I have no experience hunting with the 35 Rem but a co worker who's headed for a trip to CO for elk hunting this fall asked me if his 35 Rem is enough for one (last year he used a 300 RUM). I told him it should be as long as he knows the range limitations. He said where they're hunting shots should be 100 yards or less and probably closer to 50 yards. I said it should do well esp with bullets like the 220 grn Buffalo Bore. He said he has some of the Hornady LeverEvolution. I thought they would work fine also. Any 35 Rem guys or elk hunters have any thoughts to add?

I have no experience hunting with the 35 Rem but a co worker who's headed for a trip to CO for elk hunting this fall asked me if his 35 Rem is enough for one (last year he used a 300 RUM). I told him it should be as long as he knows the range limitations. He said where they're hunting shots should be 100 yards or less and probably closer to 50 yards. I said it should do well esp with bullets like the 220 grn Buffalo Bore. He said he has some of the Hornady LeverEvolution. I thought they would work fine also. Any 35 Rem guys or elk hunters have any thoughts to add?
It was my fathers favorite rifle for moose and he shot a lot of them. He used remington ammo and kept all his shooting inside 75yds. With the better ammo now available I wouldn't hesitate. Just keep in mind the distance of your shots

There's been lots of elk killed with the 35 Remington along with the old 30-30. Of course when that was happening there were a lot more elk.

I would tell him to take the 300. It would be better to be over-gunned than not. That is if he was proficient with the 300.

my 2 cents

Ballistically the 30 / 30 and the 35 Remington are about identical.

An ethical harvest of game should have no less than 2000 fps bullet at the point of impact.

Some of the bullets mentioned barely make it out of the barrel that fast.

You cannot compare a 300 Ultra Mag or Short Mag or Winchester Mag to a 35 Remington which is about as slow a cartridge as was ever made - next to the 30 - 30 winchester which was origionally a black powder cartridge.

An ethical harvest of game should have no less than 2000 fps bullet at the point of impact..

Surely you jest. :confused:


next to the 30 - 30 winchester which was origionally a black powder cartridge..

No, it wasn't.

I would, but I use Beartooth 185gr. FNGC bullets, at about 2300fps.

They'll go 2 or 3 feet into a whitetail (but don't exit on a frontal shot). It was messy enough inside that I didn't feel like digging around for the bullet.

The Buffalo Bore 220 Speer 2200fps would be the obvious candidate for this.

Rifleman:

The 30-30 was designed as a smokless round. The .32 Special was brought out by Winchester using a 1 in 16 twist so that Black Powder could be re-loaded in the primed empty cases that Winchester sold for that purpose. At the time the 30-30 came out smokeless Powder was not generally available for reloading due to safety issues, and the 30-30 had too tight a twist for easy cleaning of black powder residue. Many of the old timers had a distrust in the new fangled Smokeless Powder, and wanted to continue with their old Black Powder.

(Note) My Grandfather was one of them. I still have his Model 1893 Marlin in .38-55 with the Black Powder barrel.

me thinks the so- called rifleman is going to get a lesson... :D :D :p

Ballistically the 30 / 30 and the 35 Remington are about identical.

An ethical harvest of game should have no less than 2000 fps bullet at the point of impact.

Some of the bullets mentioned barely make it out of the barrel that fast.

You cannot compare a 300 Ultra Mag or Short Mag or Winchester Mag to a 35 Remington which is about as slow a cartridge as was ever made - next to the 30 - 30 winchester which was origionally a black powder cartridge.

A 405 GR 45/70 leaves the muzzle at 1300 ft per second give or take. What effect do you think that very bullet would have on an elk at 50 yds. Would you consider it unethical to hunt with that cartridge?
Way to much consideration is given to a cartridges ballistics and far to less to its proven abilities in the field. Fifty years ago many a trapper in the the NWT and Alaska carried the 30/30 for protection as their only weapon. Then again that's when men were men

An ethical harvest of game should have no less than 2000 fps bullet at the point of impact.



Surely you jest. :confused:



Correct. My bison, red deer, numerous hogs and whitetails, turkeys, a coyote, the odd javelina or two, and the occasional rattlesnake pretty much lept out of the freezer and back to life after hearing that they weren't fatally wounded by sub-2,000fps hits from my .500 JRH, .444 Marlin, .44 Mag, .45 Colt, .45 ACP .357 Mag, .40 S& W, and .35 Rem.

:p :p :p :p

I sure hope Ranch Dog doesn't get wind of this. His Nilgai and desert mule deer will be overjoyed with the news they aren't dead yet :rolleyes:

Interesting discussion and a lot of sentiment for the old favorites...

