What are your favorite loads for the 35 Remington used in a Remington Model 81? I will be hunting deer out to 100 yards at the most. More likely 50 yards from the deer blind. I would like a load using 200 gr bullets at 2300 fps.

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That's gonna leave a mark.

Not going to recommend a load...just a bit of caution. considering that the youngest 81 is in excess of that age...go for a bit less than that high end stuff. Not that the gun may not be able to handle what you hope for. But they don't make parts for 'em any longer. 3031 will be a good powder. I have a couple boxes of Rem 150 gr spitzers intended for the 141 that I push to about 2200. But a better load for my 81 is with a Nosler 180 gr 357 pistol bullet at about 2200 FPS. It is a deer killer Even out of my 14 in Contender at about the same vel out of the 357 Max too. I have a friend who shoots the 158 gr Rem Pistol bullet out of his Rem M-8. He's taken 3 deer this year with that rifle...and one with the 357 Max Think his season just ended

I use a 1914 Remington Model 8 in the woods often and while I mostly use factory ammo these days, I have reloaded for it but it’s been awhile. IMR 3031 is what I’ve used with 200-gr Sierra RN bullets. Start conservatively and work up a load- they’re neat old rifles and .35 Rem is a great cartridge.

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Some Might Say.

Teddy Roosevelt took a Remington Model 8 in .35 Remington on his 1909-10 African expedition (along with many other guns). He used it for non-dangerous plains game. No idea what load he used in it.

Not a reload.......A lot of critters have gotten a ride in my Chevy with the .35 Remington 200 gr JSP..

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S&W Accumulator

Like the OP, my brother enjoys the older firearms.
He shoots factory loads out of the FN 1900 .35 Remington, reloads for the Remington 81 .300 Savage, and factory ammo out of the Winchester 94 .30 WCF.

Attached Images

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Remington Factory CoreLokt 200gr (which, incidentally, is currently available!) is only around 2080fps... Why so fast at 100 yards?

Cheers?

P.S. Per Hodgdons there's not one load listed with a 200gr at 2300fps...

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Sit Reloader Sentiret

My father took me to a deer club in center California, in the mountains above the wine fields,
where the old Italian men used the old 30 and 35 Remington rifles to take
the small black tail dear, in the area.

The large bullet worked very well in the bushy hill sides and short distance, that was common on the average shots taken.

I had to laugh on my first trip w/o a rifle and just as a guest, that a lot of the deer were spotted, by their feet and legs, that showed up, under the bushes, as they drove around on the dirt roads.

No load data for you but that heavy bullet will do the job and it does not need extra added speed, to drop a deer.

Good luck on the coming hunt, with a great old rifle.

I think the 2300 fps loads were for Marlin 336's, which are a much stronger action. I sold my 336 years ago but still have my brass and dies, just in case...

Ivan

I've always loaded the book minimum load in 35Rem for my Rem Mod 8 & 81 and a Stevens 425 lever action.
3031 powder IIRC.

They function perfectly in the semiauto's. As do min loads in 25 & 32 Rem Auto.

If many consider a 357mag a 50yrd+ deer cartridge , I'd figure the 35Rem w/a heavier bullet and more velocity should be fine as well.

The rifles are old , my Mod 8 is over 100yrs old. I believe the 425 is as well.
Easy on them, just as you would would be to yourself and they will continue to do good service.

If you feel the need for a big 35cal for deer in the woods, get a 35 Whelen or 350 Rem Mag and put the 35Rem on the wall to admire.
People used to use the 32-40WCF, 25-35, 44-40 and other such cartridges for deer and did just fine within their limits.
MAybe the animals have evolved with armor plating skin coverings in the past few decades, I don't know as I don't hunt anymore.

I’ve got lot of experience with 35Rem cartridge as well as 8-81-14 & 141 Remington rifles. The Marlin 336 and Rem 600 to lesser extent. #1 with the old auto and pumps, forget light bullets. The 200 gr RN outshot everything I tried. Also I used IMR-3031 with 200gr RN and according to book it is tooling along at 2000fps. I did run it a little faster but backed it down for optimal accuracy. No.#8 was my first deer rifle as a kid but my bestest is a 141. I’ve shot many deer with it and 200gr load. 1st deer I shot with 35 kilt the buck I beaded and hit a doe right in the guts. The doe was bleating and flopping so I ran up and finished it. I figured I was finished too. Out of Stater, no doe permit and on my first out of state hunt. Luckily the crew I hunted with had friends in area who came after the doe. I forgot to mention it was on state hunting area. That was about 60year back, hope statue of limitations had run out.