.35 Remington and the forgotten lever cartridges — which ones still deserve a rifle

Not every "obsolete" lever cartridge deserved to be forgotten. Some got outsold rather than outperformed. An honest look at the vintage rounds that still ship factory ammo, still fit modern hunting, and still make sense in the right rifle.

Cartridge popularity is only loosely related to cartridge quality. Marketing wins, timing wins, chambered-in-a-hit-rifle wins. Meanwhile, dozens of lever-action cartridges that were technically excellent in their day quietly slipped off the shelves — not because anyone proved them inferior, but because the shooting public collectively decided a slightly different cartridge was going to be the standard, and every gun store in America adjusted its inventory accordingly. If you inherit an old rifle chambered for one of these forgotten rounds, you have a real question on your hands: is it still a usable hunting tool, or is it a wall-hanger? The honest answer, for most of them, is that they're better than their obscurity suggests. Some are still ammunition-supported. A few are arguably better cartridges than what replaced them.

This is the guide to the vintage lever cartridges that still matter — either because factory ammunition is still loaded, because the rifles are worth owning, or because the ballistics still fit real hunting jobs today.

.35 Remington — the working man's .30-30-plus

Introduced in 1906 for the Remington Model 8 semi-automatic sporting rifle, the .35 Remington eventually found its true home in the Marlin 336 (and briefly the Remington 760 pump). It fires a .358-inch, 200-grain bullet at roughly 2,080 fps out of a 20-inch barrel, generating about 1,920 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. That is essentially .30-30 velocity with a bigger, heavier bullet, and the ballistic implications are real.

What this means practically: on whitetail, black bear, and hogs inside 200 yards, the .35 Remington is arguably a slightly better cartridge than the .30-30 — larger bullet diameter, similar sectional density, comparable energy delivery, and a reputation for putting animals down quickly with less bloodshot meat than the .30-30 sometimes produces. Hunters who've used both often prefer the .35 Rem when they can get it.

Ammunition status in 2026: Remington still loads the .35 Remington in 150gr and 200gr Core-Lokt (production has been intermittent in recent years — check current availability). Hornady's LEVERevolution line offers a 200gr FTX in .35 Remington, which is the flat-shooting hunting load if you can find it. Buffalo Bore loads heavy hunting ammunition. The cartridge is not dead; it's specialty. Stock up when you find it.

Rifles: The Marlin 336 in .35 Remington is the classic — millions were made, used-market rifles are readily available and typically well-priced. Ruger-era Marlin has focused primarily on the .30-30 in current 336 production, so new .35 Rem rifles are limited. Henry offers the H009 Steel Lever Action in .35 Remington in current production for buyers who want new. For most .35 Rem buyers, the used Marlin 336 market is where the action is.

The .35 Remington isn't a compromise on the .30-30 — for a lot of hunting, it's an upgrade that history skipped over.

.32 Winchester Special — the underappreciated twin

Introduced in 1902 for the Winchester Model 94, the .32 Winchester Special was designed to give handloaders of the smokeless-powder era a cartridge easier to reload than the .30-30 (which required faster-burning powders less common at the time). It fires a .321-inch, 170-grain bullet at roughly 2,200-2,300 fps — remarkably similar to the .30-30, with slightly better performance at the muzzle and a slightly slower twist rate that was thought (at the time) to give better performance with cast bullets.

The reality: the .32 Winchester Special is a legitimate deer cartridge that never had a compelling reason to displace the .30-30. Winchester 94 rifles in .32 Special were made for over a century. Winchester still occasionally loads .32 Special ammunition; Hornady briefly offered a LEVERevolution load, since discontinued. Availability is genuinely thin now — this is a "handloader's cartridge" in 2026 unless you can find factory stock.

Practical status: If you inherited a Winchester 94 in .32 Special, it's a fine deer rifle with a small ammunition problem. Handloading solves it completely. Buying factory ammunition means being patient and buying when you see it. Not a rifle to actively seek out unless you specifically want a Winchester 94 and the character of the older chambering, but not one to sell either if you already own one.

.38-55 Winchester — older than everything, still going

The .38-55 Winchester predates the .30-30 by nearly a decade — introduced in 1884 for the Marlin 1881 and Ballard single shots, adopted by Winchester for the Model 1894 in 1894 alongside the .30-30, and continuously loaded in some form ever since. It fires a .375-inch, 255-grain lead or jacketed bullet at roughly 1,300-1,600 fps (traditional loadings) or hotter in modern rifles rated for it.

The cartridge has a devoted following among cowboy action shooters, blackpowder-cartridge enthusiasts, and traditionalists who appreciate its long history and heavy-bullet effectiveness at close range. Henry currently produces the Big Boy in .38-55 for buyers who want new production. Marlin 336 rifles in .38-55 were produced in limited runs and are excellent when found on the used market.

Ammunition: Winchester, Remington, Buffalo Bore, and specialty loaders still produce .38-55 ammunition, though selection is limited. Cowboy-action loads are typically available; hunting loads require more searching.