IMHO, if I were taking the time and expense to travel all the way from Michigan to Colorado for what could be a once in a lifetime hunt for big elk, I wouldn't deliberately take a rifle chambered for a cartridge that would limit my shots to close range. I don't have a 35 Rem, but my 30-30 would definetly stay in the safe.

I've got friends that get elk every year with a bow and arrow...or blackpowder muzzleloaders. I've often hunted elk with a 45-70 in the thick stuff of WA, but if I was going anywhere the shots could possibly be over 125 yards, I'd want a flatter shooting cartridge.

300 RUM, 300 Win mag, 300 WSM, 30-06, 7mm mag...great!

Good hunting!

I don't know if he's also bringing his 300 RUM or not but he asked if we could go to the range so he could shoot some rounds over my chrony (he doesn't load BTW). He seems intent on wanting a lever gun to bring, I don't know, he goes every year, maybe it's something different for him. I thought about offering to let him take my 358 or 348 Win if he wanted a lever gun. I mentioned the Buffalo Bore ammo to him and he has no problem with the cost of it but I agree I think that's his best option if he's set on the 35 Rem, but the Hornady LeverEvolution seems like a good althernative but I've heard little about field results with it.

I admire the guy for wanting to hunt with the 35 Rem. From what M1 relates, I think he knows what he is doing. I wouldn't hesitate a second to shoot an elk with any one of my 35 Remingtons.

"2000 FPS at the point of impact", now I know you are on crack!

I admire the guy for wanting to hunt with the 35 Rem. From what M1 relates, I think he knows what he is doing. I wouldn't hesitate a second to shoot an elk with any one of my 35 Remingtons.

"2000 FPS at the point of impact", now I know you are on crack!

Ranch dog I couldn't agree more.

Some of my most memorable times as a fisherman was not sitting in a $100,000 bass boat looking at graphs and temperature gauges. They were sitting in an old wooden row boat with a bobber and a worm
The pack horse moose hunt I plan to take this year was to be with my fathers old 35 rem. If I get a moose well that's just a bonus. Must be getting old

Out of curiosity, I checked the CO game regs. To be legal for elk and moose, the cartridge has to produce 1000 ft# of energy at 100 yards...per manufacturer's data.

The Federal factory 200 gr load has a 2000 fps muzzle velocity (unknown barrel length) and has the barely legal 1200 ft# of energy at 100 yards. Heavier bullets at higher velocity would better meet the regs.

For comparison, the new 338 Federal, 210 grainer has over 2700 ft# of energy at 100 yards. That's 50% more energy at 100 yards than the 35 Rem has at the muzzle. I expect a 358 win would be in the same ballpark as the 338 Federal.

In my opinion, both are far better choices for big, tough game in western hunting environs...and are at the lower end of the cartridges I'd consider suitable. Even small elk are tougher than whitetail deer.

Can't deny the 35 Rem lever gun makes a nice rifle to carry or pack in a horse scabbard. Just hope you don't have to reach out far to touch that big elk.

Leverite, that is 20% greater performance than the regulations, I don't know if I would call that barely legal!

In my mind, the regs are conservative, so if it meets them, and you want to hunt with it, and finally, if you know the round and it's limitations, and are willing to live within them, then go for it.

I have no problem hunting elk with my bow and arrow and my muzzleloader, a .35 Rem would not make me think twice. However, know your limitations and live within them, pass on animals that are not in your known zone.

--Carl

My first Colorado Elk was taken with a .32/40 back in the 50's. ! was hunting with my Grandfather, and his rule was when you thought you were close enough, get closer, and make sure you have a good clear shot at the vitals before shooting. I'm sure that the loads for the .32/40's back then wouldn't make the restrictions of today, Even tho the old Marlin had a 26" barrel, but one shot was sufficient at 50-60 yards.

The guy asked if we thought the 35 Rem was adequate as opposed to a 300 RUM. Hades...a bayonet may be adequate if you're close enough...and arrows kill in a different manner than bullets and you're not planning to shoot at more than a few yards.

I say the 35 Rem factory load is "barely legal" because factory ballistics are usually optimistic and I don't know whether Federal uses a longer barrel than 20" for proof testing.

For me...no way I'd waste my time packing that caliber if I had a 300 RUM or even a 308, as I'd like to be confident in taking shots a little farther than 100 yards.

