.35 Whelen

[lefty315]

Anyone have a good recipe for fireforming some .35 Whelen brass using 158 grain pistol bullets? Powder I have on hand is H4895, IMR 4350 and RL-15.

 

[JD338]

I would think H4895 would be a really good powder to ff brass.

Not sure why you are ff though. You can run 30-06 brass through a 35 Whelen FL Sizing die and you are set to go.

JD338

 

[lefty315]

Mine has a wee bit of a headspace issue when using virgin Remington brass. Not sure if they are a bit under sized for the pump action rifles and of course my chamber might just be a tad off.

 

[RiverRider]

I'd save the Re15 for real Whelen loads after you're finished fireforming!

 

[lefty315]

I have actually been getting really good results with H4895 and the 250 grain Speer Hotcores, so I'll stick with that. I just wanted to get a pile of brass prepped up and had some powder on hand.

 

[JD338]

Mine has a wee bit of a headspace issue when using virgin Remington brass. Not sure if they are a bit under sized for the pump action rifles and of course my chamber might just be a tad off.

Thanks Lefty.
I think most 760/7600/742/7400 chambers are made sloppy to allow for easy feeding.

Let us know how the ff process works for you.

JD338

 

[PJGunner]

The only rifle I have that kind of problem is a tang safety Ruger M77. That one must have one of those contract barrels and a very sloppy chamber. I get case head separations from factory ammo. :shock: Solution was to make up special brass expressly for that rifle. I took Korean 30-06 and opened the necks with a .375" expander plug, then carefully resized the brass so that there was just enough of that oversized neck to form a secondary shoulder. Then I just loaded up the ammo as if there was nothing wrong with the chamber and shot them that way. Once the brass as fireformed, I reset up the sizing die to conform to the existing chamber. I have three rifles chambered to the Whelen and each one has it's own set of dies to load them.
The custom Mauser gets Remington factory brass. The Remington 700 Classic gets Federal brass or reformed 30-06 brass (1943 LC milsurp) and the Ruger you already know about.
I dunno just how sloppy your chamber is, but if there is no sign of an incipient case head separation, you know, that groove you find inside the case using a bent paper clip? If that doesn't happen, I'd just load them up and shoot them as is. Then, I'd set up my loading dies to custom fit your brass to your chamber. I set up my dies that way for all my rifles.
If you want, I can send you the instructions on how I set the sizing die up.
Paul B.

 

[RiverRider]

I have always thought that .280 brass would be the best for dealing with headspace issues invloving anything based on the '06 case. The shoulder is, IIRC, about .050" forward of all the rest.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Was reading through some old posts and I came across this one. Would you be better off using 280 cases to work on a 338-06 AI if your fireforming? Just a thought as it would produce less stress on your brass right?

 

[RiverRider]

I think I'd only resort to .280 brass if there was a headspace issue. With normal chamber dimensions I'd go with one of the other '06-based cases. JMO!

 

[JD338]

I think I'd only resort to .280 brass if there was a headspace issue. With normal chamber dimensions I'd go with one of the other '06-based cases. JMO!

RR

That is a good idea, I hadn't given that one a thought.

JD338

 

[RiverRider]

You know what they say,JD...even a broken clock is right twice a day. :wink:

 

[onesonek]

I have always thought that .280 brass would be the best for dealing with headspace issues invloving anything based on the '06 case. The shoulder is, IIRC, about .050" forward of all the rest.

It would be the way I would go too.
However,,,,,,If dealing with surplus or once fired used brass, one could neck up to .375, then back down.
Or just load a starting load, and seat so bullet engages the lands.

 

[AzDak42]

Given I had four cases split in my last bag of Remington new brass, I'm thinking reforming may be the way to go... That's pretty awful QC.

 

[JD338]

You know what they say,JD...even a broken clock is right twice a day. :wink:

Right on buddy.

JD338