Thought I'd start a new thread, and see where folks stand on this one.

There is the hardcore rimmed camp, that will have traditionally rimmed round barrels cut with a rim groove, and form rimmed brass to work. Examples would be the 221 rimmed using 360 DW brass.

There is the, I really don't care one way or the other camp.

I assume there is even a camp that prefers rimless rounds.

Personally, I have a strong preference to rimmed rounds in contenders. I shoot with gloves on 1/2 the year, and removing rimless cases is a real chore with rimless cases, especially when your hands are 1/2 numb even with gloves on.

Rimmed or rimless, you still have to have the correct headspace, and because rim thicknesses vary and rim counterbores in the barrel have to be cut deep enough for the thickest rim and shortest barrel to frame gap, you still end up headspacing on the shoulder just like you do for rimless.

The rim does limit the amount the firing pin drives the case forward in the chamber, but it is normally NOT the optimum headspace point for bottlenecked cases.

SOOOOOO, what the rim DOES afford, as you note, is the ease of handling the rounds since you don't have to fight the spring loaded extractors used for the rimless rounds.

I may have cut this thread's potential length down tremendously, but all prejudices aside, the above are the facts, and where possible to do so having a rim simply makes life and handling much easier.

If no option of having a rim exists, I can live with a rimless round if I have to, but given a choice that is workable, I'll go with a rim everytime. What do I know? I just test fire them nearly everyday.

Mike

And thank goodness Mike... cause we're run this one into the ground more than a few times.

Well, I am of the I really don't care whether it's rimmed or not. The only rimmed barrel that I have is my 22 LR which I shoot more then any of my other barrels. Paul, I know that temps here in Washington aren't anything like you get in Alaska but I wear fingerless gloves in a wool/poly mix to solve my fumbling problems. And Cas, I don't remember this topic being run to ground. Over course I don't spend as much time down here on the single shot forum as I used to.
Slim

I like the rimmed case but only because I like the 30-30 case, I wear a fingerless 'poly' glove year round when shooting, and as far as handling cases I dont find the 35 Rem to be any harder to handle than the 30-30.
Oh well

I do have a set of fingerless gloves, actually a mitten hybrid that you can cover up your finger tips with the mittens. There good down into the teens, but when it's around 0, and the winds are coming off the water, you need to keep the fingertips covered at all times.

Yeah this topic has been around a couple of times, over on the pond a few times for sure.

I have shot both of them all through the winter, when it gets pretty cold. I really don't notice any difference as far as handling the rounds. If your wearing big bulky gloves it's going to be difficult no matter what.

I think the aspect of headspacing is a more important issue than the weather.

Rich Jake

[ 07-26-2002, 05:55: Message edited by: Rich Jake ]

Good point Rich Jake. Slim

Ya it has to fit right to begin with, that is true.