I should be getting a .35 whelen back fro the 'smith very soon. K98 action, new 22" tube, laminated stock. It's going to serve as a heavy to compliment my go to 7mm-08. Uses will be moose, and a loaner for bear clients. Normally I'm a one rifle, one load guy, but I'm thinking two loads for this one. I'm thinking a full steam 225-250 gr. spitzer moose load, and a lighter recoiling bear load. That might sound funny, but baits are set to present a 50 yrd. shot, tops, so I'm thinking a 250 gr. round nose at around 2400 would be very effective, and easier for someone shooting an unfamiliar rifle to shoot well. Good idea? Bad idea? Any bullet and powder recommendations?
I need your .35 Whelen loads
- Thread starter mpwolf
- Start date
For hunting, I use heavier loads w/Varget with 250gr Speers. Over 2500 fps and accurate.
Also, I've used 200gr Remington SPs (varmint bullet
) in a few 35cals and they are usually quite accurate and easy to shoot. The 200grainers are for range blasting and sighting in.
.
Also, I've used 200gr Remington SPs (varmint bullet
) in a few 35cals and they are usually quite accurate and easy to shoot. The 200grainers are for range blasting and sighting in. .
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I'd suggest you settle on one good load with 250 gr. bulelts. The whelen shoots to very different point of impact with different bullet weights / speed. I mostly shoot with the 250 gr., speer grand slam, but they're too tough for deer. I'd suggest you use the Hornady RN for light animals and your bear hunts. The RN will open a bit quicker than a protected point or PSP. I use a max. load of IMR4064 for 2500 FPS. Killed a lot of big critters with that. I have been researching RL15 powder, seems even better in the Whelen, but I haven't used any of those loads yet.
No problems there. I've used that (Hornady Interlock) for bear and it works super. I took that load Moose hunting last fall in my 7600 Carbine for closer work. Just about any powder normally used in the 35 Whelen will give u this classic load level. But I like ReL15 for its ability to up the velocities within safe pressures. I agree with the loads suggested by Rembo and Andy as being similar to my favs for the Whelen.
One favorite is 59.5 ReL15 behind a 250 (very close to Andy's above) - work up for safety.
Homesteader
CGN Regular
- Location
- In a Wallow West of Edmonton.
X2 on the 59g reloader 15 with a 250g speer hotcor, makes nice holes.
Homesteader
Homesteader
I've found RL15 to be the best powder for both 225's and 250's in my Whelen. I've backed off from the 60-61/225 and the 59/250 because while pressure didn't SEEM to bad, my brass life sucked.
So I've pretty much settled on 57 gr with the 250's for 2600-2625 fps and 58 gr with the 225's at about 2700-2725 fps. Barrel length is 23"
I can get the same range of velocities with IMR4320 but I think pressures may be a bit higher.
I use 225 gr Nosler Partitions and 250 gr Hornady spitzers. Both are great moose killers.
So I've pretty much settled on 57 gr with the 250's for 2600-2625 fps and 58 gr with the 225's at about 2700-2725 fps. Barrel length is 23"
I can get the same range of velocities with IMR4320 but I think pressures may be a bit higher.
I use 225 gr Nosler Partitions and 250 gr Hornady spitzers. Both are great moose killers.
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I'll cast another vote for Reloder 15 in the Whelen. I used to use IMR-4064 and it was quite good. Reloder 15 has proven to be more accurate yet and faster to boot. As an added bonus R-15 is also insenstive to temperature changes. I'm shooting the manual maximum of 59.5 grains of R-15 with a 250 grain Hornady Interlock. Accuracy is always sub-MOA and velocity is running at an average of 2592 fps.
Chuck
Chuck
Maxx said:
I find the recoil of the Whelen with max 250 gr loads to be very similar to a .300 Win mag shooting max 180 gr loads in rifles of similar weights. About the only difference was that the .300 WM recoil was quicker.
recoil
My experience matches Mauser98's. I find it less objectionable than a 300 mag, but you don't have to open the bolt to know it went off! Not something I'd recommend for someone who is sensitive to recoil, unless you are going to load down lighter bullets.
Mauser98 said:
My experience matches Mauser98's. I find it less objectionable than a 300 mag, but you don't have to open the bolt to know it went off! Not something I'd recommend for someone who is sensitive to recoil, unless you are going to load down lighter bullets.
