35 rem hunting loads

[stringstretcher]

I am just getting set up to do some casting and reloading for my 35 Rem Marlin 336. If someone out there has a load that works well, can you help me out and describe what I should start with and use for the complet load setup. I have some molds, sizer dies, loading dies and such, but not sure what to do about using gas checks or not, lubes, etc. If anyone can share to get this newbie on the right track, I sure would appreciate it. I just saw the video on pan lubeing and I think I might try that if it will work. Sure could use some insight on this

[Glen]

RCBS 35-200 GC is a great .35 Remington bullet. I like it cast out of WW alloy, sized .359", lubed with homemade moly lube (50/50 beeswax moly grease), and loaded over 38.0 grains of H335 with a standard rifle primer. This load generates about 2100 fps, gives very good accuracy, and thumps hogs mightily.

[crabo]

Glen, can you explain to me why that boolit is such a good one? Everyone raves about what a good game getter it is, but it has a small meplat. I know it has good weight and good accuracy. Does it not need the meplat because of it's velocity and weight?

I just don't understand the design of this boolit. Or maybe I don't understand the design of rifle bullets, because I think about them in relation to revolver boolits.

[35remington]

The remarkable thing is that the RCBS FN shoots decently out of the rather soft wheelweight bullet metal, and for the most part the performance is pretty close to the typical jacketed roundnose bullet found in factory loads.

For me, simplicity is found with the same bullet and enough IMR 3031 to generate between 2020 and 2100 fps. Such charges run 35.5 to 36.5 grains or in that vicinity.

When the lube groove is filled with a good 50/50 lube or one of the better ones sold or mixed according to this site, accuracy holds up noticeably longer in my Microgroove barrels than when LLA is used, and I get very little gray wash or more often none at all near the muzzle even after an extended string of shots. In fact, with some homemade beeswax/lithium lube (I make no claims that it's superior to anything else, cause it ain't) I ran a string of 38 shots with no accuracy loss, cleaned the barrel just because I was a bit paranoid, fouled it with eight shots, and I'm going hunting with it on Friday.

Since the RCBS casts about .359 to .3595", my .360" sizer pretty much just installs the gascheck without touching the sides of the bullet. I like that and would not size any smaller. Maximum diameter is best in Microgroove rifling. Lee can make you a custom .360" sizer if you wish for 25 bucks if you want to go the low cost route, and pan lubing the RCBS will work fine with such a setup. The RCBS is a gascheck only bullet, really.

Should you wish to try lower power loads with plainbase pistol bullets, keep velocities in the 1100 fps region with fast powders and around 1300 fps or so with 2400, 4759, 4227 and the like. For whatever reason I've had somewhat better luck with a bit harder lead alloy here. I've found dacron properly used to be beneficial with the slower pistol/fast rifle powders. The 4198's and RL7 work well as long as velocity doesn't exceed 1500 fps, and 1400-1450 is much better.

For very cold weather use I don't use powders much slower than 4227 and use dacron to keep everything near the primer with plainbase loads.

A smaller dose of lube does better with the 1100-1300 fps loads for me. I've found that low velocity plainbase bullets that carry generous lube have first shot deviation when fired from a cold barrel, and about the third shot will go to the correct point of impact (this tendency, before I caught it, caused me to believe my sights were off when checking zero before a small game hunt). Ironically I've had better luck with LLA here, as not much lube is required. The first shot cold barrel firing stays in the group.

None of my plainbase bullets are sized because they don't need it, and likely anything up to .361" would be fine. It's rather difficult to find a design that would cast that large anyway without beagling. So shoot it as cast and see how it goes in MG rifling.

Crabo, I don't need a super big meplat when cast of AC wheelweights. The bullet mushrooms like a Core-Lokt in this wheelweight form. I'd be happy to show you a few pictures of recovered bullets. It just plain works famously.

The bullet has a .352" nose as cast of wheelweights and seems to guide well even in MG rifling. Bullets having smaller diameter forward sections are rather a flop in MG, and don't shoot so well in standard rifling either.

