35 remington, looking for opinions

Huntermb · Post by **Huntermb** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:43 pm

I'm looking at a 336 in 35 remington. I've never used the cartridge so any thoughts on it would be greatly appreciated.

86er · Post by **86er** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:56 pm

I'm a fairly new 35 Remington user. I have 3 different rifles in this caliber. So far, I've killed 7 or 8 animals with it including deer, boar and exotics. I've played with a variety of bullets at various velocities. The stand-out is the Remington Core-Lokt 200 grain. At just 2000 fps the bullet has performed consistently on every animal with obvious expansion on exits. The few that were retained showed mushrooming without much weight loss and good penetration. The recoil is similar to a 170 gr factory load in a 30-30. If you look at my 1000 Tags Filled data booklet (you can read more about it by following the link in my signature to "buy Joe's books") the 35 Remington cartridge is well rated among all animals at different ranges up to 175 yds and is easily in the top 10 for repeatable, consistent performance. I've also done some extensive bullet testing and while they are all pretty good in this caliber, the 200 gr Core-Lokt proved to be the best in those tests too. Some of it is posted here: http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... lit=35+Rem

CEMENTHEAD · Post by **CEMENTHEAD** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:59 pm

Great platform, mild recoil, easily re-loadable, cast bullet friendly, great factory ammo (Remington 200 gr Core Lokts, my favorite), exceeds "paper ballistics"...............what's not to love?

I love mine and it would be one of the absolute last to go. Have fun!

Thanks, Tom

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:13 pm

I should of had one and feel I would not of looked back after reading the reports on here over the years!

Nath.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 4:28 pm

It is a mild recoiling killer of deer and bear and anything smaller.

SJPrice · Post by **SJPrice** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 5:49 pm

The 35 calibers seem to be more effective than tables, charts and logic would expect. Cartridges like the 35 Remington, 348 Winchester, 358 Winchester and 35 Whelen. Have a dedicated following that could only come from experience and performance.

BigSky56 · Post by **BigSky56** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:29 pm

Huntermb, last year I read a book about Ralph Edwards who lived in BC and from WW1 on he used a 35 rem in a remington model 8 to take grizzlies he said he quite counting after 50 his wife used a 30-30, I'd say its up to taking anything we would want to hunt on NA continent. danny

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:41 pm

I've picked up two .35 Remington 336s in the last couple years.
I bought the first one, made in 1976 for Kid #2. He's tall but very light. Can't handle a lot of recoil.
The .35 fit him perfectly.
I was so impressed with the accuracy of his rifle I kept an eye out for another.
I found one made in 1970 that was almost new in the box, again at a super price.
This one is a "Forever Gun"!
It's one of those rifles that if I can see it, I can hit it.

This target is first time out with the scope on it. One sighter and the rest are one ragged hole.

Been looking for a Remington model 8 or 81, not real popular around here but I'll get one!!

jb

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:47 pm

I know more than one Maine moose/ bear guide that swears by the .35 Rem. The following is one of the best articles I have come across. Be sure to read both parts. 1886. http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/3 ... part2.html

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:49 pm

An inexplicably effective cartridge on a predictably reliable platform.

Here's the link to Paco's article on the 35 Remington: http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/35remington.htm
An excerpt from that article...
"Back in the 1970s a friend that ran (‘director of management’ I think was his title) several large cattle ranches, let me eliminate Tex/Mex feral cattle from his Black Angus ranges. And just to see and settle an old argument about the power of the 35 Remington (also the 30-30 and 32 Win Special) not being sufficient for really large game...I took it feral cattle hunting. Usually it is only the bulls that migrate into the prize cattle ranges. And they have a nasty habit of trying to impregnate very expensive beef with their stringy meat genes. So you can imagine that the ranchers were not happy with them. These feral cattle are also very aggressive...and I don’t care what they are called...their horns don’t look short to me! (Today the ranches round them up for sale to the dog food companies.)

