FTX 200gr .358 experiences

WhelanLad

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Hello, anybody experienced the FTX rubber tip .358 200gr ? planning on using in 35 Whelen?

price is $80 AUD per 100........ OK for 358 size these days :(

want to shoot this 35 whelen more but starting to get a bit pricey for projectiles while im budgetting for other things. about to pick up a 30-06 A bolt which shiuld be awesome and proberly take up alot of the 35 whelen time :p


Should these FTX be good for Elk? moose?
 
Those are 35 Remington bullets. They won’t hold together on game at 35 Whelen velocities. If you download to 35 Rem velocities they’d be ok. I’ve personally had the FTX come apart in a whitetail though. Factory 35 Remington Hornady LeverEvolution 35 Remington load. I wouldn’t use them on elk.
 
This bullet shoots exceptional groups from my Whelen but I have yet to use it on game. I tend to favour Barnes for hunting.... The bullet will expand rapidly, more like an SST than the standard 200gr IL Hornady bullet, but for Whitetail and smaller it would be fine. I wouldn't take a shoulder shot with it at close range at Whelen velocities but a heart and lung shot, I'd take that all day. Nice thing is that if it does shot great groups, it does make for a nice longer range deer bullet due to its good expansion at lower velocities. Check out https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.358+Winchester.html. This Kiwi has done a ton of shooting with a variety of .358 cal bullets and give a great overview of optimal bullet usage. That said, there are so many different opinions about bullets, it's hard to know until you try for yourself.
 
I worked up a load for my 9X57 at about 2200 FPS. So far I have taken 2 black bears with it at around 25 YDs, both dropped without taking a step, both bullets stopped against the skin on the far side of the bear in the neck. The first one the core was still in the jacket but fell out as I was skinning the bear, the second the core is still intact in the jacket.
 
If your looking for a reliable cheap bullet in the Whelen you should look at the Sierra game kings. Good price point and the work great. Even the old interlock works well and they a cheap
 
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