Is the .35 Remington still a viable choice?

GatorFarmer · Feb 4, 2016

One of the local shops has a Marlin lever action sitting on the rack. It is from before the era of safeties and the like.They describe it as a good old honest rifle. Which, I suppose it is. Tagged at 400 something it wears a scope and see through mounts of unremarkable nature. It has been sitting there for at least a year, maybe longer. The reason seems to be one of caliber, as it is a .35 Remington and not the ubiquitous .30-30.

I remember the .35 Remington having some disciples in my youth, but seeing a lot of used guns so chambered in the 90s that presumably were traded in.

A quick online search shows that Hornady Leverlution ammo, with pointed polymer tips, is still fairly readily had, but that most other makers offer only seasonal or limited runs that are unlikely to be in stock.

You would think a somewhat vintage lever gun in a classic medium bore would be a fast seller in Wyoming.Apparently you would be wrong, as it has dust on it.

Should I get it and stick it in the closet in case of a bear home invasion? (Which does actually happen sometimes.)

I had bought an inexpensive old .303 Brit reservation rifle to do current duty as ".30 something caliber rifle that sits around". It was cheap, has character, and at heart is still a fast firing old battle rifle.

But that old Marlin looks lonely. I have a 9mm 1911 that I think I could trade for it (a gun that seemed a good idea at the time). Would getting the .35 be an improvement or offer any advantage over the old .303? What is/was the niche that the .35 Remington was supposed to fill?

There are various large furry things around here, some carnivores, some not. Doubtless one of the local elk may take a mind to go on a murderous rampage. Hence the ever extant need for something bigger than a 5.56/.223. Well that and my latent fear of errant Sasquatch.

dusty3030 · Feb 4, 2016

Heck yes it's a great round in the Marlin it's an excellent round. The two match each others capabilities well.
The Leverevelution makes it an easy 200 yd round and with a little practice and rangefinder I'd be comfortable a little further.
200 grain .35 caliber bullets are nothing to sneeze at.
Out west I can see it not catching so much of an eye, the craze is long distance. Back east in the timber they are the cat's meow for deer and as perfect a black bear round as there is. Hog hunting rage I'm surprised they haven't surged back in popularity because they are perfect for that too.

NYlakesider · Feb 4, 2016

A good caliber and a good gun. I have not seen it but Marlin made good guns in that era! I had a very nice mid 60s made.35 .

Scope and mounts on that rifle, need lots more info on them.

Sounds like I would buy it after a little dickering!

crsides · Feb 4, 2016

Just sold a 1957 version Marlin 35 rem for $500. The Rem core lokt 200 g was the go to round for deer & black bear in the East. These are hard to impossible to find these days, but the Hornady Leverevolution are in stock most anywhere and probably a better round. When you thumb'em with a 35, they stay thumped. I "upgraded" to the 358 win round in sav 99 and a model 71 win in 348. They run a couple hundred fps more with same 200g bullet. If I were in Wyo, I would be looking at the 358 win.

Charlie

cowart · Feb 4, 2016

Are you a reloader? If so, this would be a good gun to have stashed in a closet with some reloading supplies.

There is a fellow on another forum who manufactures high quality 35 Rem brass from once fired military 308 brass. It looks like good stuff, and gets good reviews. See

35 Remington Brass from 308 1x fired Mil brass

Rpg · Feb 4, 2016

It's a superior round.

I'd buy it at that price in a heartbeat if it functions.

OFT II · Feb 4, 2016

The 35 Remington ain't got any weaker and the critters ain't got any stronger. It won't do anything that the 303 Brit won't do but what it does will be done with more panache.

kozmic · Feb 4, 2016

I love my Marlin 336rc (from 1965) in .35 rem. It's a great field gun with a serious punch. Perfect open sight hunter for the wooded areas up this way.

I have an "adequate cache" of Core Lokt and the Hornady L/R ammo on hand. I usually buy it if I see it and never pass it up if it's on sale. Ammo can be had if you look...especially in season.

Very viable and very competent choice GatorFarmer!

steelslaver · Feb 4, 2016

I would think that anything (bear and elk included) within about 200 yds would fall down dead with a well place shot from a 35 Remington. It is a great short range gun. One of my uncles had one and never complained.
I would trade the 303 British and keep the 1911 9mm and I am not a 9mm fan, but it would hurt to have one around.

Mike SC Hunter · Feb 4, 2016

Great old cartridge....I shoot a Marlin 336SS in .35.....It has a 16" bbl.. My favorite deer load is the remington 200 gr. soft point.........If you reload any .358 dia. cast or jacketed pistol bullet can be loaded in it.

DWalt · Feb 4, 2016

It has always had the reputation as being an excellent closer-range brush-busting caliber good for about anything from deer up. There were several other rifles chambered for it, most notably the Remington Models 8 and 81 (TR took a Model 8 in .35 Remington to East Africa on his 1909 safari for use on plains game as part of his gun inventory). Winchester made a few Model 70s chambered for the .35 Remington, which are a Model 70 collector's dream. I think .35 Remington brass is not difficult to locate, and if I had a rifle in that caliber, I would reload for it. I often see .35 Rem ammo at gun shows. Some years back, I was at Federal's factory in Anoka while they were making their periodic run of a single lot of .35 Remington ammo. I don't remember, but I think the production run was only scheduled for about a week.