I shot a 1200+ pound feral bull on that outing...sounds medium size for cattle..but think about it...it is twice the weight of a good size elk. My hunting notes show I used a Hornady 200 grain round softnose (I always cut a flat on any roundnose for levergun tubes, lead or not) over 40/H335 for approx 2100 fps (top load - be careful). That bullet at a good 125 yards struck him facing away from me in his stringy meat, muscle and lungs, from the left side behind the ribs, angling toward the off shoulder...the angle was sharper than I planned, and it missed the shoulder and exited the right side of his lower neck. It hit no bones going in, and ripped thru about 40 inches of nasty old meat and muscle, part of the shoulder blade (at least that’s what I call it) and exited the neck with a 3 inch radial rip and hole. It destroyed much of the lungs...and he ran in a limping fashion for less than 40 or so yards, went down and died in a few minutes."

bogie

Scharms · Post by **Scharms** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:51 pm

I recently picked up a 336 XLR .35 in stainless, but its been too cold to work up a load for it

(digging out from a blizzard today)! Cant wait to make some meat with it... Probably spring groundhogs...

1886 · Post by **1886** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:53 pm

Bogie35, Did you try that 230gr cast load I shared with you? 1886.

Huntermb · Post by **Huntermb** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 8:53 pm

1886 wrote:I know more than one Maine moose/ bear guide that swears by the .35 Rem. The following is one of the best articles I have come across. Read sure to read both parts. 1886. http://www.suitorsgarage.com/gunstuff/3 ... part2.html

Wow great article. Thanks for all the input guys. I got to take a look at the rifle today. It's an older pickerel belly 336. It's in pretty nice shape. He isn't sure what he is going to want for it yet. I think that forestock will take a bit of getting used to.
I'll post pics if I end up getting it

stretch · Post by **stretch** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:10 pm

Buy it.

The Remington 200gr CoreLokts are much preferred over the
150 grainers.

-Stretch

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:13 pm

I have a vintage 1950 336A but have only fired it a few times, but have a couple hundred rounds loaded with 200 Core-Lokts. One of these days I'll pop a few pigs with it to see how it does.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:21 pm

Scharms wrote:I recently picked up a 336 XLR .35 in stainless, but its been too cold to work up a load for it (digging out from a blizzard today)! Cant wait to make some meat with it... Probably spring groundhogs...

Be glad you got yours already; Marlin doesn't show the .35 Remington chambering in the on-line 2011 catalog I was browsing last week (nor do they show the .444 Marlin chambering), although the .444 is still listed on their website, whereas the .35 Remington is not). Not sure if this means I just 'missed' them, or if they are truly discontinuing them. They do still list the 'regular' .35 Remington 336, though, and it is one FINE gun as well.

Regardless, the .35 Remington seems to me to be a bit better than the .30-30 in putting out the heavier bullets, yet can put out lighter, faster, bullets if needed. It comes close to a 'one size fits all' rifle, in my opinion, unless you're in Grizzly country. Pair it up with a .357 Magnum carbine, a couple pistols, and you've a good 4-gun .35 caliber battery:

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:48 pm

From what I've been reading the 200 RNCL does seem to be a favorite with many. I'm also gonna experiment with the 180 SpeerFP & a good dose of AA2460 or H335 in my 336A to bump the effective range another 50yds or so. Point blank out to 225, with the proper rest, looks mighty interesting. jd45

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:02 pm

1886 wrote:Bogie35, Did you try that 230gr cast load I shared with you? 1886.

I have not. I did get them, but I just haven't taken the time to load them. I've been very "distracted" with work and some other issues.

I will definitely let you know when I do though. Thanks again.

bogie

kaschi · Post by **kaschi** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:15 pm

The 35 Remington is a real deer hammer!

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 11:38 pm

I love mine! I took it as my backup to bear camp this year. Good shooters and I use cast in mine.
I have to tell a story about that though. One of the guys was running his mouth about not being able to shoot cast boolits out of a microgroove barrel.. I asked if he really believed that(he's a know it all because he works in a gun shop)?
Yep I do.
Start running B*&^*ch.
What?
If you can't shoot castboolits from a microgroove you'll be fine right! Somebody hand me that Marlin!

He wasn't as sure of the stuff he had read in the glossy gun rags after that. I did take him to the firing pit the next day and prove to his satisfaction you can most certainly shoot cast boolits from a micro groove barrel, and do it very accurately. Tom

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 5:28 pm

I don't think you'll get any negatives on this forum. I got mine intending to hunt hogs, and was figuring to skip getting a 30-30. I shot a deer with my 35 and it went right down. What I read was that most hunting decisions are around 75 yards, and mine certainly have been. Also, for defense, it packs more energy than a 44 magnum with about the same recoil.

