35Rem Maximum Rifle Loads

[Puddle Rat]

I just picked up a Ruger #1 CHP 357mag that will be going to the gun smyth next week to have the chamber stretched to da Max. This rifle will be used for S. Michigan Deer so I'm primarily looking for favorite powder and pet loads. Looking for 170-190gr bullet loads and a plinking load for a hard cast GC/cheep jacketed bullet. Also any other tips like amount of crimp ect.......

Goal is to buy only two powders and hope I get lucky. Deer bullet wise looking hard at the swift AF and fury or........

Oh yeah, put half a box of 38's thru her - she is fun to shoot!!!!

Gary

 

[del2les]

I use Lil' Gun and H110 in my 14" Contenders. I get good speeds and groups with everything from 158's to 190's. The old Hornady 180 SSP has always been a great performer, but I believe that one is discontinued. The 190 hard cast FN has given deep penetration and decent wound channels. The 180 XTP gives great accuracy, expansion and good penetration for deer and hogs. Make sure the smith cuts the leade without the old taper, for this helps improve group size.

 

[del2les]

 

[RAGGED EDGE]

I've always wanted to do exactly what you are doing. Have a great time with it.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I use Lil' Gun and H110 in my 14" Contenders. I get good speeds and groups with everything from 158's to 190's. The old Hornady 180 SSP has always been a great performer, but I believe that one is discontinued. The 190 hard cast FN has given deep penetration and decent wound channels. The 180 XTP gives great accuracy, expansion and good penetration for deer and hogs. Make sure the smith cuts the leade without the old taper, for this helps improve group size.

The 180 SSP in my 35 Rem. 14 in. Contender shoots great also.

 

[Ol' Red]

The 180 SSP in my 35 Rem. 14 in. Contender shoots great also.

I shoot 180 SSP in my 35 Rem. 14 inch Contender also. Shoots great out to 315 meters with IMR3031 powder. When I run out of SSP's I will have to try XTP's, If they ever get back on the shelf. Never shot that round through a Ruger #1. Good luck with it and enjoy.

 

[WYO300RUM]

I shoot 180 SSP in my 35 Rem. 14 inch Contender also. Shoots great out to 315 meters with IMR3031 powder. When I run out of SSP's I will have to try XTP's, If they ever get back on the shelf. Never shot that round through a Ruger #1. Good luck with it and enjoy.

I haven't tried XTP"s either. That's a pistol bullet. Not a spire point bullet. It may be good at shorter ranges. I forget the powder. I haven't shot mine in years. I only have one other Contender pistol barrel. A 10 in 44 mag.. I have quite a few rifle Contender and Encore barrels. Don't shoot them much anymore either.

 

[Monteria]

Ignore the PM I sent. I remembered to reply...

I'll try to give data that most probably wont have tried, but worked really well for me. All my Max have been rifles and I use them for hog hunting. Any of these would be more than adequate for WT.

The bullets I use for hunting with the max include 180 Hornady XTP pistol bullets, Speer 180gr FP rifle bullets, and 200gr Hornady flex tips.

Powders and basic qualities in my experience...

AA1680 - probably the most common max powder for 180gr bullets. Good velocity and good load density.

VV-N120 - my favorite. Works for 180s as well as AA1680 and the best powder I used for 200s.

RL7 - really close to N120 but seems to be a tiny bit slower burning. Works well for 200s. My barrels are 16". If yours is longer, RL7 may be better, but then that would probably benefit N120 to an equal degree.

IMR 4227 - good all round so far as velocity, but a bit fast for the 200s. But it is dirty burning and I dont like it.

Of these, my favorite combo is the Hornady flex tip 200s over VV-N120. They will be compressed loads, but I got 35rem factory ammo velocities from my 16" barrels (number 1 actions are plenty strong enough for the elevated pressures). Zero recoil and they hammer pigs.

Steve

 

[Monteria]

Oh, one other anecdote... lilgun gave really good velocity with 180, but it burns HOT! It's the only powder I've had really heat up a max barrel, even though I pushed it HARD with the slower powders.

 

[Monteria]

Some examples. 2 pigs with one shot and the 200 hornady Ftx recovered. A 200+lb pig with, if I remember correctly, 180 XTP at 95 yards. I originally built 357 Max as kids guns. They excel at that, but they are also just plain fun!

 

[Monteria]

One last point of note. For your rechamber, I'd suggest you contact Mike Bellm (sp?). I'm not sure that he does #1s, but he does run a great max reamer. What ever you do, make sure it is a rifle reamer. Forcing cone reamers are horrible. One of my max was chambered with a forcing cone reamer (even though I was very clear with the gun butcher) and the only way I could get it to shoot was rechambering to 357 Herrett. My other 3, I hand reamed with the correct reamer and it worked great.

 

[Muddyboots]

Lil Gun
H110
AA1680
AA5744
All good. Dennis at Fury made me 190 gr soft point that shoots lights out.
Encore 24" MGM 1:14 twist barrel. The twist will be limiting factor for heavier bullets. The 1:14 shoots heavies great which is where the Max shines.

BTW brass seems to be readily available right now.

FYI-I am the author of this regulation and nope not DNR nor MUCC. I wrote it and partnered with Matt Lori my representative who championed it to the legislature. Only took 5 years to beat down DNR to accept it. Simply politically driven position by DNR. IMO-No desire to help sportsmen in MI.

What is cool is the number of states growing implementing similar legislation. Recently sent package to NH

 

[Monteria]

Correction, since muddyboots just jogged my memory...

4227 is good for 158 and 180gr. It is clean, but faster than I like.

5744 was just a bit fast for 200s and dirty. Sorry about the mistake.

Steve