[brewster7]

My first reload for the 35 Rem. Loaded 180g Speer Hot Core FN with 39grs of Varget. OAL set at 2.463 just below the crimp groove.

W O W! My 336 loves this load - six shots touching in the center at 50 yds. That's better accuracy (in my rifle) than Hornady 200g LeverEvol and I thought they were amazing.

 

[Fomdiddle]

That 180 HotCor is my favorite bullet for 35 Rem. Fom

 

[papajohn]

That's almost an exact duplicate of my best 35 Remmy load. Mine shot that one into a 50-yard spread that started with "point-oh.............." Glad to see it works well in other guns too. Just more reason to love Varget AND the Speer 180!

 

[brewster7]

So do I need to try the Speer 220 hot core or just leave well enought alone -- just shooting white tails and hogs.

 

[Chihuahua Floyd]

So do I need to try the Speer 220 hot core or just leave well enought alone -- just shooting white tails and hogs.

just how dead do you want to kills them?
If your rifle shoots that good with the 180s why bother. Course you still need to group them on paper at the extreme range you will hunt.
CF

 

[papajohn]

The only potential problem I see is shooting an animal at longer range with the Speer 180.........the jacket and core are pretty stoutly constructed, and you might not get much expansion at longer ranges. Up close you should be fine. 8)

 

[oscarflytyer]

Glad to hear Varget works for the 180 Speers. I have some test loads worked up for the Speer 220. Yet to shoot them... And a box of the 180s, nothing worked up. I will now obviously start with Varget! Thanx

 

[Halwg]

Varget is a pretty slow powder (velocity wise, not burning rate wise) in the 35 Remington. At 39 grains you are probably at 1900 - 2000 fps or maybe a bit below that. That really isn't sufficient velocity with the 180 gr Speer, as PJ says, it's a tough bullet. Short range is OK, but I like to push this bullet at 2300 fps or slightly above. I wasn't able to do that with Varget. And I used a lot more than 39 grains.

Check 2shotal's range tests with Varget. It's pretty darn slow. I'd never try it with the 220 gr Speer, because you need at least 2050 fps - 2100 fps to get decent expansion with that bullet. Check 35remington's bullet tests for both the 180 gr and 220 gr Speer bullet.

I would go to a different powder than Varget if I was planning on using these bullets to hunt with.

 

[brewster7]

Great advice and encouragement guys. Thanks.
Halwg I understand your caution especially about expansion and hunting -- but man that load and those results sure is great for the ego. I've also got H335 and IMR 3031 to try.
I have been reading every thread I can find on 35 Reloads -- I know a lot of great work has been documented here. Sometimes the search function works better with a user's name than "35 reloads" for example.

 

[biggog]

I'm a little confused on the loads Brewster 7 is using. Are these just for punching paper? I haven't been reloading that long but every article, reloading manual and people I've talked to about reloading for lever guns says they have to be crimped. How can you crimp them if your below the cannelure? I know the accuracy goes up if you have less free bore, but you couldn't hunt with these reloads unless you were making the gun a single shot.

 

[Halwg]

I'm a little confused on the loads Brewster 7 is using. Are these just for punching paper? I haven't been reloading that long but every article, reloading manual and people I've talked to about reloading for lever guns says they have to be crimped. How can you crimp them if your below the cannelure? I know the accuracy goes up if you have less free bore, but you couldn't hunt with these reloads unless you were making the gun a single shot.

You are right. I have no clue why he would do that, either. Trim the brass within the min - max tolerance and crimp it in the cannelure. But if you use a Lee FCD you can crimp it anywhere on the bullet and it will work. But not using the cannelure on the 180 gr Speer, which is a bullet made for the 35 Remington, doesn't make sense to me.

 

[oscarflytyer]

PJ/Halwg

Pls define 'short distance' for the Speer 180/220. Use Skinner peep on my 35. I don't expect to shoot it past 100-125. Does this stay within the parameters of short distance and working range of the Speers? Thanx

 

[Halwg]

You should be fine

 

[City Slicker]

Brewster7...

Try RL-7, it burns faster, is accurate with the 180 FN and you can work up to 2250-2300fps.

 

[brewster7]

If I crimp to the cannelure, it results a fairly short cartridge (which may be just fine). I've been crimping the standard way using the RCBS Seater die just below the cannelure to play with OAL. Havent't had any loading or cycling problems yet. Just so you know I'm paying attention, I ordered the Lee Factory Crimp die today.

Next powder will be H335 with mag primers. I sure will try RL-7 and thanks for the heads up.

 

[scott fisher]

I use 42 grain of h335 and cci 250 mag primers. Average velocity 2350. Very accurate. Two shots touching and the third 1/8 of an inch from two touching @ 50 yards open sights and stock trigger. Start at least 10% lower and work up. Only reason I used mag primer was I have like 5000 of just sitting their. Regular primer would probably work just as good.

 

[brewster7]

Started with 37gr of H335 and a CCI mag primer using the 200gr Horn FTX bullet. Fired 10 today at 50 yards and got good accuracy - 8 of the 10 are touching just left of center. I'm using a 2-7 scope set on 4.
Will load 10 more with 37.5gr.

 

[scott fisher]

That reload info I listed was for a 180 speer flat nose bullet.


Started with 37gr of H335 and a CCI mag primer using the 200gr Horn FTX bullet.

 

[brewster7]

I know -- I was aware of that, thanks.

So what are your recipes for 200gr Horn FTXs?

 

[beretzs]

If the 200gr Rem CL's don't work out, the 180gr Speer FP will be next on the loading bench. I know the Speers are tough, but they still seem to expand decent, but man, they should be a great penetrator. Scotty