Anyone shoot cast bullets in their .35 Whelen? Mine loves 15 gr. of Unique with cast bullets weighing 200, 210, 215, 220 or 25 gr. doesn't matter what weight it shoots all of them very well. I use these loads for practice and plinking, don't hunt anything with them. What are you loading?
My Whelen shoots all sorts of 35-cal or 9mm cast bullets, from 100 grain up to ~280. For really quiet subsonic loads I have a 100gr cast 9mm hollow point that gets loaded over a small charge of Bullseye for 1,000 fps. For hunting subsonic loads I have a 255gr cast hollow point that works really well, or a 270gr solid version of the same. I use the Saeco #452 (245gr FPGC) over RL-15 for full power loads with good results, it's a great bullet.
I used IMR 4759 a couple of years ago, I thought it had finally been discontinued. Since I only plink with cast bullet loads I think I'll continue to use Unique as I always have it on hand.
For light cast loads in the Whelen I like 13.0 grs bluedot behind a 158swc. Velocity runs 1457fps. Very mild and the kids love to shoot it. Otherwise I'm still in development of a good cast hunting load, but target velocity is 1800 fps with the lyman 204gr rn from my own molding operation
With 53 gr. of RL-15 I don't see the need for dacron filler which is typically used to hold a much smaller powder charge back against the primer to avoid a situation known as detonation. But if it works for you there's no harm so carry on.
Some of the many reasons that a .35 cal. is so appealing! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
I have had my Whelen for nearly 30 yrs., I enjoy shooting it year 'round with a variety of loads. It is my got to rifle for hunting whitetail deer and has several to its credit.
With 53 gr. of RL-15 I don't see the need for dacron filler which is typically used to hold a much smaller powder charge back against the primer to avoid a situation known as detonation. But if it works for you there's no harm so carry on.
Dacron keeps base obturation minimized and maintains bore condition; it works like a gas check. Doubly so with a gas checked bullet, pressures close to max at jacketed bullet velocity. It may not be needed in a conventional manner, but a 35 cal, 250 gr. caster begins to foul towards the muzzle when leaned on. Dacron can be a fix for this.
If you can fire rounds all afternoon on a hot summer day with groups around an inch without resting the gun, and it requires a little less 15 and a touch of dacron, you do it!
I have three guns that are "dialed in" with just a bullet and a max load for jacketed bullets except they use cast bullets. They are exceptions. The rest need coddled somewhat to do the impossible.....
That's why some of us have switched to powder coating instead of wax lube. It nearly eliminates any need for coddling when done right.
All of my Whelen cast bullets are powder coated these days, with the exception of one 280gr flat nose that gets paper patched and pushed at max pressure. That one shoot so well I haven't even tried it with powder coating, but it's kind of a special case and mostly just for fun.
Loading for the Whelen with these 4 heavy weights in a heavy barreled Springfield sporter, I've satisfied myself enough so I never tried any pistol slugs or the two flat nosed lever rounds I use in a 35 Remington.
The first one is a Hensley & Gibbs # 141 that weighs 295 grains with a very broad meplat. Best load with that is 32 grains of MP5744 at 1907 FPS. The next is a older Ideal 3589 thats 285 grains. 39 grains of IMR 4895 at 1805 FPS was best with that one. Next up is a modified Ideal 358318 hollow pointed with a very large opening. It weighs 235 grains and is loaded with 40 grains of IMR 4895 chugging along at 2050 FPS. Last one is hollow pointed 358315 that weighs 198 grains without gas check, and is loaded with 52 grains of RL 19 clocked at 1935 FPS. Most all of the will stay around 1.5 at 100yds.
IMR 4198 is an often over looked powder in the Whelen with cast bullets. I have a 358318, 358315, and a custom mold that dumps 255+ grain #2 alloy slugs. Had an opportunity to pick up a 358009 a while back but by the time the auction closed it was $140, which I didn't have at the time.
I gas check and pan lube with my own mix (wax ass gasket, paraffin, grease, and a crayon) and run them over 35-40 grains of IMR 4198. Velocities of 2500+ with the 245-255 gr is easily attainable and I've never had issues with lead fouling during summer or winter weather. Accuracy for these is minute of elk out to 300 yds, although I haven't used them for that purpose as yet, I tend to stick with conventional condom wrapped bullets for hunting.
Not a Whelen, but a 358 Winchester really likes a 200gr gas-checked RCBS bullet and 39gr IMR 3031. Our range had a "dime club" to promote range use/membership. It required a 3-shot group whose bullet holes (outside) could be covered with a dime. Not particularly difficult, but it was for promotional purposes. My Browning 358W BLR and a lot of luck produced a 3-shot group that not only could be covered with a dime, but a bench rest scorer measured 0.17" center-to-center.
IMR 4198 is an often over looked powder in the Whelen with cast bullets. I have a 358318, 358315, and a custom mold that dumps 255+ grain #2 alloy slugs. Had an opportunity to pick up a 358009 a while back but by the time the auction closed it was $140, which I didn't have at the time.
I gas check and pan lube with my own mix (wax ass gasket, paraffin, grease, and a crayon) and run them over 35-40 grains of IMR 4198. Velocities of 2500+ with the 245-255 gr is easily attainable and I've never had issues with lead fouling during summer or winter weather. Accuracy for these is minute of elk out to 300 yds, although I haven't used them for that purpose as yet, I tend to stick with conventional condom wrapped bullets for hunting.
Though we haven’t cast for our rifles in quite a while.....IMR 4198 was our “go to” powder in our .338 WM, .375 H&H, and the .375 AI. memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
“I’d like to be a good rifleman…..but, I prefer to be a good hunter”! memtb 2024
I no longer have a .35 Whelen. The last one I had was a Ruger 77 that never was an outstanding shooter with any bullet, jacketed or cast, but did reasonably well with Lyman #358009. I used wheelweight alloy and sized to .359". Bullet weight was around 280 - 285 grs., I think.
Discontinued SR4759 made the most accurate loads, followed closely by IMR4198. If I had another Whelen, I'd try H4895, especially if I wanted to speed things up some. Didn't have particularly good luck with Reloder 7 or 5744 which surprised me, but these powders may work very well in another gun. I only loaded to muzzle velocities of between 1700-1900 fps.
Don't know what MV was but I've been using 15 gr. of Unique for quite some time now with cast bullets from 200-225 gr.. It gives great accuracy and I always have Unique on hand for handgun loads.
