Thoughts on 35 calibers

[Monteria]

I have a thing for 35s... 357Max (the real 350 legend), 357 herett, 35 remington, and 35x57 imp, They are all 16 to 20" single shots and they all hit hard.

When it was time to build a full size bolt action mid bore, I decided that the 35x57imp was too close to a 35whelen (200gr ttsx at 2700fps) so I opt for a 9.3x62 instead.

That said, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use a 35 whelen (or AI) on anything in North America. And I don't think you would have any issue stretching one to 300 or 350 for deer.

 

[iShoot17]

To stay relevant: I used my M600 350 Rem this weekend for opening weekend of PA whitetail. It did what it does best and brought home some meat for the freezer while being a dandy to carry all day.

To detour:

350 rem mag was ahead of it's time (6.5 rem mag as well). It's a hammer at short to intermediate ranges. If I was going to do one I would do 35 Whelen for brass availability.

Nailed that one, especially the 6.5 Rem Mag, I had one when they first came out in the Rem M700 BDL and loved it, I wanted one in the same model in .350 Rem Mag but never got around to picking one up, sold the 6.5 Rem Mag big mistake on both those calibers on my part Cheers.

The 6.5 Rem Mag is another great cartridge - which I agree, was ahead of its time (in a short action magnum way since the 264 Win was already very alive for ~7 years). That was a "Big Green" failure though in releasing the beast in an 18.5" barrel, then a 20" before it finally clicked that the 6.5 Rem Mag needed barrel run way to really shine. It was already too late. They also left some on the table by pushing the 120gr compared to a 140gr.

For years I wanted one of the factory original BDLs in 6.5 Rem Mag and was finally able to locate one. Then I couldn't leave good enough alone and started searching for its 350 Rem Mag twin. I finally connected after a couple years. Then I started searching for M600s in each to finally realize that the 350RM was exactly what I needed for my style of hunting and the 6.5RM was completely unnecessary in the M600. I stopped looking for one long ago and have passed on a couple since.

I feel the 6.5 Rem Mag is really a cartridge that finds its place in open fields. I've used mine in the woods, and through the thick, and my personal experience is that it is out of its place. I've taken multiple whitetail with it, but tend to leave it home if there is any sort of foliage.

I'm also a HUGE fan of the 8mm Rem Mag. Talk about a hammer. If you want to feel some recoil, get behind one of those suckers. Jeez. It whacks like Thor's hammer on both ends - 200gr TSX at 3,120FPS. I've personally used it to buckle a Maine bull moose to the ground in a single shot. I will forever be faithful to the round after seeing that.



From top to bottom:
M700 BDL 6.5 Rem Mag
M700 BDL 350 Rem Mag
M600 350 Rem Mag
M700 BDL 8mm Rem Mag

Each of the BDLs is factory configured from Remington. The first two aren't very common with around 1,500 of each being produced (to my understanding).

 

[steviebby]

I run a 35sambar and it's a fantastic rifle very light and hits hard it's a Kimber Montana , 350 yards it's perfect the bc of the 35 cal is pretty poor , not saying it can't go further but you have to start thinking about it i run 200grain Barnes ttsx at around 3200fps with a healthy dose of reloader 17, I love it!!

 

[coueskiller43]

From top to bottom:
M700 BDL 6.5 Rem Mag
M700 BDL 350 Rem Mag
M600 350 Rem Mag
M700 BDL 8mm Rem

Those Mohawks in 350 rem mag are sweet!

 

[coueskiller43]

I run a 35sambar and it's a fantastic rifle very light and hits hard it's a Kimber Montana , 350 yards it's perfect the bc of the 35 cal is pretty poor , not saying it can't go further but you have to start thinking about it i run 200grain Barnes ttsx at around 3200fps with a healthy dose of reloader 17, I love it!!

What do you make you Sambar brass from?

 

[central iowa couple]

We're glad to have 35 cal rifles here in iowa. The boys and myself all run 35 whelens. My rifle runs 200 grain hammer bullets at 2950 with a 23 in barrel. I put a burris veracity ph on it and I'm not afraid of 400 yds. The veracity is dead on at 400. Dial and kill. Just sold my last whelen i built to a new guy in our group. Had the 350 legend...wanted more range. Time for me to build another. It's really fun...I think.

 

[tribb]

We're glad to have 35 cal rifles here in iowa. The boys and myself all run 35 whelens. My rifle runs 200 grain hammer bullets at 2950 with a 23 in barrel. I put a burris veracity ph on it and I'm not afraid of 400 yds. The veracity is dead on at 400. Dial and kill. Just sold my last whelen i built to a new guy in our group. Had the 350 legend...wanted more range. Time for me to build another. It's really fun...I think.

Wow.!!! Lot of Input in last couple of days. A big thank you to everyone who responded to my post . Tribb

 

[steviebby]

What do you make you Sambar brass from?

I got a heap of Bertram 325wsm brass one pass and your done could do the same with 300wsm

 

[ATH]

What do you make you Sambar brass from?

It's a simple neck up of WSM brass. As easy as it gets.

As I shared earlier, I have a shortened version. The shoulder is pushed back to meet Indiana's old 1.8" case length requirements that no longer exist -- unlike other Midwestern states, no straight wall requirement existed to it let to rounds like mine that shortly made the restrictions look silly altogether, and they were abolished for private land.

If I didn't have this rifle for this purpose I'd absolutely want a Sambar. It's a lot of power in a short action. Mine runs at Whelen AI velocities so the Sambar is cream on top of that.

 

[Frank in the Laurels]

..a well constructed bullet in .308 dia will be better than a .358 dia at 350 yards...I would think it would be flatter shooting and easier to handle overall...a 180 grain partition out of a standard 30/06 will be just as effective as that Whelan...in my opinion.

 

[tribb]

..a well constructed bullet in .308 dia will be better than a .358 dia at 350 yards...I would think it would be flatter shooting and easier to handle overall...a 180 grain partition out of a standard 30/06 will be just as effective as that Whelan...in my opinion.

Frank you're correct. But it's for a buddy in Iowa. 35 minimum caliber there

 

[fruitnut]

They must have big deer in Iowa. Way overkill for deer in my book unless you just like recoil and rainbow trajectory. A 358 of the right flavor and correct bullet will kill anything. But there are better calibers for everything.

Just kidding guys. Enjoy those 358s.

 

[LRNut]

The 358 Win is my favorite "short range" deer rifle. It hits HARD! 178 Sledgehammer bullets at 2650 with TAC powder. I've considered building a 35 Whelen but the 358 win gets it done for me. I agree with the others that a 358 STA would be sweet!

I have wanted a .358 Win for as long as I can remember. I hunt deer in MN every year and think this would be a perfect round. But somehow, a .308 Win with 180 gr bullets seems to get the job done....

 

[Monteria]

..a well constructed bullet in .308 dia will be better than a .358 dia at 350 yards...I would think it would be flatter shooting and easier to handle overall...a 180 grain partition out of a standard 30/06 will be just as effective as that Whelan...in my opinion.

And where is the fun in that? Some like chocolate and vanilla!