[jhalcott]

I use a 358315 Lyman (210 ready to shoot) cast from wheel weights and Felix lubed, Hornady gas checks. I am trying 34.5 grains of IMR 3031 in a TC contender 14" barrel. The last time I shot a 5/8" group (actually .650") at 50 yards. 2x scope and rested on bags, NO way I can shoot off hand that good any more!

[NoDakJak]

I have a Remington Model 141 in very good condition that has been languishing in the rack for about thirty years. Should that RCBS boolit be equally suitable for it or has some other design been proven better? I think that I will clean out the cobwebs, aquire a suitable mold and get set for another round of testing come spring. Neil

[Newtire]

HI String,

Here's a link to some interesting reading. I only just started casting for my "new" .35 Remington and I have the Ranch Dog 190 grain mould. So far, so good. RanchDog has some loads on his site for it which I used with promising results so far too.

Here's the Glen Fryxell article link.

http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell35RemingtonLevergun.htm

[smokemjoe]

For deer hunting use 1/2 soft lead and 1/2 WWs. You dont shoot that many hunting if it leads which I dont have no trouble with.I use a Re. 760 pump, I just about lost a deer because my alloy was to hard. It blowed up under the hide on the ribs. Hope this helps. Joe

[45r]

If your rifle has a micro-groove barrel it will benefit from firelapping,they have rough machine marks inside sometimes.My barrel has a .353 bore and engraves my 354 to 355 borerider on my Mtn mold with a snug fit.It should be perfect after I firelap the barrel.It has .6 inch of bearing length and weighs 215 grains.The RCBS mold is a good one but the 352 borerider on it is around two thou to thin to fully support the nose after firelapping.For a little more money you can get a mold from Mtn molds that will fit it perfectly.My boolits drop out at .360 to .361 and fill out very well.My rifle shoots the 200 grain Rem J-words very well with 39.0 grains 2520 and Fed mag primers.After I get my barrel firelapped and loadwork done on the Mtn mold boolits it will probably not shoot any J-word bullets after they are used up.Good luck and you will probably like the 35 Rem a lot for cast boolit shooting.

[Larry Gibson]

Concur with 35remington and Smokemjoe.

The RCBS 35-200-FN is the bullet for the 35 Remington. I use it out of my M91 Mauser rebarreled to 35 Remington. Current WWs +2% tin is a good all around alloy but the 50/50 alloy mix of WW/lead works better on deer. I size in a .360 sizer, use hornady GCs and Lube with Javelina (50/50 alox/beeswax). I load them in Winchester cases over 37 gr 4895. This gives 2150 fps and 2 moa accuracy (reciever/post sights) at 100 and 200 yards. With the 50/50 alloy expansion is still good at 200 yards. The small meplat is needed for feeding in many actions. I will also HP the bullet with the Forster tool to a1/3rd the nose length. A WFN bullet may not feed well in some, my Mauser for one.

I have tried numerous differnt cast bullets in 35 Remington over the years and have found the RCBS bullet to be the best for accuracy and hunting.

Larry Gibson

[crowbeaner]

I use the same RCBS boolit sized to .359 and lubed with RCBS rifle lube over 38.0 to 39.5 of IMR 4064 in RP brass. I cast mine from AC ww and 50/50 solder; I add 2 lbs to 18 lbs. of WW to approximate Lyman #2 alloy. Very effective, malleable as in not brittle, and expands reliably even in cold weather. The RCBS boolit is probably the best boolit for the 35 if J words aren't in contention.