After 50-75 yards, though, the 30-30 holds its energy better, so on paper it might be more effective. And other, more successful hunters in my area usually take 250-400 yard shots. So for that you're out of levergun territory.

For general shootin', though, I'm not getting much use out of it. I finally got a decent load for it with lead pistol bullets but it's not quite the accuracy I hoped for (.358 lead in a .358 bore). It shoots jacketed quite well, factory and reloads, but they are .33 cents apiece so they're not for recreational blasting.

Still, I just LIKE it. The round-nose 200 grain loaded cartridge is a thing of beauty. Looks like some sort of 1950's Russian ballistic missile, leaking radiation and lethality.

So, if you are going to hunt in the woods, go for it. If you don't mind spending more for lead bullets to be accurate, (such as .359 cast with gas checks or jacketed - .35-.40 cents each) then take it plinking. It will be a little bit of a project to find brass and the right bullets for it but that's your choice.

475linebaugh · Post by **475linebaugh** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 7:19 pm

I have a T/C Single shot pistol and a 336 in 35 Rem. and I love both. I have taken Elk and deer with both. Buy it and dont look back.

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Thu Feb 03, 2011 10:04 pm

El Chivo,if I understood your reply correctly, there are shooters near you who take shots with their .30-30 rifles at from 250yds to 400yds & KILL either their metal hogs, paper bulls-eyes, Mexican drug cartell employees, or meat-on-the-hoof targets, that right? I have to say, that is mighty impressive shootin, & I'm NOT bein scarcastic, by any means! jd45

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 4:44 am

Sorry, the combination of run-on sentences and misplaced modifiers has my old English teacher spinning in her grave.

The sentence about the 30-30 was to compare the 35 Rem's closest cousin, the 30-30. When I said "on paper" I didn't mean targets, I meant the specs are better (velocity, energy, trajectory) with the 30-30 beyond 50 yards. I can't say if that means the 30-30 kills better beyond 50 yards, but it might.

Actually I have the info. Sorry I can't make a table, but it's all here. These are energy figures for 30-30 with 170's and 35 Rem with 200's. I believe these were the Remington loads.

The columns are for each 25 yards, from the muzzle to 250 yards. As you can see the 35 Rem has more energy from 0 to almost 50 yards, but by 50 yards the 30-30 has more retained energy:

3030170 1827 1698 1577 1462 1354 1253 1159 1072 990 913 843
35200 1922 1740 1571 1418 1278 1151 1034 930 838 757 686
Here's the velocity comparison:
3030170 2200 2121 2044 1968 1894 1822 1752 1685 1619 1556 1494
35200 2080 1979 1881 1787 1697 1610 1526 1447 1374 1306 1243

Here's the trajectory comparison with a 150 yard zero:
3030170 -1 0.09 1 1.78 1.84 1.26 0 -1.98 -4.72 -8.24 -12.64
35200 -1 0.35 1.66 2.35 2.33 1.56 0 -2.49 -6.09 -10.83 -16.79

And other, more successful hunters in my area usually take 250-400 yard shots. So for that you're out of levergun territory.

The last sentence, about being out of levergun territory, means these Western hunters use bolt guns and spire-point boat-tail pointy bullets and hold dead on out to 300 yards. They know how to glass for bucks. Of course you could take a shot like that with a levergun but at that kind of distance and no second chance, would you?

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:02 am

Much of the paper ballistic "superiority" of the .30-30 over the .35 Rem does not take into account many factors. The .30-30 has always been loaded by the factories to higher pressure than the .35. Loaded to equal pressures, the .35 shines. See Buffalo Bores factory loads. 1886.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 4:01 pm

Yes but that .308 170 grain bullet is hard to beat for retaining energy. A 35 bullet of 220 grains is similar. For a while I was running out graphs of energy and the best was a 45-70 500 grainer, it hardly dropped at all.

What I don't know, which gets back to the "on paper" qualification, is whether or not that matters to the target. All of them have the energy to punch two holes in a deer, so, does extra retained energy make any difference?

