I have a 14" contender in 35 Rem and I'm going to start to reload for whitetail hunting. Should I go for a 180gr flat sp bullet with a possible velocity of 2023 or a bigger bullet, 200gr rn bullet with a possible velocity of 1720? Out to say 100 yards, which is more important - Speed or Size? I look forward to everyone's comments. Thanks!

I think either will kill with aplomb. Use the load that is most accurate.

Just what Whitworth said,both bullets have worked well for me.
My .35 likes the 180 gr. speer fp the best.. Shoot what shoots best for you, place it in the right spot,then get out the knife.

Looks like we are all on the same page with this one. The deer isn't going to know the difference between the two. Both will do the job as long as you do your part. Good hunting... Greg.

In this situation I will take the slightly lighter bullet to get a little flatter trajectory in the case that your 100 yards turns into 150 or 175. As far as impact is concerned, it has already been addressed that the critter won't be able to tell the difference.

The Hornady 180 SSP will give a slight edge in trajectory at longer ranges. You can also use any of the pistol bullets made for the .357 mag and fair quite well. If you are good enough the grand old .35 Rem in a Contender will get you well past 100 yards and take deer quite easily.
If you are loading your own the old round is real versitle with many applicable powders to chose from and a host of bullet choices as well.

I too would say either will do the job well but the 180 has been the favorite (I believe) deer bullet in the 35 for Contenders for quite a while with excellent results.

Thanks everyone for the input. That's exactly the way I was leaning with the 180gr Speer FN.

180gr SSPB and H322.

KYODE and I shoot about the same recipe and get great results.

yeah.....what dan said! love those results. ol lonerider has a lot of knowledge on it too....more than he typed out there.

2150-2180fps is what i got out of my barrel with the 180gr ssp hornady. an impressive thumper imo.

It seems everyone that has used the 'ol 35 likes the 180 SSP and H322 - I know when I bought my XP, I stocked up on those components based on some valued opinions! Now to get some more time for load development...it likes the factory Core-Lokts that I bought for some brass and plinking too.

If you can shoot both bullets and use the one that shoots best for you.My barrels with my load shoot the Speer the best.The Hornady may expand better as it was designed for pistol velocities. The deer I have shot went down hard with the Speer
180 and it shoots under a dime so that is what I use. Either bullet in the right place works well. Good Luck!!

Just my .02, the 180s have a lower impact vel than the 200s. I dont think game will know the differance, so... IMHO, if Hornady made the 180's for the xp in 35 rem I would at least see how they shot!

I am with all the rest. Shoot what you can hit with. My 14" loves the 200's. At 100 yards 1 3/4 groups off a bag. And as for the long shots the light bullet shoots flatter but the heavy bullet hits harder so go with what your gun likes and shoot a lot. Learn how much to hold over at the longer shots. Just are three things you need to do practice, practice, practice...........oh and shoot a lot too.

It seems a lot of you like H322. Have you ever tried H335? In all my manuals H335 seems to have more velocity for both the 180gr and 200gr bullets. Plus it is recommended for the 35rem on a few websites I have read. Has anyone compared the two and with what results? Again, I have a Thompson 14" Contender barrel.
Thanks again in advance!

JImbo,

In my 35 Rem, H335 shoots well, but the muzzle blast is hugh. H322 is much much less and shoot best.

I started with the XTP pistol bullets and they shot well, But everyone here said to shoot the 180 SSP. They shoot much better than the pistol bullets.

Mark

Jimbo,
Although I no longer own it, my .35 Rem. XP-100 always preferred the Speer 180 FN and H-335. Extremely accurate and lethal.

I use H335 and H322 both work well in my current barrel I have agreat article by Milek on the 35Rem in handguns that I can pm to you if you are interested when I get home. Iam on the road till 10 - 20

SPEED KILLS!

I would love to read that article Hogg Hunter. Thanks!