Dusted off my short action Ruger77 350WSM - a true 400 yd. moose rifle?

W

Whelen B

CGN frequent flyer
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Getting it limbered up for a moose hunt. I have chronographed this load several times - it's very consistent around 2903MV. If Nosler's BC can be believed (not sure if it can) this combo delivers over a ton to 400yds at 2096fps. Also it's pretty flat enough to 300yds. I'm printing 3 1/4" above point of aim at 100 yards.

I only fired these three sight in shots to check my zero. The gun itself is "sub MOA" capable with this load I believe for three shots. However with my rag tag bench technique, my old eyes and my Leup cranked waaaay up to five 5X, 1 1/2" is what I got - I'll take it. Now hoping to thump a moose with it in a week or so.

Interestingly, my Woodleigh 310RNs at 2405MV print 3/4" directly ABOVE (?) the 225 partitions - I likey. The 225 TSXs I tried gave me very poor accuracy - didn't expect that. Gotta try them some more when I can.

350WSM_225part_1sm.jpg


225part_2900MV.jpg

More on this rifle here - http://www.35cal.com/ruger77_350wsm.html
 
He does have a true 400 yard moose rifle. It is made in Finland; can spit 225gr Partitions at 2900fps and it is in .338 cal!
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Yep - should be a blast - even though not a short action 400 yard moose rifle. I look forward to trying that "almost 35" :p magnum when I get it all paid for and in my possesion. The dies and brass are in the mail right now thanks to a very generous CGNer. I'm sure he wanted to help me to broaden my calibre choice horizons.:)
 
Cool beans Whelan. I think you got a real thumper there.

Guy at work had the same issues as you with his Ruger in 350Rem and wouldn't you know it he also re chambered to 35WSM. I wonder if he stole the idea from you or what? I will have to ask him when I see him next.
 
Sure - be interested in what you find out - I stole the idea from an Aussie named Con. He suggested it in a forum on Oct20th 2006. I started mine within a month or so - completed it early 2007.
Easiest option for a 35WSM (35Sambar) build is rechambering the Ruger 350RemMag. Barrel is the proper 1:12" twist and the magazine box is already set for WSM cases. I bought one with similiar thoughts ... but like the 350RemMag too much to fiddle with it.
Cheers...
Con
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http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=4865&page=2&pp=15
 
The time to see if your rifle can hit a moose at 400 yards with you on the trigger is prior to the hunt. Sure the ballistics look good, but if you've only ever shot the thing at 100 yards, you only know for sure what you can do with it at 100 yards. What is going to happen on the edge of a lake, when the wind is blowing, and the bull of your dreams steps into view? If the range exceeds 200 yards, you need an accurate means of estimating it; but lets say that you get a laser range finder locked on and it gives you a range of 450 yards give or take, the accuracy of the range finder is greatly affected by how still you can hold it. Unless you know the come ups from shooting that rifle out to 500 yards, you won't know where to hold; other than from the published drop tables which may or maynot provide a realistic estimation of where the bullet from your rifle will go. The old put the cross wire on the spine trick might not work as well as the books suggest.

Until you've done some long range shooting, my advise would be to pass up any shot that requires any hold over, beyond allowing for a hit within an 18" circle, but lets define that. Assuming your bullet never exceeds 4" in height above your line of sight, 8" of drop below your line of sight will roughly describe a 300-350 yard point blank range. If your rifle produces 2 MOA accuracy at 300 yards that relates to a 6" margin of error, and if you are cold and excited, and if you have to shoot across a wind from something less than a solid rest, that margin of error could easily exceed 3 MOA. For the sake of argument though, lets say you are a compettent marksman and you can normally hit 3 MOA from field positons under realistic conditions. At 300 yards you can add 8" of drop to the 3 MOA accuracy and find that in all probability you will place your cold bore shot somewhere inside a 17" circle. While thats good enough to slay a moose, you can see its the limit of what should be attempted by an average hunter with average equipment.
 
whelen b said:
yep - should be a blast - even though not a short action 400 yard moose rifle. I look forward to trying that "almost 35" :p magnum when i get it all paid for and in my possesion. The dies and brass are in the mail right now thanks to a very generous cgner. I'm sure he wanted to help me to broaden my calibre choice horizons.:)
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338 wsm?
 
The time to see if your rifle can hit a moose at 400 yards with you on the trigger is prior to the hunt.
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Boomer
That's next on my "to do" list - I shoot at my range 200 routinely and 300 less routinely. Be a good start checking the "actual" trajectory/accuracy at those ranges. Thanks for your comments Boomer. Much true "food for thought".

One reason I mentioned the "400yd moose rifle" thing in the tag is that assuming the exterior ballistics are correct - assuming (actually must shoot it to KNOW) - the "flat-ter" trajectory and particularly the power/velocity retained at 400yds is still what would often is considered about ideal to kill an adult moose. Of course hitting the target is requisite as you outlined.
 
Looks very interesting WB. I have always had a liking for the 358 winchester, and a buddy of mine has a Rem 700 in 35 Whelen that he really likes. I may hve to give this some thought for a future big game medium bore hunting rifle.

Oh yeah, great web site too!!
 
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