SeanMTactical
Beginner
- Jul 3, 2025
- 27
- 102
I had the Clear gel out testing a shotgun slug. so I decided to punch a 225 from my Whelen into the block to see how well it did.
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.35 Whelen 225gr Sierra Gameking into Gel
- Thread starter SeanMTactical
- Start date
Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,769
- 4,997
Very nice mushroom! Can't much better than that!
I have really liked the performance of SGK on game over the years, in other calibers.
I am shooting HSM factory ammo, and handloading the same bullet in my 358 Win (LH custom Rem 700 with a 22" McGowan barrel).
The HSM ammo gets 2408 fps (.642" groups @ 100 yards), and my handload with CFE223 is getting 2528 fps (.720" groups @ 100 yards).
While I may not get as much penetration as the Whelen with its additional velocity, or quite the same expansion, it should still perform very well on bear, moose and elk too! Looking forward to taking game with it!
(My average shot distance on all game, in a wide variety of terrain, over the past 39 years is just 132 yards!)
I have really liked the performance of SGK on game over the years, in other calibers.
I am shooting HSM factory ammo, and handloading the same bullet in my 358 Win (LH custom Rem 700 with a 22" McGowan barrel).
The HSM ammo gets 2408 fps (.642" groups @ 100 yards), and my handload with CFE223 is getting 2528 fps (.720" groups @ 100 yards).
While I may not get as much penetration as the Whelen with its additional velocity, or quite the same expansion, it should still perform very well on bear, moose and elk too! Looking forward to taking game with it!
(My average shot distance on all game, in a wide variety of terrain, over the past 39 years is just 132 yards!)
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- Thread starter
- #5
SeanMTactical
Beginner
- Jul 3, 2025
- 27
- 102
I've shot my share of ammo and into testing media. This cartridge and bullet are by far one of the the most impressive Ive seen. I need to get some of the 225 Accubonds and test them, but it will be an uphill battle to beat this performance.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 27,505
- 14,499
Great test with the 225 SGK, thanks for sharing! That bullet shoots great in my 700 Classic 35 Whelen. I need to start using it to hunt WT deer.
JD338
JD338
Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,769
- 4,997
The nice thing with the AccuBonds is how easy they seem to find good loads for, and they are usually very accurate. And on-game performance has been great!
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DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 38,326
- 8,612
Classic performance of classic bullet. The 225 SGK is what I have loaded in my 35 Whelen. It does work on game here in the northern stretches of BC.
wvbuckbuster
Handloader
- Nov 5, 2015
- 3,575
- 4,246
Your gel test mirrors mine in water jugs same distance approximately same speed. Scotty turned me onto this bullet, and it is everything he and others have said it would be on deer. Have tried other bullets but this is the one to come back to. Thanks for sharing.
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 7,129
- 2,416
One of the best 35 cal bullets for bear, deer and the like. Only shot one bear so far with them and it was great. It's been a while since I used the Whelen and have to get it out again soon.
Number one is a Ruer M77 in a Ramline stock. It had problems that I had to work out.
Number two is a Remington M700 classic.
Number three is my pride and joy. It's a custom job I found at a gun show and felt so good I didn't even bother haggling on the price. The action is a Mauser from Oberndorf and may or may not have beenin one of the two world wars. Based on condition, I don't think so.
Barrel is 24", 1 in 14" twist and shoots my load like a target rifle. The fore end tip and grip Cap are elephant ivory. No Idea who might have been the rifle maker.During load workup no load exceeded one inch.
My pet load for the Mauser is 60.4 gr.RL15 under the 225 gr. Barnes TSX. Velocity is 2710 FPS for that load. Six shots at six elk means six dead elk. At no time practice sessions has than rifle shot any groups great than .75" with most groups being less, some times very much less. As the TSX shot so well from the get go, I saw no reason to try any others in that rifle.
BE ADVISED, WHILE THAT LOAD IS A GOOD ONE IN MY RIFLE, IT HAS SHOWN TO BE TOO HOT IN MY REMINGTON M700 CLASSIC AND GIVES CASE HEAD SEPARATIONS IN THE RUGER. It is my understanding that Ruger has no more spare parts for the tang safety models. and does not plan to make more. Mine is a tanger. I resized about 100 WW2 30-06 into .35 Whelens and fire formed them using a cast bullet with a milder warm load. I then set up the die to properly resize th case for the Ruger. I use that rifle for inexpensive cast bullet shooting.
I almost hate to admit it but I do love my .35 Whelens.
PJ
