I recently spent a week at deer and bear camp in Maine and, as you can expect, we spent the first night planning our hunts and comparing firearms. Everyone wanted to see what the other guy brought to tackle big buck and late-season bears. Most of the major cartridges were represented — .308, .30-06 and even a trusty 12-gauge present, but the standout was something different. The most popular cartridge in camp was the .35 Remington. Of the seven hunters there from all different parts of the northeast and midwest, four were using a .35 Remington as their primary weapon, and two more had one available even if it was not their first choice.

I’ll bet that few Pennsylvania hunters have ever held a .35 Remington, never mind hunted with one. But I bet a lot of your parents or grandparents did, and even your great-grandparents. Before the .308,.30-06 or .30-30 were filling Keystone State gunracks, before the 7mm or 6.5 was turning orange clad heads, the .35 Remington was dropping buck and filling tags for generations.

The .35 Remington is older than many of the historic cartridges — often a lot older having been introduced in 1909. It is also available in a wide range of platforms, including the ever-popular bolt action, but also several lever action and side gate platforms. But what makes it popular with hunters who are also gun guys is its performance.

¯ Bullet weight

Despite its size, the .35 Remington is known for having heavy bullets with 200 grains being the norm. Combined with a wider profile, this heavy weight provides stopping power that is above its class. Compared to the ever-popular .30-30 you are getting far more knockdown power than expected. This also makes it a good choice for dense cover.

¯ Velocity

Despite its heavy weight, the .35 Remington is no slacker when it comes to velocity. The average velocity for a 200-grain bullet is just over 2,000 feet per second! Not only is this impressive for such a large round, but it is also more than enough for Pennsylvania whitetails.

¯ Range

The .35 Remington is not a long-range round; it is best suited for short- or medium-range shots. It is no surprise that it would be popular for the woods of northern Maine, but the same aspects make it perfect for Penn’s Woods, too, where average shots are under 200 yards.

¯ Recoil

Anyone who has shot a .30-30 would be more than comfortable with the moderate recoil of a .35 Remington. If you are used to a .30-06 or .308 it will be a welcome relief. This makes the .35 Remington a good choice for a wide range of shooters, and permits follow up shots in quick succession.

¯ The downside

If there is a downside to the .35 Remington it is availability. There are a limited number of platforms available, and fewer new designs that include this cartridge than more common offerings like the 350 legend, .30-30, .308 or 7mm. While there are still some manufacturers making quality rifles in .35 Remington, most of what is available is going to be used. Then there is the ammunition. Yes, most major manufacturers produce quality .35 Remington ammunition and I doubt that will change. The bigger problem is finding a store that carries it and finding the specific load you want. Sometimes you may need to settle for good rather than great, or handload.