I enjoy shooting 9mm’s and 38 Specials more than anything else. There’s nothing wrong with the big bore guns but they only seem to leave the safe to be traded for another .355” - .357” gun! I’ll never totally abandon the .22’s and 32’s but they just don’t excite me much.
At first I told myself that it was purely economics, the mid-bores used less powder and lead. Then I said that nobody really reloads 32 ACP. I tried to convince myself that used brass was more plentiful in 9mm and 38 Special; as the used 40S&W brass piled up. I finally admitted that I had a problem and confessed my love affair to my girlfriend. She said she understood and forgave me but I couldn’t have her Glock Model 19.
I know I’m sick but I hope that by raising awareness to this issue others will have the courage to come forward. I hope I’m not alone. 8-)


(Have you seen those .38 Special only GP-100’s !! Oh what I’d give for one of those!) :drinks:

[Lefty SRH]

Get a hold of a .35 caliber rifle and see what it does to your soul....

[Scharfschuetze]

Don't think you're sick at all P&P. It's America and we can shoot 9mms, 38s and 357s to our heart's content. Now don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the other calibres, but when all is said and done I probably shoot twice as many 35 projos than I do 32s, 41s or 45s combined now that I'm retired.

Nothing quite like a day at the range or in the field with a Browning Hi-Power or a S&W K Frame.

[Petrol & Powder]

7.62mm is as close to .35 caliber as I dare get in a rifle cartridge. One addiction at a time.

[Petrol & Powder]

Don't think you're sick at all P&P. It's America and we can shoot 9mms, 38s and 357s to our heart's content. Now don't get me wrong, I still enjoy the other calibres, but when all is said and done I probably shoot twice as many 35 projos than I do 32s, 41s or 45s combined now that I'm retired.

Nothing quite like a day at the range or in the field with a Browning Hi-Power or a S&W K Frame.

Ah.... The P-35 and the K-frames.........Maybe if I get away from work tomorrow I can sneak to the range, just for a few rounds...

[357Mag]

P & P -

Howdy !

Ahh... the .35 caliber

I've been shooting .357Mag for 38+yr. No other carry gun, for me ! I've owned one .35 "calibre rifle or another for 41yr.

My .35 rifles ( in-order ) started w/ my first M-336C buy, then an 1894SC in .357Mag, an H & H SB2 Ultra in .357Max, a custom .357AutoMag carbine
on a Wichita WBR1375 action ( a full-tilt bench rest rig ); and these days..... the best of them all..... a M-336XLR in .35Rem.
THIS gun was CT made, and represents the very zenith of lever gun achievement; IMHO. Mine, is just stupid accurate.


RX:
" Buy... 'till it helps ".


With regards,
357Mag


" Don't exaggerate..... I've told you A THOUSAND times ! "









I’ve owned and shot handguns from .22 rimfire to 45 Colt and they all have their place. For reasons that I once understood but can no longer articulate, I’ve been drawn to guns with bore diameters near that magical .35” mark.
I just find that I enjoy shooting 9mm’s and 38 Specials more than anything else. There’s nothing wrong with the big bore guns but they only seem to leave the safe to be traded for another .355” - .357” gun! I’ll never totally abandon the .22’s and 32’s but they just don’t excite me much.
At first I told myself that it was purely economics, the mid-bores used less powder and lead. Then I said that nobody really reloads 32 ACP. I tried to convince myself that used brass was more plentiful in 9mm and 38 Special; as the used 40S&W brass piled up. I finally admitted that I had a problem and confessed my love affair to my girlfriend. She said she understood and forgave me but I couldn’t have her Glock Model 19.
I know I’m sick but I hope that by raising awareness to this issue others will have the courage to come forward. I hope I’m not alone. 8-)


(Have you seen those .38 Special only GP-100’s !! Oh what I’d give for one of those!) :drinks:

[Bzcraig]

Ah.... The P-35 and the K-frames.........Maybe if I get away from work tomorrow I can sneak to the range, just for a few rounds...


Really? When was the last time you shot "just a few rounds?" :smile:

[Texantothecore]

I think you should start paper patching those 35s. Lotta fun.

[9.3X62AL]

The 357 Magnum is by some distance my favorite handgun caliber. I thought that once retired I might do more large-caliber handgunning, but not so. I just shoot a lot more of what I've always cranked off--357s, 38s, 32s in an array of chamberings, and some 30pistols. But the 357 is pre-eminent, always. NOTHING in a sideiron does more things well than a well-made, medium-frame, double-action 357 Magnum with a 4" barrel.

[Bzcraig]

Though I shoot and like my 9's, I admit the 357 is probably the best handgun round out there and the guns that shoot them the most versatile. I just prefer auto's over revolvers now.

[Petrol & Powder]

Really? When was the last time you shot "just a few rounds?" :smile:

Well... it seems like "just a few rounds" [smilie=f:

[Zim]

I would like to sympathize, but i have the same problem. 35's are wonderful.

