358 pistol bullets in 35 Rem

[FRJ]

I can't seem to find any rifle bullets for my 35Rem 336. So I loaded up some 158 gr Speer 38cal pistol bullets over 35 gr of 3031 in 35 Rem cases. Question is has anyone tried these on deer size critters? I'm kinda concerned that at the speed they show in the loading manuals the bullet may not be strong enough to hold together when hitting an animal.Loading manual says that they are going about 2200 fps and that should be a very good deer load IF they stay together. Help please. FRJ

[Sweetwater]

Never did it, but I run lead hotter than that and it holds together on deer/elk. IF you are running a JHP, they will probably expand a bit violently. A JSP may just mushroom as designed. IF you hit bones, stuff happens that doesn't happen when you hit ribs. Another thing, you are reading published muzzle velocities. Those bullets have minimal B.C., so will shed a lot of velocity at any decent range. That should work in your favor. Good luck and keep us posted.

Jeff
NRA Life

[cobirdhunter]

I use Hornady 200 GR RN, (.35 #3515, alot better for hunting, I use the smaller 158 GR FP/XTP, (.357) #35780 for killing tin cans and targets. For the 158 GR bullets I load them at reduced powder charges, since I am not hunting with them.

[Salmoneye]

I have not run lead fast through my .35 Rem, but plan to...

So far I have been shooting low doses of Red Dot for plinking, but do plan on stepping up the velocity soon to get read for fall...

Bullets are Penn TCBB 158gr hard cast...

[Sweetwater]

My 356Win runs lead at very near 2500fps - I don't have the files right in front of me. I remember something over 2500 with 180's and 2447 with 225's.

Jeff
NRA Life

[FRJ]

I went out and shot some 158gr loads today. They grouped very nice at 50yards. About 1" center to center. Thats using the factory sights and my 68 year old eyes. They should shoot fine out to 100 yards BUT my big concern is will they hold together on flesh or will they break apart? I would really prefer 200 gr bullets but no one has any right now. I'm shooting some lead 200 gr bullets but I'm concerned that they will not expand at all.Does anyone have any experience with lead that brinnels at 22 on deer? Dont know why bullets are so hard to come by for this gun right now. FRJ

[Sweetwater]

The elk I shot with a 32WSPL and a 183gr cast bullet didn't know if the bullet expanded or not. Your 35 should do much better with your cast bullets. I would put it through the shoulders if that were the shot presented. Break the bones and you won't care if it expands or not, after all it is a 35cal hole to start with. I hunt almost exclusively with cast bullets and have not had a faliure yet. Enjoy!

Jeff
NRA Life

[35remington]

What brand of bullets are you using that are BHN 22? I presume these are some commercial cast bullet?

You can't find, among others, the 180 Speer, the 200 Sierra RN, the 200 Hornady RN, the 200 Remington Core-Lokt, or the 200 grain Hornady FTX? I would think one of these would be available, and even a very modest amount of searching will net you several sources for these bullets. I'm having a hard time believing absolutely nothing can be had, and that you're forced to use a second rate bullet.

A quick search reveals the following:

35 Caliber (.358-.359) | Rifle Bullets | Bullets | Brass & Bullets | Reloading Supplies |

Problem solved!

Hard bullets will respond with some fracturing of the nose of the bullet at high impact velocities, whether cast of linotype or any high antimony lead alloy, or even of heat treated wheelweights, which are considered to be more desirable. At more modest, 45-70 type velocities, the heat treated lower antimony bullet (wheelweight) will penetrate without fracturing and will only widen any flat meplat that is present.

At 44 magnum revolver velocities, both linotype and heat treated wheelweights will penetrate the target with only modest to no deformation and pretty much no fracturing whatsoever. So how well a cast bullet responds to impact depends upon what it's made of and how ductile it is and how fast it's going.

A 35 Remington rifle at standard velocities makes a good deer gun when using a bullet cast of simple, air cooled wheelweights. These are BHN 12, or thereabout, and this expands just fine at close to moderate ranges.

[horseshoe]

FRJ

Swany loads and shoots the 180 Hornady XTP in his 35 Rem with great results. It is a pistol bullet.

[FRJ]

Hi 35Remington and others, I have looked at all the stores in my area that includes 2 states. NONE of them have any 35cal bullets. Midsouth has had me on back order for 200 of them for over 2 months. On top of that paying over $10.00 in shipping on a $25.00 box of bullets seems kinda bad to me. The Sportsmans warehouse near me has an isle thats probably 30 feet long and 8 feet high filled with bullets of 4 or 5 brands and not one box of 35's!!!! A friend of mine shoots both a 358 win and 35 Whelen and cant get bullets for either one of them. As for the 22 Brinell they come from Montana Bullets. Great bullet, very consistent and very nice workmanship. I'm just worried about them not expanding. Since I don't have to hunt with it I think I'll just keep it for varmints and shoot the lead. FRJ