picking a 35 cal

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buckbrushoutdoors

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Late this spring I picked up a 35 whelen on model 70 action. This gun has me so impressed that's all I've carried all summer and fall. I bought another long action winchester crf action and plan on doing the" perfect 35"
In my research I've come across the 358 Norma and a plethora of other magnum 35s.
My question is, if one was to pick a magnum version of the 35 what would you choose? Or am I crazy to expect any different results than what the 35 whelen will do in the real world
 
The 35s are killing machines but recoil goes up significantly with the larger cases.............I love my 350 RMs but ballistically they are a Whelen in a short action, the Norma is a fine cartridge but unless you reload you can forget a readily available ammo source. This pretty much applies to all the other super 35s cause they're wildcats...........If this is not a problem, then just pick a case and run, one of my favorites is the 35-300 WM, a good choice as the brass is everywhere, runs nicely through a standard long action and pumps out 250s with great authority. I have not had one of these yet, but I do have it's big sister in the 9.3X300 WM so one could expect similar results using a .008" smaller bullet.
 
buckbrushoutdoors said:
Late this spring I picked up a 35 whelen on model 70 action. This gun has me so impressed that's all I've carried all summer and fall. I bought another long action winchester crf action and plan on doing the" perfect 35"
In my research I've come across the 358 Norma and a plethora of other magnum 35s.
My question is, if one was to pick a magnum version of the 35 what would you choose? Or am I crazy to expect any different results than what the 35 whelen will do in the real world
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35 Whelen is more than enough gun. If you get another 35, consider a close-in thumper like a .35 Remington lever gun.
 
c-fbmi said:
The 35s are killing machines but recoil goes up significantly with the larger cases.............I love my 350 RMs but ballistically they are a Whelen in a short action, the Norma is a fine cartridge but unless you reload you can forget a readily available ammo source. This pretty much applies to all the other super 35s cause they're wildcats...........If this is not a problem, then just pick a case and run, one of my favorites is the 35-300 WM, a good choice as the brass is everywhere, runs nicely through a standard long action and pumps out 250s with great authority. I have not had one of these yet, but I do have it's big sister in the 9.3X300 WM so one could expect similar results using a .008" smaller bullet.
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For the 35's, my choice or 'pick of the litter' is the 358 Norma Magnum. My interest started with my favorite bolt action and the decission to 'collect' the big three efforts of co-operation between Schultz & Larsen and Norma, as shown on the cover of the old Norma reloading manual. 7x61 S&H, 308NM and the 358NM.





Getting a Schultz & Larsen in 358NM was a little diffucult and I acquired a model 1651 Husqvarna to tide me over until I was able to get my hands on a Schultz.





Finally got my Schultz in 358NM,



but haven't got the will to part with the Husqvarna, yet.
 
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buckbrushoutdoors said:
Late this spring I picked up a 35 whelen on model 70 action. This gun has me so impressed that's all I've carried all summer and fall. I bought another long action winchester crf action and plan on doing the" perfect 35"
In my research I've come across the 358 Norma and a plethora of other magnum 35s.
My question is, if one was to pick a magnum version of the 35 what would you choose? Or am I crazy to expect any different results than what the 35 whelen will do in the real world
Click to expand...

If you want a magnum 35, the 358 Norma is about as "perfect" as you can get. I have owned, loaded for, and shot at least half a dozen over the past 50 years.

Have also owned at least five other caliber 35s, from the 35 Rem to Bevan King's 35-404 Imp, which drives 250 gr bullets way past 3200 fps.

The 358 Norma is not only quite manageable in a hunting rifle, but every one I have personally owned was very accurate. I cannot remember any animal ever getting up after being whacked with a 250 gr bullet started off at over 2900 fps.

