Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles .35 Whelen and RL 15.............

Seeking your experience with RL 15 in .35 Whelen loads with 225 grain bullets. I have been using IMR 4064 with great satisfaction but have read good things about RL 15. What kind of charge of RL 15 has been the best for you? I have been shooting Sierra and Nosler 225 grain bullets.

gw

58.5 gr of R-15 is what I have found to be the 'accuracy load' with 225gr Northforks, AB's, and TSX in a Remington 700KS.

Most of the other Whelens I load for use IMR4064 with 225 gr Partitions or the Sierra GK.

WN

My load was 59.5 grains with a 225 Sierra out of a Handi-rifle. Also 60 grains shot well with the 225 Accubond.

Sold that one and bought an Encore. Prior owner said it really likes 60 grains with the Sierras but haven't worked up my own loads for it yet. I'm out of Sierras, still got some Accubonds.

Try 59-60 Grains...

60 grs of RL 15 under the 225 gr TSX goes right at 2700 fps in my old Ruger tanger. Plenty accurate and a sure killer on moose and elk.

This^^^^

Re15 @ 59.0 grains has worked well for me also, 225 Accubond.

Had a Ruger 77 tang safety; used Speer 220 gr. FP; Hornady 200 gr SP; and the last load tried before selling was Sierra 225 BTSP over 60 gr. Re15. This load shot accurately, no obvious pressure issues. Finn Agaard wrote about this load several times, and I always felt he was a no nonsense type of writer, more interested in what works under all conditions than trying to squeeze extra fps for no appreciable gain in performance. When I sold my Whelan, I pulled the bullets and the 60 gr. charge of Re15 had to literally be picked out of the cases with an ice pick. The powder had clumped that badly over time, perhaps 10 years from loading to pulling bullets. Never had a problem shooting nthe load, but glad I shot them shortly after loading and before knowing about the powder clumping. Good luck with whatever you choose.

My left nut for some RL-15. Will be gunning Vargay & 4064 when my Whelen arrives.

No flies on the 4064...have at it. It just plain works!

Yep...

I have used RL 15 in my ruger 77 MKII 35 whelen with a Hornady 250 gr. RN and achieved great accuracy plus 2600 FPS over my chrony. Sorry I don't like to give loads over the net. But if you get a Hornady reloading manual, go slow and work your way up. You might get the same or even faster. I will say that I have gone past 2600 FPS but I end up with the primer flat and the boldface stamped on the brass. Little to much of a good thing. Caribou go down when connected with that load.
Erich

sorry, haven't used 225 gr bullets so no information. Go slow have fun, love the 35 whelen.
Personally I don't feel a person needs controled expansion bullets for the whelen. By the time it reaches 100 yds might be moving 2400 FPS cup & core bullets just don't normally come apart going that slow.
Enjoy, Erich