35 whelen
- Thread starter CoreyFord
- Start date
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 6,908
- 1,791
Welcome to the forum Corey.
Your Remington Mountain rifle LSS is a very nice place to start, I bet it looks great. I like the 1 in 12 twist since it can handle any 35 cal bullet available, the 1 in 14 would be good as well. Barrel length is subjective of course, I like 24" but have had 22" Whelen's before so somewhere in there would be a good place to start.
For powders everyone will mention RL 15 as the place to start but there are also others that are good such as Varget, IMR 8208, IMR 4064, IMR 4895, H 4895 and a bunch more to be honest. Nosler's data is quite good and I have found that you can usually get really close to what they say for listed velocities. The 225 gr Partition is excellent as is the 225 gr AccuBond, either can take any game animal in North America.
Your Remington Mountain rifle LSS is a very nice place to start, I bet it looks great. I like the 1 in 12 twist since it can handle any 35 cal bullet available, the 1 in 14 would be good as well. Barrel length is subjective of course, I like 24" but have had 22" Whelen's before so somewhere in there would be a good place to start.
For powders everyone will mention RL 15 as the place to start but there are also others that are good such as Varget, IMR 8208, IMR 4064, IMR 4895, H 4895 and a bunch more to be honest. Nosler's data is quite good and I have found that you can usually get really close to what they say for listed velocities. The 225 gr Partition is excellent as is the 225 gr AccuBond, either can take any game animal in North America.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
Gerry has given you excellent advice. I have a 12 twist; I wouldn't have been upset with a 14 twist. Barrel length is dictated partly by conditions in which you will hunt. Shorter is nice in thick bush; longer gains a few feet per second and may balance more readily for off-hand shooting. Medium burn rate powders appear to give the best performance. Welcome aboard. Glad to see you joining us.
truck driver
Ammo Smith
- Mar 11, 2013
- 7,342
- 924
Scan the reloading section of the forum and there are tons of info here on the 35 Whelen.
If your lucky you can find Remington &00factory chambered for it or if you have a 30-06 based chambered rifle like a 270, 25-06 you can check out JES and get it rebored an chambered to the Whelen. There are a few here that has had it done and they speak highly of his work. I think Pac Nor will rebarrel a rifle for you provided the action is in good condition. Lots of options to consider and enough support here to steer you in the right direction.
If your lucky you can find Remington &00factory chambered for it or if you have a 30-06 based chambered rifle like a 270, 25-06 you can check out JES and get it rebored an chambered to the Whelen. There are a few here that has had it done and they speak highly of his work. I think Pac Nor will rebarrel a rifle for you provided the action is in good condition. Lots of options to consider and enough support here to steer you in the right direction.
Welcome aboard and likely the best FIRST post of the year..
It's really easy, do a 1-12, get some RL15, Varget, 8208, 4320, TAC, 4064 (any of them, not all) and a piles of bullets..
I'd be a little weary of a Whelen in a Mountain rifle, since mine is a CDL and on the light'ish side for full house 250 loads, but I guess we carry them a whole lot more than we fire them.
Good luck, take some pictures of the rifle when it's done. JES does good work though. Did my 35 Newton for me and I am happy as a lark with it.
It's really easy, do a 1-12, get some RL15, Varget, 8208, 4320, TAC, 4064 (any of them, not all) and a piles of bullets..
I'd be a little weary of a Whelen in a Mountain rifle, since mine is a CDL and on the light'ish side for full house 250 loads, but I guess we carry them a whole lot more than we fire them.
Good luck, take some pictures of the rifle when it's done. JES does good work though. Did my 35 Newton for me and I am happy as a lark with it.
Welcome to the site and to the world of the .35 Whelen. Mine are a Ruger 77RS, Remington 700 Classic and a custom rifle on a Mauser action that someone had made for them. The two commercial rifles have a 22" barrel with 1 in 16" twist which will stabilize up to 250 gr. bullets. My custom has a 1 in 14" twist. My powder of choice is Re15 and the 225 gr. Barnes TSX. I'm playing with the 225 gr. Nosler AccuBond and Partitions now. Reasoning for the TSX is I was going to do a hunt where they requested one use monometal bullets. You could use bullets with lead but you had to carry out the gut pile as well as the meat. I didn't want to bother. I've taken three elk with the Whelen so far and every one has been a smack down or anchored hard enough that they went nowhere. They did require a finishing shot though. The more I use mine the more I wonder why I have anything else. :shock:
Paul B.