If you like the 35 Rem for elk..go for it. But do you think you can find a COlorado outfitter that will recommend a 35 REm over the other cartridges discussed?

Leverite,

He said last year the guy used a 300 RUM, not that he was wanting to take it this year. The question was, is a 35 Rem enough, and if range and limitations are known, yes it is.

Really, I don't care what an outfitter recommends, since they will always recommend the biggest. They are in the business of getting elk, not trying to judge a shooter, so the bigger the better in their minds.

True, an arrow kills differently, but a muzzleloader kills the same way. I would put the limitations of a 35 Rem slightly further than the muzzleloader, but the point is, if he goes every year, and wants to hunt with his lever, he should.

I have a .338 Mag, and I will leave it home in favor of my lever depending on the area I am hunting, if the shot is likely to be less than 100yds, the lever is a great rifle to take.

With what you posted about the Colorado regs, it is per manufacture specs, so by that law, the 1200 ft# is what is being looked at, regardless of the barrel used. I haven't looked at the specs, but am going by your post, so the 35 Rem is very much in the comfort zone.

I have sat and watched some magnificent elk walk away because they were beyond my zone with the weapon I was hunting with (two of the best elk I have ever seen while bow hunting). One was just beyond my comfort zone, but I watched it walk away (not that I didn't try and stalk closer, but the wind wasn't with me). Knowing your weapon and understanding the limitations are the most important part of the hunt.
--Carl

Leverite,

He said last year the guy used a 300 RUM, not that he was wanting to take it this year. The question was, is a 35 Rem enough, and if range and limitations are known, yes it is.

--Carl

Can't/won't disagree, just would not recommend or use the 35 Rem myself for that type of hunt. Not having a 35 Rem makes it easy to not use it myself.

.

He said the range would be within 50 yards so some of you don't think the 35 Rem shoots flat enough for that long range?

Any bullet that strikes an elk at less than 2000 fps will just bounce off? At 1995 fps the 400 grain bullet bounces but at 2001 fps the old bull is dead meat? That sound like a lot of old bull.


.

.

He said the range would be within 50 yards so some of you don't think the 35 Rem shoots flat enough for that long range?

Any bullet that strikes an elk at less than 2000 fps will just bounce off? At 1995 fps the 400 grain bullet bounces but at 2001 fps the old bull is dead meat? That sound like a lot of old bull.


.


YEa...that elk is always going to be there waiting at 50 yards or less...guaranteed...

sheesh, don't get me started.

Can you HUNT elk with a 35 Rem.? Sure, I've done it a time or two but not when I was serious about KILLING elk.

I hunt close and then try to get closer before shooting. So I think I could do okay with my 35 Rem. on elk.

But I live 40 miles from good elk country with lots of public access. I can hunt almost every day of the season. I only have a resident tag + local gas $$ on the line.

I've taken deer and antelope in Wyoming with my 35 Rem. When I have killed elk (11 of them so far) I have been shooting .280 Rem., 30-06, .444 Marlin, or 35 Whelen at an average range between 60 and 75 yards.

I'll save my 35 Rem. for quarry in the size range of deer and use something with a little more power on elk. And if I do take the 35 Rem. for elk shots will be limited to undisturbed animals at short range.

That's my 2 cents and that may be all it's worth.

I took my 35 out after elk last winter, and a very nice cow dropped hard after a single shot at 125 yards... from Dad's 308... We have the 2 hunters/1 tag system here... :( Next year...

Well went to the range yesterday with my friend and chrony'd some of the new Hornady LeverEvolution. The claimed velocity was 2225 and we were gettting 2076. I also chrony'd some of my Hornady 204 ammo that I'd previously chrony'd that was doing the claimed 4225 fps. This stuff was a different lot and doing about 150 fps less. I have to wonder if the Hornady ammo with these "special blend" powders is temperature sensitive as I originally chrony'd the 204 in the summer and yesterday was 47 degrees. I'll have to chrony the same lot later this year and see. Anyway I told him if he was going to use it to get the Buffalo Bore ammo or I could let him use my 358 Win if he wanted. He wanted....esp after seeing me chrony some of my 225 grn Sierras and 220 Speer FPs at 2450-2500 fps.

Basicly my 35rem does at 100 yards what my 358win does at 200 yards. The differance is just just 300 fps but thats a big differance at 200 yards not so much at 50 yards.

Up here in Idaho probably one of the best elk loads is a 140 pound gray wolf. Just grab it by the scruff of the neck and the tail and point it in the direction of the elk. It's been one of the most successful elk harvest tools here for the past several years.