[Bret4207]

I have a Remington Model 141 in very good condition that has been languishing in the rack for about thirty years. Should that RCBS boolit be equally suitable for it or has some other design been proven better? I think that I will clean out the cobwebs, aquire a suitable mold and get set for another round of testing come spring. Neil

Neil, that RCBS 200 should do fine in the Remington. Of course you mentioning the 141 brings to mind the M-14 in 32 Remington my former friend the gun dealer sold out from under me. OUCH!!! That hurt!!!:twisted:

[NoDakJak]

Thanks Bret, I'll get one of those molds on order after the xmas season is over. I have likited reloading experience with this round and that has only been with remington Corelocked. Worked very well but will probably the last jacketed slugs through this rifle. I traded off a Model 141 that was chambered for 32 Rem several years ago. It was very tired and a really poor shooter. Neil

[NHlever]

I like the RCBS 35-200 FN too, and have gotten a few sub 1" three shot groups at 100 yds with it over 35.0 grains of AA 2015 in my Marlin .35 Rem. which is a max load in the new Lyman manual, and somewhat over max in a couple of other manuals. There seemed to be a noticable difference in the powder that I used (XMR-2015) and the older 2015 BR that my son had around so I dropped Accurate Arms a note, and they said that all 2015 that is made after the Julian date of xxxx94 is the same, so the new AA-2015 that I see in the gun stores should be the same as what I used. The 2015 BR that my son has was made before that date, and is hotter, and uses a different setting on the powder measure......... denser. The load I use also shoots to the same point of impact at 100 yds when used with the Hornady 200 RN ....... handy!

[PatMarlin]

Don't forget to consider Ranch Dogs mold. I've got the RCBS, but want to try RD's also.

[6pt-sika]

I've been using the RCBS 35-200GC mold for about 6 years and been loading it with SR4756 . Used this combination in my old 1952 Marlin 336SC 35 REM to kill a deer about 5 years ago !

And in the last 2 years I've been fiddling first with the Ranch Dog 359-180GC which works great in the 356 WIN but not so much so in the 35 REM .

And of late the Ranch Dog 359-190GC mold ! I think I recieved my 359-190 test mold about a year ago , but didn't start with it until around february .
Anyway this one shoots great in my Marlin 336SC and a Marlin 336D both of which are 35 REM !

I figured this bullet would work great in the 35 but also thought it might not do so well in the 356 ! But let me tell you this RD 359-190GC bullet shoots great in my Marlin 35's and Marlin 356 WIN :drinks:

[PatMarlin]

How many grains you startin' with on the 4756 Craig?

Gotta try that as I have quite a bit of that powder. Good news on the RD 190. Can't beat the price of a 2banger LEE.

[stringstretcher]

Thanks everyone......great info here

[6pt-sika]

How many grains you startin' with on the 4756 Craig?

Gotta try that as I have quite a bit of that powder. Good news on the RD 190. Can't beat the price of a 2banger LEE.

I used 13 grains of SR4756 and a CCI200 primer with the RCBS 35-200GC .
With this load I went by the Lyman Manual which they was tops with a 205 grain bullet for about 1500FPS . The load worked fine to slam dunk the doe I popped at 50 yards with it !

With the Ranch Dog 359-190GC I decided to start 13 grains and move it up a tad ! I ended up with 15 grains SR4756 and the CCI200 primer .

[6pt-sika]

Good news on the RD 190. Can't beat the price of a 2banger LEE.

My test 359-190 is a 6 hole mold ! You can roll out 200 of these bad boys real quick if you get the mold hot before you start !

[jbc]

Has anyone tried the Ranchdog mold in a Remington 760 .35 remington? One of the new Marlin xlr's in .35 is on my wish list and I am sure that mold would be just the ticket for it but I would also like to be able to shoot it out of the old remington. Any thoughts?

[6pt-sika]

One of the new Marlin xlr's in .35 is on my wish list and I am sure that mold would be just the ticket for it . Any thoughts?


I have a 336XLR in 35 REM !

But mine ain't getting anything but Hornady rubber tipped bullets [smilie=1:

[bdoyle]

I have some loaded but I won't get to the range till this week. I made some dummy loads @ .3585 and 2.300 oal. They feed from the mag fine but there is slight engraving at .3585 as the throat(what there is) is .358. Just cycle with purpose, don't have to force the slide.
I bought two moulds, the first one I tried I cast a bit on the cool side (650-700) and the bullets dropped at .358. I ran 25 of these thru my 336 and they worked great. I saved 25 for the 760. These cycled in the 760 effortlessly as the nose was smaller. The second mould I ran a bit hotter and they dropped .361. This made the nose a bit larger and caused the slight engraving in the 760. Temp probably has no big effect but I thought I'd mention it.

