Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 35 Whelen in Sierra's new #6 Manual

While perusing my new Sierra #6 loading manual there is some phenomenal velocities with this old timer with two new powders. CFE223 and 2000-MR. 26 inch test barrel and Sierra's 225 SBT shows 2900 FPS WOW that is some horsepower. Sierra's #5 manual shows only 2700 with then available powders. I turned back to the 338 WM and it shows 2800 FPS with a 225 Sierra bullet from a 25 inch barrel.

I have never used either one of those powders but they must be really dense as the loads show 70+ grains. I will have to dust off my Whelen and see if they will work for me. These loads make the Whelen a non belted magnum.

70+ grains of ANY powder in any 06-based sounds unachievable to me, but I guess I could be wrong. I know I'm workin it a bit to get 59.5 grains of Re15 under a 225 Accubond.

I shoot IMR 3031 and IMR 4064 in my Whelen and 54 grain charges fill the case to the base of the neck. Hard for me to imagine getting 70 grains of powder in the case, not sure I'd want to drive a 225 grain bullet 2900 FPS either.

Whelen case capacity is 72.6 grains...... Guess it depends on what powder a guy uses... I love the idea of a 225 at 2900.....

70 grs in an 06 case?? It seems that I've been trying to get even 62 or 63 grs of 4895 in my Gibb's cases for 30 years,,, must be some magic powder for sure!

Tis a wicked thought, no?

I'm sure all powder nets same volume!!!......

Sierra is bluffing!!!! Fuucking liars!!! I'm gonna sue em!!!😂

I have reached the point in my old age where a 250 grain bullet going 2550 fps is good enough for me! I have used CFE223 in several different rifles and cartridges. In 223 and 6.5 Grendel I did not get tight groups. Still have a pound of it and some 225 gr. Sierra bullets so I could do a workup.

The 35 Whelen penetrates and kills well with standard bullets 225 up to 2600 FPS and 250,s around 2500 FPS I see no reason to change.

Don't forget the wonderful Speer 220gr Flat Point. Works very well for most realistic hunting scenarios.

I had several of them not fully penetrate feral hogs and won't use them again. Might be ok at 35 Remington velocities but two lost hogs is too many.

In a moment of weakness, I loaded 225 NABs over CFE223, and velocities and accuracy were both schit. Back to Re-15.........

Fremont, can you elaborate on the charges and velocities you tried/got? I've been told the starting and max charges of 2000-MR for the 225 SBT are 64.4 gr for 2660 FPS and 71.6 gr for 2900 FPS. I too scoffed at the case holding that much but I just got a pound of the 2000-MR and am going to give it a try with 225 ABs and 250 Speers and NPTs.
But I don't know what the spec'ed start/max charges and velocities are for CFE223. Please share a bit more of your experience with them.

Thanks,
Rex

P.S. My Whelen is an AI but I hope it'll still be good with the 2000-MR. AA2520 was my got-to prior to having brought the Whelen out of retirement for this fall's elk hunt, and I am looking to explore new powders that have come out since I last hunted with it. I just tried 60gr VARGET with the 225 NAB and got 2706 FPS and 0.69" group in my 35WAI. The "book" showed 2800 FPS in the standard Whelen with that load. Pressure was normal. I have a 23" barrel and slightly larger case so 2706 seems about right.

I'm estimating my handloads are lumbering along at 2450fps with the 220FP according to Ken Waters and other sources. They put down big Wisconsin whitetails with full penetration. I know of some that have successfully harvested black bears with it, but I have no experience.

Here is the information from Sierra # 6:

CFE 223 Lowest to highest loads:

63.0 2650
64.9 2700
66.5 2750
67.9 2800
69.1 2850
70.0 2900

Power Pro 2000 MR Lowest to highest loads:

66.0 2700
67.7 2750
69.2 2800
70.5 2850
71.6 2900

First page says tested in a Universal Receiver with a 24" barrel C.O.A.L. is 3.280 for the 225 gr. SBT

Accuracy Load is Accurate 2495 61.0 gr. 2750, FT lbs. 3778
Hunting Load is CFE 223 70.0 gr. 2900, FT lbs. 4201

Thanks for posting that. That "Accuracy Load" with a 225 at 2750' ought to handle most "Hunting" if you ask me!
Cheers,
Rex

Just wondering if the donkeys are paying attention???? Haha

The www sure is funny

A 225 @2900 out of a 22” snout, will flat hurt shiit....

...on both ends.
My .35 Whelen AI weighs 7.6 pounds and it really comes back at you.

But note the data were generated with a universal receiver and a 24" barrel. So I'll be surprised if 2900 is doable from a 22" tube. (Or a typical 24" for that matter, but we shall see. Really anxious to hear about folks' experiences with these powders in the Whelen.)

Cheers,
Rex