Kazman1960
CGN Regular
- Location
- Timmins Ontario
Hi . Looking at buying a Remington 7400 in .35 Whalen . Anyone have experience in loading this round ? Is the brass hard to find ? What powder recommendation and bullet weight work best for you .
.35 Whalen
- Thread starter Kazman1960
- Start date
- Location
- Manitoulin Island
Works well for me, used Rel15, but unable to obtain more, now using Varget. I used 225Gr. Sierra boat-tail, but out of those now too.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've used the .35 Whelen a lot, and have had excellent success with 250 grain bullets by Speer & Hornady and have also used the 225 grain bullets by Barnes and Nosler. 200 grain bullets are OK for deer, but are really too light for optimum results on moose and elk in this cartridge. The all copper bullets are the obvious exception, but I personally have no experience with 200 gr. copper. I hand loaded IMR 4064 for many years, and have since switched to RL15. 2500 fps / 250 grain bullet is very achievable within safe pressure limits in most rifles, about 100 fps faster than Remington factory loads. A 250 @ 2400 fps is not going to bounce off anything either, and recoil will be a bit less than full power handholds. In your semi it may be best to stay with standard velocity loads.
Brass is fairly common, but recent brass shortages of all types may influence your success finding some. If you open the necks of 30-06, anneal the necks afterwards.
Brass is fairly common, but recent brass shortages of all types may influence your success finding some. If you open the necks of 30-06, anneal the necks afterwards.
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One thing you're going to find out about eh 35 Whelan is that it is one of the most forgiving cartridges going.
Your only drawback may the 7400 action itself. Some of these rifles do not like round nose bullets and will fail to feed. Usually a little polishing of the feed ways will fix this. It has been reported that the 7400 isn't as strong as a bolt action. IMHO it isn't the fault of the action itself but the gas system and return/recoil spring. The gas port to the piston is quite large and causes the bolt to be unlocked very quickly and positively. IMHO a smaller gas port and heavier return/recoil spring would fix this issue. The lugs are small but with three of them plenty strong enough to handle higher pressures. The issue is that with near max loads bits start to move or break. I have even seen one open before it should have. Luckily no one was injured and the rifle was fine. It's owner wanted more velocity so used a faster powder and added more than the suggested maximum. Of course, pressures were very high and the rifle acted accordingly.
Use lots of common sense and keep your loads within suggested limits and that rifle, which is one of my favorites will serve you well. It is a very well designed rifle as far as ergonomics are concerned, especially for those with longer necks.
The 35Whelan has tombs of reloading information on the web. It is a great cartridge and is far more powerful than most shooters have any real need for. The thing is, it's there when and if it is needed.
Brass with proper headstamps is readily available. Tradex has it or did the last time I bought it. A 250 grain bullet traveling at 2400fps is a devastating thing when placed properly.
I will warn you right off. If you are recoil shy or close to it, the 35 Whelan is not for you. It has substantial recoil. Some poo poo this but trust me when I say felt recoil is very noticeable. Especially when shooting off the bench on rests.
Your only drawback may the 7400 action itself. Some of these rifles do not like round nose bullets and will fail to feed. Usually a little polishing of the feed ways will fix this. It has been reported that the 7400 isn't as strong as a bolt action. IMHO it isn't the fault of the action itself but the gas system and return/recoil spring. The gas port to the piston is quite large and causes the bolt to be unlocked very quickly and positively. IMHO a smaller gas port and heavier return/recoil spring would fix this issue. The lugs are small but with three of them plenty strong enough to handle higher pressures. The issue is that with near max loads bits start to move or break. I have even seen one open before it should have. Luckily no one was injured and the rifle was fine. It's owner wanted more velocity so used a faster powder and added more than the suggested maximum. Of course, pressures were very high and the rifle acted accordingly.
Use lots of common sense and keep your loads within suggested limits and that rifle, which is one of my favorites will serve you well. It is a very well designed rifle as far as ergonomics are concerned, especially for those with longer necks.
The 35Whelan has tombs of reloading information on the web. It is a great cartridge and is far more powerful than most shooters have any real need for. The thing is, it's there when and if it is needed.
Brass with proper headstamps is readily available. Tradex has it or did the last time I bought it. A 250 grain bullet traveling at 2400fps is a devastating thing when placed properly.
I will warn you right off. If you are recoil shy or close to it, the 35 Whelan is not for you. It has substantial recoil. Some poo poo this but trust me when I say felt recoil is very noticeable. Especially when shooting off the bench on rests.
I've been loading for my 7600 since I bought it in'92. I've tried a variety of powders, usually settling on IMR 4064. Reloader 15 is good, but I only found it in my area once about three years ago. I bought a pound of IMR 8208 XBR to try this year.
I've tried the original Barnes X, but they left an awful lot of copper fouling. I've been using Hornady 200&250s in both spire points and round nose.
I had bought 5 boxes of Remington factory loads when I got the rifle as well as one bag of 35 stamped brass over the years. Everything else has been various brands of .30-06 and .270 range brass, necked up to .35. Maybe I've been lucky, but I never anneal my cases. Never had a split neck, either. I load around 100 rounds /year for the last 23 years for this rifle. I wouldn't trade this round for anything else. I want to bring out a few family heirloom rifles for deer in the future, just to bring my (great)grandfathers out hunting with me from time to time, but my main go to is my "Wailin'"
Recoils is stiff in my 7600, it may be milder in a semi, but in a bolt or a pump it will be stiff. After a box and a half or so, I have had enough for a range session. I've been meaning to add a recoil pad, but haven't gotten around to it in 23 years, so it's not looking likely. That being said, my 15 year old nephew has been able to keep it in the ten ring at 100 yards or so for a full five round mag. He weighs about 120pounds.
I've tried the original Barnes X, but they left an awful lot of copper fouling. I've been using Hornady 200&250s in both spire points and round nose.
I had bought 5 boxes of Remington factory loads when I got the rifle as well as one bag of 35 stamped brass over the years. Everything else has been various brands of .30-06 and .270 range brass, necked up to .35. Maybe I've been lucky, but I never anneal my cases. Never had a split neck, either. I load around 100 rounds /year for the last 23 years for this rifle. I wouldn't trade this round for anything else. I want to bring out a few family heirloom rifles for deer in the future, just to bring my (great)grandfathers out hunting with me from time to time, but my main go to is my "Wailin'"
Recoils is stiff in my 7600, it may be milder in a semi, but in a bolt or a pump it will be stiff. After a box and a half or so, I have had enough for a range session. I've been meaning to add a recoil pad, but haven't gotten around to it in 23 years, so it's not looking likely. That being said, my 15 year old nephew has been able to keep it in the ten ring at 100 yards or so for a full five round mag. He weighs about 120pounds.
I have used IMR4064 with 250gr Speer spitzers for 30 yrs . Great for moose . Bullet does well with the Whelen velocities . Used 30-06 brass since the late 70's . I am now trying 225gr bullets using Varget . Working out my load . Friend uses IMR3031 and the 225's . Have not tried it yet .
- Location
- Manitoulin Island
I got new 35 Whelen brass at Shooter's Den in Sudbury (same place I got the like-new Rem 700). Would think Epps and other full service gun shops should have it. I don't mind buying new brass to have the correct headstamp, but that is just me.
Kazman1960
CGN Regular
- Location
- Timmins Ontario
Denis is my Go To guy as well , great Guy and good prices .
X2 on Dennis. He's got stuff you wouldn't even think he would carry. Just gotta ask sometimes.
My son loads Varget in his 35 Whelen with 250 Hornadys and it Kills GOOD ! RJ
Congrats on your excellent taste in rifle and caliber.
I found it accurate with just about any bullet in the 225 to 250 gr range. I used RL15. I am sure 4895, 4064 and Varget, plus some of the ball powders like BLC2, H335 and 748 would work just as well.
I found it accurate with just about any bullet in the 225 to 250 gr range. I used RL15. I am sure 4895, 4064 and Varget, plus some of the ball powders like BLC2, H335 and 748 would work just as well.
There wasn't much published load data when I started loading for it. Bullets and brass, either. But know with the WWW, there is a ton of data and many fine bullets and powders to choose from. I tried the Barnes X back when it came out, but have settled on the Hornadys, mostly for price and availability. I get about 1.5-2 MOA with just about any bullet/powder combination I try. I'd probably get better results if I wasn't getting slapped from the bench. I don't feel it when hunting, but I do notice it at the range.
Nice thing about the latest powder shortages, is that I have several loads I can fall back on when my powder of choice is unavailable.
Nice thing about the latest powder shortages, is that I have several loads I can fall back on when my powder of choice is unavailable.
Is Dennis located downstairs at that strip mall still? I have t been there since 1995!
I used to deal with Dennis ALLOT!
I used to visit the store for an hour or two every friday when I drove back into Sudbury from work! Great guy to deal with!
The last 35Whelan I had was a Rem700 Classic. The chamber was VERY poorly done! The fired case had longitudinal grooves from a bad reamer chatter! But good lord would it shoot! I can honestly say that the rifle was consistantly under 3/4" with nearly every load I tried! And a few loads were under 1/2"! Stunning!
Very easy to load for!
I had to sell it to fund another "PROJECT", and still hurt from that decision!
Very easy to load for!
I had to sell it to fund another "PROJECT", and still hurt from that decision!
Lots of power available when you load for the Whelen! I had a nice 7400 that I regret selling. Most manuals list loads. I stuck to 250grn bullets to make the most of it since I bought it for large predator defense.
Same Bat Station, Same Bat Channel. Still closed Sunday and Monday.
He's starting to show that he's nearing retirement. He always seems to be tired lately. I don't think he will retire, though. I think he likes running the business and socializing with his customers.
