35rem question

gon2shoot · Post by **gon2shoot** » Tue May 13, 2008 9:18 pm

Building some loads for my yet unfired (by me) 336, I find that very few bullets have a factory crimp groove that dont leave a pretty good "jump" distance.
I generally try for 10/15 thou., but I see a lot of loads for 375 handgun bullets which are pretty short, and the jacketed bullets I've found are full dia. from the crimp groove back which would give the same jump before engaging the rifleing.
Would like to hear the experience you've had with cast.

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Tue May 13, 2008 10:34 pm

I have to say I haven't yet tried GCcast bullets in my Marlin 336RC in .35 Remington, but I crimped my jacketed bullets in the groove & obtained excelent accuracy at 100 & even 200yds. I wonder if your seating depth of .010" to .015" off the lands will allow your cartridges to feed from the magazine thru the action. What I'm saying is crimp in the crimp groove & don't worry about it. It's not like you're shooting a match grade target rifle, and the Marlins, I've found out, are exceptionally accurate. jd45

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue May 13, 2008 10:57 pm

.002"-.003" jump is fine for jacketed. Just so the seal/crimp is broken before the bullet engraves.

IMO cast bullets should just barely engrave.

Post by **Hobie** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:32 am

IME, the optimum seating depth differs gun to gun anyway. I always try the case trimmed to length crimped in the crimp groove first and function takes precedence over absolute accuracy. It seems silly to me to worry about another .1-.2 inch smaller groups with a .35-.45 caliber bullet. Often, that was the only difference I was getting in group size. Measurable yes, but inconsequential.

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Wed May 14, 2008 7:32 am

Load the 200 grain RCBS gascheck cast bullet, use a Lee Factory Crimp die to crimp into the crimping groove, and then go to the range and shoot. You'll more than likely be a very happy camper if you pick a decent, moderate load with 3031, 748, or XMP5744, out to about 100 yd. I've never tried it beyond that, but this is not a long-range caliber, either. JD45 is exactly right.