Ted
 
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If you want a big case .35, Ultramag brass is relatively inexpensive, and you could simply neck down a .375 to .35, or open up a .338 to .35. You would definitely have the hottest .35 on the block, at least until your neighbor decided he needed one based on the .378, but shooting .378 based cartridges is expensive, with little ballistic advantage. Ted's .35 Imperial Magnum is essentially the same cartridge, as was Charlie Newton's .35 Newton, designed back in the 1920s, so the idea is far from being a new one. Using .338 Ultra load data would get you in the ball park. A .35 Ultramag could prove to be an affordable powerhouse.
 
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buckbrushoutdoors said:
My question is, if one was to pick a magnum version of the 35 what would you choose? Or am I crazy to expect any different results than what the 35 whelen will do in the real world
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I'd pick a 358NM as a magnum 35cal. It's easy to shoot, very effective on larger game and brass is a snap with reformed 300WM brass.

OTOH .... Unless you really need that extra FPS and are planning on doing a lot of hunting for moose/bear/big stuff, I doubt you would be disappointed with the Whelen alone. A 250gr bullet @ 2500FPS is a very good combo. Drop back to a 200gr bullet and the Whelen makes a VG deer round w/o the extra magnum weight/recoil/expense.

Here's a 358NM that Bevan King built for me a few years ago. If not for the 375CT he built for me earlier, I would still own it. The 35 went to the good home of a younger co-worker.

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I personally prefer the mid-power range .35's... I found the .35 Rem to be an underpowered duplication of so many other smaller bore lever calibers... only had one .358NM but for the Ontario hunting I do, it was simply overkill... I have owned and loaded for many Whelens and .350RM's, and now I am down to a single Whelen and a single .350RM... they are perfect for my purposes... let your typical quarry and terrain dictate which .35 you choose.
 
buckbrushoutdoors said:
You guys that are shooting the 358 Norma, are you buying Norma brass or are you making your own? How is brass supply ?
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Just prior to acquiring my first 358NM, I lucked on to seven boxes of Norma factory ammo from lefty 338-06, a CGN member. In addition, I picked up 100 new unprimed from I believe it was Henry at Budget Shooter Supply, a site sponsor at the top of this web page.
 
With the choice of bullets out today I would pick the 340 Wby Mag.

I had a 358NM years ago... it shot really well. At that time brass was readily available.
 
buckbrushoutdoors said:
You guys that are shooting the 358 Norma, are you buying Norma brass or are you making your own? How is brass supply ?
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One pass through a 358 Norma Mag sizing die, and 338 Win Mag brass is ready to load full power ammunition. No trimming or fireforming necessary, just go hunting! :)

I have used nothing but 338 brass for the past 40 years, and never had a problem of any kind.
Ted
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Just prior to acquiring my first 358NM, I lucked on to seven boxes of Norma factory ammo from lefty 338-06, a CGN member. In addition, I picked up 100 new unprimed from I believe it was Henry at Budget Shooter Supply, a site sponsor at the top of this web page.
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Nothing like finding a bunch of ammo and deciding you should have a rifle to shoot it.

Might be worth picking one up so I could justify having another bullet diameter on the shelf. Even if I would be cheating on the .366" bore...kinda.

Maybe I've been listening to Douglas too much but it seems to me like the Nosler data for the 358 Norma is a little tame.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Nothing like finding a bunch of ammo and deciding you should have a rifle to shoot it.Might be worth picking one up so I could justify having another bullet diameter on the shelf. Even if I would be cheating on the .366" bore...kinda.

Maybe I've been listening to Douglas too much but it seems to me like the Nosler data for the 358 Norma is a little tame.
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;)Kinda' the other way around.:) I knew one day, I'd definately get one so in prep for that day, and while the gettin' was good, I started gathering. Got two now, ;)one for a spare.
 
guntech said:
With the choice of bullets out today I would pick the 340 Wby Mag.

I had a 358NM years ago... it shot really well. At that time brass was readily available.
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Hey Dennis :) Guess What the 340 WBee is NOT a 35 cal round - LOL

The KING of 35 cals is the 358 STA ( Shooting Times Alaska ) - neck up 8mm Rem Mag brass and there you go ! ;) RJ
 
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