The 30-30, 32 Winchester and 35 Remington are excellent elk loads given the proper ranges. Problem comes about when folks are on a three thousand dollar one week hunt and try to take that once in a lifetime animal to far away. This isn't really a gun issue, but an ethical issue.

Exactly Bob, (rifle and wolf, can't wait to be able to hunt those too!). I hunt a variety of lands, and on some, if I could see an elk past about 50yds it would be amazing. Other areas I hunt, getting to within 100yds of deer or elk is an act of stalking. In some of the desert areas, you can be seen and see animals from 800-1000yds fairly easily, then you just have to figure out how to get close to them.

I know of plenty of people that elk hunt with a 44 Mag pistol, but as Bob says, it comes down to the ethics of the hunter to pass on poor shots.

--Carl

I know of plenty of people that elk hunt with a 44 Mag pistol, but as Bob says, it comes down to the ethics of the hunter to pass on poor shots.


And that's one of the biggest problems I see today, regardless of the game is hunters just don't know when to stay inside their or their equipments limitations. Too many can't or won't pass up a shot.

Yep, and those are the ones that shouldn't be hunting with any weapon, doesn't matter if it is the biggest, baddest supermag or a pistol.

My personal opinion, if I was hunting with one of these people, it would be the last time when they took a shot that was way out of their comfort zone!

--Carl

I have no experience hunting with the 35 Rem but a co worker who's headed for a trip to CO for elk hunting this fall asked me if his 35 Rem is enough for one (last year he used a 300 RUM). I told him it should be as long as he knows the range limitations. He said where they're hunting shots should be 100 yards or less and probably closer to 50 yards. I said it should do well esp with bullets like the 220 grn Buffalo Bore. He said he has some of the Hornady LeverEvolution. I thought they would work fine also. Any 35 Rem guys or elk hunters have any thoughts to add?
I lived in Alaska for a bunch of years, and I quickly learned the old sour doughs, all favored a 30-30, or a 35rem for as they put it making meat. Alot of moose wound up in freezers because of a 30-30 round inthe right place. So yes a 35rem is fine for elk,if you put the bullet where it belongs, and keep the distance sensible. Remember a patched round ball out of a 50, or 54cal muzzleloader does elk in everyyear.

One of the problems I see foisted on the average hunter is the adds for many of the new super magnums. As much as I'm a Remington fan the adds for the ultra-mags make out that those long shots are no problem. Just plunk down x dollars for that laser flat gun and plunk away at animals way beyond most of the shooters capability.

I confess I'm a magnum sort of guy and have been since the early 60's when I started out with a 308 Norma mag and now I shoot an 8mm Rem mag.

Does this mean I can kill animals out to a thousand yards? No it means that within my shooting capabilities I can cleanly kill animals. At one time along time ago that meant any animal out to 800 or so yards that afforded me a broadside standing shot may have been in deep trouble.

Got to say the longest I've ever killed an animal in my life was around 650 yards and that was with a 22 inch barreled 30-06.

The point behind this is if you put in the trigger time to the point where the rifle capabilities match your shooting capabilities then those longer shots are within reason.

At this point in my life I'm well past the killing part and into the teaching part. Along with that goes the responsibility to pass on the ethics of hunting as well as teaching the mechanix of hunting.

I think the ethics are far more important than the ability to hit what your aiming at.

Those elk must be doing steroids if a .35 Rem isn't enough out to 100-125 yds.

Those elk must be doing steroids if a .35 Rem isn't enough out to 100-125 yds.

There's been quite a few elk killed with the 30-30, the 32 special and the 35 Remington. There used to be quite a few more elk also. Killing them really isn't the problem in this day and age.

If you've got high populations and a whole season to hunt then it doesn't much matter what you shoot them with along as it's legal in the state your hunting in and your enough sportsman to work within the bounds of the rifles killing range.

Where it becomes harder is when you have little time and shots may present themselves out of range of the "ol meat gitters" such as the 30-30 and 35 remington. Add to that many that come here to hunt elk have a limited time and a pretty good investment in an elk hunt. Under this kind of pressure I've seen folks take shots that they shouldn't.

I've killed darn few elk in that hundred to hundred twenty five yard range in this part of Idaho. Most have been in the two hundred yard range and further. Lots of times it's a cross canyon shot or a cross clear cut shot at several hundred yards and that little 35 Remington just won't cut it.

As far as steroids are concerned elk seem to be tough critters compared to other's I've killed. I've recovered several at the bottom of canyons where they ran after having their heart blown up and their lungs jellied.

