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Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 01:41 PM

Anyone loading for the .35 Whelen? Small hog taken with it in pictures
 
There was a thread recently in the lounge about the .35 Whelen, but the handload info was left out since that isn't the correct forum for it. I thought that maybe we could get it going in this forum.

If you load for the .35 Whelen, please feel free to post your favorite loads, and any hunting experiences that you have had with it. Pics are a plus.

My first .35 Whelen was a Remington 760 in .35 Remington that I had a gunsmith friend rechamber to .35 Whelen. Since I am a bolt gun fan, I bought the first Remington 700 in .35 Whelen I could find after Remington announced them back in 1988. It was a 700 Classic that I used for several years. I have since replaced it with a 700 CDL, which is an even nicer/lighter rifle, and this one is extremely accurate.

I have hunted several different animals with the ones I have owned. It is a very effective killer on almost any animal in the country. It is a deer/bear/hog gun supreme.

I have had very good luck with Sierra 225 grain BT pushed to 2700 fps by 56 grains of AA 2015BR for lighter game. This load is a max load in my rifles and may not be safe in anyone else's rifle. Mine have all had .300" freebore so I was able to work up to this load safely in my rifles. If you try this load, start well below and work up watching for pressure signs. I have pretty much settled on the much newer 225 Nosler Accubond pushed to the same speed for my hunting with the .35 now. This powder is about my favorite for use in the Whelen. It gives very good velocities, and accuracy in all of the rifles I have tried it in.
It meters well too. I used Rem cases, Fed 210 primers, and seat to the same length as factory 250 round nose loads to start, then work up and down to find the "sweet spot for my rifle.

Since I hunt with both handguns and rifles in quite a few diffferent calibers, I admit that I haven't taken anything with that bullet yet, but I hope to fix that soon.

I have shot lots of hogs, but below is a picture of the biggest hog I have taken. I shot him with my 700 Classic a few years ago. It weighed in around 475 lbs. One 225 Sierra BT through the short ribs angled forwards to the opposite shoulder at about 80 yards did the trick. I followed that one up though with a 250 Speer GS at 2550 fps through the opposite side to make sure he stayed in place until we could get to him.

http://i555.photobucket.com/albums/j...FeralHog01.jpg


To give you an indication of how large he really was, in this shot I am kneeling right behind him, and I am 6'.
http://i555.photobucket.com/albums/j...FeralHog02.jpg

Hanging up on the game pole-
http://i555.photobucket.com/albums/j...FeralHog03.jpg

flat top 02-05-2010 02:13 PM

Holy s---!!!!! That is one BIG hog!!!!! Good Job!!!!! Hogs that big are unheard of in these parts...Southern Missouri has a growing population, but, I have not come across anything "that" big!!!!..............The 35 Whelan is a great cartridge...right on the heels of the 338 Win Mag with handloads, and, it has taken everything that North America has to offer. I have always wanted a Whelan, and found a Remington 700 in that caliber for sale recently...I tried to buy it, but the owner wouldnt bend (and, I cant blame him)... wanted his asking price, so, I lost out...maybe someday! Well, G4F congrats again on that "beauty"...now "that" is a trophy hog!!!!!

Shuz 02-05-2010 02:39 PM

I've been shooting the .35 Whelen for many years now, and all with cast boolits. So far Lyman's 358009@281g has accounted for 2 bull moose and one bull elk. Penetration is phenominal. Velocity is 2150fps(chrono'd) and accuracy is inch to inch and one half at 100 yds. This Whelen is a custom Rem 700 with a 1:12 twist Douglass bbl.

I recently acquired another .35 Whelen, which I believe to be a Rem 700 Classic model. I haven't measured it, but I understand the factory .35 Whelen's have a 1:16 twist. I shot it yesterday with 17g of Unique and an RCBS .35-200 FP and got five shots in 1.1 inches at 100yds. Velocity was around 1650 fps. I intend to use this Whelen for CBA match shooting. Looks like it shows some promise.

Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 02:41 PM

Yea, I love the old .35. It shoots much flatter than it's given credit for too, especially with modern aerodynamic bullets like the Ballistic Tip/Accubond. Actual tests not taken from reloading manuals or magazine articles will prove that out too. It will hang right in there with a good 180 grain bullet from the .30/06 out to 300 yards or a bit more, and it punches a much bigger hole through whatever it hits. The great thing about the .35 is that recoil isn't much more than the .30/06 either.

For animals like the one above or any black bear, it can't really be beat. It just plain works.

