A Keeper of a .300 Whelen

[RiverRider]

I've long believed I needed to have a .300 Whelen in the gunsafe, and I've long believed it needed to be a Model 70. Today the need was satisfied.
:mrgreen:

The fellow who owned it had it up for sale for about six weeks, and no one would bite and I don't get it. It's as new in the box and he wasn't being unreasonable. I'd have ponied up the cash he wanted but I didn't have it. When I saw it still posted this morning, I decided this all was just not right. I offered him a gorgeous little Savage 14 American Classic in .223, and he even threw in a Sightron scope.

So now I must lay in some dies, brass, and bullets. And decide if I want to use the Talley ringmounts that came with it. I have a Leupold to put on it so I'm covered there.

My gunsafe seems to have an appetite for CRF Model 70s these days. Two have been added in the last few months. Whatever this force is, I just don't have the will to resist it.

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations! Great acquisition. My Model 70 300 Whelen (mislabeled as a .30-06 Springfield) is a beautiful rifle that shoots extremely well. Truthfully, if I was restricted to one rifle (may it never happen), I could live with this one. Good looking rifle.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

That is a very nice rifle. That burning fever for CRF Model 70 rifles doesn't go away. Today at Cabelas, I saw a .338 Win Mag in the Model 70 Classic Stainless (New Haven) on the used rack. I have absolutely no need or desire for a .338 right now but that gun jumped off the rack into my hands and I had to have my wife help me put it back up there after a few awkward minutes.

Those .300 Whelen's are a great caliber. My favorite rifle is thus chambered. As Dr. Mike pointed out, heaven forbid we had to have only one, that one would get my vote without a second of hesitation.

Thanks for sharing -

Dale

 

[SJB358]

I've never liked a 30-06, but a 300 Whelen would be my choice.

It's just gotta be better!

Beautiful rifle. I like the looks of that rifle. Congrats.

 

[FOTIS]

Love my TC 30-06. accurate!!!!

 

[Guy Miner]

Of course ".30-06" is what Col Whelen called the cartridge...

GREAT rifle. Congrats!

Guy

 

[nvbroncrider]

NH or SC rifle? Nice snag 57gr of 4350 and 180 PT. By the way SPS has a killer sale on the 180's!

 

[RiverRider]

Thanks, everyone.

Jake, this one's a BACO rifle, stamped "Morgan, Utah." On the bottom side of the barrel where you can't see it, it is stamped "assembled in Portugal." I can't find a thing wrong with it.

I don't have a powder I would consider ideal on the shelf, so I'll have to acquire something. Playing around with QuickLOAD, Re23 has caught my eye. It suggests I can push a 180-grain AccuBond up near 2900 fps with about 61.5 grains of Re23, which should fill the case nicely, AND it suggests I'll get 100% powder burn. I'll look at those Partitions, too. For sure!

 

[RiverRider]

Jake, thanks for prompting me to look at SPS again. I had seen the 180 "protected point" but I missed the regular 180 Partition. I snagged eight boxes---what a deal! They've even linked my veteran status to my account and applied the discount automatically...I don't think I was able to get the discount applied on my last four or five purchases.

 

[SJB358]

Man, I'll have to try one of those 300 Whelens some day. RL23 sounds pretty stout for the 180's...

Can't wait to hear how it shoots.

 

[RiverRider]

Scotty, I haven't even gone out looking for Re23, but I think a LGS in my neck of the woods may have some. My only doubt is whether or not I can get enough of it in the case. As luck would have it, the Partitions tolerate a little more powder than Accubonds (according to QL) and I have NO idea how much of it I can get under a bullet. The Re23 idea may whither on the vine. But if I could get about 63 grains under a 180...it should scorch!

 

[RiverRider]

Decided to try Re17 first, with some reluctance. I had a frightening experience with it several years ago and never figured out what happened, but it had to have been caused by something besides the fact that it was that powder. Gonna get back on that horse and ride him.

Re17 looks far and away the best choice based on QL.

 

[Polaris]

No need to re-invent the wheel in that caliber. If you like 180s, just snag some H or IMR 4350, Win760 or H414. You'll never look back.

 

[Vince]

No need to re-invent the wheel in that caliber. If you like 180s, just snag some H or IMR 4350, Win760 or H414. You'll never look back.

Was discussing this exact same thing just yesterday with another forum member.