1886 · Post by **1886** » Fri Feb 04, 2011 6:15 pm

A heavy .35 Rem. load consisting of a 220gr Speer FP running 220FPS at the muzzle produces 2400Ft/LBS of muzzle energy. At 100yrds that load is still producing about 1860Ft/LBS of energy. By comparison, a 170gr .30-30 factory load running 2200FPS produces 1820FT/LBS of muzzle energy. That .30-30 load produces 1350FT/LBS of energy at 100yrds. A heavily loaded .30-30 with a 190gr projectile with a muzzle velocity of 2100FPS produces 1860FT/LBS of energy. At 100yrds that load is producing about 1400FT/LBS of energy. Not much difference between the two .30-30 loads on paper. The 190gr load should be a better killer of heavier game and still not as serious as the .35 Rem load. I do believe Buffalo Bore is now featuring a .35 Rem. load producing 2400FPS with the 220gr Speer FP. That load should generate about 2800FT/LBS of muzzle energy. This load is essentially the .358 Win. They are also producing a heavy .30-30 load featuring a 190gr projectile running 2400FPS at the muzzle. Both loads are very serious considering past standards. On paper it seems clear the .35 is the superior round for heavier game and we still have not discussed that big .35 cal. hole. Best Wishes, 1886.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 5:15 am

A 35 bullet of 220 grains is similar.

I meant to say it has a similar BC to the 170. Thus, it should retain the same percentage of energy. I just whipped out my handy calculator, and your 220 grain 35 load retains 77% of its energy at 100 yards, and the 30-30 retains 74%.

The standard 35-200 load retains only 66%.

But yes, a bigger hole and bigger pill to digest. Although there may be a point where the 35 will be going too slow to expand and the 30-30 still expands. Then the 30-30 will give you a bigger hole.

Dang this stuff can get tricky.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 9:39 am

Morning All, The article I referenced earlier in the discussion demonstrates various bullets and their respective characteristics at differing impact velocities, read ranges. God Bless, 1886.

dogngun · Post by **dogngun** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:14 am

I have owned maybe 3 over the last 45 years. I find they are very accurate off hand...VERY accurate. I also find I like them best with the factory sights.They give you a fast pick-up and good picture for quick shots at game.
The round is proven over more than 100 years. It is a popular rond here in PA for woods hunting of black bear and deer, would be great on hogs or anything from varmints up. Handloading it s even better-the factory ammo can be a bit costly and hard to find.

The 336 in .35 Rem is very hard to beat for medium and large game up to maybe 150 yards or so.

mark

86er · Post by **86er** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:24 am

If you shoot a 200gr Core-Lokt at 2000 fps or more and you don't think it hits harder and is more effective than a 30-30 out to 175 yards I'll buy the 35 cal. rifle and all your ammo. I've shot over a dozen animals with the 35 now and the animals all bled profusely and were found, all the core-lokts expanded and nearly all exited. In our bear hunts over bait the 35 Rem is the ONLY cartridge that has been 100% 1 shot-kill. I cannot say any of the proceeding about the 30-30, even though I have no beef with the cartridge. It is what it is, in real-life personal observation on animals in hunting situations. This is in spite of what load data, ballistics programs or artificial media might tend to show.

Bogie35 · Post by **Bogie35** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:52 am

According to my experience and the info I read in the link posted by "1886", the 200 grain Core-Lokt leaving at 2000-2200 fps delivers the most optimum combination of penetration and expansion from the muzzle out to 200 yards that I can imagine is possible. It's a nearly magical, once-in-a-lifetime recipe. However, I've also read that the 30-30's 170 grain Silver Tip at 2200 fps produces similar "magic", although I have no personal experience with it. You'd get about 20 yards more range out of the 30-30, but I'm not very accurate past about 150 yards with a peep sight anyway, so it's a mute point for me. If I used a scope, I could use the 200 grain LeverEvolution bullet and stretch it out even farther than the 30-30. The factory LeverEvolution load is extremely accurate in my 336, even slightly more so than the Core-Lokt factory load. According to the link posted by 1886, the LeverEvolution load produces penetration and expansion results similar to the Core-Lokt. Throw in the load that "1886" shared with me using a 240 grain cast bullet at 1900+, and you'll have some good medicine for the really big critters. All together, you have a nearly ideal all-around cartridge and platform to work with, so ENJOY!

bogie

Huntermb · Post by **Huntermb** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:56 pm

Sounds like a fellow won't go wrong with one in the cabinet. Anybody got any cast bullets they recommend for one?

