Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Bought a Whelen!! Questions..

Just picked it up tonight! I sold my 300 winnie one week ago, and though i would spend some time looking for a remington 700 classic in 35 whelen, stopped buy the local gun shop, they had one in stock! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> $350 for the rifle, and i paid an extra $53 for a brand new glossy BDL stock. It looks sweeet! New VX2 2-7 is going on it soon. This is my elk gun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Figure ill order up some remington brass (any other brass preferred?), dies, and bullets, and start working up some loads.

Couple of questions for you 35 Whelen guys.

225 nosler partitions or 250's? Ive used the search and read the posts on it, but i still cant seem to decide.

Favorite powders? Preferring something only minimally affected by temperature changes (90 degrees to 5 degrees at most). Does this rule out RL 15?

Ring height for 2-7 leupold?

The floorplate and trigger guard are the only things that look like crap on the gun, the paint is rubbed/scratched off the aluminum. Any preferred durable paint to repaint? Or should i just get new steel ones?

Sean,

Congrats!! Sounds like a sweet deal on a good gun! I'd be chomping at the bit to get her out and test her. Let us know how it shoots!

George

Price sounds good. What kind of stock did it have on it, that led you to to buy a shiny BDL stock? And if you wanted to replace the stock on it, why did you buy a shiny BDL stock? I ask this, because my Whelen started life as a BDL, and the first thing I did -- before I even bought scope rings and mounts -- was buy a synthetic stock and hide the shiny one in the box. I've seen game spook at glossy stocks from hundreds of yards away, so that's the last thing I want on a rifle.

Enough about that. I use H335, fired by Winchester primers. Have shot game from -10 to +50 with no apparent differences in ignition or velocity. Certainly with no differences in terminal effect. My standard loads use either 250 gr Speer Grand Slams or 250 gr Speer spitzers, depending on the size and density of the game being sought.

I have a Leupold matte Vari-X II 2-7 on mine, mounted in the lowest Leupold steel rings available. I don't like high-mounted scopes, because I find that the lower the rings, the better my eye lines up with the crosshairs. You may find that some other arrangement works better for you.

The .35 Whelen is a great cartridge, and I think you will truly enjoy your hunting experiences with it.

I love mine, and I have had really great success with the 250 Partitions. The 225 Ballistic tips are very accurate in my M700, but I have yet to use them on them. The 250's did wonders with bears. I used the 250s for one deer and the 225 for several other deer. Take your pick, but for the bigger stuff I most certainly prefer the 250's.

I have only ever used IMR-4064 and IMR-4320. I usually get about 2450 with the 250's and 2550 to 2600 with the 225's. ENJOY.

My Whelen is built on an FN Mauser action with a 23" Douglas barrel and a laminate stock. The scope is a 2-7 power VariX II in low Leupold rings.

My moose/elk hunting load are:

RL-15 behind 225 gr Nosler Partitions. Muzzle velocity is +/- 2700 fps.

RL-15 with 250 Hornaday bullets at +/- 2630 fps.

I have tried other powders(IMR4320, 3031, H380) and none could match the RL-15 in velocity or accuracy.

This is a max load ,so back off and work up. 60 grains of 4320 , 225 Nos. partition, fed210m primer and rem cases, give 2675 fps and nice accuracy in a Rem 700 Classic.

A few notes on the 35 Whelen:

1. Some folks like lighter bullets, but I only used 250 gr. bullets (Partitions, Hornady spire points and RN's) in my Ruger Limited Edition M-77 Mk II.

2. Powder makers publish hotter data than bullet makers. 35 Whelen data more than about 10-15 years old was probably worked up in custom rifles, and I suspect we should read it for entertainment value only. I have seen loads published by highly respected folks that are simply off the scale in factory rifles.

3. I had best results using RL-15; IMR 4064 was second.

4. I used Remington cases left over from testing factory ammo. This brass is HEAVY, so be careful if you use data that was worked up in re-formed 30-06 cases that have higher capacity.

