My .35 Rem handloads outperformed leverevolution

[Jason_W]

I can't help but be a little proud of that. Nothing against Hornady, they make some great stuff, but leverevolution seems a bit overrated.

[J Miller]

Jason,

I'd be proud of that too. But ... velocity, accuracy, dead animal -- just how did your loads better the Hornady factory ammo? Details, we need details.

Oh, pics too of course.

Joe

[Chuck 100 yd]

YES !!! DETAILS !! PROOF !!

[O.S.O.K.]

Given the fact that the 35 Rem is loaded well below the capabilities of the case and the Marlin 336 action, its not really that much of a trick to SAFELY exceed any factory offering.

But it is fun.

Most cartridges require a rechamber to an improved version to pull that off.

[Old Ironsights]

Good for you Jason. Could have told you that though.

The LE bullet may have an interesting BC, but Factory pressure limitations/liability will always relegate the NIB stuff to second best.

Just imagine what you could do handloading the better BC bullet...

[1886]

Given the fact that the 35 Rem is loaded well below the capabilities of the case and the Marlin 336 action, its not really that much of a trick to SAFELY exceed any factory offering.

But it is fun.

Most cartridges require a rechamber to an improved version to pull that off.

Yes. H-4895 and Benchmark will do the trick. Many like H-4895 but one will need Rem. cases to do so. Not enough volume when Winchester cases are employed. The Speer 220gr Hot Core at 2200fps adjusted at the muzzle puts the .35 Rem. in a whole new class. Only newer, post 1975, actions should be considered for this level of performance. 1886.

[Jason_W]

The load I used was 39g of H-4895 behind a 180g speer bullet. I have not chronographed them yet.

I'll post pics of the target tomorrow. It's out in my car and currently raining heavily.

I should note that Winchester 200 grain factory ammo beat my handloads by a bit.

[Pisgah]

Not to be too nit-picky, but there's a question as to whther higher velocity alone is enough to "beat" the LeverEvolution load. Part of the deal with the LE is not only velocity but a bullet with a substantially higher ballistic coefficient. Factor that in, and the LE load might shoot flatter and retain velocity and energy farther than your load.

[Jason_W]

Not to be too nit-picky, but there's a question as to whther higher velocity alone is enough to "beat" the LeverEvolution load. Part of the deal with the LE is not only velocity but a bullet with a substantially higher ballistic coefficient. Factor that in, and the LE load might shoot flatter and retain velocity and energy farther than your load.

All I know is that my loads grouped tighter on that particular day. Of course, I can't rule out the human factor. It may have been a stroke of luck. But, I'll take the temporary ego boost

[jd45]

Tight groups are important, sure, but the bullet's performance on the game animal counts, too. I know the LE stuff is new, so there's not a lot of data to sift thru, but it looks promising. I just got some for my .35 Rem. Marlin 336RC, but I've stoked some cases with the Speer 180FP & the 200GR Corelokt RN as well, to compare. Decision....decisions! jd45

[Old Savage]

Here was the first five I tested with the velocities.



same rifle with Rem 200s. If I recall correctly they chronographed about 100 fps slower. That was common.

[piller]

Pretty nice groups. Looks like you had fun.

[Old Savage]

Thanks, about 13 years apart and no change of sights - looks like they can be used interchangeably. Nothing missed the center by more than an inch or so.

[slabsides]

I haven't had my old 336SC Marlin for a long time now, but back in the '60's it was my only rifle, and I used it for everything.
Hornady 200 gr. roundnoses with IMR 3031 was the deer/bear load. With the Williams Foolproof/Sourdough post front sight setup I had, it would stay under 2-1/2" at 100 yards, enough to settle the hash of several tasty larger animals. I used the gun as a varmint rifle, too, for two seasons...until I had scraped up the coin for a Rem. 700 6mm. With regular .357-358 pistol bullets of 125-158 gr., using IMR 4227, Woodchucks simply evaporated. The few groups I shot on paper I didn't save, but they were small enough to make me sure of bodyshots on 'chucks out to a bit over 100 yards.
My only .35 Rem these days is a 14" barrel for my T/C pistol. That one shoots the Hornady 158/iMR4227 load I used to use for chucks in the Marlin, into 2 moa reliably, with iron sights. With the Leupold 2x pistolscope, well under 2 moa. I call it satisfactory.