Shuz-
You are correct on the twist rate for the factory guns being 1-16".
I haven't found any bullets that that rate doesn't stabilize yet, and I've tried them all the way up to the old Barnes round nose 300 grainer's, and they were definately long bullets.

Marksman 02-05-2010 03:03 PM

I have been a long time fan of the .35 Whelen, my Whelen is a pre-64 Winchester M/70 rebored/rechambered by Randall Redman. It has a Griffin & Howe Double Lever Mount with a Leupold 2-7X. In developing an accurate load for it I shot every 200-225 gr. bullet available, the .225gr. Sierra BT gave the best accuracy. IMR 4064 was the powder I selected based upon extensive reading and research. I took a very nice Kentucky 8pt. during the '08 season, I was very pleased with my load's performance.

Cocked & Locked 02-05-2010 03:21 PM

The pic below shows my 700 classic .35 Whelen with some Nosler Ballistic Tip 225 grain ammo I loaded. Those shot well.

I now load Barnes 225 grain TSX bullets in it. I found out right away that those Barnes bullets really are tricky to load for to find the right combination...but I did find it for my rifle. I reduced the powder charge in small increments from what worked well with the Nosler bullets. I also found the Barnes recommended load range on their web site was not best for my gun.

With the Barnes 225 grain TSX in my Remington 700 Classic I use 55.0 grains of IMR4064. 3.374" OAL gives me the best groups of 3/4" - 1" at 100 yards off a bench rest of course.

I shot two whitetail deer with the handloaded Barnes bullets this year. One deer went 10-15' and the other was DRT. Bullet in and out just like I like it...blood spray out the exit of about four feet. Both were shot just behind the shoulder. Massive internal organ damage but all the meat was fine.

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL216.../375630575.jpg

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL216.../375630574.jpg

Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 04:04 PM

C&L-

I was hoping that you would see this thread. I know that you are a fan from the lounge thread. My second Whelen was just like yours above. I could reach some pretty impressive speeds with it with no problems of any kind. It is the one I am holding in the pictures above.

I now have the CDL that I bought from Cabela's about 6 months before Remington announced they were going to make CDL's in that caliber. They told me that due to them selling so many Remingtons, they were given a few of them to sell ahead of the announcement, and mine is one of those. It has a 24" barrel vs. the 22" on my Classic, but weighs the exact same which isn't much at 7 lbs 10 oz including the rings, bases and 3x9 Leupold scope.
how about some of the pictures that you posted in the other thread?

Paul5388 02-05-2010 06:07 PM

I'm getting old and weeniefied, so I don't especially like to shoot 250 gr bullets any more. :(

My 1917 Enfield with a Lichner barrel is fairly heavy, especially with the old El Paso Weaver V7.

I've never shot a factory load out of it, but I did buy some factory brass a couple of years ago.

Not too good of a picture, but the best I have right now.

http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album22/aal.jpg

It's too much gun for this part of the world, but it was originally built for a bear gun in the 1960s.

Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 06:16 PM

Hi Paul,

That looks like a fine old gun.

It's not always necessary to run full power loads down the tube as you well know, plus the .35 can be downloaded with pistol and cast bullets to approximate the .358 Win, .356 win, .35 Rem, or even the .357-either rifle or pistol.

What are your normal loads for your gun? I am always interested in reading others load recipies. I may just find one or two that sound like a lot of fun to try. I have loaded a ton of different loads for this round, but posted one of my favorites.

RL-15 is another great powder for the Whelen round BTW.

Marksman-

How about a pic or two of that converted pre '64?

681ismyfavorite 02-05-2010 06:36 PM

nice hog!

all the ones ive taken are black (razerbacks) or "reds" (some kind of russian breed?)

but the biggest was 356lbs. (if i remeber correctly). i do head shots with a 30-06 so i dont ruin any meat.

Cocked & Locked 02-05-2010 07:19 PM

Quote:

...how about some of the pictures that you posted in the other thread?
I could do that I guess but the pics would not be .35 Whelen specific. If memory is right, that thread got on a skew about rifles in general. Those pics I posted were Remington 700's .300 Win. Mag & .270 plus my .30-40 Krag.

That's a very nice looking Pinto Pig by the way!

Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 07:23 PM

Thanks, he was good eating too;)

I thought that one of thos ehogs on your 4 wheeler were taken with your classic. It must be my memory. It sucks getting old.:(

Any pictures you have with animals taken with your Whelen(s) are invitited here. It is a great round that doesn't get near the recognition that it deserves. :)

Last of the Mohicans 02-05-2010 07:39 PM

Well...no wild hogs up here, but I do have two .35 Whelens. One is a run of the mill 7600, the other is a left hand Sako AV. I load 250 grain Hornady RNs over a max charge of RL-15.

Paul5388 02-05-2010 07:51 PM

Since I don't have a real good selection for a cast bullet in stock, I haven't done much in that regard. I have some gas checked bullets sent to me by an Okie (.35 Wailer on handloads.com, I think he just picked up a .35 Whelen Handi rifle that should be interesting) that I haven't done justice by.

I normally load 200 gr Hornady SP with 53.0 gr of IMR 3031. 25 years ago, I could shoot that load into 3/4" at 100 yards, but I don't know if I can do it now. :(

#1 son shot one of our small deer with it a few years ago and said it flipped the deer and ruined the meat in the whole front section.

Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 08:20 PM

I've shot our Mich deer with the 200 grain Hornady spire point at just a fraction over 2800 fps, and I can say that it is a DRT load. I didn't notice that it ruined any more meat than my 25/06 or 7MM mags do though. I think it really matters where you hit them. Large shoulder bones etc. Hit like that, the big heavy slugs do really shred the meat, but tight behind the shoulder shots seem to work great.

I bet that a CPBC 200 grain WFN GC would be great at about 2000-2100 fps, and be gentle on the shoulder at the same time.

Gun 4 Fun 02-05-2010 08:48 PM

I am posting this picture for Marksman.

This is a nice deer, and a cool picture! The old .35 is just a darn good round, plain and simple.

http://i555.photobucket.com/albums/j...IMG_0117_1.jpg

flat top 02-05-2010 08:52 PM

I am really enjoying this thread!!! Keep em' coming!

special44 02-06-2010 02:31 AM

Anyone loading for the .35 Whelen
 
I have an older Ruger M77 .35 Whelen with the tang safety. I've killed 71 head of deer using a 225 gr. Nosler Partition over 53.5 grs. IMR #4064, with a CCI Lg. Rifle primer. This combination has proved accurate and quite deadly. The Sierra 225 gr. SP is also accurate, but I prefer the Nosler. The load was originally worked up to be a "do everything" load and I'm confident anything in North America can be taken with it. Of the above 71 kills, all were one shot, and the animals dropped in their tracks. Most were shot in the head or neck to reduce meat spoilage. I did shoot one animal through both shoulders, which ruined them, so I learned from that mistake. The Nosler does not expand in soft neck tissue, but breaks the neck very well.

ElToro 02-06-2010 05:56 AM

FS- Remington 700 CDL 35 Whelen - Calguns.net

heres a 700 CDL for sale. $500 with 2 boxes ammo.. heck, that $80 right there.

flat top 02-06-2010 07:57 AM

ElToro.....its sold....darn it!!!!

Scrapper 02-06-2010 03:28 PM

I like the size of that hog ua got there....MMM MMM GOOD!

While I have never delt with the 35 Whelen I have a Rem 700 ADL chambered in 30-06 and have hand-loaded for it since I was 9-10 yrs old with dad.

I did look it up in my new Hornady book and got some info from it as follows:

The heaviest load is a 250 gn SP or RN loaded C.O.L. 3.290" for either bullet.
IMR 4895 Low 46.5gn to Hi 52.5gn MAX
H 4895 Low 45.9gn to Hi 55.1gn MAX
Velocities are from Low to Hi 2100fps-2400fps


200gn SP or RN
With the SP the C.O.L. is 3.100"
With the RN the C.O.L. is 3.070"
H 4895 Low 48.2gn to Hi 56.4gn MAX
IMR 4895 Low 50.7gn to 56.2gn MAX
Velocities are from Low to Hi 2300fps-2600fps

This load data was shot from a Rem 700 22" barrel 1 in 16 twist

PM me if need more.

That sounds like a smok'in deal FT. :)

Gun 4 Fun 02-06-2010 03:56 PM

Hi Scrapper,
The manuals are all on the conservative side for the Whelen due to all the old rifles still in use that were built way back when the round first came out. It'll do much better than what current manuals list, with no problems. It's kinda like the .44 Special and .45 Colt. There are a lot of them around that were built back in the early part of the 20th century that wouldn't be safe with some of the loads that are being used in modern weapons. Plus, the Whelen wasn't entered into SAAMI until Remington legitimized it in 1988, so chamber dimensions of early guns are all over the place necessitating the need for factory loads be kept to lower chamber pressures than would be the case if it had been invented in the last 20-30 years.