Just got my third 35 rifle. Good versatility & wide range of applications. Try it, you will like it.

[Bowhunter73]

I have a older model TC Contender with a 14" BBl w/ compensator in 35 Remington it sure is sweet.

[Petrol & Powder]

OK, I was starting to think I was some kind of outcast but now I'm feeling that I'm not alone. Thanks

[Lonegun1894]

I'm not sure I could pick a absolute favorite, but the .357 Mag in both various handguns and rifles is definitely one of my favorites. Now if you were to count my guns and the chamberings on each, then the .357 Mag would probably either come in first of second, but it would be very close either way. Don't worry, we're not addicts, just enthusiasts!

[Tx reloader72]

The last four guns i purchased were 35cal. :holysheep I guess that makes me a 35 cal-aholic also. I like to take my M92 357 to the range and let the younger generation get hooked. Never had one leave without a huge smile, begging daddy to get them one.[smilie=l:

[EMC45]

Really? When was the last time you shot "just a few rounds?" :smile:

I shot some .38 Special today. 224 to be exact. 4in. Model 10 and a 10in. Oct. Contender. Fun all around. Came home with a sack full of brass and black hands. Blasted clay pigeons, paper targets, pieces of large concrete. The majority of the bullets shot were Lyman 358-477 and some Lee 158gr. RNFPs. The Lymans were stoked with 4 and 5gr. Unique and the Lee was stoked with 3gr. Bullseye. Can't beat some .35 caliber shooting fun. Even managed to get a sizeable pocket full of shot bullets I found scattered downrange.

[JesterGrin_1]

For myself I am reverse when it comes to Pistols. For me the .357 Mag or .38 is fine. But for some either odd or Dumb reason I have done better and feel more confident in the .44 Mag.

I will drag a .38/.357 Mag around allot. But if I feel I might need to do some serious shooting it is always the .44 Mag.

Also due to where I hunt and have been informed that I need to watch out more for two legged critters from South of the Boarder I will carry a Lipsy's Ruger Stainless Super Blackhawk Bisley with a 3 3/4 barrel .44 Mag in the field if I can not keep a rifle handy.

And around camp a S&W 629 Classic in .44 Mag that will flat out reach out there and touch stuff HARD lol. I do not wish to have to feel the need to use 2 or more rounds when 1 will work. :)


That reminds me lol. This younger fellow that we hunt with always carries his Barreta 9MM and was bragging that he had 15 rounds in it while I only had 6. And I got tired of it lol. So I said what good is 15 rounds if you can not hit anything with it lol. So I gave him a bet with a cactus head about 30 yards out. I told him go ahead and pull that pea shooter and hit that cactus head. You know he blew 15 rounds and never hit the darn thing lol. So he said well this is a pistol and they are not meant to shoot that far. And that if he could not hit it then I could not lol. I put all 6 rounds in that cactus head of about a 2" circle off hand from my S&W 629 Classic. I amazed myself as I am not pistol shooter. But that shut him up lol. Except he kept saying that thing is sure LOUD lol.

[fecmech]

I hope that by raising awareness to this issue others will have the courage to come forward. I hope I’m not alone.
Hi, my name is Nick and I'm a .35 calaholic! In my handgun collection there are 2 .45's, 1 .44 and very many .35's. My centerfire rifles are 1 .30 cal and three .35's. I don't even want to get started on .35 cal molds!

[Lonegun1894]

Now we have to include the molds to raise the "count"??? Oh boy....

[Outpost75]

I found this article right on point. It summarizes a lifetime of experience and is enough to warm any wheelgunner's heart:

http://www.grantcunningham.com/blog_files/75f11fe4e235da7c69cabf94daa7dbd9-932.html

[9.3X62AL]

Outpost--

MANY THANKS for posting Mr. Harris' article. I had zero experience with the forensics of wadcutter bullet wounds during my career, and his notes on their effects are quite interesting.

I haven't loaded a wadcutter bullet in some years. I do have such moulds--in 38/357, a Lyman #358432/160 grainer. Once the summer inferno out here in the desert backs off a bit, I need to warm up that bluff-fronted critter--pour some componentry--and re-visit the subject of these bullets. It will be interesting to see if these heavier solid-cast projectiles remain stable past 60-65 yards--a thing their hollow-based swaged counterparts fail to do with great regularity. SWCs stay nose-forward pretty reliably throughout their flights, to at least 125 yards in my experience.

Granted, for close-in defensive use a bullet doing cartwheels at 65 yards is a non-issue.

[waksupi]

I agree with that, and reaffirms my belief that hollow points are for varmint shooting, not defensive or serious hunting use.

[Zim]

Enjoyed and learned a bit from Harris' article. Thanks for the link.

