35 Whelen
Handloader
- Dec 22, 2011
- 2,237
- 516
Here is some info that floated around a few years back some may have seen it already some probably have not. Enjoy the discussion 8) It is interesting view on what one might use. Here is what they had to say ..................................
I tend to agree with your assesment of bullets and velocties. The A frame is tough and though I've used it extensively for nearly twenty years I've not taken anything with it in the Whelen that I can remember. I did hunt with 250 grain A-frames in a 35 caliber based on the 376 Steyr case but it ups the Whelen velocity about 200 fps. The 338-06 with 225 grains is another story and they are about 2700 to 2750 fps. Swift Aframe bullets almost always exit except in really big critters like cape buffalo and moose shoulder. The reason for the exit is that it expands less or at a slower rate. The same could be said for the TSX's less expansion, more exits. An exiting bullet will leave a much larger hole than it's expanded diameter, due to velocity and all that stuff set in motion that goes with it. I have heard and seen very good reports with the 250 Partition and the Whelen, but here again it isn't as tough as the A-frame or TSX. The Kodiaks are a soft tapered jacket with a fully bonded core and though it is different from the Partition it performs right along with it (killing power) until velocity gets too high. They will expand rapidly and will not exit in most situations. The faster you drive them the less they penetrate (they expand more). Woodleigh is a tougher bullet but similarly constructed with a fully bonded core. The Woodleigh jacket is not tapered and is not as soft and just holds together better when over driven. Exits are rare except with heavys at slow to moderate velocities. Understand if you want exit holes, velocity needs to be slower to reduce early expansion. If you shoot the TSX drive it as fast as you can drive it. Ditto for the A-frame and the NorthFork.
I believe if I were to hunt big bears with a Whelen, and that is certainly on my list of usable calibers for the purpose, I would use a 225 Swift or a 250 grain Woodleigh, Partition or Kodiak. I have alot of experience with all these from moderate velocity guns such as 9.3x62, 338-06 and similar velocities. I would normally want the 250 or heavier but with the A-frame and TSX the 225 will allow me to up the velocity without over expanding and this will compensate for the lower SD of the 225 grainers. I'd load the 250 grain Woodleigh, Kodiak or Partition at 2500 fps and the 225 grain A-frame, TSX's, NorthForks or TBBC's to max 2700ish and not worry about anything but making the shot..
I believe bullet weight, design and sectional density control the depth of penetration. Velocity can increase or decrease penetration depending on design. I know four people in this state who have taken 9 foot class brown bears here with the 35 Whelen. Three used the 250 Partition and one used the 250 pp Kodiak. I loaded all the ammo.
Later on in the discussion someone else thru in comparing the 338/06 to the Whelen and if it had any advantages or disadvantages and here is what was said about that?
Loaded to the same pressure, the whelen has about a 100 fps advantage over the 338-06 with the same weight bullets. As I've stated before, the 338-06 sounds sexy, the 35 whelen makes a bigger hole. At 300 yds the sleeker 338 bullets are traveling the same speed as the whelen bullets, so beyond 300 yds the 338-06 has an advantage, but I don't think many folks consider either round as one they'd use for 300+ yd shots.
I've never figured out the alure of the 338-06 as you can buy a factory 338 win mag for much less than you can build a 338-06, the win mag has a 200 fps advantage, factory ammo, and can be dowloaded to the 338-06 levels if you need reduced recoil.
Personally I picked up one of rugers 350 rem mag all weathers, the short action 35 whelen, and consider it an outstanding gun. A good 225 gr @ 2700 fps is all you need in Alaska on any thing that walks here.
I tend to agree with your assesment of bullets and velocties. The A frame is tough and though I've used it extensively for nearly twenty years I've not taken anything with it in the Whelen that I can remember. I did hunt with 250 grain A-frames in a 35 caliber based on the 376 Steyr case but it ups the Whelen velocity about 200 fps. The 338-06 with 225 grains is another story and they are about 2700 to 2750 fps. Swift Aframe bullets almost always exit except in really big critters like cape buffalo and moose shoulder. The reason for the exit is that it expands less or at a slower rate. The same could be said for the TSX's less expansion, more exits. An exiting bullet will leave a much larger hole than it's expanded diameter, due to velocity and all that stuff set in motion that goes with it. I have heard and seen very good reports with the 250 Partition and the Whelen, but here again it isn't as tough as the A-frame or TSX. The Kodiaks are a soft tapered jacket with a fully bonded core and though it is different from the Partition it performs right along with it (killing power) until velocity gets too high. They will expand rapidly and will not exit in most situations. The faster you drive them the less they penetrate (they expand more). Woodleigh is a tougher bullet but similarly constructed with a fully bonded core. The Woodleigh jacket is not tapered and is not as soft and just holds together better when over driven. Exits are rare except with heavys at slow to moderate velocities. Understand if you want exit holes, velocity needs to be slower to reduce early expansion. If you shoot the TSX drive it as fast as you can drive it. Ditto for the A-frame and the NorthFork.
I believe if I were to hunt big bears with a Whelen, and that is certainly on my list of usable calibers for the purpose, I would use a 225 Swift or a 250 grain Woodleigh, Partition or Kodiak. I have alot of experience with all these from moderate velocity guns such as 9.3x62, 338-06 and similar velocities. I would normally want the 250 or heavier but with the A-frame and TSX the 225 will allow me to up the velocity without over expanding and this will compensate for the lower SD of the 225 grainers. I'd load the 250 grain Woodleigh, Kodiak or Partition at 2500 fps and the 225 grain A-frame, TSX's, NorthForks or TBBC's to max 2700ish and not worry about anything but making the shot..
I believe bullet weight, design and sectional density control the depth of penetration. Velocity can increase or decrease penetration depending on design. I know four people in this state who have taken 9 foot class brown bears here with the 35 Whelen. Three used the 250 Partition and one used the 250 pp Kodiak. I loaded all the ammo.
Later on in the discussion someone else thru in comparing the 338/06 to the Whelen and if it had any advantages or disadvantages and here is what was said about that?
Loaded to the same pressure, the whelen has about a 100 fps advantage over the 338-06 with the same weight bullets. As I've stated before, the 338-06 sounds sexy, the 35 whelen makes a bigger hole. At 300 yds the sleeker 338 bullets are traveling the same speed as the whelen bullets, so beyond 300 yds the 338-06 has an advantage, but I don't think many folks consider either round as one they'd use for 300+ yd shots.
I've never figured out the alure of the 338-06 as you can buy a factory 338 win mag for much less than you can build a 338-06, the win mag has a 200 fps advantage, factory ammo, and can be dowloaded to the 338-06 levels if you need reduced recoil.
Personally I picked up one of rugers 350 rem mag all weathers, the short action 35 whelen, and consider it an outstanding gun. A good 225 gr @ 2700 fps is all you need in Alaska on any thing that walks here.
