Woodleigh in the Whelen

mikeyb

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So I acquired a new .35 Whelen to play around with. Looks like fun, all scoped and ready to hit the range. As far as ammo goes, I only managed to find a single box of Hornady Superformance 200gr locally. That's it. So while I try and find another box or two to build up a brass supply and get dialed in with the gun, I thought I'd explore some loads.

Specifically hoping someone has something for Woodleigh Weldcore 275gr bullets and CFE223 powder, but I can be flexible there. Seems like most other middleweight bullets are more difficult to find (not finding much in the way of Nosler/Sierra/Hornady on the shelves in 225/250gr).

I can be flexible on the powder, only asking because my .223 loves 69gr Matchkings launched by CFE223 so I have 8 pounds of it :)
 
from Quickload

Code:
Cartridge          : [B].35 Whelen[/B]
Bullet             : .358, [B]275, Woodleigh PP [/B]WeldCore 53B
Useable Case Capaci: 60.404 grain H2O = 3.922 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : [B]Hodgdon CFE223[/B]

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   80    49.68   2199    2953   45656   6333     98.9    1.391
-09.0   81    50.23   2220    3009   46899   6386     99.1    1.376
-08.0   82    50.78   2240    3065   48179   6437     99.3    1.362
-07.0   83    51.34   2261    3121   49479   6486     99.4    1.347
-06.0   84    51.89   2281    3177   50863   6533     99.6    1.333
-05.0   85    52.44   2301    3234   52266   6578     99.7    1.319
-04.0   85    52.99   2322    3292   53718   6620     99.8    1.305
-03.0   86    53.54   2342    3349   55213   6661     99.9    1.291
-02.0   87    54.10   2362    3407   56759   6698     99.9    1.278  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   88    54.65   2382    3465   58353   6734    100.0    1.265  ! Near Maximum !
[B] +00.0   89    55.20   2402    3524   59993   6767    100.0    1.251  ! Near Maximum ![/B]
+01.0   90    55.75   2422    3583   61679   6798    100.0    1.238  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   91    56.30   2442    3642   63414   6827    100.0    1.225  ! Near Maximum !
+03.0   92    56.86   2462    3701   65200   6856    100.0    1.213  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   93    57.41   2482    3760   67038   6884    100.0    1.200  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0   93    57.96   2501    3820   68931   6912    100.0    1.187  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     89    55.20   2481    3759   70270   6483    100.0    1.189  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     89    55.20   2285    3189   49825   6888     97.4    1.331
 
from Quickload

Code:
Cartridge          : [B].35 Whelen[/B]
Bullet             : .358, [B]275, Woodleigh PP [/B]WeldCore 53B
Useable Case Capaci: 60.404 grain H2O = 3.922 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length      : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder             : [B]Hodgdon CFE223[/B]

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 1.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt B_Time
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-10.0   80    49.68   2199    2953   45656   6333     98.9    1.391
-09.0   81    50.23   2220    3009   46899   6386     99.1    1.376
-08.0   82    50.78   2240    3065   48179   6437     99.3    1.362
-07.0   83    51.34   2261    3121   49479   6486     99.4    1.347
-06.0   84    51.89   2281    3177   50863   6533     99.6    1.333
-05.0   85    52.44   2301    3234   52266   6578     99.7    1.319
-04.0   85    52.99   2322    3292   53718   6620     99.8    1.305
-03.0   86    53.54   2342    3349   55213   6661     99.9    1.291
-02.0   87    54.10   2362    3407   56759   6698     99.9    1.278  ! Near Maximum !
-01.0   88    54.65   2382    3465   58353   6734    100.0    1.265  ! Near Maximum !
[B] +00.0   89    55.20   2402    3524   59993   6767    100.0    1.251  ! Near Maximum ![/B]
+01.0   90    55.75   2422    3583   61679   6798    100.0    1.238  ! Near Maximum !
+02.0   91    56.30   2442    3642   63414   6827    100.0    1.225  ! Near Maximum !
+03.0   92    56.86   2462    3701   65200   6856    100.0    1.213  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   93    57.41   2482    3760   67038   6884    100.0    1.200  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+05.0   93    57.96   2501    3820   68931   6912    100.0    1.187  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     89    55.20   2481    3759   70270   6483    100.0    1.189  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     89    55.20   2285    3189   49825   6888     97.4    1.331

Many thanks! Looks alright. 275 @ 2400 would be an absolute hammer and within the impact velocity window of the Woodleigh.
 
the 225 an 250s are pretty swell in the whelen.

True, but CFE223 is being touted as a super-powder for the Whelen, performing better with heavier bullets. That 55.2gr load looks tasty at 2400fps and still below 60k psi. And Tradex has a few packages of them in stock, which nowadays is basically a sign from the divine.
 
I shoot the 300gr Woodleigh RNSP in my 23" 338-06. 56.2grs Ramshot Hunter pushes them to 2200 fps, pressures are moderate (approx 55k psi). I can go higher, but they shoot accurate and I don't use them unless hunting in heavy timber. The Whelen should push the 275gr at least to 2400
 
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