35 Whelen Loads

Eagleye

Eagleye

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OK all you bigger-bore reloaders, I will soon come into possession of a 35 Whelen in a modern, strong action. How about sharing some of your pet loads with bullets from 200-250 grains? I DO practice safe reloading, start lower and work up. What is working for you? :D Thanks in advance, Eagleye.
 
59.0 RL-15 ,Fed 210 primer,Rem 35whelen brass and Hornady's 250 gr spire point. MOA in my new 700 CDL (3shot groups) no pressure signs and 1/2gr below Alliant's listed max.
Dave
 
Hello Eagleye,
My favorite 35 Whelen load to date.
Rem 7600 with 22" bbl
Win 30-06 brass necked up to 35
Hornady 250 gr SP
WLRM primer
60.0 gr RL15
Measured velocity is 2600 to 2650 fps.
The first 3 shots measure about .75" center to center

This load may not be safe in any other rifles. Reduce load 10% to start.

My longest measured shot was 375 yds to a one shot kill on a moving cow moose. I dropped a moose calf a little further away than that, but was unable to measure the distance.
I'm impressed with the performance that the 35 Whelen has to offer both in terms of power and range.
All that on a necked up 30-06 case!
Too Much fun!
So much to do and so little time.
Good Luck
John
 
Thanks Guys, One more question: How's the recoil factor in an 8 lb rifle when you are chasing those 250's out at 2600+? Not that I am recoil sensitive, but just like to get something to campare to. EE.
 
Hi Eagleye,
When there is a Moose out front I'm not aware of any recoil.
Back at the range...the recoil is a bit stiffer than a 30-06.
Good Luck
John
 
Over the years the best loads I have found have been 59grs RL15 with a 250gr at 2600 and 61grs RL15 with a 225gr just over 2700,
the whelen has fairly light recoil .
 
I pretty much settled on RL15 for my Whelen. I found IMR 4320 to be ok but I never got the performace from it that I get with RL15. I like the way RL15 meters through my powder measure.

My standard loads are:

225 gr Nosler Part or Sierra, 59 gr RL15L - 2700 to 2725 fps. I've loaded to 61 gr for 2775 to 2800 fps but case life was too short. Basically the loads gave me the willies so I backed off.

250 gr Hornady Interlocs, 57 to 58 gr RL15, - 2575 to 2600 fps

I use CCI200 primers, reformed .30-06 brass and load to a OAL of 3.28". After the first firing in my rifle I partially resize. Barrel length is 23".

I found recoil to be very similar to my .300 Win Mag with 180 gr bullets at 3000 fps with the 300's recoil been a little faster(maybe). The two rifles both weigh the same.

All of the above loads are near max so starting 10% less is a good plan.
 
Here's a plug for limbsaver's R3 recoil pad, my new whelen kicks less (felt) than my finbear deluxe in 30-06 with 180's. This is my second whelen and I'll never be without at least one.
BD
 
Have a look at the following web-site

www.35cal.com

Lot's of info for the 35 cal fan.

I agree with some of the previous comments, Reloader 15
is definitely the place to start. Am about to try some Hodgdon
BL(C)2 when time permits as well. Reportedly very good as well !
 
BwanaDave said:
59.0 RL-15 ,Fed 210 primer,Rem 35whelen brass and Hornady's 250 gr spire point. MOA in my new 700 CDL (3shot groups) no pressure signs and 1/2gr below Alliant's listed max.
Dave
Click to expand...

Alliant lists 59.5 grs of Rel 15 as max with a 250 :shock: :?:

I've been using 60grs of Rel15 under a 225 Partition for 2700+....max in the Barnes manual...maybe there's room to go up :wink: :D

what kind of velocity are you getting?
 
Beretta boy; Excellent site!! Thanks a lot! I will make good use of that info. Interestingly, Reloder 15, which is touted as THE powder for the 35 Whelen, Is also optimum in the 300 Savage, 308 Winchester, and the 8x57JS, all very efficient cartridges. Regards, Eagleye.
 
Dave, I have had excellent results with:

225gr TSX
57gr Varget
CCI 200 Primers
Win 30-06 Cases
Velocity = 2725fps

250gr Speer SP (Hotcore)
55.5gr Varget
CCI 200 Primers
Win 30-06 Cases
Velocity = 2550fps

Both loads are phenominal killers, and I have honesty not noticed a difference so far between the two for on game performance.

While the trajectory of the 225 is a hair flatter, I find myself wondering why I would not just stick with the good old hotcores @ $17/box of 50 (versus $50/box of 50 for the TSX) :shock:

Two large blackies and a young whitetail buck have fallen to the 225 TSX from my whelen this year (deer and 1 bear taken by a buddy) and all were impressive 1 shot kills..... very decisive.

Took a monster blackie this spring with the 250gr Speer and after taking out the front drive train, it passed through the rear ribs (and kept going). Not bad for a shot well under 30 yards away.

My moose this year was at 251 yards broadside, and the250 Hotcore made short work of him too (still sailing also).

Backed a buddy up on a 28 1/2" 4x4 mulie as well, and at @ 250yds (didn't range it) I had to take a quick offhand poke as he made his way into the thick and nasty (wounded). Took what was offered, and the good old 250gr Hotcore went through just above his hip joints, and kept on going.... he did not :mrgreen:

In all instances, wound channels were VERY impressive, yet there was very little bloodshot or actual lost meat.

You'll be impressed with the cartridge...... my suggestion (as was told to me by the Canadian 35cal Guru (Ted Wagner)), was to start and end load development with the 250 Speer hotcore......... he was right!!!! It performs like a partrition, at a fraction of the cost (a rare instance of where you get more than you pay for), and shoots very well.

The "THUMP" that the whelen echoes back to you from a squarely hit critter will keep you smiling and coming back to the cartridge for years to come (I know it will me).

OH yeah... and it is much more than a good "300 yard" cartridge (ask my 8"x8" steel gong @ 450yds.... you have to wait for it to stop swinging even after chambering another round before you can hit it again) :D

280_ACKLEY
 
Eagleye:

You are most welcome !

I've used the Hornady 250 RN's ahead of 55gr. of RL-15 very successfully on
Ontario Moose, and the 200 RN with 58 gr. of RL-15 on deer. Playing around now
with BL-C(2) and Speer 220 FP's for a somewhat reduced level deer load, as the
FP's should be viable at anything over (and within reason) of .35 Rem. velocities.

RL-15 seems to be THE powder, but I've also used H335 & IMR 4895 to shoot some decent groups. Would also give Vihtavouri N-140 a try if you were looking to cook up some hotter loads.

Have been told by a couple of others that the Federal Prewmium 225gr. Bonded
Bear Claw factory loads are also very good ... just haven't used them on game myself yet.
 
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