I have been loading the Whelen for22 years now, and it is a very easy round to work with.

The .35 bore is largely neglected in this country, what with everyone being speed crazed these days. That's too bad since it is a heck of a round that has mild recoil considering what it'll do.

Cocked & Locked 02-06-2010 04:59 PM

Quote:

The .35 bore is largely neglected in this country, what with everyone being speed crazed these days. That's too bad since it is a heck of a round that has mild recoil considering what it'll do.
Got that right! I wished that round had been named .358 Whelen sounds bigger and badder even though its the same.

Scrapper 02-06-2010 08:40 PM

Re: Anyone loading for the .35 Whelen? Small hog taken with it in pictures
 
Hey thanks for the info G4fun. I just thought I would put in some load info info lol. I am familiar with the old firearm and modern and being safe with pressure. I must add that I'm always learning and you all give me some really good info all the time which keeps me coming back to this forum.
Also the reason I didn't respond to fast is cause I had to smoke a 10lb pork loin and I gotta tell ya it was delicious. Turned out nice and juicy the way we like it. Boy that hickory wood is good.

I gotta take rest after that lol. I will be Back though. Have a good night.

flat top 02-06-2010 09:15 PM

Scrapper; .....and with what did you shoot that 10 pound pork loin with?...............I hated to miss out on that 35 Whelan. I am actually kind of sitting the sidelines on another one, and maybe that deal will work out.....only time will tell.

I was reading on another forum about a fella that grew up with the 35 Whelan. He lived up in the northeast and hunted with all the old timers up there. Evidently the caliber was very popular as a bear and moose gun there, and in eastern Canada. Like G4F mentioned, over time most folks had to have the newest fastest magnums, and the 35 lost popularity. But, this fella who was relating the story said that he stuck with his, and never found fault with it to get the job done...even on those huge northeastern moose. Evidently those old timers taught him right. He also said that the old timers referred to the 35 Whelan as the "poor mans 375 H&H", and that in his opinion and from his experiences with the Whelan, they were not that far off in making that statement.

ElToro 02-07-2010 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flat top (Post 1295576)
ElToro.....its sold....darn it!!!!

it wasnt lasting long at that price.

i have .358 win Ruger 77.. no complaints.

Gun 4 Fun 02-07-2010 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElToro (Post 1298280)
it wasnt lasting long at that price.

i have .358 win Ruger 77.. no complaints.


Those are hard to come by, since they only made a few, and are really nice guns. I have been watching for one of the original run made back in the early '70's I believe, for years. I understand that they have them cataloged again. Which do you own? The .358 Winnie is a much maligned and misunderstood/underrated caliber.;)

Paul5388 02-07-2010 09:39 PM

Even though I have a .35 Whelen, I don't have much use for a .35 caliber. That is if you don't count my .35 Rem and two .357s. ;)

The Whelen can be loaded down to the level wanted, if the right bullets can be found or made. .30-06 brass is plentiful, so I don't guess the Whelen will ever be without loading materials.

Gun 4 Fun 02-07-2010 09:50 PM

That's another good point Paul. I have used .30 /06 brass to make cases, and they work just fine. In fact, my RCBS dies came with a tapered expander plug for just that purpose, and it is even mentioned in the enclosed literature that came with them way back when I bought them. The plug is small enough at the bottom to enter a case as small as the .280 if I recall correctly, and has a longer than normal ball to allow easy necking up to .35 cal in one easy pass. All cases that I did that way came out straight and true in one pass, and I didn't have any troubles with split necks from doing it either.

I am betting that a 125 XTP wound up a bit in the Whelen would make for some impressive diplays out to a bit beyond 100 yards on shots on chucks.:eek:

Paul5388 02-07-2010 11:08 PM

Those little short bullets probably wouldn't shoot too good at extended ranges. However, the 180 gr SSP bullet Hornady made might do well. I think I shot all I had in my .357, but I've shot other interesting bullets out of the .357 too.

http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album23/aaz.jpg

http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album23/aay.jpg

ElToro 02-08-2010 03:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun 4 Fun (Post 1298295)
Those are hard to come by, since they only made a few, and are really nice guns. I have been watching for one of the original run made back in the early '70's I believe, for years. I understand that they have them cataloged again. Which do you own? The .358 Winnie is a much maligned and misunderstood/underrated caliber.;)