Paul B.
Thebear_78
Handloader
- Sep 30, 2004
- 3,098
- 859
Definately go 1-12, I’ll second JES reboring work. That and H322 and target should get you going. Speer 250s are great budget bullets for the 35 whelen
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks guys.
This is what I am thinking, and I could be totally wrong.
Hart 23" SS barrel #3 contour. 1 and 14"twist -6 groove (was suggested by Hart). Hart also was going to Bed the action and float the barrel. I did consider Pac-Nor, but they send out there gun smith work and I have called several times with no response.
Mainly I will shoot 225 GR. out of this gun.
Thinking about the Nosler AB, Nosler NP, and Sierra GK. ( i know this is a Nosler site, but I always had good luck with Sierra also.
Reloading dies? ...was thinking Redding ? Any suggestions? Do you guys crimp?
The limited reloading I have done I have always used LE Wilson dies but just found out they do not make one for the 35.
Brass?
Powder? was going to buy a few this weekend Rel 15, AA 2520, IMR 4064??
I am new, so be patient with me
Sincere regards
Corey Ford
This is what I am thinking, and I could be totally wrong.
Hart 23" SS barrel #3 contour. 1 and 14"twist -6 groove (was suggested by Hart). Hart also was going to Bed the action and float the barrel. I did consider Pac-Nor, but they send out there gun smith work and I have called several times with no response.
Mainly I will shoot 225 GR. out of this gun.
Thinking about the Nosler AB, Nosler NP, and Sierra GK. ( i know this is a Nosler site, but I always had good luck with Sierra also.
Reloading dies? ...was thinking Redding ? Any suggestions? Do you guys crimp?
The limited reloading I have done I have always used LE Wilson dies but just found out they do not make one for the 35.
Brass?
Powder? was going to buy a few this weekend Rel 15, AA 2520, IMR 4064??
I am new, so be patient with me
Sincere regards
Corey Ford
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,402
- 6,213
My Whelen wears a Hart 12 twist barrel. It is quite accurate. The powders you list are all excellent with 225 grain bullets. The Game Kings work very well from the Whelen; they shoot quite accurately for me. I have Redding dies, but truthfully, RCBS, Lee, Lyman will all work well for you.
My 1988 35 Whelen ( now chambered to Ackley Improved) has a 1/16" twist and I shoot up to 310 Woodleigh's in it. Granted, I'm getting enough speed with this Ackley to spin the 310 properly. I think "anything" faster than a 1/16" is just good sense, kudos to you. I also had a Mod 750 in standard 35 Whelen and I shot up to 250gr in it with no problems. I think your setup will give you a big silly grin when you start your load workup! My SIL's 35 Whelen Imp has a 1/14" twist and he uses the 225 AB for elk with two kills so far. Awesome performance! I have used the 250X, 200X, 310 Woodleigh on game in mine and it is my all time favorite round. Bear in mind I have used and like the 300 mags, 338 mags, 375 H&H on similar sized game and I loved them all. BUT, I don't have them anymore as my Whelen AI does everything they did but with a lighter rifle, less blast, less recoil up to 300yds. I use H322 with my 200X & 200TTSX, 2015br with the 250X, R15 with the 250 Nosler and R15 with the 310 Woodleigh. There are lots of powders that work swell with the Whelen. You did good my friend, be prepared to be amazed! ha Good luck to you Pard, Jim
Thebear_78
Handloader
- Sep 30, 2004
- 3,098
- 859
I had a Lee factory crimp firms de for the whelen
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I use plain old RCBS dies for my Whelen and yup, any of the 225's you mentioned would be excellent for just about any animal you'd want to hunt with the Whelen.
Never crimped a Whelen round, it's long neck seems to have plenty of neck tension. I bet it wouldn't hurt though. Good luck, sounds like a great set up.
Never crimped a Whelen round, it's long neck seems to have plenty of neck tension. I bet it wouldn't hurt though. Good luck, sounds like a great set up.
My custom Mauser .35 Whelen has a 1 in 14" twist barrel. When I bought it at the estate sale nobody knew for sure what the twist was. I bought it anyway and when I got home, tested it out and it was 1 in 14". (bad language group followed) Oh well it's a neat looking rifle and I hoped it would shoot. It did running one inch average with 250 gr. bullets and very little load work up. When I worked up a load with the 225 gr. Barnes TSX, .50 to .75" is what I got. :shock:
Currently I'm playing with the 225 gr. Nosler AccuBond and Partitions. I think the luck with the TSX bullets was just that, luck. That rifle has been one lucky elk rifle with three for three. Still don't know why I used a 30-06 this year?