I'm off to the range today to try some Ballistic Tips and IMR 4350.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

 

[Polaris]

Since we're talking CRF .300 whelens, here's an old one. Looks like hell, small crack in the wrist (drilled, epoxied, pinned and stabilized). Still shoots 1-1.5" groups with IMR 4064/150 or IMR 4350/180 and a low mag scope. Haven't really worked on loads for this one. It's a woods/loaner rifle. First efforts were good enough. M17 sporter, probably '40s or '50s vintage gunsmith work.

 

[Guy Miner]

Nice.

Yes, here's a good old controlled round feed Winchester, 1917. I've been shooting it since I was a kid, in the 1970's.



Now my son uses it, fourth generation of my family to use that great old rifle!

I'd guess it qualifies as a "keeper" since we've kept it so long... :mrgreen:

Guy

 

[RiverRider]

No need to re-invent the wheel in that caliber. If you like 180s, just snag some H or IMR 4350, Win760 or H414. You'll never look back.

Was discussing this exact same thing just yesterday with another forum member.

I'm off to the range today to try some Ballistic Tips and IMR 4350.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Yeah, I see the wisdom in that but since I have nothing on the shelf between H4831 and IMR4064 & H4895 and I'll have to buy something anyway I figured I'd take a look at QuickLOAD's prognostications. Re17 is right there at the top of the list with near ideal loading density and highest velocities---AND a good, complete burn. The result suggests I can get 2900 fps at about 62000 psi. Have a looksee:

Matching Maximum Pressure: 62003 psi, or 427 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 115 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