Verdict on .38-55: If you love the cartridge's history or want a distinctive rifle that shoots something other than what every deer camp uses, it's a valid and effective choice inside 100-125 yards. Not a first-rifle recommendation for someone building a general hunting battery.

.348 Winchester — the Model 71 that time forgot

Introduced in 1936 for the Winchester Model 71 — a large-frame lever action derived from the Winchester 1886 action — the .348 Winchester was a serious cartridge in its day, offering elk-class performance from a lever gun with 250-grain bullets at ~2,500 fps generating over 3,400 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. That's genuinely powerful, in the .35 Whelen / .358 Winchester neighborhood.

The Model 71 was discontinued in 1957, and the .348 went with it. Browning briefly reintroduced the Model 71 in the 1980s. Original Winchester 71 rifles are prized collector pieces — and still-shootable hunting rifles — commanding serious money in good condition. Modern production is essentially nonexistent outside occasional custom builds.

Ammunition: Buffalo Bore and Grizzly Cartridge Company still load .348 Winchester in various hunting configurations, primarily heavy-bullet options aimed at large game. Hornady offered a 200gr FTX LEVERevolution load, since discontinued. Handloading is the practical answer for anyone shooting a .348 regularly. Brass is available from Starline and other specialty makers.

Practical status: A .348 Winchester is essentially a specialist cartridge for collectors and traditionalists who own the rifle. Not a general recommendation. But if you inherit a Model 71, do not sell it — it's an excellent rifle and a genuinely capable elk gun with the right loads.

.300 Savage — the Savage 99's ballistic head-start

Introduced in 1920 for the Savage Model 99 (a rotary-magazine lever action rather than a tube-magazine design, which allowed spitzer bullets safely), the .300 Savage was designed to deliver .30-06-class performance from a shorter, smaller cartridge case. It fires a 150-grain bullet at ~2,700 fps or a 180-grain at ~2,400 fps out of a 22-inch barrel — genuinely rifle-class ballistics with meaningful range and terminal performance to 300 yards.

The .300 Savage would go on to be the parent case of the .308 Winchester, which was essentially a .300 Savage with a slightly different shoulder angle and case dimensions optimized for ammunition production. When .308 arrived in 1952, the .300 Savage's role was largely absorbed. But Savage 99 rifles chambered in .300 Savage remained popular hunting arms into the 1990s.

Ammunition: Federal, Winchester, Remington, and Hornady all still load the .300 Savage in 150gr and 180gr hunting configurations. Availability is thinner than the .308 but consistent. This is one of the more supported "obscure" cartridges on this list.

Practical status: A Savage 99 in .300 Savage is a genuinely capable hunting rifle for anything up to elk at reasonable ranges. The rotary magazine allows modern spitzer bullets — a real ballistic advantage over tube-magazine lever guns. Used Savage 99s trade in a wide range depending on condition and configuration. If the rifle appeals to you, the cartridge does not disqualify it.

.405 Winchester — Teddy Roosevelt's medicine

Introduced in 1904 for the Winchester Model 1895 lever action, the .405 Winchester fires a .411-inch, 300-grain bullet at ~2,200 fps generating ~3,220 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. Theodore Roosevelt famously carried a .405 Winchester on his 1909-10 African safari, calling it his "big medicine for lions" (though most of his African game was actually taken with a .30-06 Springfield — the .405 was his lion cartridge specifically).

The .405 fell out of favor as bolt-action magnums took over the large-game world. Ammunition disappeared for decades. Then in the early 2000s, Winchester released commemorative Model 1895 reproductions in .405, and Hornady stepped up with factory ammunition (200gr FTX Superformance). Ruger produced the No. 1 in .405 for a period. Original Model 1895s in .405 are collector pieces; the reproductions are shootable hunting rifles.

Practical status: A .405 Winchester is a serious dangerous-game-capable cartridge for anyone who wants a distinctive lever-action rifle with genuine terminal authority. Ammunition is specialty but currently available. Not a first-rifle recommendation, but a legitimate collection piece that will also hunt anything on the continent.

Cartridges worth mentioning but not chasing

Several other "forgotten" lever cartridges deserve mention but not investment in 2026:

• .25-35 Winchester — the small stablemate to the .30-30 in the Model 94. Still occasionally loaded, mild recoil, effective on deer inside 150 yards. Niche.
• .303 Savage — Savage 99 chambering, generally similar to .30-30 territory. Factory ammunition essentially gone; a handloader's cartridge only.
• .30 Remington · .32 Remington — Remington's semi-auto and pump chamberings, essentially rimless equivalents of the .30-30 and .32 Special. Factory ammo effectively nonexistent.
• .375 Winchester — introduced in 1978 for the Winchester Model 94 Big Bore, an .38-55-based hot rod. Never took hold. Ammunition very thin.
• .444 Marlin — covered separately in our big-bore lever guide; still current production Marlin 336 chambering worth its own article.

Editorial note: always verify a vintage rifle's mechanical condition and headspace with a competent gunsmith before firing modern ammunition through it.