That is very good information to know, as I intend on taking one to Illinois next season. Based on your post, I will probably work my load development with the Hornady 200 gr round nose.

 

Interesting... Thank you.

Guy

 

You're shooting them through the lungs............They're gonna run........Shoot them through the heart.......They're gonna run......NO MATTER what caliber/bullet you use.......Shoot "em" through the shoulders .....They fall down and die........Not much meat on the shoulders anyway...........I killed 7 this season......Shoulder shots put "em" in the dirt.....I process my own so I know there's little meat loss to a shoulder shot.
So it's not your bullet/velocity........It's where you put it.

 

Another vote for neck shots, down at the base of the neck. DRT. I did hear two stories of failed neck sots at the gunsmith’s shop the other day but my last 10 or so deer have all been one shot to the neck.

 

Sorry about the lost deer, man. I've dropped 4 whitetails in their tracks (50-100 yds) with 200gr Hornady #3510 and #3515 projectiles with 36.5gr of IMR 4895. Think my velocity is approx 2000 fps.

Also agree with Mike. I prefer neck shots but shoulders are next preferred. Limited meat for sure.

 

Sounds like bullet failure to me. sorry man, that is frustrating

 

I'm really hoping that 35remington will chime in here regarding his experience with this bullet. I'm intrigued now.

 

Here's another bullet solution. 3x diameter expansion.

 

Something like that, or the Barnes, may be a future solution. However, the .360BH is so new that not much reloading data is available for it yet. And you must always use different data when loading solid-copper bullets instead of lead/copper. Something to keep in mind, tho.

 

After doing some research, I found GT Bullets online. This is the bullet I'm going to test as a possible replacement, when I can get some. Right now, they are about 7 months behind on shipping.

35 200gr RCBS clone with Hollow Point and Hornady gas checks [35-200-hp-gc-359] - $21.82 : GT Bullets!, Fine Hand Cast Lead Bullets

GT Bullets! 35 200gr RCBS clone with Hollow Point and Hornady gas checks [35-200-hp-gc-359] - 200 gr lead hollow point rifle bullets in 35 caliber with copper Hornady gas checks. These are very accurate bullets in the 35 Remington sized and lubed to .359 with Hornady copper gas checks for your...

www.gtbullets.com

In the meantime, I got some 200gr hard cast GCHP from Montana Bullet Works to experiment with.

Montana Bullet Works

 

I know shoulder shots can really anchor deer, and I’ve shot ‘em there. I’ve also done the “behind the shoulder” thing. Yes, they run, but if double-lunged it’s not far. I would’ve thought that a 180-grain bullet of that caliber, at that velocity, would do the trick regardless of “bullet performance”, but apparently not.

 

You might alter your shot placement to the point of the shoulder or just over it. It will damage more meat however, you will break one or both shoulders. This will result in a better blood trail and if you break both shoulders, you get the deer snowplow. Deer with chin on the ground and unable to run off because the front legs don't work. No tracking or a deer within 10 yards of where you shot it.
Not shure how it will work with the round you are shooting but, it works for me every time and I have used 307, 308, 30-06, 30-30, 35 Remington, 44 mag, 444, 45/70, 50 Alaskan, 308 ME, 300 H +H and 338 WM.

My best friend got his daughter a buckhammer and she killed a 150 class 10 point with it this year. Worked fine for her.

 

The unknown variant here is you don't have the recovered deer to see and analyze shot placement. I don't think you can blame the bullet without knowing what it did. And without the deer, that question will remain unanswered. I used to think the same about the 35 Remington Cor-lokt. Thru the boiler room is my choice of shot also.

 

Cartridge: 360 Buckhammer
I haven't any on the Speer .358" 180 gr. or on your shot placement.
But I would think at a MV of 2300 fps. it should do its job.

I went to Hodgdon's online data to see the maximum MV. of the Spreer .358" 180 gr.
To my surprise the BH listed is a Rem. 180gr. core-lokt top MV. 2,503fps.
But no listing for the Speer .358" 180gr.

