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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 17,491 |
200 XFB, 225 NAB, 225 NPT, 250 HIL, 250 SHC, 250 SGS.....pretty tough to find a bad bullet in the 35s. That means more to me than "best".
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Posts: 3,002 |
"I'd rather have an Army of Asses led by a Lion, than an Army of Lions led by an Ass." (George Washington)
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,255
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,255 |
I've used a lot of bullets in the Whelen and last fall used the 200 TTSX to hammer a caribou (1 shot), a brown bear (1 shot) and a moose (2 shots). Tough to want more terminal performance. I recovered the two bullets from the moose. The first TTSX was from 400+ yards and had an impact velocity of around 1850 fps and was found in the offside shoulder--expansion seems sufficient. That bullet is pictured to the right in the photo.
Suck bullets simply suck.
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,950
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2003
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The only bullet I didn't like in my Whelen was a 200gr Hornady spire point. It failed to penetrate on whitetail more than once. I think the particular 200gr bullets I tried were designed for 35 Rem velocities in ss handguns. Large surface wounds from my Whelen. Today I shoot 250 Speers with no issues on deer. Have also tried the 225gr ballistic tips when they were available but accuracy in my Ruger M77RS was not as good as the 250gr Speer so I never hunted them IIRC.
Back when Finn Aagard wrote about the Whelen he found that Re15 was the best powder. In the articles I read he liked 59.5gr of the stuff with 250gr jacketed spitzers but said he went up to 60gr with no pressure signs. I tried this and also found no pressure signs, but settled on a working load of 59gr. They leave moderate size holes through deer, and I do mean THROUGH.
Our God reigns. Harrumph!!! I often use quick reply. My posts are not directed toward any specific person unless I mention them by name.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,820 Likes: 15
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,820 Likes: 15 |
Only use the 225 gr TSX in mine. See no reason to change.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
Best Bullet for 35 Whelen My .35 Whelen is a M-98 with a Shilen #3 barrel with a 1-12" twist.....It shoots the 225 partition quite nicely.....and has never failed me so far. I suspect the 225 grain accubond is an equivalent bullet or possibly better. I get very good trajectory and downrange energy from the 225 grain bullets so have no reason to want more....unless of course I wanted to use it for something a lot bigger than elk...but then I'd want a .375 H&H. My .35 Whelen: [img] http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/35-41.JPG[/img] Nice rifle! Who did the stock work?
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,639
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,639 |
Nice rifle! Who did the stock work?
I did almost all the metal and stock work myself....the only thing I farmed out was the checkering, bluing, and barrel engraving of the caliber.
Last edited by vapodog; 09/05/12.
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Joined: Jan 2009
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,002 |
I've used a lot of bullets in the Whelen and last fall used the 200 TTSX to hammer a caribou (1 shot), a brown bear (1 shot) and a moose (2 shots). Tough to want more terminal performance. I recovered the two bullets from the moose. The first TTSX was from 400+ yards and had an impact velocity of around 1850 fps and was found in the offside shoulder--expansion seems sufficient. That bullet is pictured to the right in the photo. 406_SBC, Thanks for the pics. I have not seen this bullet post "testing" so this to me is looking very good, especially at an 1850fps impact velocity. What's the story behind the bullet on the left..? --------------------------------------- ..and yes, Vapodog, that's a beauty.!
"I'd rather have an Army of Asses led by a Lion, than an Army of Lions led by an Ass." (George Washington)
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
I like/load 250gr Partitions over 59gr R-15 Are you sure that's your load? As for me personally, I like 250's--why else would you buy a Whelen?? Nice elk. And I feel the same way about the 250s, and so did the Colonel himself. 250s are the only way to fly with a Whelenator. And yes, I 'm quire certain of the load...... Primers look just fine....... Regardless of what your manuals say, 58gr of R-15 is a very common loading in the 35 Colonel with 250s. Mine just likes 59gr a tad better
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Joined: Jun 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,704 |
Last edited by muledeer; 09/05/12.
"The more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets."
"If you're asking me something technical, you may be looking for My Other Brother Darrell."
"It ain't foot-pounds that kills stuff -- it's broken body parts."
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,428
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,428 |
Im amazed at times, by the questions and reactions of guys watching me when I take my remington 7600 35 whelen and sako 375 H&H to the range with my chronograph. either rifle shoots consistent 3 shot 100 yard groups off a bench rest under 1.2"in diam. most of the comments are based on what seems to be , or is the common idea that many guys hold , that they seem to think that if your not pushing a bullet over 2800 fps at a minimum, it will bounce off game. my 250 grain whelen loads are clocking about 2450 fps , my 270 grain H&H loads are clocking closer to 2600fps from my carbine...trust me when I tell you, that in 40 plus years of hunting my experience is neither rifles bullets bounce off elk! velocity might not be all that impressive but I guess the Elk never noticed. 375 H&H CARBINE 35 whelen
Last edited by 340mag; 09/05/12.
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Posts: 294
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 294 |
The 280 A-Frame is purposefully designed to be short enough to stabilize in a 1-14 twist, as is just about any .35 caliber bullet from a major company, because so many .35-caliber rifles have 1-14 twists. If they made bullets that would only stabilize in 1-12 twists they'd get a lot of complaining from the average guy, and wouldn't sell many bullets.
That's exactly why there aren't any true spitzers over 250 grains in .35. (The 280 AF is actually flat-point semi-spitzer.) It's also why Barnes doesn't make a TSX over 225 grains, and Nosler doesn't make an AccuBond over 225.
I'd be tempted to use the 225-grain AccuBond as an all-around bullet in the .35 Whelen. It's plenty tough, and the long-range BC is better than Nosler shows--better than the 225 Partition and noticeably better than the 225 TSX. Load the 225 AB up to 2700+ fps and it would work both up close and way out there. \ John, Do you mean 1-16 twist? I remember your "Dream Rifle article and you mention 1-16.
Rick
Life is not a spectator sport, get out and have fun.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
Awesome pics Dennis.
Tell me about the rifle in the last pic......
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,704
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 8,704 |
I realized after I put it up that it's not a .35 Whelen...it's a .444. oops...
Nice thing about today is I can change things at any moment..!
Thanks for the help...
Dennis
"The more you run over a dead cat, the flatter it gets."
"If you're asking me something technical, you may be looking for My Other Brother Darrell."
"It ain't foot-pounds that kills stuff -- it's broken body parts."
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,255
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,255 |
406_SBC,
Thanks for the pics. I have not seen this bullet post "testing" so this to me is looking very good, especially at an 1850fps impact velocity.
What's the story behind the bullet on the left..? The bullet on the let was found in the bull's neck. When I approached the bull he was clearly not long for this world, but I brought that remaining time to an abrupt end. It was recovered from the neck just under the hide after demolishing several vertebrae. That shot came from something less than a 100 yards and should have had a terminal velocity near 2700 fps. Punching through that last inch of moose hide just wasn't in the cards.......
Suck bullets simply suck.
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
I'm a light bullet, high velocity guy anymore. That said, I only feed my Whelen 250's, because why wouldn't you?
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
Exactly.
I believe you use a stout charge of R-15 like I do, right?
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 96,121 Likes: 1 |
"Dear Lord, save me from Your followers"
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
I realized after I put it up that it's not a .35 Whelen...it's a .444. oops...
Nice thing about today is I can change things at any moment..!
Thanks for the help...
Dennis
I knew it wasn't a Whelen I'm a big 444 fan also.....
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,565 |
No [bleep]? I thought you used a similar load to mine.
4064 and Varget do about the same thing as the R-15. The latter is just a tad faster....
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