I've killed well over 40 and seen at least a hundred elk killed or wounded and I have to agree with you they can be on steroids or better yet probably adrenalin. Once you've put a bullet into them if it does not knock them down for good thay've taken all the shock their going to. Other shots that don't break traveling bones or a spine simply won't stop them till they bleed to death.

I've given up a heart lung shot and just break the front shoulders now. I lose a little meat that way, but of the last ten or 12 I've killed they went no more than a few feet before dropping.

I'm sure not saying not to hunt them with anything you want that is legal, just in my experience a good sized bullet at a good velocity works well out to 400 yards and lots of elk are taken at those distances.

I've seen some great kills with rifles in the 270 and 30-06 class, but I've seen some dandy wounded elk that expired after they ran downhill to the bottom of frying pan canyon also.

If the shots are regularly farther that 100-125 yards, then I would agree that the .35 Rem is not enough for elk.

Look what the 358win with 200gr bullets is doing at 225 yards and most would agree its ausome for elk. Now the 35rem is doing the same thing at 125 yards shouldn't lodgic prevail. Now load the 220grainers at 2200fps and there shoundn't be any question about it?

An argument can be made for anything you like to shoot. I know folks that take elk with a 243 on a regular basis.

Loading the 35 Remington to 2200 fps with 220 grain bullets sure seems hotter than any recommended loads from any manual I've read considering Remington factory ammo is pushing 200 grainers at 1920 fps this load recommendation could be unsafe. Yes logic should prevail.

Buffalo Bore has been loading the 220 Speer to 2200 fps for a few years now, with no complaints I've heard of besides significant recoil. Now I haven't shot it myself and I don't think he's published his load data so you're on your own if you try to duplicate it.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#35rem

The factory .35 Remington loads are pretty weak, probably to save the old Remington autos and pumps. Getting the advertised 2080 fps with a 200 grain Core-Lokt is no problem with IMR's 3031 data.

The data is here, if you can figure out Hodgdon's new website.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Bye
Jack

An ethical harvest of game should have no less than 2000 fps bullet at the point of impact.

.

Utter hogwash. Elk are not armored, there are more excellent loads around for the .35 today than ever before, and even the ol' standby Remington factory 200 gr. loads can do the trick nicely as long as the range is reasonable and the shot placement good. Not for busting them across a quarter-mile-wide canyon, mind you, but just fine for up close.

Today many forget or just put to much emfasis on KE. To make a point it, a 400gr bullet dosn't need much velocity to bore right through a elk and kill it on the spot. It uses monentum and a large surface area to do its task and dosn't have much KE to speek of compared to a high speed 180gr 308 cal bullet. Its the wound left by the projectile that matters an arrow only goes about 220fps but the wound is lethal. I would argue that Elk are not killed by KE but parrie dogs are! If you shoot a elk and all that left is a red smear I will change my view.

Local hunters in Wyoming often take elk with rifles that do not match moderrn hunting magazines. That's because these hunters can pass up chancy shots and hunt again the next weekend. In contrast, hunters who travel a thousand miles or more and have limited time to hunt simply can not force themselves to pass up those iffy shots.

35 Remington has taken both bulls and cows for our freezer. but we passed on long shots or bad angles.

My advise to an out-of-state hunter with less time: plan to hunt elk with a 30-06 or .308 and 180 grain Remington ammo. You'll be able to make a good kill shot out to about 250 yards or so.

Good hunting to you.
TR

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/rushmoreman/bullelkCusterCounty.jpg

TR that's been exactly my experience in Idaho. I've talked about taking elk in steep country and here are some pix that do that thousand word thing.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/North%20Idaho/Frnchmtn.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/North%20Idaho/100_2107.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/North%20Idaho/LochsawRiver1.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Around%20Home/LoloCreek.jpg

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Around%20Home/Lolocreekcanyon-1.jpg

These are places where a bigger gun can mean the difference between a harvest and a three day stint trying to get 600 pounds of meat out of an impossible canyon.

We always hope a person will take a sane shot, but sometimes for no fault of their own they don't or do.

Bob, That looks like one of the places I hunt.

--Carl

I am still stuck at the first page of this thread.
2000 at the point of impact???
The 30-30 was originally a Black powder cartridge??
I think rifleman needs to change his name???
2000fps at impact??? I would have to stand next to a deer and shoot it execution style to achive that with my Puma in .454 Casull.

I am thinking of getting a Marlin in .35 Remington. I have always wanted to try one out. I have known many that have used the rifle on deer with good results.

