Converting .357 Mag to .35 Remington

[swamp hunter]

Question for you guys.  Is it possible to buy a handi rifle in .357 mag and have it reamed to .35 remington?  I've seen through various forums where several people have done this but when I contacted a gunsmith about the job, he said it wouldn't work.  His reasoning was a .357 mag shoots a .355 diameter bullet and a .35 remington shoots a .358 caliber bullet.  He claims that this slight difference would make it very difficult to rechamber and even if it was rechambered accuracy would be terrible due to the bore diameter.

What do you guys think?

[tacklebury]

Actually, 38 super, 380 auto and 9mm are .355, but .357 and .38 special are .357-.359 depending on the fit desired.  .35 Rem is .358 to .359, so there is no issue there.
 
***edit***
They do make .35 Rem Handi's I believe.  They aren't a normal catalog item and are primarily stocked in Louisiana and Missippi as memory serves, because it can be used in their Late hunting seasons.  Not sure which seasons though as I don't live there.  Might ask some guys around there to check for you. 

[MSP Ret]

Both myself and Tim (Quickdtoo) rechambered .357 Magnums to .35 Remingtons several years ago and others have done since than as well. H&R did start making .35 Remingtons since then. They are great guns in a great  caliber/cartridge....<><....

[Doublebass73]

Time to find a different gunsmith, that one doesn't know what he's talking about.

We have a few members here that have rechambered 357 Mags to 35 Remingtons. Like tacklebury says, they did make some factory 35 Rem barrels also so you might be able to find one of those also.

[yukondog]

If your gunsmith thinks a .355" bullet is for a .38 or 357 mag. than it is time to find a real gunsmith.

[quickdtoo]

Question for you guys.  Is it possible to buy a handi rifle in .357 mag and have it reamed to .35 remington? 

Not on late model 357Mag Handis that come on cast iron SB1 frames, you'd want an SB2 frame for the 35 Rem, either an older SB2 357mag or an accessory or second hand barrel on an SB2 frame.

Tim

[ncloader88]

+1 on the new gunsmith!  Best option is to buy one in a different caliber and have the 35 rem barrel fitted by H&R, thus avoiding the lower pressure recievers on the new 357s and 44s.  If you decide to go with a used one, call in the serial # to H&R and see what barrels they will fit to the frame.  Do this before you buy it (they are kind of finicky about fitting barrels on frames much more than 10 years old).  If you don't like the barrel that the gun came with, you can always sell it here.

[cwlongshot]

Time to find a different gunsmith, that one doesn't know what he's talking about.

100% YES!!!
 
OMG, this guy is a real gunsmith?  The only ïssue"I see is what Tim brought up. You can buy a brand new gun, BUT put the barrel on a SB2 receiver.
 
CW

[bucmeister]

As to Remington/H&R making runs of the 35Rem for the MS & LA Primitive Weapons seasons they did for awhile but it is hit or miss now.  Talked with the gun department at Van's Sporting Goods in Brandon, MS (a reportedly big dealer of Handi's) just last week about the availability of the 35Rem version and was told that Remington/H&R did not make any 35Rem rifles this year.  Not sure about the plans for next year.  Who knows why they make the decisions they do.  I know I am very thankful to have gotten my hands on my 35Rem which will be a fine round even if it does not get reamed to the 356Win round. 

[Jason F]

The 35 rem has a lower chamber pressure than a 30-30. And you can put a 30-30 on Sb1 receiver.  And those were offered on pre Sb1 frames at one time.  Why would it not be safe to buy a factory 357 mag rifle that has a small firing pin already and rechamber to 35 rem. ? When you ream them to max it has higher chamber pressure with a smaller case head. Lots of people on here have went to the Max on there factory 357 mag rifles without issues. The only problems you hear about are when guys send there shotgun frames in that have large firing pin then they end up with primer flow when they rechamber to Max. Maybe there are other issues that I am not aware of but if it was my rife I would feel safe doing it and shooting it but that's just my opinion on it.

[cwlongshot]

Jason,
 The 30-30 is not now an to my knoledge, never was offered on a SB1 frame. It WAS offered on the old cast iron frames that was all there ws in those days.
 
But you are correct the pressures for the 35Rem nd 30-30 do fall under OUR 40K limits. But this is OUR limit, pretty much we here decided as a safe limit to SB1 calibers. H&R hasn't offically put such a pressure limit on the SB1. Kinda makes you wonder why... Lawyers is best guess.
 
You would probably, be fine with a 35rem or a 30-30 on a SB1 with factory and factory equilivent loads. But when life and limb are on the line. I like a little better gamble than "probably".
Remember, the 357 and 44 don't make 40K. The very lo pressured 45 Colt is not offered on a SB1. Its factory pressures are UNDER 20K! Ruger level loadings run about about 20-25K... But still the factory will not use one on a SB1.
 
CW