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Some Interesting 350 RM Data

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06 January 2003, 10:42
Brad
Some Interesting 350 RM Data
From the Accurate Powder manual (edition five, 1991):

Gun: Rem 700
BBL: 22"
Primer: CCI 250
Case: Rem

225 gr. bullet: 57 gr's. AA2015 @ 2,815 fps.
250 gr. bullet: 54 gr's. AA2015 @ 2,595 fps.

(*Both Max loads*)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

From the Barnes Bullets Manual (edition one, 1992):

Gun: Unknown
BBL: 26" Shilen
Primer: Rem 9 1/2
Case: Rem

225 gr. bullet: 57 gr's. AA2015 @ 2,843 fps.
250 gr. bullet: 54 gr's. AA2015 @ 2,612 fps.

Pretty good loads!

Interesting that there's very little difference in the 250 gr. loads despite the extra 4" of bbl. in the Barnes test gun.

Brad
06 January 2003, 12:43
dan belisle
Were the Barnes X bullets? That would explaain the differances. - Dan
06 January 2003, 13:19
DB Bill
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.
06 January 2003, 14:18
woofer
i bet that 225 load at 2800 plus pops goooood.
woofer
06 January 2003, 16:22
Brad
Bill, did you ever try AA2015... seems like the ideal powder for 2.8" 350's as it only fills about 85% of the case.

BA
06 January 2003, 16:27
Brad
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!

BA
06 January 2003, 19:59
dan belisle
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
07 January 2003, 06:15
Brad
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.

Brad
07 January 2003, 07:28
dan belisle
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
07 January 2003, 09:35
DB Bill
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.
07 January 2003, 10:52
Brad
Dan, thanks.

Bill, what bbl. length (and make) was your's and what velocities did you hit?

BA
08 January 2003, 00:14
Jesse Jaymes
Brad-

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
08 January 2003, 01:31
Major Caliber
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.
08 January 2003, 05:39
dan belisle
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
08 January 2003, 06:37
Brad
Dan, I like the case design better (shoulder) better on the 350 RM as well... no flies on a 35 Whelen though!
08 January 2003, 15:30
dan belisle
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
09 January 2003, 06:18
DB Bill
Brad.....my factory barrel was 22" long and as I recall I settled at 2650 fps with the Nosler 225gr Partition and it did all I ever ask.
13 January 2003, 07:06
Jesse Jaymes
I tried the initial load listed at the top of the thread. I followed it exactly, and used a 225 Partition, seated to 3.00"

I don't have the exact data in front of me but:

56.0 grains of 2015 got me 2630 fps
57.0 grains got 2678 fps

My rifle wears a 22" Shilen barrel
13 January 2003, 07:22
Brad
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.

Brad
14 January 2003, 09:28
South40
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.
14 January 2003, 17:49
Brad
S40, what rifle do you have and what magazine length?

BA
15 January 2003, 11:37
South40
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.
15 January 2003, 17:04
woofer
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
15 January 2003, 17:47
Jesse Jaymes
Brad-

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.
18 January 2003, 07:51
woofer
they list 55.0 as max for 4350 in a 250 so that might be a place to start. it is quite slow at that load though.
woofer
29 January 2003, 16:57
Alaska Bush Man
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.