New 35 Whelen :)

[nvbroncrider]

I have noticed with my rifles the AB likes a jump think its .045" on my 280AI.

 

[35 Whelen]

Great work with the new loads ..................... I am so hooked up with RL15 that we just dont experiment around much anymore but its nice to read that others are. Your load with the Imr powder is an interesting one. I dont ever go below 225gr with my gun and really feel it is doing its best for us with the 250gr bullets .
Being an old 06 guy when I leave the 180gr arena; its right up to a 225, or the 250. So just dont mess in that 200gr area much. But the load should be a sweet Black Bear whacker, and it will be interesting to hear the results from it, as soon as you get out hunting this spring.................. not long now.
When the conversation turns to ballistics at the lodge, in front of a blazing fire, and I comment to a hunter about the attributes of a 35 Whelen [alot of them find it odd I have one] most of them know nothing about them, And when describe the fact, that a handloaded 35 Whelen is nothing but a .338WM in disguise, with .020 more frontal area, many of them raise their eyebrows, and I think probably, wonder if I have had toooo much to drink? Some of them rush off, and begin to probe their smart phones with quoted figures, from factory loads, to correct me. So I have a target with a picture of our chrony showing over 2600fps with 250gr bullets to back up the story, but I think many still cant imagine you can get this performance, from a normal weight of hunting rifle, without a long barrel, and without a belted case. I get a big kick out of them walking off talking to themselves!!!!
Here is a picture of a 7 1/2' Grizzly that got to try a 35 Whelen out for size . He took one shot in the chest and folded up like a cheap deck of cards. The bear has been fleshed and is folded up neatly on a GI packboard, so commonly used in Alaska to this day.

 

[SJB358]

Great picture Earle.. Us Whelen guys need to stay strong and spread the word!

 

[35 Whelen]

Well like someone else mentioned on here. This website has one of the strongest followings of 35 Whelen consommés on the internet. And I am only sorry that the manufactures have not listened to the heartbeat of the guys that know whats going on.
Its interesting to me, that way back in the 1930s they realized that the 35 Whelen would do its very best work with heavier bullets on really large game. But the manufactures still to this day choose to go against that . The rifle manufactures, insist on faster rifling that will not stabilize the heavier slugs, and the bullet manufactures insist on trying to dabble in lightweight bullets???
Yet time and again we hear of knowledgeable folks, having to build up these guns with slower twists, and buy bullets from Australia at absurd prices, to get the best from the caliber???
Imagine if Ruger or Remington just offered the guns with a 1/12 twist barrels, factory set up, and Nosler had a 300gr Partition or AccuBond ???? The story's floating around from Africa and Alaska, would be all the promotion either would ever need! I think the 35 Whelen is probably THE most overlooked cartridge that has ever been; but weather it will ever receive the recognition it deserves is still a question yet to be answered ?????

 

[DrMike]

Great picture, Earl. A 250 grain projectile at 2600 fps is a fearsome powerhouse, for sure.

 

[PJGunner]

Well like someone else mentioned on here. This website has one of the strongest followings of 35 Whelen consommés on the internet. And I am only sorry that the manufactures have not listened to the heartbeat of the guys that know whats going on.
Its interesting to me, that way back in the 1930s they realized that the 35 Whelen would do its very best work with heavier bullets on really large game. But the manufactures still to this day choose to go against that . The rifle manufactures, insist on faster rifling that will not stabilize the heavier slugs, and the bullet manufactures insist on trying to dabble in lightweight bullets???
Yet time and again we hear of knowledgeable folks, having to build up these guns with slower twists, and buy bullets from Australia at absurd prices, to get the best from the caliber???
Imagine if Ruger or Remington just offered the guns with a 1/12 twist barrels, factory set up, and Nosler had a 300gr Partition or AccuBond ???? The story's floating around from Africa and Alaska, would be all the promotion either would ever need! I think the 35 Whelen is probably THE most overlooked cartridge that has ever been; but weather it will ever receive the recognition it deserves is still a question yet to be answered ?????

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the 1 in 16" twist the slower one and the 1 in 12" the faster? Seriously, I do know where you're coming from. I have three .35 Whelens, two factory guns with the 1 in 16" twist and a custom rifle I bought at an estate sale that fits like it was made for me. It has a 1 in 14" twist.
Receently, I snagged a 1917 Eddystone that someone put a nice Bishop stock in the style popular in the late 1950s for $150. The gun had been rebarreled with a two groove barrel :shock: but has corrosive primer damage. I've been thinking of taking it up to Prescott and having Danny Pederson rebore it to .35 Whelen with the proper 1 in12" twist. Should make an interesting toy to play with. :grin:
Paul B.

 

[SJB358]

Great picture, Earl. A 250 grain projectile at 2600 fps is a fearsome powerhouse, for sure.

You aren't kidding, but overall, my rifle stabilizes 250 PT's just fine at around 2640 or so. No complaints with that load. It is a CDL with a 1-16 twist. Maybe I am on the ragged edge, but I have put them into 4-6" groups at 600 yards, so I think they are doing okay.

I need to get it back out and run it out at longer ranges again, but I can't see too much that a 250 PT wouldn't handle. If I were to put my own rifle together on a Model 70, it would get a 1-12 though.

 

[DrMike]

My Hawkeye was transformed with a Hart 12 twist. It seems to do quite well with heavier bullets now. I can't say that the 16 twist was bad or that the Classic I had before this was bad. What I have now is just better.

