I've owned several rifles chambered in 350 Rem Mag over the years and I've never been able to reach the velocities listed in the reloading manuals. I could could never even reach 2700 fps with 225gr Nosler Partition but then 2650 fps did all I ever ask it to do.
Posts: 4360 | Location: Sunny Southern California | Registered: 22 May 2002
Dan, based on my experience, what explains the difference is that heavier bullets tend to give up less in short barrels than lighter bullets in the same length barrel.
Regardless, the 22" bbl. gives up very little to the longer one... a nice trait of moderate capacity medium's. I've never understood 24"+ bbl's on stuff like 338 WM's, 35 Whelen's and the like!
Could well be. I know my current 350 RM gets 2615 with 250 gr Speers out of a 20" barrel, but it's built on a 98 action so I can load out to 3.2" COL. I get 2800 fps with 225 gr NosletBT's, 2787 fps with Barnes 225 X's, and 2650 with Sierra 225 GK's. Great cartridge, though. - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
Dan, those are impressive velocities for a 20" bbl. I remember an old article in Handloader... the fella had the a similar set up to yours... his was an M98 and 20" bbl. His velocities ran right with yours.
What powders do you like and what OAL do most of your bullets get seated at. I'm still considering turning my WSM into a 350... I'd only be able to seat bullets to 2.950" OAL. I suppose that's why this 2015 data got my interest going as the velocities were all obtained with the 350's 2.8" OAL, rather than a "stretched" version.
My COL varies from 3.14" to 3.28". This will vary from bullet to bullet of course, with the Nosler BT requiring 3.17", usually. I use IMR 4320 for the 350, it seems to work the best. I've also tried some 4064 which doesn't seem to give me the same velocities. I tried Nick Harvey's 350 data and it was too hot, too bad really. Take care - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
Brad.....I used AA2015 in my most recent 350 RemMag...part of the problem may have been that the barrel had one of the roughest bores I've ever seen. Not only wouldn't it shoot BarnesX worth a darn, after 10 shots I was through as the copper build up in the grooves was enough to raise pressure. AA2015 was, however, very accurate and gave me all the velocity I really needed.
Posts: 4360 | Location: Sunny Southern California | Registered: 22 May 2002
Please recheck the listed data for me. I am not being an a$$hole, but just want to make sure it's correct as I borrowed some 2015 from a buddy and would like to try it. I think my 350 is fairly "fast" as I've gotten over 2700 with 225 Partitions, and if the data is correct, would make my gun pretty stout. I may be faster than published due to seating to 3.00". Thanks in advance. If you get back to me, I'll shoot in the next day or two and re-post results.
Lastly, are there any other 2015 powders, or is AA the only source using those numbers? (i.e. IMR and H having "doubles" 4530, 4831, etc.) Only labeled 2015
Posts: 346 | Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico | Registered: 05 January 2002
If you're building on a Mauser action, wouldn't 35 Whelen be a better choice? Same potential as the 350 mag, and greater magazine capacity, and no mods to the action, cheap 06 brass too.
Posts: 3097 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: 28 November 2001
GSF, there is actually slightly more case capacity to a long loaded 350 RM (or 360 Fireplug, as Jeff Cooper calls it). Velocities will usually run a little faster then a 35 Whelen, about equal to the Improved Whelens. Your mileage, of course, may vary. - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
No, the 35 Whelen is a good cartridge as well (I've one of those, as well). Truthfully, we're splitting hairs here. No game animal on earth is going to notice the differance between these cartridges, it's just fun tossing the ballistics back and forth. - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
Jesse, I'm wondering whether because the loads I listed were fired in the "regular SA's" with 2.8" magazine boxes and short throats they have increased pressure and, therefore, generate higher velocities than your long-throated 350. My original idea was that AA2015 may well be the "ideal" powder for the 2.8" 350 RM's, whereas RL15 *should* be the ideal powder in the "stretched" 350's...?
I say RL15 *should* be ideal based on it's performance in the Whelen and my own experience with it in the 308 Win. RL15 consistantly and safely gave me higher velocity and accuracy in the 308 than any other powder including Varget. A stretched 350 RM should be able to digest a couple grain's more RL15 than the Whelen and surpass the velocities of the Whelen with like bullets and bbl. length's.
A word of caution, AA2015 and Accurate Arms XMR2015 are not identical. I used 56 grains of AA2015BR in my .350 and got 2720 fps (22" barrel) with very good accuracy with 225 Nosler Part. The max loads I've seen for XMR2015 are in the neighborhood of 53 grains for the 225.
Posts: 442 | Location: Way out west | Registered: 28 March 2001
Rem M700 SA Classic. Bullets seated to 2.8". Since I can no longer find AA2015BR, I've switched to 59 gr of WW748 and get 2670 fps - still with very good accuracy.
Posts: 442 | Location: Way out west | Registered: 28 March 2001
i have been up to 61 grains of 748 with no nasty things to report other than my hat off and rolled into a fresh shit covered field! not happy about that but was about the accuracy. same as mild rl 19 load and much faster...... woofer
Posts: 741 | Location: vermont. thanks for coming, now go home! | Registered: 05 February 2002
Sorry not to get back to you. Shot it again today, and had a few 58.0 loads of 2015. The F'in Chrony sucks is all I can say. I can't stand that POS. Never reads the most important loads of the day, which I ususally only have three of.
I shot Varget and 225 today. I used 60.0 and got around 2668. I recall this load cracking 2700 before on a borrowed chrony. Primers and extraction are still easy. The primers on the 57.0 2015 looked like I had plenty of room to increase.
I don't recall the Nosler book 225 load max with W748, but I know that I can easilly exceed it as well. May try that again soon, but out of 225's in either Sierra or Nosler.
I took a shot before, but I'd really like to try H4350 in this gun, but am to chicken to try to find a starting load. Any help??? Brad seems to be on the right line on thinking load data variances are due to COL.
Posts: 346 | Location: Las Cruces, New Mexico | Registered: 05 January 2002
In the 350 RM and 35 Whelen with 250 Speer SPT I use 56.0 grains of IMR 4320 with Fed M210GM Primers in Fed Nickle Cases for the 35W and Fed 215GM in Rem cases for the 350 RM. Excellent Load for large game......Reloader 15 would be my next choice in Powder.
Posts: 523 | Location: North Pole, Alaska | Registered: 26 January 2003