Bob, great pictures and beautiful country. But you're still haven't sold me on the magnums....but I am seriously considering a 350 Rem Mag... :D

Bob, great pictures and beautiful country. But you're still haven't sold me on the magnums....but I am seriously considering a 350 Rem Mag... :D

Lots of folks here shoot other guns than the magnums. 06's, 280 Remingtons, 35 Whalens, All work well within their range limitations and with heavy bullets for elk.

But, there are lots of folks that want to take a 300 or 400 yard shot and just feel that the above mentioned cartridges don't deliver the energy or knockdown they want at those extended ranges in this steep country.

The other problem as shown by the steep country we hunt in is an elk with it's heart blown completely out can run down hill far enough to make getting the meat out chancy in warm weather and certainly a nasty challenge in any weather.

Got to say I've been shooting one magnum or another since about 1965 when I started out with a 308 Norma mag. I like a big bullets such as the 180's in 30 caliber, 220's in 8mm and 250's in the 338's. My elk, brown bear, moose and deer rifle since 1978 has been Remingtons 8mm Magnum with 220 grain Sierra Spitzer boattails at 3080 fps. This load shoots as flat as most 30 caliber magnums with a bunch more energy.

Years ago I gave up the heart lung shot on elk after retrieving several at the bottom of canyons. I break the front shoulders with a big heavy bullet at good velocity.

This can be done with an 06 with a 180 or 220 at reasonable ranges, but one of the mags adds a hundred yards to those ranges and gives you chances at shots that most would simply have to walk away from.

I've got a friend here that has hunted with the 350 Remington Magnum since it was introduced and been very successful with it. I have a 280 Remington Mountain rifle for deer hunting now. It shoots 140 grain Hornedy's and though I haven't yet killed a deer with it a friend of mine got a dandy buck with it last year.

Years ago my dad killed elk with a 30-30 every year, in fact he killed several along with enough deer that we hardly ever ate beef. There were deer and elk aplenty and I never heard of anyone that fed their family with wild game having any problems with the local game warden.

That day and age is long gone. The costs to hunt are more and violators are pursued with an abandon close to that given drug dealers. More and more private property is becoming off limits for hunters and even some of our big logging companies are making us pay for the rights to hunt and camp on their land as Potlatch Forests has just done around here this year with 667,000 acres of prime deer and elk hunting land.

Add to that our elk populations have fallen drastically because of some bad winter kills a few years ago and now the introduction of the Canadian gray wolf depredations have added up to fewer elk that are much harder to hunt.

So the bottom line is there's nothing wrong with hunting with a 35 Remington, a 30-30 Winchester, A bow and arrows or a Muzzle loader given shots are taken in a sportsmanship manor. I just personally want to be able to realize the benefits of a rifle capable of shooting that 400-500 yards and hopefully stopping that animal from dashing headlong down to the bottom of frying pan canyon.

Lots of folks here shoot other guns than the magnums. 06's, 280 Remingtons, 35 Whalens, All work well within their range limitations and with heavy bullets for elk.


I know...I was just ribbing you a little as I know of your fondness for the magnums.. :) I actually put a 280 Remington in the M700 Mountain Rifles DM's in layaway. Not that I really needed it, but the local store had a sale on it (the DM style, which looks like Remingtons stopped making this year in favor of the laminate stainless mountain rifles). It was too good a price to pass up. I think I have compulsive firearms acquiring syndrome.

Very interesting read, and alot of great information from those that have elk and hunt them! Thereis a growing herd in North Western Pennsylvania, and perhaps someday i will get the "shot" to hunt them.

I always wanted to use an iron sighted lever to do the job, and will probably go with a choice of 3 rifles that would get the job done:
A Browning BLR in .308
A Marlin 336 rc in 35 rem.
And a Marlin 336CB in 38-55.
I have loaded the 38-55 to 1800fps with 250gr. Barnes X bullets, and have stopped black bear and hogs in their tracks with that load.

perhaps someday....
But for now don't tell the whitetail I am using the wrong gun.....

And does anyone but me notice the rifleman has been conspicously silent throughout....

I know...I was just ribbing you a little as I know of your fondness for the magnums.. :) I actually put a 280 Remington in the M700 Mountain Rifles DM's in layaway. Not that I really needed it, but the local store had a sale on it (the DM style, which looks like Remingtons stopped making this year in favor of the laminate stainless mountain rifles). It was too good a price to pass up. I think I have compulsive firearms acquiring syndrome.

