35 Whelen A.I.! Conundrum solved!
I used one for 20yrs, never had an issue with brass even though my loads, as it turned out later, were really up there! I could get 2414fps witht he 310 Woodleigh and R15; and 2750 with 250PT/R15/215M. My basic load was H322/200X/TSX/TTSX for 2950fps. I used 2015br/250X my first plains game hunt in south Africa and only recovered two- lengthwise shots on zebra and kudu. Next time I took the 35 WAI (3rd trip) I used the 200X, it did the same thing on game as the 250x! Its a good one, but I used new, fireformed brass for all my hunting loads and never had any issues. I also played witht he 9.3x62 and 286gr bullets. I never killed anything with it, but the 250gr seems to me to be more useful in the elk mountains. I was not as confident on longer ranges witht he 9.3 as I was the Whelen AI. Now, I know several guys who use 24" standard Whelens with newer powders and 180-225 and get wonderful speeds. So, if one isn't into the Ackley thing, that's a good choice. I did killa nice Eurasian hog with that 310 WAI load, at 30yds it made a 40cal entrance and a 75 cal exit hole, mush in between! I was impressed. I was also with my SIL when he used his 9.3x62 CZ carbine and the 286TSX on a 300+ pound hog at 20 steps that went between the eyes, through spine and stopped in shoulder (slight angle) recovered the bullet and it was textbook. It also "stopped" that hog right there! However, right next to it, a friend used his 30-30 Ackley and the Speer 170HC to do the same thing! So...have a ball!
