35 Rem for cast bullets?

[El Chivo]

As you may recall I recently posted asking about the feasibility of re-boring a 336 in 30-30 to 35 Rem. The 30-30 barrel needs straightening anyway, and as long as it's being worked on, I thought about changing calibers if I decide to get out of 30-30.

If I did this it would really be a silhouette gun, and I'd like to use Lasercast pistol bullets instead of gas-checked rifle bullets or God forbid pay 30 cents each for jacketed. Then I thought, what if the barrel was reamed out to .357, instead of .358, so the .358 cast bullets would be properly oversized?

Would this be dangerous if someone (not me) used factory ammo in it someday? Would .001 oversizing raise pressures significantly with a jacketed rifle bullet? Or would it just pop out of there like a watermelon seed?

I already have a standard 35 Rem 336 which has the standard bore, and I can use that one for hunting loads if I ever leave California.

For all of you who are going to tell me not to do it, thanks but this is still hypothetical, I'm looking for technical information as opposed to a 30-30 tribute thread.

[uncowboy]

A better alternative? Why don't you put a 358 BBL on it and ream it to 358WIN instead. This was a popular conversion . You are not interested in hot loads and the 308 Brass is everywhere to make 358's from. That way if the gun gets sold down the line anyone who researches it will know what the gun will do. PLUS SIDE Better BBL selection as well as cheaper brass(IF you make it) Great selection of cast bullets and no ejector or extractor mods needed. If you all ready have a 35 BBL you just need to rent a finnish reamer and a go gague. I have plans on doing this myself But I want to experment with a 35 Rifleand cast bullets first. Still looking for a cheap beater! All my 35 Tests have been with the contender Hunter Pistol BBL.But I am shooting the 358 Win in a Ruger Frontier Carbine and I am getting Great results with a 245Gr cast at 1900FPS and at 1600FPS. This would be a perfect Sillohuette set up! Good luck. J.Michael

[Thunder50]

Make it a 35-30 or better yet, a 38-55.

The .001" difference in bullet diameter won't raise pressures a whole lot, but will some.

[gimdandy]

In trying to figure out what YOU want it seems two fold , using cheaper bullets , heavier bullets for silhouette , and possibly a third, a little more accuracy?
#1 option I've never had an ejection problem w/ my 35 rem but I've always liked the rimmed cases better and I believe that it would a little better case if it had a rim so in making it a 35-30 you would still have the cheaper bullets , wouldn't have to machine the bolt face , would be using a smaller case at just before the neck making less shoulder and possibly working the brass less than either of the parent cases involved and you could have the barrel stamped anything you wanted I. E . .357-30, 356-30.
Another issue may be if you have it bored .357 , any lapping , hand or by bullet/valve lapping compound attached your going to end up w/ larger than .357 anyway , not necessarily in thousandths but tenths of thousandths. Maybe have it bored .356 hand lap it to .357 , stamp the barrel to reflect the size and work up loads .
#2 option Have it bored for the 35-30 ( .358 ) and find a local caster to buy bullets from in .358 or .359 (cheaper than laser cast and you maybe wont have any issues w/ bevel base bullets ) and your off and running.
#3 option Do all the above in #2 except cast your own any size you want for an additional savings.
#1 ok
#2 better
#3 best
have fun w/ it , that's my opinion and you did ask for it
all the best

[C. Cash]

Not sure about the aspects of changing it over to 35 Rem. with your reciever, but our own Montana Bullet Works makes up a great .359 RCBS 200 gr. FNGC. Dave Jennings is excellent to work with.

[JFE]

FWIW I use cast bullets sized 0.433 in a barrel measuring 0.429 and velocity is only up about 20 fps compared to bullets sized 0.431. I doubt you will have a problem at normal cast bullet pressures.

If you are planning to use short nose bullets in your 35 Rem I would be a little concerned about feeding shells through the mag. You should read this article by Glen Fryxell on the 35 Rem where he discusses feeding problems he encountered with short nose bullets.

http://leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/35_remington.htm

[El Chivo]

thanks guys, lots of great ideas, I kind of like the 35-30 idea...