Be aware that the Hornady LeveRevolution brass has a somewhat shorter case neck than the ammo from the other makers. It can be reloaded with normal RN bullets, but the charge should be dropped slightly below maximum.

oldman10mm · Feb 4, 2016

35 cal rifle cartridges are popular in Europe,here they never gained the popularity/respect that they should have. 35 Whelen(30-06 necked up to 35) has a following,358Win(308Win necked up to 35) should have been one of the greatest cartridges but was a disappointment in the sales of rifles for it.
the 357 Magnum is considered an adequate deer cartridge,now imagine that 158gr 357 Magnum projectile in a 35 Rem. 38sp,357Mag,35Rem,358Win all use the same .358" dia. bullet. I have 2 Marlins in 35Rem,I don't hunt. To me the Marlin/35Rem is a 'fun' gun. I reload and have used 90gr 380ACP bullets up to 158gr 38/357 bullets.

Here's a 35Rem with Sierra 90gr bullet and 2400 powder.

sigp220.45 · Feb 4, 2016

I've had one .35 Rem rifle, from which I've used one round to kill one deer.

I took this Savage 170 to fill a doe tag with my son, before he was old enough to hunt. We were walking along the top of some coulees in Montana, and I told him we should check behind us once in a while to see if any deer came out after we passed. I had read it in a magazine, and it seemed to make sense and it gave him something to do.

After about a half hour he stage-whispered "DAD". I turned around and there was a big fat mule deer doe standing at the top of coulee we had just passed. I told him to watch his ears and I let fly.

At the shot the doe made a loud WUGH sound and disappeared. What I will always remember is the ball of deer hair hanging in the air where the doe had been.

The load was a K-Mart 200 grainer. K-Marts in Montana always carried .35 Remington ammo when we lived there.

The deer didn't survive the experience, and my son, now a 24 year old soldier, still talks about it.

A 400 buck Marlin 336 in .35 Rem wouldn't last long here in neighboring Colorado.

federali · Feb 4, 2016

.35 Remington

Back in the 60s when I started hunting, I used to see lots of Marlins, particularly in .35, in the eastern woods. Most felt that the .35 was more effective on eastern game than the .30-30.

It's a great cartridge within its limitations. I own a .35 Marlin, pre-safety. It's the third one I've owned and this one will stay with me.

I've also seen people put 3-9X variables on these fine carbines, a mismatch if I ever saw one. Top the gun with a 1-4X or 1.5-5X, learn to shoot with both eyes open and you'll consistently fill your tag.

RSBH44 · Feb 4, 2016

I can't add much to what has already been expressed except to say, I bought a Marlin 336 in .35rem back in my earlier 20's and I still hunt with it in the northern NY woods to this day.

i1afli · Feb 4, 2016

I'm not sure what a .303 Brit "reservation" rifle is...is that a bolt action Enfield? If so, I'd much rather face an intruding critter with a lever action. The Marlin sounds like a fair deal and the .35 Rem. ammo is readily available at a little over $1/round, which may sound expensive but it doesn't sound like you'll be shooting this gun a lot.
Id go for it.

GatorFarmer · Feb 4, 2016

Reservation rifles/shotguns are a unique sub genre of blue collar sporting guns. They are so named from having spent time on Indian reservations where various idiosyncratic modifications take place to keep it running.

My particular current example was once a very late production SMLE, FTRd in 1948 and likely imported in the 1950s. It has been fitted with a Bishop stock that looks as though final fitting was done via jack knife whittling.The original rear sight is gone, a new one, using a stick for elevation adjustment was soldered on.There is also a soldered on front sight on the shortened barrel. It looks like it was lopped off with a hacksaw. An old Weaver side mount and rings is present, but I have no scope to fit it. Eye screws have been sunk into the wood for ersatz sling attachment.

It actually has a butt plate, rather than the usual slip on pad

It shoots, the headspace is correct, and has "character".

M E Morrison · Feb 4, 2016

crsides said:
Just sold a 1957 version Marlin 35 rem for $500. The Rem core lokt 200 g was the go to round for deer & black bear in the East. These are hard to impossible to find these days, but the Hornady Leverevolution are in stock most anywhere and probably a better round. When you thumb'em with a 35, they stay thumped. I "upgraded" to the 358 win round in sav 99 and a model 71 win in 348. They run a couple hundred fps more with same 200g bullet. If I were in Wyo, I would be looking at the 358 win.

Charlie

Personally I would prefer the Hornady ammo for deer; not so sure it is tough enough for hogs or bear. Perhaps someone has actual experience on these critters and can confirm or dispute my gut feelings.

arjay · Feb 4, 2016

Seems like a good excuse to take up reloading and you can work on the ultimate Bigfoot round while you're at it

kaaskop49 · Feb 5, 2016

attn OP

You said the Marlin looks "lonely" on the shelf. That's a perfect reason to buy it; I can't think of a better one.

Oh, by the way, keep the Enfield. That way you'll know it will continue to have a good home. It may look rough on the outside, but it's a shooter inside. Not many other bolt actions with 10-round internal magazines.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

Is the .35 Remington still a viable choice?

Member

SWCA Member

Member

US Veteran, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade

US Veteran

Member

US Veteran

Member

US Veteran

Member

Member

Member

US Veteran

Absent Comrade

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Similar threads