New 35 Whelen 180gr Federal Fusion 2010

wonksy

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Just noticed Fusion is offering the 35 whelen 180gr for 2010...
All the Whelen fans out there, whats your take on a 180gr bullet???
Shows 2700fps
 
180 grs is very light for caliber, but 2700 fps would be easy - you'd could go well over 2800 fps. If you're going to go 180 grs, a 35 cal is pointless - that's what 30 cals are for.

I use 225 gr to 286 gr (cast), but my favourite is 250grs at about 2550 fps.
 
I'm shooting 225gr TSX at 2700fps. I would never shoot a 180gr out of my Whelen, might as well shoot a .30-06. I guess it's martketed for Americans that only hunt deer.
 
I agree with Andy's view on this too.

It probably should be considered a significantly detuned small deer round as BCsteve says - easier on the shoulder. May not even be ideal for some of our bigger bodied deer up here. But it is nice Federal tipped their hat to the 35 Whelen owners. I wouldn't use it myself on bears, moose or elk if 225s and 250s were available loaded to up to their potential - or a 180gr X or TSX at closer to 3000 or so if 180s were dictated.
 
I just don't get light for caliber bullets in the big calibers. What is the point. The .35 Whelan can generate some serious horsepower, but it is done with the heavyweights. A 180 grain relegates it to .30-06 type performance - but with poorer sectional density and ballistic coefficient.
 
...A 180 grain relegates it to .30-06 type performance - but with poorer sectional density and ballistic coefficient.
You are very right - so poorer terminal performance and poorer trajectory too - so really poorer than 30-06 performance.
 
I would never consider to use a 180 gr bullet in my 35 Whelen except if I were to use it for long distance hunting. And of course, if this were the case, I would use one of my 300 Win Mag with 180 gr bullets - a better match for me.

Another factor that has not been mentioned is bullet stabilization and twist rate where the 180 gr bullet might be easier to stabilize and this could be a deciding factor. This would be interesting to test out, especially at different distances.

Duke1
 
You are very right - so poorer terminal performance and poorer trajectory too - so really poorer than 30-06 performance.

Its obviously for deer or other similar sized game. Why would you say poorer terminal performance ? Its a bigger cal that will open up bigger for a bigger wound channel. Its not like you need massive penetration for deer. It should be more terminally effective.

I don't see why everyone is complaining. Its a factory loading in a cartridge that has very few ... and will probably be a resonably priced factory option for those who want to punch paper with.
 
I would not even use one for long distance hunting. It may start out faster, but the light bullet weight works against you in these big calibers as it slows down so much faster. 35's were made with 250 grain bullets in mind. That is also the nostalgia in using one.
 
Its obviously for deer or other similar sized game.
Not obvious at all - maybe to you hgeo33. Remember this thread began by asking for opinions on 180s at 2700 in the 35Whelen, "All the Whelen fans out there, whats your take on a 180gr bullet??? Shows 2700fps."

So some of us Whelen fans took some time and simply did just that.

I don't see why everyone is complaining.

No complaining here. And since I think I was pretty clear about my thinking - educated guessing (???) essentially agreeing with Saskcop's assessment as to the poorer performance of that load I have nothing more to add on that here either.
 
Not obvious at all - maybe to you hgeo33. Remember this thread began by asking for opinions on 180s at 2700 in the 35Whelen, "All the Whelen fans out there, whats your take on a 180gr bullet??? Shows 2700fps."

From the FUSION Web site(not updated to include 35 whelen yet)

Fusion is available in calibers from .223 to .338 Federal. This specialized deer bullet electrochemically joins pure copper to an extreme pressure-formed core to ensure optimum performance. The result is high terminal energy on impact that radiates lethal shock throughout the target. This energy is optimized through mass weight retention, a top-secret tip-skiving process and superior bullet integrity. Try Fusion Lite™ for less recoil with full lethality to 200-yards.

The entire FUSION line of ammunition is specifically for deer. Thus the obvious comment.Not trying to be a jerk here is is just that is what it is for! The whole line is optimized for deer thus the small for cal bullet. Unless they have added more cal's the 35 Whelen will be the biggest hammer it comes in.
 
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