Hot Cor 180gr 35Whelen experiences
- Thread starter WhelanLad
- Start date
I have shot the 250 HotCor on larger game (moose and elk) for years with predictably good results.
That 180 would have a lower Sectional Density than I would like - I like a cup and core to be around .260 myself. Depends on your target species. For a deer or smaller target you would likely be fine
That 180 would have a lower Sectional Density than I would like - I like a cup and core to be around .260 myself. Depends on your target species. For a deer or smaller target you would likely be fine
G'day, yes I did see the SD and BC was quite low 200s !
Rekon they would just expand pretty rapid and not penetrate in the Whelen ?
Might Sus it as a Plinker bullet for the Price-- although the fallow deer would be in strife if say.
I guess I don't need to run them very hard either, 22 inch Ruger hawkeye
WhelanL, IMHO, why go to a 35 Whelan, then shoot light for caliber, old school, cup and core bullets?
The 35 Whelan was developed to shoot heavy 250 grain to 300 grain bullets of that type. Sadly, those weights are difficult to find.
The Barne's 225 tsx, are about the heaviest that are readily available, but Speer and Hornady still make 250 grain projectiles.
I used to use Western Cartridge Company 300 grain bullets and Speer 275 grain bullets in my last 35 Whelan, built on a Remington 700. When I could no longer get them, I sold the rifle.
If you want to use those light bullets on game animals, they might be OK for some of the "cull hunts" you do, but don't load them to the nuts. As you rightfully deduced, they are explosive when pushed fast and were intended for cartridge cases with less powder capacity, such as the 35 Rem and 358 Winchester.
I personally think they're to frangible for the 358Win in strong rifles with fast loads.
"Most" 35 Rem rifles are chambered in weaker lever actions or semi autos, so pressures/velocities were kept low.
If you load to those velocities and take your shots within those limitations on Deer size game they should be just fine out to 200 yds.
The 35 Whelan was developed to shoot heavy 250 grain to 300 grain bullets of that type. Sadly, those weights are difficult to find.
The Barne's 225 tsx, are about the heaviest that are readily available, but Speer and Hornady still make 250 grain projectiles.
I used to use Western Cartridge Company 300 grain bullets and Speer 275 grain bullets in my last 35 Whelan, built on a Remington 700. When I could no longer get them, I sold the rifle.
If you want to use those light bullets on game animals, they might be OK for some of the "cull hunts" you do, but don't load them to the nuts. As you rightfully deduced, they are explosive when pushed fast and were intended for cartridge cases with less powder capacity, such as the 35 Rem and 358 Winchester.
I personally think they're to frangible for the 358Win in strong rifles with fast loads.
"Most" 35 Rem rifles are chambered in weaker lever actions or semi autos, so pressures/velocities were kept low.
If you load to those velocities and take your shots within those limitations on Deer size game they should be just fine out to 200 yds.
People kill stuff with 357mag, so its not like it won't kill anything... my speer #12 says the 180 and 220 flat point hotcors are good for game up to deer. These two bullets are actually designed for the 35Rem, which is much slower (and also is most commonly found in lever actions, hence the flat point bullets). Using pistol bullets in 35cal rifles for plinking is not an uncommon practice, no reason you couldn't do the same with light rifle bullets instead.
In general I agree with the above sentiment regarding SDs as well as BCs, but as long as you keep those limitations in mind they should work fine.
In general I agree with the above sentiment regarding SDs as well as BCs, but as long as you keep those limitations in mind they should work fine.
Suther, I've seen nimrods load pistol grade 357, jhp bullets into 35 Whelan cartridges, thinking they're going to get screaming velocities.
They do, but it lasts less than 100 yds, as the jackets separate from the lead, which becomes mist or bits at about that distance.
I agree, the 357 magnum will kill Deer and even larger animals cleanly, when used within the parameters of design, but it's not a great comparison here.
The bullet jackets on the Speer 180 grain, 35 cal bullets are much thicker than those on a 357 pistol bullet.
They do, but it lasts less than 100 yds, as the jackets separate from the lead, which becomes mist or bits at about that distance.
I agree, the 357 magnum will kill Deer and even larger animals cleanly, when used within the parameters of design, but it's not a great comparison here.
The bullet jackets on the Speer 180 grain, 35 cal bullets are much thicker than those on a 357 pistol bullet.
I haven't bothered with anything heavier in .35 Whelan than the 200 gr. Barnes TTSX. If I was specifically heading out hunting the big bears, then perhaps that might change, but that bullet does just fine on moose, elk, and whatever is smaller
I don't fret myself too much on whether people say things like a .358 Winchester is "only a bush rifle" or what bullet weight a cartridge was supposedly designed around.
The .303 British was designed for a 215 grain bullet; it subsequently became the universal Mk VIII round with a 174 grain bullet. Hunters load it up with all kinds of different weight bullets, whatever the local customs and beliefs are on what weight is best.
The 30-06 came out designed for a 150 grain ball round. Many hunters today are somewhere between 165 and 180 grains for hunting.
We used the Hot Cor bullets in all your centerfire big game rifles in the 60's and early 70's until the new designs persuaded to try the new and improved, from boutique bullets (at that time) like the Bitterroots and Partitions, Grand Slams, Barnes X.
They worked fine too in the weights we chose. I like what I'm loading now, but I doubt I'm truly all that much better off in the real world than I would be if I was still choosing a Hot Cor of the weight I preferred.
I don't fret myself too much on whether people say things like a .358 Winchester is "only a bush rifle" or what bullet weight a cartridge was supposedly designed around.
The .303 British was designed for a 215 grain bullet; it subsequently became the universal Mk VIII round with a 174 grain bullet. Hunters load it up with all kinds of different weight bullets, whatever the local customs and beliefs are on what weight is best.
The 30-06 came out designed for a 150 grain ball round. Many hunters today are somewhere between 165 and 180 grains for hunting.
We used the Hot Cor bullets in all your centerfire big game rifles in the 60's and early 70's until the new designs persuaded to try the new and improved, from boutique bullets (at that time) like the Bitterroots and Partitions, Grand Slams, Barnes X.
They worked fine too in the weights we chose. I like what I'm loading now, but I doubt I'm truly all that much better off in the real world than I would be if I was still choosing a Hot Cor of the weight I preferred.