5. I don't fuss around much for accuracy, but with loads just under published max for RL-15, I got about 1 MOA, 2,550 fps and safe pressures (per Ken Waters' method). I could have gotten a bit more speed or accuracy, but the rifle was right at eight pounds and recoil was about all I could stand. I only got the Barnes Solid to shoot into about 4 MOA, which is fine for busting things up close; someone else may have a more accurate load for it. I used a stock Leupold 4x in Ruger rings with a duplex reticle for all load testing.

6. RN bullets were more accurate than spitzers but not enough to matter. They also hit about an inch to one side--go figure.

7. Remington ammo shot about 2.5 MOA, fine for the large animals for which the 35 Whelen is suited. 250 gr. loads ran about 2,325-2,350 fps; the 200 gr. loads were also slower than Remington claims. Federal's 225 Trophy Bonded went an honest 2,600 fps, and is probably the best all-around factory load. It shot about 1.25 MOA.

8. I never shot a live target with mine, so I can't say how it does on game.

Finally, I'd replace the stock extractor with a Sako unit, but that topic usually turns into a food fight, so let's save it for another thread. XS Sight Systems makes a slick little peep sight built into a Weaver scope base for Remington 700's. It would be ideal for your rifle--you get a ghost ring aperture sight, cheap rings that return to zero, and best of all, you can bolt it on at home.

I suspect you have a great rifle on your hands. Keep us posted and let us know if you have any questions. Okie John.

Muledeer, i bought the BDL stock because the original classic stock was about the ugliest thing id ever seen. Someone tried to sand the finish off, and had sanded half of the checkering off. For an extra $53, it seemed like a good deal, i didnt really think about the shiny finish spooking game. I guess it makes sense, but then again, dads been using a shiny stocked BDL for over 20 years, and killed lots of game with it. I really want a mcmillian for it, but i need to wait until i get out of school and have the money.... so for now im gonna put a decellerator on it (that plastic plate is gonna hurt, i just know it) and do my first bedding job on it, and use it for a couple years as is.

Actually, maybe ill call the guy and see if he will sell the old stock to me, and i can just refinish it myself.

Thanks for the input guys, it sound like RL 15 gives great results, but other are happy with IMR4064 and H335, maybe ill try and work up a load with the 4064, since im already loading it in my 30.06. Still undecided on the 225's or the 250's, maybe ill try both. I just keep thinking 225's might be a little short for the big diameter, but 2700 fps does sound good...

Hello Sean:

Congrats , you have got probably the most under rated caliber going.

I had one , yes , had a Rem 700 Classic as well until the extractor kept letting me down while hunting.

It was a very accurate rifle and nice to carry as well. I used it for moose hunting and it really bowled them over. It remains the only caliber I have used that gave me actual in the tracks kills.

Believe it not , I used the Rem 200 gr. PSP factory load for moose and deer , no problem at all , and yes I know the light and short for caliber argument - but the rifle and bullet didn't care , it knocked them down reguardless.
Even shot through a six dia poplar tree once and got the moose.

As for as handloads go , I only used the 200 gr. Hornady bullet in the Rem.
Acuuracy was always under one inch.

However , when I got a Mauser 98 custom 35 Whelen , I reloaded it with this:

Hornady 250 gr. R.N
53.0 grs. H4895
CCI 200 Primer
Rem case


This combination will really get your attention recoil wise while sighting in , but , this also gets all the caliber has to offer .
You get tremendous penetration and tissue damage , you can use pointed soft points with the same powder charge too.
I tried Hornady and Speer PSP's , they both are great hunting bullets.

I tried IMR 3031 - 4064 - 4320 , but H4895 gave my rifle the best accuracy , also it was the max full power load from the Hodgdon's manual.
You about 2450 fps.

Great gun , even greater caliber you have there , good hunting...

