Looking for load data for a 35 Bullberry in a 20" barrel. Would appreciate some velocity data as well. Which do you recommend: neck up 30-30 brass or neck down 375 Win brass? Also, if anyone has or knows of a drawing of this round it would be greatly appreciated. Shoot, I'm open to any info/light you can shed. Thanks,
Alan

Why not just contact Fred at http://www.bullberry.com I'm sure he can help you out with your questions.

scr83jp,

I've spoke will Fred and it has been some time since they have worked with the 35BB he said. He said that with the newer 35 cal bullets they need to start looking at it anew. So, I was hoping to hear from some you the guys who have some good loads and current info.

Alan

Alan
I have several 358 Bullberrys..got my first one from Fred about 25 yrs ago...It is still one of my favorites. It is a very good deer thumper and is my go to gun for killing things. It is a suprisingly good long range round. All mine have been extremly accurate and it is not a dificult round to load for. I have modified a 357 Herret die to use for loading but it can be loaded with a standard 35 Remington die as well.
I have used 30-30 brass as well as .375 and 38-55 brass...all of it works well. I have reloaded 30-30 brass up to 21 times so brass life is not a problem. 38-55 brass has the most room and 375 brass the least. The round is extremely versitale as you can use all the 357 pistol bullets as well as the 35 cl rifle bullets. I have used the 225 NBT and had good results. Presently I have my orignal 12 inch contender barrel I got from Fred in the mid 70's and a H&R Handirifle I had OTT rechamber for me in a 20 inch tube. The Handi is scary accurate and I have slain many deer with it at some fairly looongish ranges. There are a wide range of powders that work well in it...just about anything that runs well from a 35 Rem will work. I have settled on 2 powders for my use..H322 and IMR or H4198. H322 works best with 180 and up the 4198 with the lighter bullets. I have taken the H322 up to 40 grains with out problems but have settled on 38.5 and the 180 Hornady SSP or XTP for deer. The 180 Speer is also a good one as is the 180 Rem but it is a little soft for the speeds in the carbine. Both my guns shoot 200 gr round nose bullets into very small groups and the are very good at the shorter distances. I use 36.5 gr of H322 for this in both guns.

I get 2045 FPS from the 12 in contender and 2270 from the carbine with the 200 RN. I hav a friend with this round in a Bullberry custom 20 inch Contender and his tube is a bit faster than mine. The 180 grain bullets run about 75-100 FPS faster than the 200"s I have killed about 25 deer with these guns and only one animal has gotten out of sight(25-35 yards) And that was my fault as I hit him badly.
The guns are not at all uncomfortable to shoot as far as the recoil is conserned...less than my 358JDJ by a good bit and really not that much less in performance. A friend of mine has a 14 inch Bullberry tube that runs 180 Hornady SSP's at 2250 and has had much success with it as well. I prefer it to the 35 Remmy as I like rimmed cases in the single shot format.


shortgun

Thanks for the info Shortgun. Do you know if there is any difference between the 35 BullBerry and the 358 BullBerry? And what would you think of using the Nosler 225gr AccuBond bullet as a short-range elk round?

AlanF

They are the same as far as I know...just different ways folks have of saying the same thing I think...At rifle speeds the 225 NBT really thumps things so I am guessing the Accubond would be ok..I have no experience with them as they are a little pricey for my humble wallet. My Bullberry is just a little more than a 35 Rem but not a 358 Win either. The accubond is a good bullet in the 358Win so I would think if the range was not extended to far it would work on Elk...I believe Fred Smith has taken elk with the 35 BB..and I know he has taken elk with a pistol in 30-30 AI....probably doable for a good hunter who places the shot well. I have a good bunch of data for the 35BB if you want some shoot me and email

shortgun