Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles IMR 3031 with 200 gr. bullets in the .35 Whelen..............

In my quest for a good load for my .35 Whelen and 200 gr. Hornady RN bullets I found some info from Ken Waters writings. Ken suggested 52.0 and 54.0 grains of IMR 3031 so loaded 10 of each, the 52.0 gr. load showed promise producing a 1.5" 5 shot group at 100 yds.. Switching to the 54.0 gr. produced a really nice 4 shot cloverleaf with the 5th shot being just enough out to not be touching the other three. I believe that I will try the same load with 180gr. Speer FP Hot Core. Anyone else loading IMR 3031 in their Whelen?

gunswizard,
I used 3031 under 200 gr Hornady SP's for many years hunting Pennsylvania whitetails. Believe I settled on 55.5 grains, it was an accurate and deadly combination and worked well for near 20 years. My Whelens are all Remingtons, 2 700's and a 750. I sold a 700 Classic and still regret it.
Since then, for no particular reason, I have standardized on 250 gr Partitions over Varget, tho I am taking a hard look at Power Pro 2000 MR as it is producing spectacular accuracy.
I've been using Whelens off and on for about 30 years. Its effectiveness on game continues to impress me.

You might try H4895. I get sub MOA in my 350 with H4995.

I've loaded imr 3031 under 200 grain bullets my Whelens and have no complaints.

I run 57.5 gr IMR-3031 with the 200 gr TTSX. Shot a moose with it last fall. 2,840 fps from a 22" PacNor 1:12 twist barrel.

Please note that Hodgdon lists 55.5 as max, but this is not at 60 kpsi pressure levels. (they say 48,900 CUP which is about 56 kpsi)

I have shot up to 58.0 grains IN my rifle with 200 grain bullets.

Barnes-x as well as other makes.

It is some serious deer or larger ammo.

I did not have any bad thoughts of using it on Elk.

54.0 gr. is producing bug hole cloverleaf groups in my rebored pre'64 M/70, this charge fills the R-P case to the base of the neck. How are you getting 57-58 gr. in, are you using a drop tube? This no doubt is a compressed charge.

yep a compressed charge for sure.

I just drop in a funnel then tap case.

I'm using RP brass. I load the powder in 3 - 4 lifts and compact each lift by tapping case head on my reloading bench - it is only slightly compressed, which I think is a good thing. It sure seems to me that my newer batch of 3031 does not have as long of kernels as the older stuff - hence, easier to stuff into the case. The old stuff was like Lincoln logs.

For the 35 Whelen IMR4064 and IMR 4320 will also do very well.

I have not tried IMR 4320 but have used IMR 4064 for more than 25 years. The IMR 3031 load produced outstanding accuracy with 200 gr. Hornady RN putting four shots in one ragged hole at 100 yds.