I took the same loads out today in order to verify the 35 Whelen with the 250gr PT's. My load is 60gr's of RL15, CCI250's and RP cases. Of course the excellent 250gr PT is stuffed on top. This load is very consistent and seemed to shoot pretty well. Again, it was hot, with a heat index of 105, so with the sweat rolling over my eyes, it made precision shooting a little tough. Anyhow, I ran three of them over the chrono in order to verify the speed and really, I wanted to see if I had any signs of sticky extraction of marks on the case.
The first three went 2676, 2676 and 2671. They fed and extracted smooth as silk! I was very elated. Accuracy was also pretty decent.
I ran another three across and came up with this
Well, since they seemed to be clicking so well, I decided to back it up some and see how they did at 250 yards. I figured if they shot well back there, they would be a proven load and I could be done messing with this rifle.
Maybe not the tightest 250 yard group I've ever fired, but way more than enough for any deer or elk I would be shooting. Overall, I am very pleased with the performance the Whelen is putting down, I would caution anybody to work up from 54gr's cautiously. Primer pockets are tight and there are no marks or primer flattening at all, but I know it is at the max limit I would want to push them.
It almost makes 338WM scared I am running so close to it. Granted the 338 has a better BC/SD'ed bullet, but for 400 yard shooting, I won't ever notice the difference. I am thinking the Whelen will get another shot at elk this Fall. I plan on pushing it out to 400 to determine actual drops and such, but I don't see much problem there on elk or heck, even deer sized game.
I was also able to pull a 250gr PT out of an oak stump used for my backstop on the 250 yard target. It was a solid 10-12" oak block, dry and tough. This bullet was just peeking out of the back of the block. With a little finagling, my pocket knife was able to free it. Here are a couple pictures of it.
Wow, that is one tough bullet! I haven't weighed it, but man, that is screaming for a shot at a moose or something of that size! After seeing that long shank for penetration and modestly sized mushroom, I wouldn't hesitate to take this rifle anywhere. Scotty
The first three went 2676, 2676 and 2671. They fed and extracted smooth as silk! I was very elated. Accuracy was also pretty decent.
I ran another three across and came up with this
Well, since they seemed to be clicking so well, I decided to back it up some and see how they did at 250 yards. I figured if they shot well back there, they would be a proven load and I could be done messing with this rifle.
Maybe not the tightest 250 yard group I've ever fired, but way more than enough for any deer or elk I would be shooting. Overall, I am very pleased with the performance the Whelen is putting down, I would caution anybody to work up from 54gr's cautiously. Primer pockets are tight and there are no marks or primer flattening at all, but I know it is at the max limit I would want to push them.
It almost makes 338WM scared I am running so close to it. Granted the 338 has a better BC/SD'ed bullet, but for 400 yard shooting, I won't ever notice the difference. I am thinking the Whelen will get another shot at elk this Fall. I plan on pushing it out to 400 to determine actual drops and such, but I don't see much problem there on elk or heck, even deer sized game.
I was also able to pull a 250gr PT out of an oak stump used for my backstop on the 250 yard target. It was a solid 10-12" oak block, dry and tough. This bullet was just peeking out of the back of the block. With a little finagling, my pocket knife was able to free it. Here are a couple pictures of it.
Wow, that is one tough bullet! I haven't weighed it, but man, that is screaming for a shot at a moose or something of that size! After seeing that long shank for penetration and modestly sized mushroom, I wouldn't hesitate to take this rifle anywhere. Scotty