Regards , Bob

Ah...understood, SeanD. I traded for a Ruger M77 once that was sorta like that. The factory finish had been worn off in certain areas by many years of sliding in and out of a saddle scabbard. Some previous owner had brushed varathane over it, with no attempt to remove remaining old finish. Pretty hideous.

If you can get the old stock for little or nothing, it shouldn't be too hard to finish the stripping. If the checkering isn't too far gone, you can re-cut it with inexpensive hand tools, and learn a new trade (!) while you're at it. I second the McMillan idea, but they are a bit pricey. Effects of stock shine probably depend on where and what you hunt. In the wide-open sagebrush country of the interior West, it can make a difference. Up here where the sun don't shine so much, it probably wouldn't matter as much. But it does rain a little up here, so that sort of militates against the wood. Though lots of people hunt here with wood stocked guns and do OK.

In any event, you've acquired a lifetime rifle in a lifetime caliber.

My Whelen is built on a Weatherby Vangaurd action with a 25" Shilen barrel. Seems to like 225 grain bullets best. Best accuracy comes in at about 2650 to 2700 fps average depending on which bullet I am using. Federal Premiums with the 225 gr Trophy Boned bullet average about 2725 fps ....can't remember the exact figure now...but its 27something. Have not chronoed any 250's yet. Have gotten 225 Xbullets to 2800+fps.

Used the 225 Fed ammo on a cow Bison last month. The hump fooled me and I hit a little high. Rear quartering shot. Broke three ribs going in and deflected upwards through the top of the lungs. The bullet stopped when it hit the underside of the spine.....didn't make a mark. I was amazed. Buffalo are tough to say the least. The animal immediately got into the herd and I was unable to get another shot. After a minute or two, I wasn't even sure which one she was anymore. Took about seven or eight minutes til she bled out.

Shot a doe mule deer last month with the same ammo. Hit low in the chest and took out the lower part of the heart. She went about forty-five yards and piled up. Maybe five seconds or so.

Check out the 225 grain weight...you might like them. The x-bullets might prove to be the best in velocity and retained weight.

muledeer,
I looked up some old posts under "BLD stock" over at accurate reloading, and found a suggestion to buff the shine off with 0000 steel wool. I just finished, and it worked perfectly. The stock still looks really good, but now its a dull satin finish instead of a glossy finish. I think it looks even better now actually. Thanks for the tips though.

Also does anyone have any experience with touching up blueing? Thinking of trying a little cold blue, and then buffing it to blend it in, but i dont want to mess it up.

I had one of the classics in 35 Whelen for a while. That one and a friend of mines liked IMR-4064 and 4895. I never tried RL-15, but I would if I still had the 35. The RL-15 works very well in my .338-06. Don't be suprised if your velocities aren't very high. Remington had some long throats in those Whelens. The best I could do with 225's was 2525fps using 55 grains of 4895, Rem brass and primers. We had best luck with 225 grain bullets for accuracy. The 250's never seemed to shoot very well. I think it was because the 1 in 16 twist. Anyway, the 225's should pound any elk you hit with it!

Sean

I'm not sure what I can add to the info you got from other posters but I've pretty much settled on the 225 gr bullet in the Nosler Partition. I use IMR4064 but R-15 should do just as well. I use Remington 35W brass although it is very easy to make Whelen brass from '06--just don't interchange them. My nephew uses only '06 brass and it works fine for him.

You have the right scope for that rig and you can use the low Leupold rings.

WN

Well i was all set on the VX2 2-7, but i found a heck of a deal on a vari x 3 1.75-6 for only $30 bucks more (used). I think will be a heck of a scope for the whelen, and i really like the idea of the range estimating recticle. I decided to keep the weaver bases and go with low burris zee rings with the inserts. I'm gonna order up a hundred of the remington brass, and some RL-15, since dad wants to try it in his 7-08 anyway. Guess ill try both the 225's and the 250's, and see what shoots best. If one doesnt shoot as well, ill just burn em up for practice. Thanks for the replies guys, i cant wait to get all set up and actually shoot the thing.