Educate me on M700, 350 mag

marlin60

marlin60

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I've been doing some research on a Remington M700 in 350 magnum.

Availability of ammo is a main concern, with most users reloading.

They are compared to the .35 Whelan a lot, but the magnum seems like a niche round that never really caught on.

Would picking one up this day and age make any sense if you weren't a reloader? I already have a 30.06.
 
Top off the rifle you are talking about with a redfield and its capable of just under MOA if you exclude one shot I know I pulled, 1 1/2 if you count them all. Seems like a great cartridge, and yes, reloading would really help, or a case lot of ammo when you do find it!
 
The M-700 in .350 magnum was my introduction to powerful rifles in the early '70s. It wasn't long before the stock crackedforward through the forend checkering and back halfway through the pistol grip. So if your M-700 has the old thin stock with press checkering, look for cracks. If its not cracked chances are its in nearly unfired condition so unless you want to upgrade the stock, get it glass and pillar bedded.

The .350 magnum cartridge is not as good a choice as is the .35 Whelen, IMHO. While capacity is the same, the short .350 doesn't handle long bullets as well as the longer cartridge does, and the throat is shorter. When I had my .350, it was all but impossible to load to the cartridge's potential with the 270 gr Speer, and today a similar problem would occur with the heavier "long for weight" TSXs and similar mono-metal bullets, to say nothing of a heavy weight Woodleigh. The cartridge would do better in a long action rifle, with a long throated chamber, so the bullet could be seated out to optimize the powder capacity. But once chambered in a long action rifle, the .350 has little advantage over the .35 Whelen, and none at all over the .358 Norma. The .350 magnum rifle I'd watch out for today is undoubtedly the M-7 custom shop model with the kevlar stock. I've handled 2 in the last 2 weeks, and they are sweethearts.

Its been a long time since I've loaded for a .350, but if I was at it today I'd look for the heaviest round nose, lead core, bullet that would keep me within the allowable 2.8" COAL, and I'd back it with ball powder, perhaps H335 or W-748.
 
My buddy has a M700 classic in .350Mag that he likes a lot. We chronied one of the loads he has and were both stunned at the numbers! I couldn't believe there were no pressure signs. We tried factory loads and the numbers were consistant so I went out and bought the same rifle (thx Doug) to compare the numbers. We tried but couldn't come even close his velocities and was already having flattened primers and case separation just ahead of the belt was imminent. There was something about his rifle that we couldn't duplicate with the one I picked up so I said no thanks and sold mine. I can't repeat his velocities here but suffice to say he has a hot loaded .358 Norma Magnum in a much smaller package. And yes, the recoil and muzzle blast are vicious!
 
I own both 350RMs and 35 Whelen rifles and have been a 35cal guy for over thirty years. I also say don't buy a 350RM unless you intend to reload. Both are easy to handload. But the 350RM factory ammo selection is generally limited to one 200gr Rem load, hard to find and overpriced usually. The 35Whelen make a little more sense if not reloading - but still not great for selection and price.

My son has hunted with me thru the years and always used one of his old man's handloaded 35s. He does not and will not reload. When he moved west he asked me what he should buy for himself. It pained me to say it, cause I like my 35s so much, but I recommended a 30-06 or 300Win Mag. He bought the 30-06 and has been uber happy with it.

However if you want to reload I highly recommend the 350RM. 250s at 2450+ will dump the biggest animals in N. America. It's usually easy to reach that with ReL15. Same goes for the 35Whelen. A buddy killed a wood buffalo some years back with 35cal 250gr partitions at that velocity - no issues.
 
I too own both but am much more familiar with the 350 RM. It is a wonderful cartridge that kills all out of proportion to it's diminutive appearance.
I disagree with boomer, in that this cartridge was designed around a short action and doesn't require a long action to reach it's potential. It was designed to use bullets in the 200-250 range not the heavy for caliber stuff and it does this flawlessly in a very small package.

I use 225s exclusively in my Rem Mod 7 KS custom shop, and like the previous poster, my velocities are almost unbelievable. Mine will keep 3 shots right around the 1" mark at a 100 mtrs and easily hits the 300 mtr pig clanger with great authority and minimal hold over using a 200 mtr sight in.

There are plenty of fine bullets in the 200-250 range out there for this cartridge and some real cheap 200 gn plinker bulk bullets, as well as pistol bullets for subsonic grouse loads.

I do agree with boomer that this is a medium bore with moderate recoil and should be properly bedded in a wood stock or there will be issues. This is no different than any medium bore though and is no more prone to stock splitting than any other 4000 ft lb energy rifle.

I really like my 350 RM in the package it is in (mod 7 kevlar) it points amazingly well, fits like a glove and kills like a 375.
All of this applies to the Whelen but in a longer heavier rifle, it shares all the attributes of the 350 EXCEPT the quick handling short action. I personally would hunt any NA game with either one with a good 225 in the 350 and a good 250 in the Whelen and not feel undergunned, even on the big bears after having seen the 350 in action on several bears.

I shot a 6' black bear point blank (maybe 15 yds) in the hip running straight away and got more than 4 ft penetration from a 225 Accubond. It killed the bear instantly and appeared to almost pick him up and drive him into the ground. It was truly impressive to see, since then it is usually all I carry in the spring for bears and have terminated many with it never needing a second shot, to my recollection.

As said before though, you can only achieve this level of performace through handloading, but in this respect I don't think the Whelen is in much better shape.

This has become my go to camp gun and both my wife and 12 year old are competant with it. It has a special little niche in my camper right by the door and comes camping every time we go out, this is the kind of confidence I have in this rifle and cartridge.
 
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