34 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 80%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type          Filling/Loading Ratio  Charge    Charge   Vel. Prop.Burnt P max  P muzz  B_Time
                                      %     Grains    Gramm   fps     %       psi     psi    ms
---------------------------------  -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-26                 110.3     66.0     4.28    2987   100.0    62004   10926   1.122  
Norma MRP                          110.8     64.4     4.17    2950    99.0    62004   10920   1.125  
ReloadSwiss RS 60                  100.6     58.8     3.81    2930   100.0    62004    9760   1.122  
Vihtavuori N560                    112.4     64.0     4.14    2926    95.9    62004   10966   1.126  
ReloadSwiss RS 70                  106.7     63.3     4.10    2922    99.2    62004   10571   1.122  
Alliant Reloder-22                 112.8     63.5     4.12    2914    97.8    62004   10657   1.130  
Raufoss RA15                       112.8     63.5     4.12    2914    97.8    62004   10657   1.130  
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation       112.8     63.5     4.12    2914    97.8    62004   10657   1.130  
Accurate MAGPRO                    112.7     66.7     4.32    2914    94.3    62004   10945   1.130  
Elcho 17                            99.7     58.2     3.77    2910   100.0    62004    9705   1.129  
Alliant Reloder-17                  99.7     58.2     3.77    2910   100.0    62004    9705   1.129  
SNPE Vectan SP 12                  114.2     67.9     4.40    2898    96.5    62004   10696   1.123  
PB Clermont PCL 517                114.4     68.0     4.40    2897    96.4    62004   10707   1.123  
IMR 7828 SSC                       110.3     63.1     4.09    2896    96.1    62004   10553   1.124  
Bofors RP15                        115.0     63.3     4.10    2888    97.4    60286   10601   1.145  
Winchester WXR                     115.0     63.3     4.10    2888    97.4    60286   10601   1.145  
Somchem S365                       106.9     59.2     3.84    2883   100.0    62004    9255   1.140  
Alliant Reloder-23                 115.0     62.6     4.06    2881   100.0    59921    9765   1.148  
ReloadSwiss RS 62                  103.3     60.2     3.90    2881    99.9    62004    9799   1.147  
ADI AR 2213                        111.1     62.5     4.05    2879    96.0    62004   10440   1.125  
PB Clermont PCL 511                101.1     59.9     3.88    2873    99.4    62004    9938   1.138  
Ramshot Hunter                     104.4     60.0     3.89    2872    99.4    62004    9923   1.139  
Ramshot Magnum                     111.6     67.6     4.38    2870    98.1    62004   10115   1.127  
Rottweil R905                      113.8     62.9     4.07    2868    95.8    62004   10241   1.134  
Alliant Reloder-19                 108.9     60.7     3.93    2865    97.6    62004   10113   1.135  
Hodgdon H414                        98.6     58.1     3.76    2865    99.0    62004    9905   1.142  
Winchester 760                      98.6     58.1     3.76    2865    99.0    62004    9905   1.142  
ADI AR 2209                        108.0     59.8     3.88    2859    97.4    62004   10015   1.129  
Bofors RP14 ~approximation         109.7     61.1     3.96    2858    97.6    62004   10032   1.135  
Norma URP                          104.0     57.3     3.71    2855   100.0    62004    9541   1.146  
Bofors RP19 ~approximation         104.0     57.3     3.71    2855   100.0    62004    9538   1.146  
Vihtavuori N550                    100.9     57.4     3.72    2854    99.9    62004    9666   1.151  
Accurate 4350                      103.3     57.5     3.73    2853   100.0    62004    9512   1.161  
ADI AP 2214                        114.7     66.3     4.30    2850    95.8    62004   10235   1.127  
IMR 7828                           115.0     62.2     4.03    2848    95.4    58749   10422   1.151  
Norma 204                          103.1     59.3     3.84    2838    97.3    62004    9814   1.137  
Bofors RP4 ~approximation          106.5     59.3     3.84    2838    97.3    62004    9814   1.137  
Raufoss RA4                        106.5     59.3     3.84    2838    97.3    62004    9814   1.137  
IMR 4831                           109.1     58.2     3.77    2837   100.0    62004    9330   1.154  
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation       114.7     65.1     4.22    2835    93.4    62004   10163   1.133  
SNPE Vectan SP 11                   97.1     55.8     3.62    2835   100.0    62004    9172   1.147  
Somchem S385                       109.2     61.5     3.98    2832    98.4    62004    9696   1.154  
ReloadSwiss RS 52                   94.6     54.4     3.52    2830   100.0    62004    8922   1.153  
Ramshot Big Game                    94.0     55.7     3.61    2828   100.0    62004    9072   1.147  
Hodgdon CFE223                      88.7     55.0     3.57    2828   100.0    62004    9048   1.148  
Alliant Reloder-25                 115.0     63.7     4.13    2828    99.3    54312   10422   1.190  
Accurate 3100                      112.8     62.8     4.07    2827    99.4    62004    9491   1.162  
Hodgdon H4831                      114.1     61.7     4.00    2824    95.3    62004    9813   1.135  
Hodgdon H4831 SC                   109.7     61.7     4.00    2824    95.3    62004    9813   1.135  
IMR 4895                            93.6     52.1     3.38    2823   100.0    62004    9083   1.156  
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation       104.0     58.8     3.81    2820    98.7    62004    9528   1.150  
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V                106.8     57.5     3.73    2818   100.0    62004    8760   1.145  
Raufoss RA11                        94.4     52.6     3.41    2814   100.0    62004    9054   1.156  
Bofors RP11 ~approximation          94.4     52.6     3.41    2814   100.0    62004    9054   1.156  
Alliant Reloder-15                  94.4     52.6     3.41    2814   100.0    62004    9054   1.156  
Vihtavuori N165                    114.7     63.2     4.09    2812    98.0    62004    9417   1.143  
Winchester Supreme 780             107.0     62.8     4.07    2812    97.3    62004    9545   1.140  
Norma 203B                          94.8     52.8     3.42    2812   100.0    62004    8980   1.157  
Hodgdon BL-C2                       89.2     54.2     3.51    2806   100.0    62004    8855   1.160  
Hodgdon H380                        95.7     54.4     3.53    2806    99.9    62004    9177   1.160  
Lovex S070                         103.2     56.8     3.68    2805    99.0    62004    9383   1.161  
Bofors RP3                          96.3     54.2     3.51    2804   100.0    62004    8841   1.169  
Norma 203 old                       96.3     54.2     3.51    2804   100.0    62004    8841   1.169  
Rottweil R904                      107.1     58.8     3.81    2801    96.3    62004    9499   1.143  
Hodgdon H4350                      105.9     57.7     3.74    2800    98.4    62004    9312   1.146  
IMR 4350                           103.9     57.5     3.73    2800    98.4    62004    9297   1.146

 

[Polaris]

Yeah, R17 should be a good bet also. Similar to 4350. I've had such a hard time finding any of the Alliant powders lately, thought I'd try to give you a leg up on some more available ones.

 

[RiverRider]

If you want Re17, try http://store.thirdgenerationshootingsupply.com/

They have five-pounders available, very reasonable.

 

[preacher]

I just won this "new to me 300 Whelen"....gonna try a new platform too....will peep it after scoping/checking accuracy,etc. Gotta have a 30-06 around...it's just "American", ha.