I tried a few stainless synthetic Rifles and always seem to go back to wood and blue steel. The only diversion from this is a Remington VLS with a laminated stock.

I have to admit all my revolvers are stainless and except for one blue target Ruger that's went thru Clarks custom shop the revolvers have been stainless for a number of years.

I bought my 280 rem used at a local pawn shop. I don't think it had been fired much. It' came with a busted Weaver 3 by 9 and a nice set of Leupold rings and bases. I did get the scope fixed and it went on one of the coyote calling rifles.

Here's the little 280. It's shooting one inch groups at a hundred with 139 grain bonded core bullets and I've got to say one of the nicest shooting, recoiling and carrying guns I've ever used.

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q172/faucettb/Preditor%20masters/280Rem-1.jpg

It carries a Simmons AETEC 2.8 to 10 and is ideal for the across canyon shots we sometimes get here in this part of Idaho. It's only used for deer, for elk the 8mm Rem mag goes with me. Sad to say I didn't hunt elk last year and the two years before that my buddy and I hunted, but didn't even see a shootable bull. I'm sending the gray wolves a thankyou note.

Oh there are still elk here, but the wolf has changed the face of elk hunting. Be prepared to dig them out of the really steep brushy country and your either going to get a shot right on top of the ones you've kicked out of the brush or your going to have to take a long shot of them topping out a ridge (that's the ones that heard you far ahead of you jumping them).

If the Elk population has dropped so much because of Winter storms and predation , why not just cancel the Elk Season for 2 to 4 years. No hunting pressure would allow the Elk population to rebuild and they could then be hunting more easily.

If the Elk population has dropped so much because of Winter storms and predation , why not just cancel the Elk Season for 2 to 4 years. No hunting pressure would allow the Elk population to rebuild and they could then be hunting more easily.

Coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions can't read.

The 35 remington is a fine heavy brush cartridge. Within 100yards with a 200 grain bullet it is more than adequate for elk. It is a fantastic cartridge for whitetails in hevay cover.

It is a very different cartridege from the 30-30

Howver, for elk I prefer the .300WSM or .325 WSM.

"Coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions can't read." And they don't care about game laws either!! Yea close the season for 2-4 years and we'll just have twice as many wolves, coyotes and cougars!!!

As to the question at hand the 35 Rem is plenty of gun for elk out to 125 yds! Maybe alittle further if your friend is a real good shot!

Out of curiosity, I checked the CO game regs. To be legal for elk and moose, the cartridge has to produce 1000 ft# of energy at 100 yards...per manufacturer's data.

The Federal factory 200 gr load has a 2000 fps muzzle velocity (unknown barrel length) and has the barely legal 1200 ft# of energy at 100 yards. Heavier bullets at higher velocity would better meet the regs.

For comparison, the new 338 Federal, 210 grainer has over 2700 ft# of energy at 100 yards. That's 50% more energy at 100 yards than the 35 Rem has at the muzzle. I expect a 358 win would be in the same ballpark as the 338 Federal.

In my opinion, both are far better choices for big, tough game in western hunting environs...and are at the lower end of the cartridges I'd consider suitable. Even small elk are tougher than whitetail deer.

Can't deny the 35 Rem lever gun makes a nice rifle to carry or pack in a horse scabbard. Just hope you don't have to reach out far to touch that big elk.
I shot one with the 35 Remington in the 14 inch Contender. One shot, Bang Flop. about 75 yards.

I shot one with the 35 Remington in the 14 inch Contender. One shot, Bang Flop. about 75 yards.

Alot of cartridges will work at 75 yards...would you have taken the shot if the critter was on the far side of a clearing at 225 yards?

Maybe the elk are thicker in those parts than where I hunt, but I would hate to pass on possibly the only shot I have all season, because I'm undergunned.

prolly not, with a 14" contender... :D

prolly not, with a 14" contender... :D

BUt...I should have complimented DakotaKid on his shooting. Even at 75 yards, taking an elk w/ a pistol is pretty impressive.

BUt...I should have complimented DakotaKid on his shooting. Even at 75 yards, taking an elk w/ a pistol is pretty impressive.

Exactly, pistol hunters don't take 225 yard shots.

Exactly, pistol hunters don't take 225 yard shots.


True, but not to the point of the original question of the thread. WHether to hunt elk in CO w/ a 35 Rem.

But it's been flogged enough. To each his own. SOme guys even use arrows...

"Coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions can't read." And they don't care about game laws either!! Yea close the season for 2-4 years and we'll just have twice as many wolves, coyotes and cougars!!!

