.318 WR V .35 Whelen

[WhelanLad]

So some of my old time idols used a .318westley, often with the 250gr load-

Am I correct in saying that the 35 Whelen is comparable to the .318 WR?

250gr at 2400 or so (keeping in mind not everyone wrings the neck out of the Whelen)

 

[Demonical]

So is this because you've got a chance to buy an old .318WR?

I can't see as a Sambar would like either...

 

[WhelanLad]

So is this because you've got a chance to buy an old .318WR?

I can't see as a Sambar would like either...

Nah ! im struggling for Safe Space as it is-- an funds are all time low LOL

most of the .318s have a hefty price tag too!! but hey, maybe one dayyyy

 

[9.3mauser]

The .318 had an excellent reputation for penetration back in the day. A lot of old timers used it for elephant. A 250 gr bullet was heavy for calibre in the .318 ( actually .330") with an sectional density of .328. A 250 gr .358" bullet is a medium weight, with an s.d. of .279. You would have to step up to 300 grs to get an equivalent to the .318.

You could run 220's out of your .30/06 and achieve essentially the same thing. Same s.d. and same velocity.

 

[WhelanLad]

The .318 had an excellent reputation for penetration back in the day. A lot of old timers used it for elephant. A 250 gr bullet was heavy for calibre in the .318 ( actually .330") with an sectional density of .328. A 250 gr .358" bullet is a medium weight, with an s.d. of .279. You would have to step up to 300 grs to get an equivalent to the .318.

You could run 220's out of your .30/06 and achieve essentially the same thing. Same s.d. and same velocity.

Do you wanna know the Saddest Part............ im Magazineless in the 30-06 an i dont see myself spending $200 anytime soon so its getting Shelved in the Safe------- the whelens out to play though, wont be goin to 300gr, got a fair few Hrnady and 150 odd hot cors to slowly smack some sambars with

 

[WhelanLad]

ironic, as i wanted to sell it for the funds for injectors... but i just dont think i can.

 

[jamesharrison]

I've had 2 .318 rifles, a Greener & a Jeffery, both made on Mauser 98 rifles. Both rifles were completely made in Germany, as evidenced by their proof marks. I've also had 2 .35-06's [aka Whelen]. One was a German "cigarette" rifle in 9x57 that was re-chambered to .35-06; the other is a Holland & Holland in .318 N.E. that was re-bored to .35 because of a ruined bore. I also had a .338-06 that was a lot let hassle to shoot as I did not have to mess around with re-sizing bullets.
I used 250 grain .338" Winchester Silvertips that were squoze down in a Z-Hat die in the .318's.
In the .35's I used old Hornady 275 grain RNSP bullets, as well as 275 grain Winchester Silvertips and 275 & 310 Woodleighs.
In the .338-06, I used 250 grain Winchester Silvertips & Hornady RNSP bullets.
Almost all of them are now gone & in their place I use either one of my Husqvarnas in 9.3x57 or my .366 Mauser Husqvarna [9.3x62].

As has been mentioned, in order to achieve the same sectional density as the 250 grain bullet in the .318, you have to use a 310 grain bullet.
When you do that however, I was only able to attain ~2,300 fps in the 24" barrel.

Does that matter? Probably not, as long as you are using quality bullets.

 

[dan belisle]

So some of my old time idols used a .318westley, often with the 250gr load-

Am I correct in saying that the 35 Whelen is comparable to the .318 WR?

250gr at 2400 or so (keeping in mind not everyone wrings the neck out of the Whelen)

More like a 338-06, with a slightly smaller diameter bullet. Great cartridge though, with a lot of history. Have a look at the 333 OKH and it's brethren too. - dan

 

[Slimbo]

I’ve always admired the 318 WR and just had the next best thing built, a 338-06. Should be an elk stomper!

 

[WhelanLad]

Yeah sweet , these are all great cartridges for Big Deer.

 

[Suther]

The .318 had an excellent reputation for penetration back in the day. A lot of old timers used it for elephant. A 250 gr bullet was heavy for calibre in the .318 ( actually .330") with an sectional density of .328.

Thats quite the SD!

I was not very familiar with the 318 Westley-Richards before looking it up for this thread. If bullets were more available I'd totally want one now, it would totally fit the niche I'm trying to fill of something bigger than 30-06 in a LH hunting rifle.

 

[Joel]

The classic 318 WR loads sound a lot like 338 Fed, although with a 225gr

 

[conor_90]

A 250 grain .330 cal bullet from a 28 inch barrel at 2400

"wow amazing, legendary elephant performance, wish I could get bullets"

A 250 grain 338 caliber bullet at 2530 from a 23 inch barrel

"Too slow, use a 225"

 

[BigUglyMan]

A 250 grain .330 cal bullet from a 28 inch barrel at 2400

"wow amazing, legendary elephant performance, wish I could get bullets"

A 250 grain 338 caliber bullet at 2530 from a 23 inch barrel

"Too slow, use a 225"

LOL, that logic 100% tracks.

 

[WhelanLad]

A 250 grain .330 cal bullet from a 28 inch barrel at 2400

"wow amazing, legendary elephant performance, wish I could get bullets"

A 250 grain 338 caliber bullet at 2530 from a 23 inch barrel

"Too slow, use a 225"

yet people still keep on buyin it lol

 

[jamesharrison]

I'll see your .318 W.R. & raise you a .333 Jeffery Rimless [300 gr. 0.333" bullet @ 2,200 fps]. Now that's Sectional Density!

The only cartridge nowadays that matches that S.D. is the .50 Browning.

 

[dan belisle]

So some of my old time idols used a .318westley, often with the 250gr load-

Am I correct in saying that the 35 Whelen is comparable to the .318 WR?

250gr at 2400 or so (keeping in mind not everyone wrings the neck out of the Whelen)

More like the 338-06. But there's not much difference to the 35 Whelen for either. - dan

 

[conor_90]

A 300 grain 338 accubond has an SD of .375...