Paul B.
Currently I'm playing with the 225 gr. Nosler AccuBond and Partitions. I think the luck with the TSX bullets was just that, luck. That rifle has been one lucky elk rifle with three for three. Still don't know why I used a 30-06 this year?
Paul B.
- Thread starter
- #14
Welcome,
I've only shot 225gr AB or 225gr TSX in my 35 WhelenAI and R-15 shot the best. I'm using Rem 35 Whelen brass. I decided on using Kreiger 1/14 twist barrel @ 24" and I had gunsmith do the work. I use mag contour and oversize recoil lug and it's good packing rifle.
I got 243AI and 6ppc with Hart barrel and their good barrels.
Wilson does make a seater for 35 Whelen and reason they don't make neck bushing die as no one makes bushing for 35 cal.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/123171 ... uctFinding
I have few rifles so 35 Whelen AI isn't my only hunting rifle but I'll use it on a bull elk tag and bear tag.
I'm big fan of Wilson arbor dies and they do sell die blanks so if you have something build in something they don't have dies for you can have gunsmith use chamber reamer if they'll do it and make seater/neck die.
I had set Wilson made for my 35 WhelenAI biggest problems was getting the bushings made.
I don't build mine to shoot every bullet and I trust Dr Mike if he said 1/12 would work.
I've only shot 225gr AB or 225gr TSX in my 35 WhelenAI and R-15 shot the best. I'm using Rem 35 Whelen brass. I decided on using Kreiger 1/14 twist barrel @ 24" and I had gunsmith do the work. I use mag contour and oversize recoil lug and it's good packing rifle.
I got 243AI and 6ppc with Hart barrel and their good barrels.
Wilson does make a seater for 35 Whelen and reason they don't make neck bushing die as no one makes bushing for 35 cal.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/123171 ... uctFinding
I have few rifles so 35 Whelen AI isn't my only hunting rifle but I'll use it on a bull elk tag and bear tag.
I'm big fan of Wilson arbor dies and they do sell die blanks so if you have something build in something they don't have dies for you can have gunsmith use chamber reamer if they'll do it and make seater/neck die.
I had set Wilson made for my 35 WhelenAI biggest problems was getting the bushings made.
I don't build mine to shoot every bullet and I trust Dr Mike if he said 1/12 would work.
coreyford":2hi5xslq said:
So JES can rechamber an existing cartridge very easily, but he doesn't do alot of rifle mod's if you do big case head changes. A 7mm Rem Mag wouldn't work because the chamber is already larger than a Whelen case is, so there isn't enough material. He could make your 7mm Rem Mag into a 358 Norma or 35 Newton though...
I had my old Model 70 Classic Stainless 338 Win Mag rebored and rechambered to 35 Newton. It is an AWESOME shooting rifle. 1-12 twist, and it hammers 225 AB's at around 2950 and 250 PT's at 2810 FPS. It is short, handy and really packs alot of energy on target.
The easiest rechamber/rebore is the 25-06, 270, 280 or 30-06. All of those are quick, 225 bucks, sent to JES and in less than 2 weeks you'll have a 35 Whelen.
http://35caliber.com/
Call, leave a message, he will get back to you, but he doesn't have a person sitting by the phone all day. He will call back though. Nice man to deal with and does great work.
- Thread starter
- #17
- Thread starter
- #18
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 6,908
- 1,791
coreyford":3eh6km01 said:
A Hart #3 contour like you mentioned earlier should be great for what you have in mind, asking them for their recommendation is a good idea since they have done a ton of them I bet. The 1 in 14 twist will do quite nicely for pretty much any bullet you would want to shoot.
Welcome, I am sorry coming in late. The 35 Whelen is a great calibre :wink:. I have a custom made RMR & I went with a 24" barrel & a 1-14 twist & it is exactly what the Doctor ordered for my 225gr. Accubonds. But if I was to build tomorrow I would really look at going with a 1-12 twist just incase.
Again welcome I am sure you are going to enjoy this forum great people & knowledge that rivals any site :mrgreen:!
Blessings,
Dan
Again welcome I am sure you are going to enjoy this forum great people & knowledge that rivals any site :mrgreen:!
Blessings,
Dan
