35 Whelen and 338WM Range Day

[SJB358]

Okay fellers, I took the 338 and Whelen out again today. I really was looking to verify some of my loads for that rifle. It is shooting the 250 AB's really well.

I tried to do it again

I shanked two of them outside. This load runs right at 2700FPS out of my rifle with 72gr RL19, CCI250's and Nosler Cases. I really, really, really like the way the rifle handles this load. Plus, it seems to be very easy on the brass..

Here is my load for the 200AB's. It is 76.5gr RL19 in WW cases, CCI250's and of course, the 200 AB's.. Excellent bullet. I am not sure how I feel about 200's in my 338 yet, but they do shoot well

The first shot was a fouler out of a perfectly cleaned tube, then the next two laid right onto one another. Funny thing is the BOSS on the rifle is set the same for both the 200 and 250? Sometimes good stuff happens! :lol:

Well, the 35 Whelen, AHHHHH, a breath of shooting Heaven.. I do not prefer Remingtons, but my CDL seems to shoot everything and the 225 AB is no exception, I am not done, but I imagine I am close..

Speedometer Reading (2643, 2644, 2653 - The first shot wasn't counted as I didn't have the machine on :evil: )

I did shank one, as the wind was starting to push the target stands back and forth so I was trying to time my shots... I failed!

Speedo reading (2718, 2715, 2694, 2700)

I was pretty happy for the Whelen as that load at 2700 would be an excellent elk/bear load in my book.

I did also shoot some 180 BT's I have had loaded up for a year or more. They were straight outta Nosler's #6 using IMR4350.. The groups don't show the promise the load really has though. The BOSS is probably way outta sync and I believe I could easily suck them in..

73 IMR4350 (3044, 3023, 3033)

75 IMR4350 (3130, 3099, 3099)

So you guys looking for a light recoil load for your 338's, might wanna look at the 180 AB. I know it isn't as sleek as the 30 cals, but it has the ability to get pushed into the 3150-3200 range pretty easily and that would have plenty of oomph I think for most anything and be a little lighter on the shoulder.

 

[257 Ackley]

Nice shooting buddy...wait until those 210's show up. You will really be confused about what to use.

 

[SJB358]

Nice shooting buddy...wait until those 210's show up. You will really be confused about what to use.

Joel, I am just about worn out. It is only February and I have gone up and down the bullet weight spectrum with this 338!

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Quite the quandary you have here or is it a luxury? Both are looking extremely good as is your shooting.

The 180BTs would make a great range load. I'm sure you can play with that BOSS and make things better if you so desired.

For the Whelen, I was just looking at the difference between the 250gr NP and the 225gr AB beyond 250yds. The AB starts to move ahead around 260-280 yds as far as energy goes but the difference is minimal. Ballistics wise, the 225gr AB's benefits are marginal under 300 yds.

 

[SJB358]

Quite the quandary you have here or is it a luxury? Both are looking extremely good as is your shooting.

The 180BTs would make a great range load. I'm sure you can play with that BOSS and make things better if you so desired.

For the Whelen, I was just looking at the difference between the 250gr NP and the 225gr AB beyond 250yds. The AB starts to move ahead around 260-280 yds as far as energy goes but the difference is minimal. Ballistics wise, the 225gr AB's benefits are marginal under 300 yds.

Yeah, overall, the 250 PT is a better bullet in the Whelen, at least in my eyes. It has a better BC of .446 over the 225 at .421. I can run the 250 PT at 2625 all day long in my rifle and it is unreal accurate right now. I am really just monkeying around to monkey around. I can't see anyone ever going wrong with either bullet though. All three of them have alot going for them.

 

[DrMike]

Great load work, Scotty. Either of those rifles are performing very well. It is certainly looking good.

 

[gerry]

Good work Scotty you certainly have some good loads to try. That 250 gr load from your 338 is amazingly accurate it will be interesting to see how the rest of your load development goes with your 35 whelen and the 225 gr AB

 

[338winmag]

Scotty!
Wow - You are the 250 gr 338 Win Mag Man
Great shooting buddy.

