35cal.com??

1899

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
38   0   0
Location
West
What happened to 35cal.com? It was a great site that is no longer up, and iirc the owner of that site used to post here.
 
That would be me - I still post here.

Someone hacked my site so I pulled the plug on it until I figure out how unauthorized scripts are being added to some of my pages. These scripts could be malicious and bad for visitor's computers. Web site security is not my forte - so it could be off line a while.
 
That's an old archived page before I owned a Frontier in 358. If you want my 358Win/Frontier page I can email it to you. PM me your email addy.
 
Im currently gathering parts for my 35 Whelen build.

I found the site really informative. Still trying to figure out what twist of barrel to get.
 
Mad_Mikee - FWIW
I have 35s in all these twists and never had a problem stabilizing 250s in any. However here are some resonable guidelines I think.

16 for 200s and up to and including 250s. Most are good with this rate.

14 - good if contemplating 280s and 300s too - a good "do all" twist - for my first custom 35Whelen I bought a Shilen barrel in this twist. Never regretted the choice for my purposes. My 35W AI is in this twist too.

12" if 300s and 310s are your routine fodder. Woodleigh specifies a 12 required for their 310RNs. This twist shoots 225s and 250s fine in my experience too. I believe when the 35Whelen was first developed in the 1920s this was the twist chosen by the developers at that time for the poor man's magnum. Heavier 300gr bullets were the staple back then for this new wildcat.
 
What kind of velocities are you getting with 280-310gr bullets? Have you tried them through a short action .350 RM, or do they sit way too deep?
 
Whelen B - I plan on shooting the 225gr Sierra Gamekings or the 250gr Hornady interlocks.

Something that wont cost a fortune to shoot as I plan on only using 1 bullet for paper and game.

I have plenty of other guns so I figured I'd give this one a 20 or 21'' barrel. Something thats easy to take with me on my quad or to get in and out of the truck with.

I dont plan on using it for anything longer than about 250 yards.

Im going to install the barrel myself as part of a course at the local college. The instructor has a 35 Whelen reamer but I'll probably just buy a pre chambered barrel and spend my time truing up my action and cutting the threads.

I figure I'll go with a Pacnor. They have a 6 groove 1-10, 1-14 and 1-16 or a 5 grove 1-12.
 
I was looking to get on the site recently as well. I was hoping to tell you about my success with RL17, 250gr. Hornady RN-IL, and the 35 Whelen. My results were amazing. 2750fps and 1" groups. From a 22" barrel.
 
I was looking to get on the site recently as well. I was hoping to tell you about my success with RL17, 250gr. Hornady RN-IL, and the 35 Whelen. My results were amazing. 2750fps and 1" groups. From a 22" barrel.

That is .358 Norma Magnum velocity! Out of a 24" barrel.:eek:
 
...my success with RL17, 250gr. Hornady RN-IL, and the 35 Whelen. My results were amazing. 2750fps and 1" groups. From a 22" barrel.

What rifle are you using? When ReL15 came along the pressure curve permitted safe increases in velocity in the venerable old 35Whelen by 150fps or so with 250s in a modern rifle. Maybe ReL17 is similar and not too bulky it would seem. Never seen it for sale round here yet.

I have pushed that Hornady round nose 250 gr. to a hair over 2700f.p.s (instrumental reading) in experimental testing with ReL15. This bullet seems to produce less pressure than other 250 grains (even some 225 gr. weight bullets tested) with the same powder charge.

I've found that 250gr. Hornady RN-IL to be the velocity champ generally with Rel15 too. Using ReL15 I've usually had to add and extra 2grs. of powder over other 250gr bullets but velocities can be very good. I think its short shank with little bearing surface may be the reason. It's often VERY accurate too.
 
Whelen, have you fiddled around with the heavy Swift? What is your opinion of it? What are you views of the Whelen vs the 9.3x62?
 