As to the question at hand the 35 Rem is plenty of gun for elk out to 125 yds! Maybe alittle further if your friend is a real good shot!


At one time, there was an estimated 50,000 Grizzly Bears and 60 Million Bison in North America. If they closed the season for a few years, the population would get a chance to grow. Of course, there will be an increase in Wolves, Coyotes, Cougars and Bears, that is to be expected.

I wouldn't hesitate to use a 35 rem on elk, now I wouldn't try 300 yard shots with it, but I think that its adequate. Now if I spent all that money to go elk huntin, I wouldn't want to be limited to the range that most rifles in 35 rem are, unless I was looking for the challenge. I lost some freezer meat a couple deer seasons ago cause I brought my open sighted 45-70 instead of my scoped 243, 300wsm, or 30-06. Deer was 250 yards away and I needed to know if it had horns or not and it was about 10 minutes left of shooting time. But I nailed one the following day at about 200 thru light brush with my 243. Good luck elk hunting.

I am still stuck at the first page of this thread.I am thinking of getting a Marlin in .35 Remington.
Every battery should include one IMO. My '52 Marlin in 35 Rem shoots sub moa groups. A real nice pice of equipment indeed.

Thanks I am still looking for one to show up locally. I think I am going ot get me one when I can.

ummm, I guess someone would need to explain to my friend, a harvester for the elderly on one of the tribal lands....he's been using a 30-30 taken lots of elk for almost 15 years, maybe he should change calibers huh?

ummm, I guess someone would need to explain to my friend, a harvester for the elderly on one of the tribal lands....he's been using a 30-30 taken lots of elk for almost 15 years, maybe he should change calibers huh?

Does he take a lot of 250 yard shots? Not likely in western WA.

Why does he bother with the white man's fire stick? After all, arrows and spears worked great on elk, too, for a few thousand years.

Of course as a native american, he has an unlimited season and can hunt during the rut when us modern firearms guys are only able to sight in our rifles.

Of course a 30-30 works, so it must be THE recommended tool for killing elk, all times, all places, right? So you're saying a 30-30 is what you'd use on a once in a lifetime elk hunt to the Rocky mountains where the license and tags probably cost more than a new, scoped 375 RUger?

Let us take one more look at M1's original post and question(s) before this thread deteriorates further into a list of calibers that will, won't, and/or could kill an elk at X yardage.

I have no experience hunting with the 35 Rem
but a co worker who's headed for a trip to CO for elk hunting this fall asked me if his 35 Rem is enough for one (last year he used a 300 RUM). I told him it should be as long as he knows the range limitations.

M1, you told your friend, to the best of your knowledge, that your friend's CHOICE of rifle this year would kill and elk in a clean, humane way within certain range limits. Assuming your friend is an ethical hunter he would have practiced with his 300RUM last year and knows how it shoots with him pulling the trigger.

He said where they're hunting shots should be 100 yards or less and probably closer to 50 yards. I said it should do well esp with bullets like the 220 grn Buffalo Bore. He said he has some of the Hornady LeverEvolution. I thought they would work fine also.

Your friend let you know yardage would not require a rifle/cartridge capable of 300+ yard shots

Any 35 Rem guys or elk hunters have any thoughts to add?

As a ".35 Remington guy" I would not hesitate to shoot an elk with my .35 Remington, and I would practice with both the premium brands of ammo you mention.

" Of course as a native american, he has an unlimited season and can hunt during the rut when us modern firearms guys are only able to sight in our rifles."


ummm, correct me as I am sure you will....if I am wrong, but didn't the white man come up with the treaties. Kinda makes us look a bit stupid huh?

I was under the impression that you had a grasp of native elk seasons. They start in Mid July and run to Jan. Cows can be taken up to Mid Nov. so please define "unlimited"


I work an elk check station, every November...cept last year, several guys come in white guys that shoot illegal elk, many of their butchering skill are horrendous to say the least. we got guys running around tresspassing, shooting injuring. Half of the white out there IMHO stomping thru the woods shouldn't carry a rifle.

Perhaps maybe you should heed your own advice and take a bow out during the rut. like you said its been done for thousands of years

anyways, No the 30-30 is not the first choice for most hunters, my first 2 were taken with a 30-30. both were on shot kills....but then I like to take the challenge and get my pants and shoes a bit dirty, not drive around for 4-5 hours hoping a herd will cross the rd in front of me. I got nothing against 3-400 yards shots, just ain't the way I was raised.

I think this thread has ran it's course. Locked.