Reloading 35 Whelen
- Thread starter 4fifty8
- Start date
Speer online data 250gr highest mv impressive: https://reloadingdata.speer.com/downloads/speer/reloading-pdfs/rifle/35_Whelen_250.pdf
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I've shot more than a dozen elk and a couple moose with the 250 gr. and 2500 fps muzzle velocity. That speed was kinda a sweet spot for a couple different rifles. I'm not sure that I would bother with more muzzle velocity, I enjoyed excellent results on game with several different 250 gr. bullets at various ranges from 10 - 200 M.
The 35 Whelan is a great cartridge, especially for pushing heavy bullets at decent velocities out of 20-26 inch barrels and it won't create so much felt recoil, you develop a flinch.
The only reason I sold my Win Mod 70 chambered for the 35 Whelan, was because my 338-06 did everything just as well and there was always a better selection of bullets available at the LGS.
Getting 2500fps out of your 22in barreled 7400, with 250 grain bullets, without creating issues with the rifle, is going to be difficult.
My rifle had a 24 inch barrel with a 1-15 twist and I had to use a compressed load of 58 grains IMR4320 over cci250 magnum primers.
I tried several other powders at the time, but the load above gave me the best accuracy with best velocity.
The next heaviest bullet I shot was 225 grain Hornady flat base, spire point, which shot well and I could get 2600+fps without pressure issues with those, with the powders I had on hand at the time.
Sfp, I am curious about the load you mention to get 2650fps and the length of your barrel. Maybe some of the more recent powders allow this velocity safely.
I just looked on the Speer site, CFE223 will give slightly over 2600fps but it's a max load and IMHO, not suitable for the Remington 7400 action.
There are a couple of powders I've never seen there as well, on which states 2700fps out of 26in barrel in a universal receiver.
The only reason I sold my Win Mod 70 chambered for the 35 Whelan, was because my 338-06 did everything just as well and there was always a better selection of bullets available at the LGS.
Getting 2500fps out of your 22in barreled 7400, with 250 grain bullets, without creating issues with the rifle, is going to be difficult.
My rifle had a 24 inch barrel with a 1-15 twist and I had to use a compressed load of 58 grains IMR4320 over cci250 magnum primers.
I tried several other powders at the time, but the load above gave me the best accuracy with best velocity.
The next heaviest bullet I shot was 225 grain Hornady flat base, spire point, which shot well and I could get 2600+fps without pressure issues with those, with the powders I had on hand at the time.
Sfp, I am curious about the load you mention to get 2650fps and the length of your barrel. Maybe some of the more recent powders allow this velocity safely.
I just looked on the Speer site, CFE223 will give slightly over 2600fps but it's a max load and IMHO, not suitable for the Remington 7400 action.
There are a couple of powders I've never seen there as well, on which states 2700fps out of 26in barrel in a universal receiver.
Last edited:
I have a ladder test in the reloading recipes forum with 250gr Speer bullets and CFE223, that load went easily over 2600 out of a 23" barrel with no pressure signs. It's loaded out a bit far as the rifle is a single shot but it's a cannon with this load. Cases coming out nicely, no problems with extraction or primers at all. 2600 fps gives 3750 foot-pounds of energy, so no slouch here, but I wonder at what point a .338 Win Mag is a better choice for more rifle selection, factory ammo selection, and higher BC bullets.
The best load is often with a powder for which there are not yet published loads.
In mine Reloder 15 was a good performer, but a full case of the slower Reloder 17 gave me both top MV's (over 2600 fps) and the best accuracy in my gun.
Haven't yet tried the slightly faster CFE223 in it, but it's almost perfectly suited for top MV's in the 35 Whelen - a full case at Max pressure.
In mine Reloder 15 was a good performer, but a full case of the slower Reloder 17 gave me both top MV's (over 2600 fps) and the best accuracy in my gun.
Haven't yet tried the slightly faster CFE223 in it, but it's almost perfectly suited for top MV's in the 35 Whelen - a full case at Max pressure.
Last edited:
That’s a great load. I’ve been using 225gr bullets and reloader15. My specific lot of rl15 won’t get me to 2700fps so I have been working with TAC and so far it’s been very easy to get to 2700+. Just need to finish load development with it.
The 35 Whelen is one of my favourite cartridges
The 35 Whelen is one of my favourite cartridges
