Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 35 Whelen load

Can't say what a max load will be in your gun, but personally I think the whelen should be kept at or under 2500 fps with 250's, at most 2550 fps.

I used to run my 35 whelen ackley to 2700 w/ 250's, but it didn't give me warm fuzzies, and groups patterned when backed off, so I rechambered it to a 350 Rigby.

The Hodgdon manual lists 55gr varget as getting 2486fps out of a 24" tube. I'm not new to handloading, but it still baffles me sometimes how the various manuals are so different from one another. The figures I obtain from guys like us off the internet are more consistent with my findings nearly all the time---2MG

Varget is what got the 250 grain bullets shooting in my Whelen. It was looking pretty grim before I tried it though. 200 grain bullets shot well with everything I tried.

I use 57.5 gr of VV N-140 or Varget with either 250 grain Speer or Hornady bullets. N-140 generates 2590 FPS(24" barrel) and is super accurate. Varget is excellent also

Finn Aagaard liked 59 grain RL-15 with the Speer 250. Varget should be fine with this load too. Not sure what primer he used.

Finn was a big fan of the 35 Colonel. He is missed.....

R-15 works well but let's not forget IMR4064...for whatever reason, I find it to be more consistent in several 35W's.

WN

I have used 4895, 4064, and 4320 with success. I am now planing on falling in love with Varget.
whelennut

Yeah, R-15 and Varget should get it done without any further searching....2MG

Re-15 has my vote. It's all i use in mine with 250 grain Horndaddy's. This combination has accounted for at least four elk. It is also more accurate than any of my other 30 or so rifles, including several heavy bbl varmint rigs.

Went through a couple of pounds of the RL15 in my Whelen and could never quite get the groups to settle down. I would get several good ones, then experience notable deterioration of my groups. This problem does not show up with 4064 or 4320, so I now stick with those for the absolute consistency. The 4064 load is a bit under 2599fps and the 4320 a bit over. Gawd that 250 grainer hits hard. You won't be disappointed with it in the field!

RL 15 around 56 gr RP Brass Std primer 250 Speer Std Sptz. has been accurate and effective in 3 Whelens. IMR 4320 works well also. The Whelen seems easy to find an accurate load. The above load is 2450 FPS in in my 7600 Rem pump.
58.5 RL 15 in my Whelen IMP 22". Is right at 2600 FPS with 250 Speer. Kinda like the old Whelen kills well acurate and usefull.