With the 35 rem., the Speer .358" 180gr. top MV. 2.302fps.
Big difference.
As far as your two deer not found remains a mystery.

 

The bullet sounds like the problem. I think those lead bullets may work out .

 

Sounds like bullet failure to me. sorry man, that is frustrating

The unknown variant here is you don't have the recovered deer to see and analyze shot placement. I don't think you can blame the bullet without knowing what it did. And without the deer, that question will remain unanswered. I used to think the same about the 35 Remington Cor-lokt. Thru the boiler room is my choice of shot also.

The bullet sounds like the problem. I think those lead bullets may work out .

While I don't have the recovered deer to analyze, I think I may be able to draw some conclusions when I get around to doing the bullet tests. If that Speer bullet behaves similar to the hard-cast, I think that would confirm my suspicions. But if the Speer bullet is expanding and not over penetrating, then the blame may lie with me. But we'll see.

 

I wonder if you could use the 180 gr Hornaday XTP like in the 357 Maximum rifles and load them to 2100-2200 fps. They work very well on deer in the 357 Max.

 

Something to think about.

 

I took a buck this season with one of my 35s using a 200 gr cast.
He was walking and evidently a tad faster than I estimated.
About 70 so yds, was trying for the shoulder, but hit slightly behind.
Was a nice double lung, and he went roughly a 125 yds.

I would think that even if that 180gr didn't expand at your stated distance that it should've plowed completely through.
I have never lost a deer shot with a 35 caliber bullet and only this one this year and one other that ever ran more than 25 yds.

RP

 

Shot my 2023 buck at 75 yards with 7x57R low and right behind his shoulder, taking out the top of his heart and the lower lungs. He ran 100 yards, including straight up a hill. I would like to see us all avoid this version of the "I am Daniel Boone reincarnated and all of my shots hit precisely where I aim them and all the critters drop dead right there and anyone else who doesn't achieve the same results as I am telling you is not a good hunter, is a poor shot, has poor judgment, and either needs more range time or should just get out of the woods altogether." Think about the websites where this kind of posturing goes on and you will immediately think of websites you prefer not to visit because of it.

 

It's possible that the deer expired, went down and you just missed seeing it when you were tracking it. All depends on how good your tracking skills are. Just saying. When I track an animal, I not only use blood signs. If very little to no blood is evident then I also look at the tracks/hoofs. You can tell a lot by looking at the ground imprints left behind by any animal, especially hoofed animals.

 

Given the area where the action occurred, that is not likely. On the doe, the blood trail just came to an end along the hillside, and we couldn't find it again. On the buck, we were following a blood trail until it neared the property boundary. In neither case did the deer show any inclination to laying down from the injury. But this property is hard to track on. It's nothing but ridges, hollows, and runoffs all over. Leaves, lots of leaves, cover the ground everywhere. Two inches of snow would do wonders for tracking in this area, but we usually don't have it available.

 

Sometimes you need to do a little soul searching. If that 200 grain bullet hits a shoulder, that deer will do a little back flip and die right there. I'm thinking you hit low and behind. A deer that has been hit in the lungs will run a little ways and lay down and die soon after. If they are moving around, they will bleed in the body cavity and leave very little blood trail to follow. It's a hard thing to do but whenever I've shot a deer and it ran off, I waited a good hour before starting to track. Sometimes no matter how well you set up your shot, it can still go wrong. Ethically, we try the best we can to get our proficiency to the point that we make our kills as humanely as possible but things still go wrong. I don't think your ammo is the problem and I wouldn't abandon it if it were me. I think the laws of averages just caught up with you.

 

I get what you are saying, and don't disagree. I'm hoping that my bullet tests will help to determine if it was my fault or not, or if there is a better bullet option.

 

This garden raider was DRT at 85 yards with a max LVR loading and a Hornady 200 gr RN Interlock bullet using my 1964 Sears Model 45 in 35 Rem (store brand Marlin). I typically use a high shoulder shot which always produces a DRT deer in my hunting experience. At my age with my old Army injuries, I don't need to track deer for hundreds of yards anymore. The Hornady bullet has worked for me every time for the past 5-6 years since Speer/Sierra/Remington bullets can't regularly be found in my LGSs.

