.35 Whelen acquired, now optimizing.

[SeanMTactical]

So I bought a used Rem 700 in .35 Whelen. It had been shot and had some minor work on it and I think the bottom metal wasn't stock. I don't really care about that as I was setting this up to shoot and learn with. I reinforced the comb, installed Pillars, floated the barrel, and fully bedded the stock. I have a 1-6 LPVO temporarily on it till I can get my hands on the scope I'm looking for. The Hornady Superformance 200gr ammo is OK, but I think the gun is capable of better. I picked up Starline brass and Sierra Game King 225gr bullets to develop a load with before I dwell into the Nosler 225s at twice the price.

Here's the question. I'm looking to narrow down the load development. What powder and charge is everyone running in this caliber? Seriously, I know to work up in charge and pressure signs. Every caliber has a sweet spot, just looking to narrow the search. I have a ton of different powders, but no RE-15 or AA2015 which seems to be what I'm finding in the searches.

 

[mjcmichigan]

I don’t have a 35 Whelan yet. So not the right responder for your question. The 35 Whelan is on my Bucket list and I have been actively looking for a donor to do a build. Just haven’t found a donor at the right price point.
Powders I was planning on using in the 225 range for the 35 Whelan.
StaBALL Match (temp stable and I believe it’s a ball powder so should meter well.
H4895
Varget.
I was also going to see if I could find Reloder recipes for TS15.5, Rl 16, or RL23.. I do get good results with the RL powders.

 

[SJB358]

Congrats on the Whelen. I’ve had a pile of them and still have 3. The work you’ve done should get you some excellent accuracy. I use H4895 and the Sierra 225 which is probably my favorite deer bullet I’ve used to date.

CFE223, LVR, 4895, 4064, TAC, etc are all great powders. SB Match might be good as well. Anything that works well in a 223 or 308 will typically work great in a Whelen.

 

[KinleyWater]

I love me some RE-15 for my Whelen. And my 308s. And... I've also used 748, I believe, but I find that RE-15 is more efficient. That is to say I think you find that RE-15 gives you a certain velocity with fewer grains of powder than 748.

Don't knock the Sierra's, either. I think I may have only put 1 box of Nosler bullets through mine and never taken anything other than paper with those. Lots of good Whelen bullets out there.

 

[RL338]

BL-C2 is another good powder I’ve used in my Whelen. The best powder I’ve used in mine is the long gone RL-12 , it just works.

 

[JD338]

I’ve gotten excellent speed and accuracy with CFE223 and the Sierra 225 gr Game King in my Remington 700 Classic 35 Whelen.

JD338

 

[Johnly]

The 250 gr. R-P factory load clocks 2435 fps out of my rifle as a reference point.
I can get 200 gr bullets moving out almost 2700 fps with 59.0 gr. H4895 and match the velocity of the 250 gr. factory ammo with 60gr. of RL-17.

 

[truck driver]

Congrats on the Whelen. I’ve had a pile of them and still have 3. The work you’ve done should get you some excellent accuracy. I use H4895 and the Sierra 225 which is probably my favorite deer bullet I’ve used to date.

CFE223, LVR, 4895, 4064, TAC, etc are all great powders. SB Match might be good as well. Anything that works well in a 223 or 308 will typically work great in a Whelen.

If anyone knows the 35 Whelen Scotty does. I have the Ackley version and can't help you, the 40degree shoulder,1-12" twist rifling and Weatherby style free bore really makes a big difference in the old Gal.