.35 Whelen acquired, now optimizing.

[SeanMTactical]

I topped out at 56 gr I believe for about 2650 fps, I'm going to revisit that load here shortly since Sierra goes higher than that.

I stopped at 55.5 and the primers were getting pretty flat. 60.4gr is yeesh. Did you ever establish the most accurate charge for your gun? looking for the velocity based on charge that others have found was happy land.

 

[gerry]

I stopped at 55.5 and the primers were getting pretty flat. 60.4gr is yeesh. Did you ever establish the most accurate charge for your gun? looking for the velocity based on charge that others have found was happy land.

At 56 gr it grouped fairly well, a bit under MOA if I remember right. IMR 8208 been a standout with 200's though. I'm going to try CFE 223 with 225's this year too to see how it does.

 

[SeanMTactical]

At 56 gr it grouped fairly well, a bit under MOA if I remember right. IMR 8208 been a standout with 200's though. I'm going to try CFE 223 with 225's this year too to see how it does.

That helps a lot. I'll creep up to 56.0 and see if the groups shrink. I could see the groups get smaller as I went up in charge weight. I wondered if there was a node just a little higher.

 

[JD338]

At 56 gr it grouped fairly well, a bit under MOA if I remember right. IMR 8208 been a standout with 200's though. I'm going to try CFE 223 with 225's this year too to see how it does.

Gerry
I’ve had great in my 35 Whelen with the 225 gr SGK and CFE223.

JD338

 

[gerry]

Gerry
I’ve had great in my 35 Whelen with the 225 gr SGK and CFE223.

JD338

Where did you end up?

 

[JD338]

I’m loading 67.5 grs CFE223. It’s more than enough for what I would use the 35 Whelen for and I have bigger clubs if needed.

JD338

 

[gerry]

I’m loading 67.5 grs CFE223. It’s more than enough for what I would use the 35 Whelen for and I have bigger clubs if needed.

JD 338

Awesome, thanks.

 

[SeanMTactical]

I’m loading 67.5 grs CFE223. It’s more than enough for what I would use the 35 Whelen for and I have bigger clubs if needed.

JD338

Did you switch to a mag primer or did you shoot this with Large rifle primers?

 

[JD338]

I did switch to a Federal GM215M primer

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

I played with many of them. My most direct route to success was CFE223 and Ramshot TAC with the 200 gr TTSX . 61 gr TAC is good for 2850 fps and well under sub MOA
65 gr CFE 223 about 2700 + and again sub-MOA. Both are started by the WIN Large Rifle primer, but a mag cap would not hurt either.

 

[KevinNC]

I take a more traditional approach with 55 grs. of RE15, standard LR primers and a 250 grain Northfork semi spritzer at 2500 fps with single digit SDs. Hasn't let me down on 2 safaris and 8 animals.

 

[PJGunner]

My first .35 Whelen was a Ruger M77RS. Number two was a Remington M700 Classic and finally an Oberndordorf Mauser custom which has put the other two on a semi-retired status. The first two have 22" barrels and a 1 and 16" twist and the Mauser 24" with a 1 in 14" twist.

All three rifles shot about the same with 200 and 250 gr. Remington ammo. At the time no other manufacturor was loading for the Whelen.

What little work I did was with the 200 and 250 gr. Hornady bullets but I wasn't happy. Then I got drawn for a limited hunt but one requirement was only monometal bullets were allowed. I ran a test series with the 225 gr. TSX and RL15 in the Mauser and never looked back. Good speed and excellent accuracy.

Interesting point is when Remington brought the ,35 Whelen out they requested that SAAMI make the maximum allowable pressure the same as for the 30-06. The did the same for then.280 Rem. as well. This was so they could chamber those rounds in their semi-auto and pump rifles. Load either round up to the same pressure level and it's a whole new ball game.

The load that worked in the Mauser with the 25 gr. TSX was 60.4 gr. RL15, WLR primer and RP brass. Velocity was 2710 FPS from the Mauser with sub MOA accuracy. It's been my go to load ever since. FWIW, it's my favorite elk load.

NOTE that it is too hot for use in my Ruger or Remington Classic. Other rifles may or may not like it. Naturally YMMV.
Paul B.