 

This garden raider was DRT at 85 yards with a max LVR loading and a Hornady 200 gr RN Interlock bullet using my 1964 Sears Model 45 in 35 Rem (store brand Marlin). I typically use a high shoulder shot which always produces a DRT deer in my hunting experience. At my age with my old Army injuries, I don't need to track deer for hundreds of yards anymore. The Hornady bullet has worked for me every time for the past 5-6 years since Speer/Sierra/Remington bullets can't regularly be found in my LGSs.
View attachment 952536

I switched to high shoulder shots years ago as I too hate tracking/dragging.

 

Hornady 200g always TCB.

 

I was shooting the 180gr Speer hot Cor in my 336a 35 Remington… Bullet was traveling around 2000+fps… I had a decent 7pt following a doe by my stand at about 65 yards…All shots were pretty much broadside… I shot deer just stood there… I shot again and the deer started to walk off and stopped after about 10 yards or so… I shot again and he took 2 steps and fell over… When I walked up on deer I realized I hit him all 3 times… One shot was in the neck not a lethal hit and one was in the brisket really not a lethal hit and the third shot was through the lungs… Very poor shooting on my part to sat the least… In my defense I was shooting excited and off hand… but all the bullets just penciled through the deer… I prob won’t shoot those bullets anymore unless I kick them up a couple hundred fps faster… So if I had the BH and was reloading for it I’d use the 200gr RN bullets by hornady or Sierra

 

What I’m getting out of this the Speer .358” 180gr. is a tougher bullet than a 200gr. bullet.
this is a hard self-analysis to swallow.

In the Speer manual 13 it states,
Speer’s 180 and 220 grain Hot-Core bullets designed for the 35 Remington offer better performance than the 200 grain factory loads.
The Speer 13 manual was first printed, December 1998.
The info in this manual is 26 years old.

I have five boxes of the Speer 35. Cal. 180gr. unopened I bought about 20+ years ago. I wish I could test them in a ballistic gel block. If can find a place to do it.
As of now I’m baffled and need more info.

 

Your bullet did not pencil through anything. If it made it through both lungs that deer is dead inside 150 yds. I've seen bullet failure more in the last ten years than in my previous 42 years of hunting. Bullets blowing up just under the hide at moderate velocities. I will refrain from naming them here. Bullets I know work in my straight walls are: Hawk, Cutting Edge and Barnes originals. Calibers I use: 40-65, 45-70, 40-70 Sharps Straight 2.5" and 375 wcf. Do some expansion tests in water or gelatin. Even wet cloth and paper works. Good luck and keep testing until your satisfied and confident.

 

 

The 180gr Speer is a tougher bullet than most of the 200gr bullets designed for the .35 Rem. I also shoot a 35 Whelen and drive this bullet in excess of 2900 fps - no "blow ups" to date, even on close shots.

 

WOW, then someone should advise Speer of their .358" 180 gr. Exclusively designed for the 35 Remington cartridge, something doesn't add up here.
I can't find a printed load for the 35 rem. that will put it on the heels a 356 Win. and certainly, no ways near a 35 Whelen. For those who may say it can get on the heels of the 356 Win. I say no,

2015

2.550"

40.5

2,379

41,700 CUP

45.0

2,703

46,300 CUP

2520

2.550"

44.1

2,267

37,600 CUP

49.0C

2,576

41,800 CUP

So I think a range day is in order and if I can be within minute of deer shoulder with my Win. 94AE @100yards the remaining 5 boxes of Speer's .358" 180gr. has founded a home. But I will find a way to do a ballistic gel test.

 

I used my 35 Remington for 30 years and the 200 gr bullet. Never had deer run off more than a few yards. I know know you and your shooting ability but shot placement is what really makes the difference.

 

Yes, take your time and drop the deer properly. If it runs off while you are aiming, it wasn't to be. That's where practice pays off. You should be able to aim and shoot within 5 seconds.👍