The Whelen speaks!
- Thread starter tddeangelo
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
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SJB358":2kvmkmi2 said:
That sounds suspiciously like an evil laugh emanating from VA. :shock:
OU812
Handloader
- Apr 18, 2006
- 2,099
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"The Whelen speaks!" and let there be no doubt about what it had to say, that is great shooting.
Bill
Bill
CatskillCrawler
Handloader
- Jul 30, 2011
- 1,205
- 4
Very satisfying results Tom. Good to see you've finally come to green pastures with that rifle. That Whelen will serve you well and the Hot-Cors are a perfect choice for that MV.
I'm curious as to how JES marked your barrel?
I'm curious as to how JES marked your barrel?
- Thread starter
- #25
tddeangelo
Handloader
- May 18, 2011
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He lined out the original 30-06 mark (you can still see it) and put "35WHLN" above it. He also put "JES" on the top, and "1 12" on the underside (1:12 twist).
- Thread starter
- #26
tddeangelo
Handloader
- May 18, 2011
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Shot the Whelen at 200 yards today with a work up of a few more charges. 57.0gr seems the best, although 58.0 and 59.0 might have promise for future load work to be done.
Since I'll be hunting in less than 2 weeks, though, 57.0gr looks to be the load. Here's 200 yards:
That goes 3.5" center to center. Not bragging size, but sure good enough to be MOD (minute of deer).
I had one each of 55.0gr and 56.0gr loads left over, and I put the rifle up on the bench and dropped them both in the mag. I lined up on the 14-15 inch gong at 300, aimed just under the edge of it at 12 o'clock, and had at it. THWACK!
That was the 55.0gr load. Ejected the brass, and cranked in the 56.0gr load. Estimated a 10" come-up, and held for a low-center hit on the 8-10" gong at 300. Boom...THWACK!
That made me smile.
Since I'll be hunting in less than 2 weeks, though, 57.0gr looks to be the load. Here's 200 yards:
That goes 3.5" center to center. Not bragging size, but sure good enough to be MOD (minute of deer).
I had one each of 55.0gr and 56.0gr loads left over, and I put the rifle up on the bench and dropped them both in the mag. I lined up on the 14-15 inch gong at 300, aimed just under the edge of it at 12 o'clock, and had at it. THWACK!
That was the 55.0gr load. Ejected the brass, and cranked in the 56.0gr load. Estimated a 10" come-up, and held for a low-center hit on the 8-10" gong at 300. Boom...THWACK!
That made me smile.
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,554
- 6,665
Love the thwack of a big bullet smiting the gong. Good show, Tom. Yeah, that'll work just fine for deer. We're anticipating a fine accounting of this good looking rifle this fall.
- Thread starter
- #28
tddeangelo
Handloader
- May 18, 2011
- 2,024
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Thanks, DrMike!
I am sure as the barrel gets settled in, those groups will come in. I bet a seat depth profile might show some avenues to tightening them up, too. It copper-fouls like nobody's business right now, but it seems to want to be a great shooter. 3.5" will work....can't call it a tack driver, but it'll kill deer just fine.
This winter I'll work it up some more, see if we can't put the gas pedal down a little more and tighten those groups up a little more, too. The 264 seems to be on the right track, too, so the 264 and Whelen are going to SC with me later this month. Hopefully they both get to taste venison.
I am sure as the barrel gets settled in, those groups will come in. I bet a seat depth profile might show some avenues to tightening them up, too. It copper-fouls like nobody's business right now, but it seems to want to be a great shooter. 3.5" will work....can't call it a tack driver, but it'll kill deer just fine.
This winter I'll work it up some more, see if we can't put the gas pedal down a little more and tighten those groups up a little more, too. The 264 seems to be on the right track, too, so the 264 and Whelen are going to SC with me later this month. Hopefully they both get to taste venison.
