Marlin's 35 cal rifle sales are slowing down and there are rumors that the rifle may be discontinued. But in my opinion between 30-30, 35, and 444 calibers, the 35 is the best all around rifle. Why? The 35 Marlin rifle can be safely hand loaded higher than 28,000 lbs pressure. It can be safely reloaded up to 2200 ft/sec for a 200 grain bullet (20 inch barrel). This gives it the same range as a 30-30 and better range than a 444. The 444 actually starts out at about 2200 ft/sec (22 inch barrel) but quickly drops off because of bullet diameter. At 2200 ft/sec, the 35 is dead right there on deer, hogs, and black bear. It may not be dead right there, but it is a good rifle for elk out to 175 yards at 2200 ft/sec with a 200 grain bullet.

Even with factory ammo (about 1975 ft/sec with a 200 grain bullet and 20 inch barrel), it is good for deer, hogs, black bear and elk (elk at short range). It has mild recoil with factory ammo.

Some people will say that a 356 or 375 are better. I agree. But you can purchase a good used 35 Marlin for $250. Try purchasing a 356 or 375 for $250, if you can find one. And 35 shells are much easier to find than 356 or 375 shells.

Between 30-30, 35, or 444, which do you think is better for deer, hogs, black bear or elk? Please consider recoil, shooting distance and knock down.

My experience says the 444 is the hardest hitting of the three. Starting out at the same speed of 2200 fps, I'd rather have a 270 grain 444 than a 200 grain 35, even at 200 yards. Sighted dead on at 100 yards, I'm only 8" down at the 200 yards mark. With a good recoil pad, it won't beat you up.

Taylor,
Wellllllll, I didn't find my ER for $250,,,,but then I ddn't pay that much for the 35 Rem. Been shooting the 356Win a lot lately, and I'm afraid the 35Rem just ain't in the same league. I AM a big 35 caliber fan, and as you point out, it's ballistics get better and better the longer the range.
I do have a 444, and a 45/70, if I was only gonna' take one??? What are we after? Here in the NE, the 35 is gonna' do everything I could possibly shoot. Further West,,,, elk and bigger bear, undoubtedly the 444 with a 310gr hardcast.
Alaska??????? Hmmmmm, prolly still the 444. Though the 45/70 under 100yds with a 340 -450 grain hardcast would be comforting for the big browns or Kodiaks.
Iffen I could only have one choice? Prolly the 356 Win,,,, got a Saeco C245gr that shoots great. And a bunch of different bullet weights right down to the 150gr Nosler JSP I got a bunch of as a high speed varmint round.
Just found a load for the Nosler 180gr SilFP, 2340fps with MOA, and with some slower powders, should be able to get another couple 100 fps . It's a pistol bullet that claims to be non-expanding. Gonna' do some penetration testing and see if that holds true at well over 2000fps. Could be deadly, it sure does shoot well.
Cheers,
R*2

yeah yeah, what Jayhawker said- I think more options with .444 and powerful enough for way big game. Never warmed to the 30-30, but have .35 and .444 marlin as well as .375 marlin, and can dream up a purpose and nich to justify having them all- I love them Marlins.

I've been a busy little bee working with my 444 Rifle (24" barrel) and pushing my Lee 265-grain TLC at 2400 FPS. With a 190-yard zero the bullet is 3" high at 100-yards and 3" low at 225-yards. It's still delivering 1650 FPS and 1600 FP of energy at 225 yards and the accuracy is super. My 30-30 and 35 Rem., though I love them, can't do that.

They all have a purpose but my choice of all around rifle is the 444.

Michael

Taylor
I love my 336/35 RC made in the early fifties. If Marlin ran something like this little rifle , and the Mag writers would write the honest truth about what this rifle could do with in it's range, the sales would improve.
I own a 358W which has more to offer than the 35 Remington, but then so does my 6.5x55.
My Marlin 45/70 Guide will punch a big hole too , but it sure is no 300 WSM..
When in the thick, just hand me that little 35 Rem will Ya? I know what it will do. :D

You might find this article useful.....



http://www.sixgunner.com/backissues/paco/remmar.htm

"Lyman makes a 280/290 grain GC roundnose mold in 358. It’s for the 35 Whelen and such but for a heavy bullet at moderate velocity in the 35 Remington it is tops. It has to be loaded well into the case but with slow pistol powder that’s alright. For example 15 grains of Unique gives near 1500 fps....357 magnum handgun velocity with a much heavier bullet...it flies very well and the penetration is excellent. The old number was 3589...one of the first 358 caliber bullets Ideal came out with....now it’s 358009....but it is still a fine bullet. The best of the 358 heavy weights. I push it from my 35 Whelen at 2600 fps for almost 4400 ft.lbs of muzzle energy! Even at 1500 it is generating almost 1500 lbs of punch...near what some 30-30 loads give.

With **XX** grains of 3031 I am getting near 2100 fps and 2800 plus ft.lbs from the 20 inch Marlin barrel. This does recoil a mite...but it hits hard and goes deep. I hit a 250 lb plus hog behind the ribs angling towards the right shoulder at 120 yards with this load....the bullet stopped in the wrecked off shoulder, and everything in between that and the entrance, was pulped.....this cast bullet in anything 35 caliber is a freight train, very hard to stop."

GOOD LUCK ;)