358 projies arrived!
- Thread starter WhelanLad
- Start date
Not the most optimal bullet (nor the most optimal powder for that bullet) in the 35 Whelen, given the size of game you've previously described hunting. For that class of big game, something like a 200 gr. Barnes TTSX or similar weight offering from other companies would allow the 35 Whelen to show it's best combination suite of ballistics versus retained energy over hunting ranges. If Australia ever gets overrun with moose, big bears, land dwelling great white sharks or something similar, the 250 grain bullets will come into their own for loading in the 35 Whelen.
Given that all rifles are individuals, and what is a tackdriver load when assembled by one reloader for one of his rifles but is a terrible load for another reloader when assembled for his rifle, published data is always the first place to look. Published data is developed to work in the widest possible range of rifles in a given caliber.
Speer, Hornady, and Hodgdon all have published data for using Varget. ADI in Australia has online published data for their equivalent to Varget. Certainly good enough for trying random reloading stuff looking for good enough results. At the top end with those bullets, published data says somewhere around 2450 fps and change for MV, depending on barrel length and the individual rifle.
According to Speer (if you look at the bullet manufacturer instead of the powder manufacturer), using something like Power Pro 2000MR instead of Varget, that will add an additional 200 fps to the muzzle velocity for their 250 grain Hot Cor.
With a 200 gr. Barnes, Nosler, etc, (again depending on the rifle and barrel length), you'd be looking at around 2800 - 2900 fps at the muzzle and somewhere around 2200 fps still remaining at 300 yards. Alternately, the 180 grain Barnes, my brother's choice in his 35 Whelen, will net you something around 3000 fps at the muzzle (as always, depending on the rifle and barrel). The BC isn't that great for that short stubby 180 gr. bullet, but starting at that velocity, it's still flat enough and has more than enough energy left to do more than just fine at 300 yards and a bit past that. That's a distance most hunters can't shoot well enough to be shooting at animals at, if they aren't shooting from a bench or laying on the ground behind a bipod. I haven't tried the 180 grain Barnes in my Whelen, but I've been loading the original Barnes X-bullet 180 grain for my wife's BLR in .358 Winchester for over 20 years now. Has worked just fine on every deer and elk she's shot with it and one cow moose.
But if your goal is "some load good enough for government work", the 250 grain Speer and Hornadys used only with Varget will have a combination that meets that standard.
Given that all rifles are individuals, and what is a tackdriver load when assembled by one reloader for one of his rifles but is a terrible load for another reloader when assembled for his rifle, published data is always the first place to look. Published data is developed to work in the widest possible range of rifles in a given caliber.
Speer, Hornady, and Hodgdon all have published data for using Varget. ADI in Australia has online published data for their equivalent to Varget. Certainly good enough for trying random reloading stuff looking for good enough results. At the top end with those bullets, published data says somewhere around 2450 fps and change for MV, depending on barrel length and the individual rifle.
According to Speer (if you look at the bullet manufacturer instead of the powder manufacturer), using something like Power Pro 2000MR instead of Varget, that will add an additional 200 fps to the muzzle velocity for their 250 grain Hot Cor.
With a 200 gr. Barnes, Nosler, etc, (again depending on the rifle and barrel length), you'd be looking at around 2800 - 2900 fps at the muzzle and somewhere around 2200 fps still remaining at 300 yards. Alternately, the 180 grain Barnes, my brother's choice in his 35 Whelen, will net you something around 3000 fps at the muzzle (as always, depending on the rifle and barrel). The BC isn't that great for that short stubby 180 gr. bullet, but starting at that velocity, it's still flat enough and has more than enough energy left to do more than just fine at 300 yards and a bit past that. That's a distance most hunters can't shoot well enough to be shooting at animals at, if they aren't shooting from a bench or laying on the ground behind a bipod. I haven't tried the 180 grain Barnes in my Whelen, but I've been loading the original Barnes X-bullet 180 grain for my wife's BLR in .358 Winchester for over 20 years now. Has worked just fine on every deer and elk she's shot with it and one cow moose.
But if your goal is "some load good enough for government work", the 250 grain Speer and Hornadys used only with Varget will have a combination that meets that standard.