Mine is an older tang safety no warning ruger 77 red pad.
sat in a gun shop here in san jose on consignment for a long while and every few months the seller would mark it down i finally jumped on it at $450

the Ruger hawkeye is supposed to be really good. but if nobody is making .358 ammo, why are Ruger and and Browning blowing out all these .358 win rifles !? i would really like a ( a good older) savage 99 in .358

Gun 4 Fun 02-08-2010 01:42 PM

Or an older Browning BLR with the steel receiver.

flat top 02-09-2010 10:20 AM

358 Win...another great cartridge...rides right on the heels of the Whelan, and in a fast handling lever gun, especially a 99 or old BLR would be a hard combination to beat................G4F; I am still amazed at that hog you took....by the way, and I "think" I know better, did you happen to recover a bullet from that monster?

Gun 4 Fun 02-09-2010 03:49 PM

I actually did recover the 225 Sierra right against the hide on the off shoulder. It was a quartering away angle, and I shot him in the short ribs angling forward to the opposite shoulder. About 22" of total penetration on a very heavily muscled/boned animal. I have the bullet in my collection. I followed that up immediately with the 250 Speer GS to make sure he didn't get up and start popping those tusks when we got up to him, plus I got to test out more than one bullet that way, without ruining very much meat. That bullet went clear through side to side like a hot knife through butter.;)

flat top 02-09-2010 09:42 PM

If you run across that bullet, I would like to see it...did it maintain good weight and shape? I have used cast bullets for hunting, for so long, that I forget what a jacked bullet is supposed to look like after the deed is done. Cast bullets done right, like Beartooths, are kinda ho-hum in the looks department..."if" you can find them!!!

4inch357 02-10-2010 12:47 PM

54gr of Varget & a 250gr Speer HotCor. Shoots 3/4" 3 shot groups at 100 from my rebarreled Savage

okie john 02-10-2010 03:08 PM

I used to have a Ruger M-77 Mk II in 35 Whelen. It had a 1:16 twist, and held 1 MOA with pretty much any 250-grain bullet. Velocity was around 2,550 fps with a near-max charge of RL-15. After a while, it started to miss fire, and I replaced the firing pin spring on the advice of riflesmith Jim Cloward. It worked fine after that, but I ended up selling it when cash got tight. Later I had Cloward build me a custom 35 Whelen on a pre-64 Model 70 action.


Okie John

Old Corp 02-10-2010 08:35 PM

I had always wanted something in .35 Whelen. I finally ended up with a T/C Encore and after fixing some misfire problems, really enjoy it.
So far have used Rem 200 gr. CL and factory-equiv. handloads with the same bullet.
Have shot a few deer and the results are pretty boring. They fall down, dead either in tracks or within 15 feet.
Really hope to try the rifle on a hog or bear one day.

charlies 02-10-2010 08:44 PM

I shoot a 35 Whelen in a 15 inch Encore unbraked barrel as a handcannon. THe recoil is brutal but its darned accurate...taken several elk with it.
Charlie

greenejc 08-24-2014 12:36 PM

Reloading the .35 Whelen
 
I have had a Remington 700 CDL in .35 Whelen for several years, now. I bought it after I retired from the Army at Ft. Riley, Kansas. I use a load of 60.5gr. of RL15 in a Remington case with Remington 9 1/2 primers behind the 225gr Sierra bullet. This produces 1/2" three shot groups at 100yds and sometimes much tighter groups. It chronographs at 2725 average for 5 shots, 10 feet from the muzzle, and drops Whitetails in their tracks out to 400yds. I have never recovered a bullet, and have killed at least 30 deer with it.
My other load is a 250gr Speer in front of 59.5gr of RL15, at about 2650, up t0 60gr at 2685 fps average 5 shots. Groups hold around 1 inch at 100yds. Same brass (Remington) and same primers. The 250gr bullet has a little too heavy jacket to expand properly in deer, which I found out the hard way. However, the Sierra leaves an exit would that ranges from silver dollar sized up to baseball sized,depending on how far away the animal is when hit. The ballistics of the Sierra are the same as a Remington 180gr Corelokt 30-06 factory round, and the pressure seems to be lower than the factory 30-06. Check out the footpounds of energy though, on both of the .35 loads I use. The high end on the Speer is about 4000fplbs and the Sierra is around 3700. Both will spin a deer around when hit. I hope to get a chance to try them on elk in Colorado this Fall, when I get back from Afghanistan. Almost forgot. Both loads are over 2000ftlbs at 400yds. Compare that with a .300 win mag.


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