Hey I noticed you used the cci250s. Was there any particular reason or it is just what you had on the shelf.

 

[JD338]

Scotty,

Nice shooting buddy, you have those rifles singing.

Joel is right, the 338 210 gr PT is gonna mess with your head. :mrgreen:
It gets worse when you shoot them at 3200 fps and everything you hit with them drops in their tracks dead and there is a golf ball size exit wound. :wink: :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Hey I noticed you used the cci250s. Was there any particular reason or it is just what you had on the shelf.

I use CCI250's for EVERYTHING magnum and even the 35 Whelen. I use BR2's for everything else that doesn't need a magnum primer. I like to keep stuff simple and just buy those two primers for my Large Rifle stuff. So far I haven't found any reason to change...

 

[nvbroncrider]

Good shooting Scotty!! Your just gonna have to keep playing though when the 300AB comes out!!

 

[jmad_81]

Scotty that 338 WM is very impressive with those 250 ABs! I'm going to have to give them a try in mine. If they shoot groups twice that size I'll be stoked! Nice shooting buddy!

 

[Oldtrader3]

I could never get the 250 AB to give me the edge in accuracy that I get with the 225 Partitions in my .340 Weatherby. The AB's would give me (4) shots in less than in inch but I always had a flyer somewhere in the groups that was out by 1/2 inch or so. I just seem to have much better luck with the 225 Partitions for some reason. The 225's will stick (5) bullets into 1-1/2 inches at 200 yards all day long. Maybe it is the rifle, who knows? Besides up to 400 yards, the elk will not know the difference anyway.

 

[RiverRider]

You've got some sweet shootin' rifles there Scotty!

Looking at your numbers, I really have to wonder why anyone would bother with the .338 but I fully understand that there are as many different sets of outlooks and desires as there are shooters, probably. BUT...the Whelen is such an outstanding cartridge! What I love about mine is all the *oooomph!* you get for about 60 grains of powder (I'm loading 59.5 grains of Re15 w/225-grain AccuBond, 2675 fps average) and the fact that it's so easy to maintain consistent velocities. Once you get to the top loads in Re15, you just tune the charge for accuracy and the velocity differences are literally almost nil!

I think my .280 is my favorite large rifle, but my .35 is not far behind it at all. Maybe if I finally have a successful bear hunt one of these years the .35 will outrank the .280. Both are econo-custom 98 Mausers and pure hunting tools, no bling at all. And both shoot sub-MOA. But anyway...

Long live the .35 Whelen!

 

[Hegland]

Good going Scotty. Some of those 250 ABs arrived on my step this week; gonna have to try them after seeing this!

 

[SJB358]

You've got some sweet shootin' rifles there Scotty!

Looking at your numbers, I really have to wonder why anyone would bother with the .338

Long live the .35 Whelen!

I had the 338WM first, but your right, having the Whelen does negate the 338 somewhat. I do like em both though. Big hammers and pretty accurate.

I am hoping to refine the 225 AB a little more in the 35 Whelen, but I am done messing with the 250's in the 338. I will take the 250 at 2700. Not a barnburner, but it'll get it done.

 

[RiverRider]

I do like em both though.

Reason enough. I have no need for both .222 Remington and .223 Remington, but I have them both and wish to part with neither rifle! I do have a way of rationalizing a need for both, though...I can let one cool off while the other works a prairie dog town. :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

I can let one cool off while the other works a prairie dog town.

Makes perfect sense to me. :wink:

 

[JD338]

I do like em both though.

Reason enough. I have no need for both .222 Remington and .223 Remington, but I have them both and wish to part with neither rifle! I do have a way of rationalizing a need for both, though...I can let one cool off while the other works a prairie dog town. :mrgreen:

What makes even more sense to me would be to add a 22-250 into the mix. :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[Guest]

Scotty,
Now that is some fine shooting buddy. Both guns shot really well, but you know how I'm partial to the 35 Whelen. Yours is smokin accurate. The 225 AB matches up well with the Whelen, but I'm curious how the new 200 AB will do once I get my hands on a box. :mrgreen:

Don