There is lots of debate about which is a better round here on the forum the 35 REM or the 375 WIN. Let me end it here. . .

I loved your post. But, unless I missed something, I don't think it solved anything. :laugh:

 

I think the conclusion was that both rifles brought equal smiles. Suspense builds as to whether the 32 Spcl or 30-30 smile ratings will eclipse the 35 Rem./ 375 Win. Smile tie. :laugh:

T.S.

 

The mighty 35 has been toppling game for over 100 years which is a testimony to its favorable acceptance by a large number of hunters. Ballistically, the paper charts reveal very little about its stopping power. But in real life those 200 grain soft tip bullets hit very hard at typical shooting distances within forests and foothills. But Winchester's model 94 can only accept rimmed cartridges which is why they came out with the 375 instead of simply offering the 35. The 375 failed in the marketplace. Sales were so weak that this cartridge was dropped just a few years after its introduction which was a tragic end to a fine hunting cartridge, but true. The same situation occurred with Winchester's 307 and 356 cartridges; North American hunters largely ignored these two as well.

Back to the mighty 35: Throughout the 1960's and 70's, my Uncle Larry drove to Canada with his buddies to hunt moose and bear with his 35 Marlin. Apparently, no one told him he needed a 300 MAG. He came home most times with both trophies cleanly taken with plain old core-lokt ammo. Its hard to argue with success. When Uncle Larry died his rifle was willed to me. I've hunted wild hogs with it and have experienced much success as well.

TR

 

. . . Throughout the 1960's and 70's, my Uncle Larry drove to Canada with his buddies to hunt moose and bear with his 35 Marlin. Apparently, no one told him he needed a 300 MAG. He came home most times with both trophies cleanly taken with plain old core-lokt ammo. Its hard to argue with success. When Uncle Larry died his rifle was willed to me. I've hunted wild hogs with it and have experienced much success as well.

Not only is the .35 Rem a classic, you have a rifle from a relative which is always special. :top:

 

The major advantage the 35 has over the .375 is availability. I can pretty much find 35 Rem on shelves but I can't recall the time I've seen .375 WIN, excellent cartridge or not.
I know, you hand loaders will say just reload them. But I'd venture to guess that the vast majority on this site do not hand load. I never had the urge to get into it, and at my age now, it ain't gonna happen.

 

There is a kind of logic that says that if one uses a more powerful cartridge, that if deer tend to run 30 yards after being hit with a smaller cartridge then they will run only 25 yards or 20 yards with a bigger one and if one uses a big enough cartridge they will drop on the spot. Most with any experience do not see that. I still remember a jack rabbit I hit with a 222 that ran 80 steps with his off side ribcage almost gone. A 35 Remington at close range is the same a the 35 Whelen used at longer range. Often bullet design outweighs ballistics. The Remington 200 grain Corelok for the 35 and the various 30-30 bullets are all made for a specific cartridge. A Whelen may use a spritzer bullet of different design to hold together at close range and not do any more damage than the 35 with a Corelok. The 375 Winchester may use specific bullets, but again, do they do that much more than a 35. With soft points, bore diameter does not mean so much. Lots of power gets expended on trees on the other side of deer. One would have to use many of these cartridges on larger game to possibly see which is "better" but on deer I have rarely found a spent bullet inside the deer.

DEP

 

Don't forget the Hornady flex tip can be used in the 35 Rem. Much better ballistics for long shots.

 

The 35R had a 70? Year head start. No wonder the 375 didn't stay long. Add that Winchester, Ruger and Marlin were the most common offerings. Marlin produced a few. Winchester big bore never took off in any caliber. The Ruger was quite expensive back then.

The 35 sports an odd head diameter, short neck . It was also offered in a few bolt guns.

The 375 head is common to 30-30 et al. Most folks view slightly tapered cases as yesteryear (78-79), etc.

If the two were introduced today, same time, who knows. If I was choosing, I know which one I'd pick.

Papalote

 

My take on the issue is that about any new cartridge designed for a tubular magazine lever is a dead duck. The whole line of Winchester big bore cartridges went defunct. The 356 was probably the best one of the bunch for power and use is something over a 30-30. Marlins line attempts in the 308 and 338 are also history for practical purposes. I have not seen a new made 444 either and the 450 went down.
I have both a 35 and a 38-55 which can be loaded up a bit and really question whether either out performs a 30-30 to any great extent. The 35 has dropped deer I have shot with it pretty well but two were shot straight on, two in the spinal column and one through the lungs. The one in the lungs ran a ways and dropped. Hit one in the lungs with a 30-30 that went down and had to be rolled over to gut it. Mainly my point is that those buying a new lever seem to want either a pistol cartridge or a 30-30. The 307 and 308 Marlin were similar to the 300 Savage and a very usable cartridge but the market wants a 30-30.

DEP

 

Could be. Why pick one? arty:

T.S.

 

The Winchester & Marlin lever guns are just about perfect deer rifles for most hunting conditions and the 30/30 cartridge is likewise very hard to improve upon. All of the newer lever gun cartridges had an uphill battle trying to beat the 30/30. All of them were improvements in one respect or another but the "improvement" was small, tended to be more specialized, cost more, kicked more, were much less widely available and in the end they probably didn't kill any better.

 

Over the years I always chuckle when the debate arises which is better the .35 Rem or the .375 Winchester. Like .017 difference in bore diameter favoring the .375 Win is going to make a bigger hole! A similar debate between the .270 and the .280 has been around for years and again the difference in bore diameter is .007.....not a bigger hole.

New state hunting regulations requiring straight wall cases have revived the demand for used rifles in .375 Win, a cartridge which is essentially on life support.

I see no practical difference between the .35 or the .375 on deer.

 

The 375 has a slight edge in velocity with a 200 grain bullet, but not so much that is becomes magic. I have heard (i have not tried it on game yet but have a box) that the original 250 grain bullet was somewhat magical on deer sized game. I have and love both.
....... But the 45-70 is better then either of them! And way better than a 444 LOL

 

There is lots of debate about which is a better round here on the forum the 35 REM or the 375 WIN. Let me end it here. My son and I went to the range Sunday to warm up the 35 REM and the 375 Win, since its 12 deg F and snowing here in Michigan. We shot both Marlins for about an hour and went back to my house a few hours to reload the spent cases. The smiles never left our faces, we talked for hours about how each was fun in their own right and promised to get together soon to do it again. Best father son time. We thought we might take the 32 WIN special next time and one of the 30-30's for comparison. All have dropped deer and none disappoint in the smile department.

Love this answer! I've used both off and on for most of the nearly 50 years I've been hunting (although the .375 Winchester only since the 80's) and neither have ever disappointed! And honestly I don't see much difference in effect on whitetail deer. They both punch way above their weight. I have a slew of leverguns from pistol calibers through the 30/30, .32 Win spec.,.307 Win,.356 Win, .35 Rem, .375 Win, .348 Win .405 Win, .444 Marlin, 45/70 and .450 Marlin and I love them all. They are all great for whitetail. And the .35 and up I consider excellent for black bears and Moose. The .348 kinda sits in that place where I just don't like the bullet selection nowadays for anything bigger. Same goes for the .356 and to some extent the .405. but .444 and up with cast bullets I wouldn't hesitate to take anything in North America. But again, for whitetail and black bear the .35 and .375 are just perfect! I don't see much difference in effect on deer with any of the others as far as distance traveled but some of the big bores tend to damage more meat.

 

This is a five year old thread.
I'm closing it.