First .360 X-Model handloads

[5shot]

I mounted a Vortex 1.75 to 5 (Made in the Phillipines ) on a Ranger Point base and started out getting sighted in today with a few of the factory 180 gr. Rem loads. After that I used a handload with 180 gr. XTP's over Accurate #5744 powder and I mainly wanted to get chrono numbers. The five shot average was 1793 fps and standard deviation was 13. This is a reduced load but I wouldn't hesitate to sit in a deer stand with it. Hornady lists this handgun bullet as having a maximum muzzle velocity of 1700 so it would probably expand excessively for hunting .

Anyhow....here's the first six shots. It was only 25 yards but still... I used the other 4 rounds on the 50 yard steel plates with the same results. We're off to a good start.

First 6.jpg (144.53 KiB) Viewed 7453 times

I've never owned a .357 Max or .357 Herret or .35 Rem but with reduced loads I can duplicate their performance. Factory 180's are just under 2400 fps.

[Vaquero]

Nice shooting.

RP

[Hatchdog]

You sure have to be encouraged with that start.

[rickhem]

That's one heck of a first load!
And I like how low you were able to mount that scope too.
Time to see what that'll do at 100 now.

[5shot]

That's one heck of a first load!
And I like how low you were able to mount that scope too.
Time to see what that'll do at 100 now.

The Ranger Point rail is a little lower than the EGW and I can't remember if the Warne rings were mediums or low. I wanted to mount a 2X7 Leupold on it but that would have required drifting out the rear sight or taller rings. The rifle will need a hammer extension for cold weather but for now it's useable as is.

Yes, I need to get back at the loading bench and stretch this thing out to 100 yards. I picked up some 200 Hornady RN and will try to get an accurate load in the 2000 to 2150 fps range. The .35 Remington has established its outstanding reputation at that level for over a century. The wheel will be reinvented.

[Vaquero]

Are there any plans to try cast at some point?
The last 2 or 3 deer that I've taken with the 35's has been with a 200 gr cast.

RP

[5shot]

Are there any plans to try cast at some point?
The last 2 or 3 deer that I've taken with the 35's has been with a 200 gr cast.

RP

Yes. I tried the powder coated Lyman 358665 over 7.7 grains of Unique for 1324 fps AVG. Standard deviation was 4.5. Accuracy seemed pretty good but impact at 50 yards was 5" low. It would make a good plinker. I've thought about the 200 gr. RCBS gas check but choked up about the price tag at $145 The 200 gr.Lee looks to be almost identical.

Which bullet mold are you using?

[Vaquero]

I have both the the Lyman 205, forget the number, and the Lee's rcbs clone.
Mostly use the Lee since I picked it up acouple years ago.

RP