[Petrol & Powder]

Hi, my name is Nick and I'm a .35 calaholic! In my handgun collection there are 2 .45's, 1 .44 and very many .35's. My centerfire rifles are 1 .30 cal and three .35's. I don't even want to get started on .35 cal molds!

Everybody say "Hi Nick" and we'll start the meeting.

[1Shirt]

Have bigger and smaller cals, but for wheel guns always seem drawn to the 35's. Lots of molds available, and a pound of bullseye and unique go a long way!
1Shirt!

[redneckdan]

My first handgun is a model 19 6" barrel. I've put a lot of rounds through her. At my peak during college she was like an extension of my finger. That was back when powder and primers were under 15 bucks each, lead came free from the range trap and electricty was all inclusive with rent. I could shoot 1000 a week and not spend what my buddies were in alcohol. Those were the days.

Jen and I took the truck out camping the day before opener. Next morning we are coming out the trail and spot a grouse 35 yds up the trail. Stepped out and managed to knock the head off it at the shoulders. Another time we were floating a river through a bend and this hare comes streaking across the sand beach with a coyote in hot pursuit. At 20 yards with the boat and yote both in motion I still managed to pile it up. Doubt I could do that now.

I think the 357 is about perfect. Big enough for close range deer, small enough to be reasonable on small game. Efficent with lead and powder. I wish ruger made a version of the current 44 spl Bisley flat top in 357. That would be my perfect packing pistol. I'd buy two, maybe even 3. I've been eyeing the bisley vaquero but I'd prefer blued and adjustable sights.

[Three44s]

I've always been tight with the .35's ...... but a big bear incident some friends had twenty years ago ....... brought me around to the .44 mag.

I have a lot of .35 stuff but in handguns ..... they are largely transitional to the big guns ..... or just carry for self-defense against two legged varmints .......

When I really need to say something ........... something truely profound .....

............ I want a "four" out front!!

.41 .... .44 ..... and lately ......... .480!!!


Three 44s

[Petrol & Powder]

Absolutely 1Shirt

There's something about 9mm and 38 Special that just exudes utility and efficiency. I've played with just about everything but for some reason I always gravitate towards those .35" whatever's.

The .32 H&R Mag with a wadcutter is a neat little cartridge but I find that I can do the same things with a 38 Special (and often cheaper). I can shoot a 44 Special or 45 Colt just as well as a 38 but don't play with the big bores anymore. 44 mag can be fun but they burn powder like an F-4 burns JP-5 in afterburner.

When I introduce someone new to shooting handguns I start with a .22 rimfire to teach the basics but then I move to a 38 Special revolver and a 9mm pistol. When they become proficient with the mid-bore they will sometimes try a larger caliber but they always come back to the 9mm/38 Specials on their own. They're just fun to shoot!

And then there's the guns. There is just some downright cool stuff available in 9mm and 38 special that I have to have.

[Petrol & Powder]

I've always been tight with the .35's ...... but a big bear incident some friends had twenty years ago ....... brought me around to the .44 mag.

I have a lot of .35 stuff but in handguns ..... they are largely transitional to the big guns ..... or just carry for self-defense against two legged varmints .......

When I really need to say something ........... something truely profound .....

............ I want a "four" out front!!

.41 .... .44 ..... and lately ......... .480!!!


Three 44s

Three 44s your reasons are sound and there's no denying the benefits of those big bullets!

[357maximum]

50% of my toys are 35 caliber, it takes 9+ calibers to make up the other 50% YOUR ARE NOT ALONE :mrgreen:

[Frosty Boolit]

I'm guilty too. only a .40 and a .22 are amongst many .35's. Just can't get sick of K frames and CZ-75's.

[Boyscout]

I now have a Smith & Wesson 4" Highway Patrolman .357 Magnum (N-Frame) that is a pure joy to shoot even with heavy loads. Due to sentimental reasons (USMC), I love .45 ACP a little bit more. I also have my Granfather's Remington Gamemaster 35 Remington. If guns are like children, I guess I don't love any one of them less just differently. My personal favorite is my CZ 452 22LR; I think.

[Petrol & Powder]

Those N-frame Smith's are works of art.

[TXGunNut]

Shot PPC for a bunch of years so the 35 caliber handgun is no stranger to me. .380, .38, 9mm, .357 mag, .357 Sig ammo sitting on the shelf, guns for most of them around here somewhere. A few years ago the infection spread and I now have a levergun in 35 Rem and a bolt gun in 35 Whelen. Somewhere in between is a T/C Contender bbl in .35 Rem. I'm a little hung up on the .45 caliber as well; 1858 Remington (shoots .451 balls!), a couple of 1911's in .45acp, four single action revolvers in 45 Colt, leverguns in 45 Colt and 45-70 and a Sharps in 45-90. There's even an extra barrel for my frontstuffer around here in you guessed it, .45 percussion. I have some real estate in the 30 cal neighborhood but these days they don't interest me as much as 35's and 45's.