Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 35 Whelen loads

Too nasty to shoot from the bench today. After reading & re-reading Gun Gack on the 35 Whelen and Ken Waters articles on the 35 Whelen and the 350 Rem Mag, I was curious. Using 200 grain bullets Ken had a load of 53 grains of IMR 3031 for the Whelen and 58 grains for the 350. Ken Waters liked the IMR3031 in both these cartridges. MD didn't choose to shoot the 200 grain bullets, understandably. The case size is similar, I decided to run some velocity measurements shooting off my deck. I seated the bullet .1" off the lands.

35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 grain Horn SP, WLR, 54 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2623 FPS
35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 grain Horn SP, WLR, 55 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2690 FPS 67 FPS additional over previous
35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 grain Horn SP, WLR, 56 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2738 FPS 48 FPS additional over previous
35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 grain Horn SP, WLR, 57 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2772 FPS 34 FPS additional over previous (slightly compressed)
35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 grain Horn SP, WLR, 58 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2789 FPS 17 FPS additional over previous (slightly compressed)

I had the 700 barrel cut back to 21.75" total length as it will sometimes wear a suppressor. My goal was to get 2700 FPS or more. The gain in velocity decreased while a grain of powder increased. I think that I'll consider 56 grains as maximum and work with accuracy hopefully somewhere between 55 and 56 grains. I don't suppose the game would care if I had to drop below 55 grains though.

NOTE: none of these loads exhibited signs of too much pressure by looking at the primer and the effort to open the bolt. I did not measure case base diameter as a means to measure pressure, since I had no means of accurately associating diameter with pressure.

Nice work Bugger. I use 8208 with the 200 TTSX for 2890 in my 22” Ruger. Shoots amazing. You have a great place right there with the 200 Hornady.

I’m about out of 200 grain SP’s. Like you, Beretzs I’ll be looking at TTSX or TSX bullets and a couple others eventually. I don’t have any 8208, but I’ll look for it. But I got hopes for IMR 3031.
I will replenish the SP’s too, I suppose. They worked well in my 358.

4064 was quite good in my old Whelen with 200 SPs as well. Had to drop it from a long tube but it was very accurate and 2900 I believe.

I noticed Ken Waters liked the IMR4064 too. I find it interesting the differences in loads between the 350 and the Whelen. I think the Whelen should be able to withstand the same pressures as the 270 and others. But if adding more powder decreases accuracy and gives minimal velocity increase, why?
I still have a 350, but it’s not the 600 I had since the 60’s. It’s a classic 700, and it’s unfired.

Midway has the 200 TTSX at a pretty decent MARKDOWN right now.
Rex

Tempting to grab another coulple boxes of them buzzsawing devils!

Nice test. I'd agree 56 grains is probably optimal. Two grains to gain 51 fps isn't worth it. I've seen it with other rounds. It's not worth a grain or two more powder to gain minimal velocity.

58.0 gr 3031 + 200 TTSX yields 2,843 fps in my 22" barrel. Taken a moose with it.

Wish I could find 8208 - I've seen it a couple times in my life.

I've tried TAC, H-335, IMR-4895, CFE-223 and W-748, but 3031 is the best powder I've found.

Looks great thanks - got 3 boxes coming.

With that 3031 load you aren’t missing out on much MM. I have gone a bit retro cause those old powders sit on the shelves while the new stuff gets scooped up. Figured it’s still around for a good reason.

I was using Re15 with 250 grain Nosler Partitions, but switched to H4895 for temp stability and am very pleased. Both powders give extreme accuracy. Re15 works fine in mild temps, but POI dropped 2"-3" in low temps and high altitude.

I use RL15 with the 225 gr. TSX bullet. One killing S.O.B. on elk. Velocity is 2710 FPS and the load is extremely accurate in my rifle.I run 60.4 gr. without a problem in my custom Mauser but the load is too hot for my Ruger M77 RS and Remington Classic.

JMHO, but I think Remington screwed the pooch again just like they did for the .280 Rem. Specified a lower pressure lever for the cartridge wouldn't be a problem in their pump and semi-autos. Primer are very slightly flattened but the edges are still round. load chamber and extract smoothly so no excess force needed to remove fired cases.

I believe that probably the best weight for all general use in the Whelen would be one in the 25 gr. weight class. Top speed would run somewhere around 2600 to 2800 FPS depending on the rifle. FWIW, I've chronographed some 180 gr. loads in the 30-06 and the only time I came close to advertised speed was when I ran some through a 26" barreled Ruger #1B. I figure that 225 gr. TSX will be very close tp the advertised speed of the 30-06 and very close to the same trajectory.
PJ

Still too nasty to be at the bench, so off the deck with TTSX and TSX bullets:

35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 Barnes TTSX, WLR, 56 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2783 FPS
35 Whelen 700 BDL 200 Barnes TSX, WLR, 56 grains IMR3031, RP 30-06 case 2738 FPS

these 30-06 case necks were annealed (as before) before testing. The TSX were the same as the Hornady SP...

After seeing what the TTSX bullets did from my 7x57, I wonder...

My Ap says that at this velocity the 200 grain TTSX when sighted in at 3" high at 100 yards,

150 yards 3.3" high, 2534 fps and 2587 ft-lb

200 yards 2.1" high, 2300 fps and 2345 ft-lb

250 yards .8" low - 2185 fps and 2121 ft-lb

300 yards 5.5" low - 2076 fps and 1913 ft-lbs (time of flight .375 seconds)

Looks pretty danged good to me Bugger. Be interesting to see how they print when weather permits. Is 56 grains about top end of 3031?

My Whelen likes both these loads and they are very accurate-----55grains IMR 4064, 200 gun Barnes TXS ,Rem .Brass Winchester primer

50 grains IMR 4064,hornady SP 250 grain, Rem. Brass, CCI primer

I normally start with H4895 for 200-250 grain bullets. Though it’s been discontinued, IMR4320 has do e well too…

Power pro Varmint and 8208 will get amazing velocity with 200 grain bullets

No, I’m pretty sure I could go to at least 58 grains. The powder would be compressed, especially with the TTSX bullets. But like the tests I ran with the Horn SP’s the velocity gain drops off pretty fast after 56. Probably get as much as 2,850fps??? Maybe 3,000 fps with a 26” barrel.

Wind chill is supposed to be as low as negative 50 below and a blizzard coming in the next few days and I’m an old fart. I’ll be working up loads when it warms up. Ice and snow - off the bench!!!
My land is such that I can shoot out to 300 yards with a little effort, 500 yards not easily. Thinking of getting one of those camera set-ups with a screen so I can see where the bullets are hitting while sitting at the bench.
But with this rifle I won’t bother shooting past 300.

Makes sense to me. I enjoy shooting the Whelen. Goofing around with the 338-06 now, but it doesn't seem to be much if any better than any of my Whelens have been. It is fun to monkey with them though.