Brian

[PatMarlin]

I've got my 1950 336 coming Tuesday, so I will be working up some loads with the RCBS boolit. Should go ahead and order RD's 190.

I haven't shot 35 rem for 8 years, but it's kind of neat cause I gave my buddy my 72' 336, and I'll have the 1950 so we will be shooting and hunting with them more and more.

[Bass Ackward]

I've got my 1950 336 coming Tuesday, so I will be working up some loads with the RCBS boolit. Should go ahead and order RD's 190.


You might want to wait until you get your gun and slug it. I borrowed a bullet before I got the mold and I am glad that I did. The nose on this one was .351. You can't even begin to get that nose in the gun. Seated properly, the cartridge won't enter the chamber by 1/2" or more. You can't get 180 or 200 grain Hornady's to even start to chamber either. With my rifling height, I figure the bore is more like .346/7. Will the RD fit?

Which might explain why Marlin went to lower height microgroove in the first place instead of altering the throats on the reamers.

[Newtire]

I've got the RanchDog and am going to give it it's 2nd run today in my new-to-me 1951 336. I just seated them to the crimp groove so only the bare nose is showing and they fit and shoot just fine.

I had to order a higher front sight as the windage adjustment screw on the rear aperture ( Lyman 66 ) touches the right side of the receiver before it goes down low enough. Funny that it didn't have that problem on either of 2 Winchester 94's nor my .444.

At any rate, the RanchDog boolit fits the rifle without hanging up and slides right in without making contact with the throat.

Today's shooting will be with some fairly stout loads of AA 2015 & H-335. Last weekend's H-4198 and Win. 748 were successful although about 8" high. Some 18 grain SR 4759 loads were real nice also and on point of aim.

Recoil with these loads is not bad like I had thought it would be either.

[PatMarlin]

Have you seen RD'S Specs page John. Never was there a more detailed picture.. my compliments to RD. Here is his drawing for micro and ballard-

Go here:

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/TLC359190RF/Drawings/

I had to install a higher front sight on my 72.

[Newtire]

I'm back from the range & have to say that the RDog 190 gr. and 38 gr. H-335 were the best shooting for me. I got average around 1-1/2" @ 50yds. with the Lyman 66 receiver sight and a Marbles firesight type bead. The 35 gr AA 2015 loads did around 2-1/2"-3".

If you would like some of those to try Pat, I'm going to my daughter's house in Sack-o-tomato for thanksgiving and would be happy to cast up a bunch for you to try before you spring for one. Let me know. I don't know if you are in Sacramento or not but if so, let me know.

[PatMarlin]

Thanks for the offer NT, but I'll just buy RD's mold as for one- I like to support our members , and 2- I have more than a few shooters that I'm sure will benefit.

Sacratamato- my home town, born and raised 40 some years, but I got out 9 years ago. Was supposed to go down on turkey day but I don't want to as I just got back from there couple of weeks ago.

[6pt-sika]

I borrowed a bullet before I got the mold and I am glad that I did. The nose on this one was .351. You can't even begin to get that nose in the gun. Seated properly, the cartridge won't enter the chamber by 1/2" or more.


Strange it does just fine in my 1952 Marlin 336SC and my circa 2000 Marlin 336D ;-)

[Bass Ackward]

Strange it does just fine in my 1952 Marlin 336SC and my circa 2000 Marlin 336D ;-)



Apparently these Marlins can be all over the place as far as dimensions go. A .348 pilot won't even begin to start into mine. It is what it is.

One fella had a 1953, 336A that was .364 groove and required a .365 bullet to do anything with. That is farther off than I would have thought standards were at the time.

I'm not complaining, kinda pleased actually, but .... there is a difference.

[PatMarlin]

I'll know what mine is tomorrow. Better not be a.364 groove... :mrgreen: