35 Whelen 250gr

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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hey fellas, getting almost done on the Rutting species, didn't go so well on the trophy aspect but had some great hunts before things consumed my time elsewhere than In the field.

with winter fast approaching, some snow just hitting the hills Ive gone an dusted off the Whelen and gathered a bunch of Reloads from a couple months ago.

They are 250gr Hornady interlocks and a mid charge of AR2208 (varget), going through the ADI data, with a 24 inch barrel it mentions 2480fps.

my rifle carries a 22 inch barrel, so I deducted 50fps from the original numbers and devided by fps per grain and got a number with my Charge... I know. its ballpark.

my number was about 2350fps.... for a 250gr bullet

Whats your thoughts for "Elk" sized animals out to 250Ms?
as a stalking round, and in general for bullet an pace.

what is your 250gr loads producing in the Velocity game? im not chasing speed, I got an accurate load. im just excited and curious etc.


Thanks fellas, Happy hunting!

WhelanLad
 
That load will knock an Elk flat if you do your part well. I shot an Elk five years ago with a Whelan purpose built by a deceased friend. He didn't last long enough to take it out after it was finished and I figured as he had spent so much time putting the rifle and accessories together it should go on at least one hunt.

The Elk was quartering away from me about 250 meters out and walking slowly uphill. The bullet, 250 gr Speer flat base Spitzer, entered low just behind the right front leg. The bullet smashed the heart, part of each lung and exited the far side, breaking the offside leg just between the shoulder and elbow, then just kept right on going. That should give you some idea of how effective the 35 Whelan can be. That Elk went down, tried to get up an collapsed after a bit of kicking.

I used that same rifle on a Bear and a Deer. In all honesty, it is to powerful for those animals. It works well though and what I really like about the cartridge is that bruising is minimal if at all present. Very normal for this and its kissing cousin the 338-06.
 
The heaviest load I have for my Whelen is a 250gr Partition round. Loaded with RL-15 it leaves my 22" barrel at 2575fps. I just made up a batch of 250gr Hornady RN, with 4064 I'm pushing just over 2300fps (should be a thumper)
 
Dogleg said:
Mine does 2405 fps with 55 grains of Varget and the 250 Hornady. that's the max load on the Hodgdons site.
Click to expand...

How long is your tube mate?

I load 53 grains after I found the first few loads were a waste of projectile ( that's why we develop loads right.)

trying to find the photo of the target, Cant find the load development scribble either as I recall an inch group and I never did test any more powder.

WL


EDIT* Found the targets and scribble. I did try 54 grains but it sprayed, so settled on the 53 load. less stress on brass etc.

the group of 53 was 1.5 with the 3rd always out of the group an a little lower.. 1 an 2 always within 1cm if not touching. looking back that's why I settled with it, as a stalking rifle 1 or 2 shots common, 3rd rarely and if so its a finisher etc.


Loving my Ramline stock too BTW fellas! indeed
 
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IMG_1769RugerM77.jpg~original
 
I have had three Whelens, but am down to only one at present.
A Rem 700 classic 22" -16" twist, a Ruger #1 Custom 24" 1-14" twist, and my current Sako AV 24" 1-12" twist.
I shot a dozen or so elk with them and 250 grain bullets. I mostly have used IMR4064 and RL15, very similar to Varget / AR2208 in burning rate. It was safe to load up to 2500 fps in all my rifles.
That Hornady bullet will smack any deer very dead when started at 2350 fps, even out to 250M. Last fall I shot this dry cow at 210M broadside through both lungs, with the Hornady RN 250 gr. Bullet exited. She only ran about 20M or so. Typical performance. I don't notice any difference when using the spire point vs the RN in this weight either.
If you were shooting the Spire point bullet from your rifle at 2350 MV, and i was shooting the RN from mine at 2500MV, I believe killing power and overall effectiveness would be identical at 200-250 M
IMG_1841_zpse6929bdc.jpg
 
Nice Longwalker!

im not so much worried about if it will work, but more what other hunters thoughts are, who have used the calibre, maybe know their data and can put my MV, projectile and usage into perspective and see if its realistic, suitable etc.
or like yourself some photos an story of a hunt with a Whelen and some information aswell!

its my heaviest projectile in the gun safe and being a ruger its one of the heavier in the safe too. so I don't plan on day trekking with this one (t3 308) but rather stalking lower gulleys and the odd across gulley shot at 250m max (preferably lesser distance) it shoots around about 2 inches high at 100ms

cheers guys!

Whelanlad
 
My rifle has a twenty two inch barrel. It's a 7600 ade in theate 80s. First year of regular production in that caliber
if I remember correctly.

I've had very little guessing velocities based on manual loads. When the manuals can't even agree what chance do we have?

Just yesterday I was shooting some new loads in the 375 and 338 Win. Data rate to non existent for the 230 ESP Raptor but max loads on other bullets of that weight are listed from 74 to 77 grains of H4895. Speeds with those charges are listed anywhere from 2
800 to 3000 with 77 grains. After running a quick pressure sequence up to 77 (a bit hot) I decided to try at 74 grains which is basically a full case without much compression. It shot around the inch Mark with a velocity of 3000. The 338 came in at 120 fps faster than the manual with 2 1/2 grains less powder. The next one might come in 200 slow.


WhelanLad said:
How long is your tube mate?






I load 53 grains after I found the first few loads were a waste of projectile ( that's why we develop loads right.)

trying to find the photo of the target, Cant find the load development scribble either as I recall an inch group and I never did test any more powder.

WL


EDIT* Found the targets and scribble. I did try 54 grains but it sprayed, so settled on the 53 load. less stress on brass etc.

the group of 53 was 1.5 with the 3rd always out of the group an a little lower.. 1 an 2 always within 1cm if not touching. looking back that's why I settled with it, as a stalking rifle 1 or 2 shots common, 3rd rarely and if so its a finisher etc.


Loving my Ramline stock too BTW fellas! indeed
Click to expand...
 
WhelanLad said:
They are 250gr Hornady interlocks and a mid charge of AR2208 (varget), going through the ADI data, with a 24 inch barrel it mentions 2480fps.

my rifle carries a 22 inch barrel, so I deducted 50fps from the original numbers and devided by fps per grain and got a number with my Charge... I know. its ballpark.

my number was about 2350fps.... for a 250gr bullet
Click to expand...

You really should invest in a chronograph. The next time you're tempted by a gun purchase, talk yourself out of it and put the money toward a good chronograph. Without it, you're really just guessing at what's going on, and reloading + guessing really sucks.
 
Fellow Aushunter forum goer, lives down the Road an hour an half, he has one, Im due to meet up an send a few over it very shortly!

There will be a 270 a 308 a 35 an a 375 flyin over er soon.

Cheers 9.3 im really just a hunter, I have too much time on my hands some days an that's when you will pick up I post questions and stuff that I proberly could answer myself with a few more instruments or money... but I also have faith in those who spend the time to reply to my Qs, who have proberly experienced it more than once, twice, an have had the money to do so. weather its rebarreling a rifle, or talking loads etc.

that's where I appreciate this site tremendously.


You can bet ill make a thread when I can run these over the Chrono :)

Cheers
WL
 
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