So I've done my share of searching and have come across quite a few mixed opinions... I know this has probably been discussed over and over, but I figure we could use an update from the guys in our own state. Trying to decide between the two. Going on a bear hunt with hounds and either caliber will do the trick just fine. Been wanting a lever gun for quite a while and now I have an excuse to buy one. I've always wanted one, as it's the staple "up north" "Michigan deer gun". Seems as though everyone has one. Love the fact that 30-30 is prevalent and can be purchased at any Walmart, Meijer, hardware store, etc. and will be around forever. On the same note, the more I research the .35, the more I like it. My concern is the pain in the butt getting ammo for the .35, and more so the thought of it slowly fading away and becoming obsolete. I' know it can be reloaded, but I'd hate to have a rifle that I can't get ammo for. What are your thoughts? Go safe with the 30-30, or will the .35 Rem be around for the years and decades to come? What is everyone's experience with finding .35 ammo?
.35 Rem or 30-30
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BFET529
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Good info everyone and thanks for your help! I never knew a whole lot about the .35 until I just started looking into the lever guns. I had always wanted one and simply assumed I would buy a 30-30... This bear hunt is finally pushing me to take the plunge and buy one. I do have my mind set of a Marlin as opposed to the Winchester. Guy at work just so happens to have a new and never fired 336C in .35 that he bought a couple years ago and is willing to sell. Had my mind decided on the 30-30 and now I'm heavily leaning towards the .35. He's got about a 200 count of brass and a box of ammo he will include also... looking at $475. I don't reload as of now but shoot enough and have enough buddies who reload that I'm sure I will be into it sooner than later. I'll just have to save all my brass and buy ammo when I can and hoard. Worse case, I have the resources to have it reloaded for me. Called around to some of the bigger box stores and although they don't have hundreds of boxes on the shelf, they did have ammo. Still not 100% against the 30-30 as I think shot placement is key, and readily available/cheaper ammo is a huge incentive. Junkman I agree with the style points... .35 definitely wins the cool factor. So with that said... $475 seem like a decent deal?
Who would think that buying a gun/choosing a caliber could be so difficult?
Who would think that buying a gun/choosing a caliber could be so difficult?
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150 Posts
Another option is the long maligned 358 Winchester. It's like a 35 Remington on steroids. It's a 308 Win case necked up to .35 bullets. A baby brother to the Whelen, which is a 30-06 necked up to 35. You'll never have to search for 308 or 30-06 brass. The hardest part is finding the gun you want so chambered. Browning BAR or some Rugers still out there....
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563 Posts
Couldn't agree more. I love my .35 Rem! But understand, I do have an affection for "odd" calibers. My deer guns are a .280 Rem, a .257 Ackley Improved, 7.62X54R, 6.55X55, and the .35 Rem. The only "common" calibers for long guns in my safe are a .22 and a .223. I reload, so it's never a problem, but it could be for those that don't. I used to load the .35 Rem, but after trying the .200 gr. Leverevolution stuff from Hornady I don't bother anymore. My old Marlin LOVES those loads, and is incredibly accurate with it. I vote for the .35, much better than the 30/30 in my mind....
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106 Posts
The 35 Remington is a great round. Get into reloading and it is even more flexible. Hornady makes the 200 gr FTX which with its higher BC .300 will offer you a little flatter trajectory and retained energy. It also expands well even at lower energies. Secondly you can shoot a 200gr hard cast gas check, this round gives you a wide meplat and incredible straight line penetration needed on larger game with tough quartering angles. Lastly, for fun you can load .357 magnum pistol bullets like the 158 Hornady XTP or even the 125 XTP. Trust me, these little guys at rifle velocities really act like varmint bullets, and most importantly they are accurate as well. I load them in my 358 Winchester and 35 Whelen Ackley Improved.
Go with the 35 Rem, you won't regret it.
Go with the 35 Rem, you won't regret it.
So I'm officially an owner of a Marlin 336C in .35 Rem! Completely happy with my decision. My first lever gun... Can't wait to get out and put a few rounds down range. Gotta get comfortable with her quick... Bear hunt in a couple weeks!!
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346 Posts
Congrats on joining the .35Rem family. I love my .35 more than any other gun i own. It is a 1951 Marlin 336. never been drilled and tapped. Iron sights only. Have never needed to adjust the sights when using 200gr Corelokts. hits a pop can at 100yds every time. I generally fire 2-3 rounds before the season just to make sure everything is on the up and up. You generally wont NEED to shoot it alot. Recoil is mild and they are just accurate. Ammo is not as hard to find as you might think. It becomes scarce right before hunting season but by the time January rolls around, it is back on the shelves.
Thanks vampile! The .35 Rem sure does have quite the following. Glad to be part of that family! I hope my irons are accurate right out of the box. Hunt will be over dogs so I plan on using the iron sights and Corelokts. From my reading, it seems as though the irons usually don't need any adjusting from the factory. I guess we will see soon enough. Hope to get to the range tomorrow or Friday. I do the same with all my "hunting" guns... shoot 2-3 to make sure I'm still where I need to be, hunt with it, clean and put away. Repeat process the following year prior to the season. As for ammo, I'm going to stock a handful of boxes and then pick up a box here of there when I come across them. Over time, I figure I'll develop quite the stash. I don't reload, at least yet, but do have about 200 once fired brass plus whatever I shoot that I'll be holding on to just in case.
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9,828 Posts
The guy at Gander told me the .35 remington is probably the most sought after round in that store. I have about 10-12 boxes stocked up. I usually grab a couple when dunhams offers those rebates.
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2,271 Posts
35 ammos not hard to find if you know when to look. Hornady does a run of it once a year in the spring (at least this is what I was told and it seems to be true if you follow when it hits the shelves), it hits the shelves and starts disappearing. when gone they don't run again until the following year so stock up in the spring and your OK.
So when it comes to ammo selection, the obvious answer is whatever shoots best in your particular gun... but for those fellow lever gun and .35 Rem owners, what ammo do you prefer? Have always been a core lokt fan and have always had good results, but I'm interested in the hornady stuff. Going to start stocking up and want to decide on one or the other. Although the Leverevolution definitely extends the caliber's range, how does it perform at closer ranges?
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346 Posts
I shoot 200gr CoreLokts. They are accurate and consistent in my gun so i have had no reason to change. They also hit really hard. I accept the fact that it is a 100 yd gun with a little room to spare. I generally only take it in the woods if i know shots are going to be close or there is a risk of jumping something.
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2,271 Posts
I have 2 Marlins, my son decided he really liked my 336 and gave me an excuse to get the same gun in SS the XLR. Both like the 200g hornady leverevolution rounds, I've never shot anything else out of them. As noted above within 100 yard they rock solid. I've shot deer as close as 10 yards out to 90 and have never had one go more than 30 yards. Even clip a tree that one was standing next to, left a half circle in the tree and splinters sticking out of the 7 pt when I found him LOL.
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2,304 Posts
I would have a hard time passing up a stainless .35
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2,271 Posts
don't do a search for one...... you can find them pretty regularly if you're looking. I missed out on one or two before getting the one I did. Williams in Auburn had it on gunbroker, saved shipping by driving up and picking it up so I used that savings to outbid everyone!
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