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:32 pm

Huntermb wrote:Sounds like a fellow won't go wrong with one in the cabinet. Anybody got any cast bullets they recommend for one?

It would depend what you want that bullet to do. RCBS has a nice 200gr that shoots real well. It is referenced in the article I posted. There should be numerous sources for that bullet. Montana Bullets makes a very nice product. Check their site. I have had great success with Mt.Baldy in a variety of cartridges and firearms. Bear Creek Supply makes a great soft cast bullet that is perfect for cat sneeze loads. Match the bullet to the arm and the intended task and you will be fine.
Call Frank at Mt.Baldy Bullets. He casts a dandy 240gr FNGC. Try some sized .359 or .360 and see which your rifle prefers. Also try Rem. brass. The Rem. brass should provide slightly greater case capacity. http://www.mtbaldybullets.com/asp/products.asp

1886 · Post by **1886** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:39 pm

86er wrote:If you shoot a 200gr Core-Lokt at 2000 fps or more and you don't think it hits harder and is more effective than a 30-30 out to 175 yards I'll buy the 35 cal. rifle and all your ammo. I've shot over a dozen animals with the 35 now and the animals all bled profusely and were found, all the core-lokts expanded and nearly all exited. In our bear hunts over bait the 35 Rem is the ONLY cartridge that has been 100% 1 shot-kill. I cannot say any of the proceeding about the 30-30, even though I have no beef with the cartridge. It is what it is, in real-life personal observation on animals in hunting situations. This is in spite of what load data, ballistics programs or artificial media might tend to show.

It seems to me that Joe's actual experience with the cartridge speaks volumes. Best Wishes, 1886.

Nate C. · Post by **Nate C.** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:59 pm

Huntermb wrote:I'm looking at a 336 in 35 remington. I've never used the cartridge so any thoughts on it would be greatly appreciated.

If you get a chance to buy one, do so. If you get a chance to buy another one, do that as well.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:14 pm

I'll buy the 35 cal. rifle and all your ammo.

... Nah.

I am just pointing out what I learned in researching the two calibers, which might be helpful to someone 'looking for opinions'. I can't see holding back information, even if it makes me the devil's advocate. My only real world experience was at 20 yards, and most of my game sightings have been within 100 yards, so I like the 35 as a practical real-world choice. But it's also good to be aware of its limitations, so you can decide if they apply to your situation.

Lastmohecken · Post by **Lastmohecken** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:17 pm

Another great bullet for the 35 cal is the 200gr Sierra roundnose. I don't have a 35 Rem but that bullet was designed for that caliber, I believe. I use it in my 350 REM Mag, and of course I am pushing it faster, but it is a hammer on deer, and my favorite load for that gun.

I have also used it in the 358 Winchester and it shines there also.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:30 pm

Lastmohecken wrote:Another great bullet for the 35 cal is the 200gr Sierra roundnose. I don't have a 35 Rem but that bullet was designed for that caliber, I believe. I use it in my 350 REM Mag, and of course I am pushing it faster, but it is a hammer on deer, and my favorite load for that gun.

I have also used it in the 358 Winchester and it shines there also.

Those are the ones carried by our local reloading store, so I worked up my load for them. They are accurate and look like good quality. My only problem is I can't hunt with them locally!

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:03 pm

I appreciate the clarification AND the comparison charts El Chivo. BTW, why can't you use that Sierra bullet somebody mentioned, if I read that correctly? jd45

Huntermb · Post by **Huntermb** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:25 pm

This one I'm looking at is an early one, not drilled or tapped so no scope mounting, and it has the really really fat forearm on it, no grip caps etc, but in fairly nice shape. I think the fellow might be having some second thoughts on getting rid of it as he has mentioned that he should keep it as a good backup gun, so we'll see what happens.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:44 pm

jd45 wrote:I appreciate the clarification AND the comparison charts El Chivo. BTW, why can't you use that Sierra bullet somebody mentioned, if I read that correctly? jd45

it contains traces of lead, and my local areas are all condor areas. I could use it if I hunt elsewhere.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sun Feb 06, 2011 1:45 pm

It would be nice if someone made a condor bullet for it and the 375.