 

[Rigbymauser]

Sooo jealous....

Please don't...just get one just like it , and of you go very happy. :wink:

 

[gerry]

Nice to see this thread going strong Love that picture Earle, the 250 gr Partition is on the list to try one day, if I draw a fall grizzly tag it will come to the front burner. The 35 Whelen has never disapointed me on deer, sheep, moose and bears, I mostly used 225 gr bullets in that time and they worked very well. Right now I have a big gap in my line up of guns with the 260 Rem and 303 British and then the Whelen so I don't mind having a 200 gr load for goats and black bears. I actually love to reload and try all sorts of different bullets, going to try the 275 gr and 310 gr Woodleigh's one day for example, I just can't help myself
Scotty, if you are getting 4-6" groups at 600 yards with a 1 in 16 twist that is outstanding. That twist seems to work well but agree if building a gun there are no downsides to going with a 1 in 12 or 1 in 14 twist.

 

[gerry]

Paul, Dan Pedersen rebored the Browning BLR I used to have to a 260 Rem from a 243 and it shot great after the barrel broke in. He did fine work. Have to say it again Earle that is a cool picture, looks like he was a fine boar with that thick snout.

 

[SJB358]

Nice to see this thread going strong Love that picture Earle, the 250 gr Partition is on the list to try one day, if I draw a fall grizzly tag it will come to the front burner. The 35 Whelen has never disapointed me on deer, sheep, moose and bears, I mostly used 225 gr bullets in that time and they worked very well. Right now I have a big gap in my line up of guns with the 260 Rem and 303 British and then the Whelen so I don't mind having a 200 gr load for goats and black bears. I actually love to reload and try all sorts of different bullets, going to try the 275 gr and 310 gr Woodleigh's one day for example, I just can't help myself
Scotty, if you are getting 4-6" groups at 600 yards with a 1 in 16 twist that is outstanding. That twist seems to work well but agree if building a gun there are no downsides to going with a 1 in 12 or 1 in 14 twist.

I know what you mean. I talk with a feller that shoots the 310's out of a 35 Whelen Improved, said his rifle (same as mine) stabilized them just fine, but he is able to push them a little harder than I can, so maybe the extra bump helps them. He sent me a handful of them, might just have to try them in the 358..

I really would like a big 35. I love the idea of a Newton, Norma, or 35/375 Ruger, any of those three would be very cool to me. They would get a 1-12 twist and be made for the 250's and 280's out there. I love my 35's a ton. I do like the 338 Win Mag as well, so I can't say one is better than the other. Shooting both the 35 Whelen and 338 Win Mag is time well spent..

 

[35 Whelen]

Opppps, Paul B you are correct and I stand corrected! Turning over once in 16" is slower than once in 12"! Thank you for bringing that up. Old problem of getting ahead of myself!!
The Grizzly came off the Beaver Mts just SW of McGrath,Ak. I was contracted to Jake Gaudet with my little PA-12 Super Cruiser, and the bear had really nice fur.Worked the month of Sept hauling moose hunters in and out of little Beaver flowages they had never been able to access before. We shot some whooper moose outta that country lots of mid 60's and some low 70 inch Bulls, that area can have really nice frontals. Jake was a great guy, and had an awesome crew. Unfortunately the master, decided he needed him with him, a while back and he isnt with us anymore. From the days of western Alaska actually was the wild wild West!
I think I have some pictures of Jakes Onoko River camp with some good ones so will try to post them onto this thread.

 

[PJGunner]

35 Whelen. I liked the picture of the bear but the "Cub" even more. 8) When I lived in Nevada I had a friend with a Super Cub and we went flying all the time. I sure do miss those flights.
Here's a little video you might get a kick out of. The very classic J3. 8)

http://www.sleepingdogtv.com/reel/Classic-Cub.aspx

Paul B.

 

[gerry]

Gerry that load you have for 200gr is a tack driver. I will be recording that for my 200 gr. test this spring. Very nice groups :wink:


Blessings,
Dan

Dan, it will be neat to see what you come up with, I noticed the other day that Nosler lists 57 gr of IMR 8208 XBR as the most acurate with that powder. Going to head out again this coming Saturday to confirm. A 200 gr bullet at around 2850 fps from a 35 Whelen isn't to shabby for a "close range cartridge" What powders do you plan on trying, I would imagine RL 15 is on your list. I did try a few loads with H 4895 but stopped after seeing how well IMR 8208 did, going to save that powder for the 270 Win coming sometime this year (hopefully) so my wife can have a low recoiling load.

 

[gerry]

Went out today and shot three groups one was around 1 " the other had a bad flier in it from me fighting a flinch today but I made sure I buckled down for the 3rd group. I think I have a good load here, going to load up a bunch and be ready for spring bear. I will fine tune the zero at 200 yards next time and when we can get out into the bush again I'll shoot it at 300 yards.

 

[DrMike]

Very nice, Gerry. I'd say the bears are in trouble over your way.

 

[SJB358]

Yup, that looks like a killer load to me for sure Gerry. You have a great shooting rifle on your hands!

 

[FOTIS]

Went out today and shot three groups one was around 1 " the other had a bad flier in it from me fighting a flinch today but I made sure I buckled down for the 3rd group. I think I have a good load here, going to load up a bunch and be ready for spring bear. I will fine tune the zero at 200 yards next time and when we can get out into the bush again I'll shoot it at 300 yards.

Bullet?

 

[gerry]

The 200 gr AccuBond.