Remington goes retro

Guns Magazine, Oct, 2003 by Holt Bodinson

First, both .350s averaged about 1.25 inches for three shot groups at 100 yards with just about everything I fed them. Only my carbine, when stoked with a tailored 200-grain Core-Lokt handload, consistently shot trader an inch. The larger bores tend to be accurate and these two .350s were no exception. What was fascinating were the variations in velocity between the two guns and between different lots of ammunition.

Remington's latest 200-grain Core-Lokt ammunition averaged 2,707 fps in the Model 673 and 2,667 fps in the Model 600 for a total variance of only 40 fps between the rifle and the carbine. Another way of expressing it would be that the .350 Rum. Mag. looses only 11.5 fps per inch of barrel length between 22 inches and 18.5 inches, which is inconsequential.

This illustrates one of the endearing qualities of the larger bores with their excellent bore expansion ratios. You can shoot a shorter barreled, compact gun without sacrificing performance.

Remington lists the current 200-grain loading at 2,775 fps in their ballistic tables, and frankly, I was disappointed in the low velocities generated by the latest lot.

So next was a 30-year old lot of Remington's 200-grain factory load. It averaged 2,796 fps in the Model 673, and 2,718 fps in the Model 600. That's 89 fps and 51 fps faster than the velocities registered by the new lot of .350 Rem. Mag. ammunition. That was more like it. Save that old amino!

While Remington has discontinued the 250-grain Com-Lokt load, I had some 30-year old stock on hand. In the new Model 673, the load averaged 2,440 fps, and in the Model 600 carbine, 2,406 fps. The spread between both guns was now only 34 fps. If you're wondering about recoil with a 250 grain bullet, I can only say you wouldn't know whether you were shooting a 200-grain bullet at 2,775 fps or a 250-grain Com-Lokt at 2,400 fps unless you read the flap on the ammunition box.

Finally, I tested my standard hunting handload, which by the way, can be found in the Hodgdon Manual. It consists of a 200-grain Core-Lokt bullet; 59.0-grains of H4895; and a Remington case and primer. This is a maximum load registering 52,100 CUP so approach it carefully. In the new Model 673, it averaged 2,847 fps and in the Model 600 carbine, 2,784 fps.

That's the level of performance I think we should expect from the .350 Rem. Mag. Hopefully Remington will revisit its current loading and bring it up to the velocity they advertise in their catalog.

In summary, the .350 Rem. Mag. is one of our finest big game cartridges, particularly when it's housed in a compact, handy Model 600 or Model 673. There's something about short barrels with ventilated ribs, shark fin front sights, and laminated stocks that gets my blood boiling.

Remington has done us a great service in returning both its original "short magnum" cartridge and the "retro" Model 673 to the forefront of our sport. The 30-year wait was worth it.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Remington Arms Company

[800] 243-9700

www.remington.com

Hodgdon Powder Company