IMO the 280 swift looks like a tough customer - for crushing heavy dangerous big game - probably one of the best if not thee best. Too spendy for my purposes so no I've not tried em yet. I've a friend that killed a Woods Buff with his 35Whelen using a 250partition. He claims that it has a discernable edge over the 225Partition for thump against such beasts. I can only assume the 280 swift might be more of a good thing for such. But I resize 286gr 9.3 Hornady interlocks (2320MV -22" tube 700classic) which are half the price and good bullets. Also I reload 300 Barnes Originals (out-of-print now but I have a small stash) and 310Woodleighs (2175MV-22" tube 700classic). That said, 250s are usually my moose and bear fodder here in Ontario.

The 9.3x62 is essentially a European 35Whelen in terms of it's capabilities. If 286gr and heavier bullets were going to be the norm then I would think the 9.3x62 may have a very slight edge - because of its slightly larger case capacity and slightly larger diameter bullet. But most 35Whelen owners use lighter 200grs and 225grs bullets so on that end the 35whelen makes more sense. Practically however, here in N. America the 35Whelen has the component availabilty edge.
 
I never had any reloading data for the 35 Whelen, 250gr. bullets and RL17. I based my starting load off the basis that RL17 is close to the same burn rate as 4350. I used Rem. brass, CCI 250 primers, 250gr. Hornady IL-RN, and RL17. I started at 55gr. of powder and worked up from there at one grain increments. I got a long ways before I stopped. The case was pretty much full. My primers had flattened slightly, but extraction was easy and unchanged. A case head that had been fired three times with my load measured the same as a brand new case. Primer pockets remained tight. My bullets were seated slightly longer than the cannelure. I can find the OAL measurement if people desire.

This load is not pressure tested by any means, and may not be safe in your rifle. It appears to be safe in mine. More data on RL17 can be found at 6mmbr.com


Whelen B, Have you found the 250gr. Hornady IL-RN to be a tough bullet?
 
What rifle are you using? When ReL15 came along the pressure curve permitted safe increases in velocity in the venerable old 35Whelen by 150fps or so with 250s in a modern rifle. Maybe ReL17 is similar and not too bulky it would seem. Never seen it for sale round here yet.

I have pushed that Hornady round nose 250 gr. to a hair over 2700f.p.s (instrumental reading) in experimental testing with ReL15. This bullet seems to produce less pressure than other 250 grains (even some 225 gr. weight bullets tested) with the same powder charge.

I've found that 250gr. Hornady RN-IL to be the velocity champ generally with Rel15 too. Using ReL15 I've usually had to add and extra 2grs. of powder over other 250gr bullets but velocities can be very good. I think its short shank with little bearing surface may be the reason. It's often VERY accurate too.


I am using a 98 Mauser custom with a Douglas premium 22" barrel.
 
A case head that had been fired three times with my load measured the same as a brand new case. Primer pockets remained tight.
That is what I would be watching carefully too. Seems promising. Keep track of and measure case head expansion immediately ahead of the extractor groove - not simply on the rim.

I could never get enough IMR4350 in the case to get even on par velocities. Obviously ReL17 is a finer granulation permiting more powder.

Whelen B, Have you found the 250gr. Hornady IL-RN to be a tough bullet?
Very reliable at around 2400 terminal velocity on black bears to provide a pass thru with a large hole in the off side and lots of blood usually. I like that as I'm not a hide hunter and prefer the blood trail and quicker demise often near dusk. More bullet upset than the 250SpeerHC I've found - meaning bigger off side hole. Beretta Boy uses them too at this approx velocity from his 35Whelen too. I think he has shot moose and deer with them. Perhaps he might jump in on this share his experiences with that bullet. I know he likes it.

Never shot anything with that pill at 2700+MV. But based on other interlock bullet performance in smaller calibres I would guess it should hang together OK. Those Interlocks are pretty well made. But at closer to 3000MV I think a partition or swift type or TSX bullet would be called for. Just opinion and guesses.
 
Back
Top Bottom