I just purchased some bulk 180g jhp pistol bullets that I wanted to try in my .35 Rem Has anyone tried hollow pointed pistol bullets on whitetail and if so how fast can you push them without them blowing up without penetrating? I loaded a few up with 9.0g Unique for my 9 year old grandson to try and he now has visions of deer steaks dancing in his head.

I'm not sure, but tests I made indicate you can't go full throttle.
http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=4453

http://www.shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2279

Bye
Jack

Not very. Stick to the rifle bullets, or keep the loads down. They're pistol bullets, use them at pistol velocities, if you must.

If you can run them with light loads, at something approaching handgun velocities, and keep the shots within the usual range you'd shoot a deer with a .357..... then, sure.

Personally, I'd do it differently.

Put a recoil pad on the gun and shorten the buttstock to fit the kid.

Load up a pile of pinkers and let him shoot to his heart's content.

Re-sight in the gun for regular hunting ammo, and sent him after Bambi.

Bout what I thought... That Marlin 336 sure makes the kids eyes sparkle, but I think I'll load the rest of those jhp's as plinkers too and maybe order some BTB cast for hunting. Finding a combo that he isn't scared of has been a challenge, but then he is only 9 and I'm rushing things.

Thanks for the replys

Never too young, Milkman -

Had my 6 year old grandson out last month when visiting him and his folks. Shot HIS .22 rifle and my .22 Hornet. He thinks shooting is the berries!

A couple of suggestions. .35 Remingtons have a short throat and many cast bullets won't chamber if they're crimped in the groove. .359" is the correct groove diameter so order the largest diameter bullet you can.

As your youngster won't be taking long shots, you could load the 200 grain Remington Core-Lokt down to about 1900 fps with 34-35 grains of 3031. This isn't much slower than most factory ammunition, which averages about 1950 fps from a 20" barrel. Recoil is about 13.7 ft. lb., 17% less than a full snort handload that makes 2080-2100 fps. I'm assuming a 6 3/4 lb. rifle, using the formula provided by General Hatcher.

Don't use the 200 grain Sierra or Hornady bullets at 1900 fps. They have enough trouble expanding at 2100 fps. The 180 grain Speer is OK.

Bye
Jack

Bout what I thought... That Marlin 336 sure makes the kids eyes sparkle, but I think I'll load the rest of those jhp's as plinkers too and maybe order some BTB cast for hunting. Finding a combo that he isn't scared of has been a challenge, but then he is only 9 and I'm rushing things.

Thanks for the replys

Going from memory, but my lapping loads were 3 grains of Bullseye with a 148 grain wadcutter. You have to seat the wadcutter flush with the case mouth or it won't chamber.

Just sort of ambles down the barrel and out the gun... can't get much lighter than that! Make sure you don't stick one in the bore.

I'm with Jack on the bullet selection. The 200gr. Rems will expand even if you drop MV a couple hundred feet per second, and keep the shots within 100 yards or so.

Or, if that's even too much, a very blunt hard cast bullet will kill just fine from velocities of 1200fps and up.

Don't forget to alter the buttstock, or get a spare. A full size stock with no recoil pad will be just too much.

Cabela's has some replacement stocks for the 336 that are youth sized. Might check them out at www.cabelas.com

And you HAVE been thinking of a 39A for a practice rifle for him, right???

:D

THANKS FOR ALL THE REPLYS, AND MAYBE WHAT I REALLLLLLY NEED IS ANOTHER RIFLE FOR HIM. wHAT COULD GRANDMA SAY ABOUT BUYING SOMETHING FOR THE LITTLE ANGEL?

And you HAVE been thinking of a 39A for a practice rifle for him, right???

:DPersonally, I would suggest a Leupold scoped, bolt action Kimber. Buy right and never need to replace. :D

Back in the late 70s I loaded a bunch of 158s and 110s both HPs for a friend in Mecosta, Mich. He wanted 158s for deer and 110s for snowshoe hare. These were loaded for his .35 Remington Marlin Levergun. He was out hunting snowshoes and happened on a deer with the 110s in the rifle, he up and shot a heart lung shot. The 110 went through the chest cavity and lodged on the off side under the hide. The only thing there was the jacket and it was flat and looking like a kung fu throwing star. Since then that is all he uses on deer, is the 110s. He sold all the 158s, swears the 110s are the deadliest bullets ever made for whitetail. PS the 110s were loaded up hot with H4895 meant to take the head off of a snowshoe. I don't know how fast as I never checked it out. I do know in a .357 rifle 158s loaded hot do a good job. I'm going to try the pistol bullets in a .35 I have recently purchased, just for some first hand checks. I do still have one of them expanded 110 jackets he used on deer. Don't believe I'll use HPs. The 180s do intrigue me for a .35 as I do believe the .357 max in a 16 inch contender is approaching .35 rem velocities. Just some idle thoughts and observations on the subject. Take care and have fun. Swany