Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 35 Whelen with modern powder and bullets...?

So I ran across the "Speer 250 at 2700" thread...which leads me to wonder what velocities are realistic/safe with the other .358" bullet weights if the Whelen is loaded to bolt gun pressures.

I've had trouble finding much "official" +P load data, what are y'all getting in the real world? Links to published data would be good too...

I'd like to see numbers for 180, 200, and 225 grain bullet weights... If you post chrono data, please also add the barrel length used.

I'm thinking I may have to "rescue" a Model 70 in .270 by having it rebored to 35 Whelen! ;-)

I have a 24" barreled 35 Whelen that was just that, a rusted bore pre-64 270 Winchester that JES done, I haven't got all my 2600 fps 250gr loads shot up yet, but when I do, I'm going to build a load with Alliant Power Pro 2000 powder for 2700 fps with 250gr Partitions.

What a damn hammer that will be.

It sounds like you're happy with JES' work?

I like the idea of having 250 grainers as an option, but I think I'll be good with either 200 or 225 for anything I'll be doing for a while. The 200 TTSX, 200 Accubond, 225 Accubond, and 225 Sierra all look pretty interesting!

The 180s might be fun for whitetails in the woods...

You might try Speer data for 220 gr bullets since they don’t make a 225 gr .358 bullet. I get a chronographed avg MV of 2,723 fps out of a 22” 1:16 twist barrel using less than a max listed charge of CFE 223 with 225 gr Partitions. Very accurate load and no signs of pressure in my rifle. All .270 Winchester’s should be rebored!

Yes Sir I do, I bought a crap load of MidwayUSA factory seconds that I'm sure are 250gr hornadys, after the rebore from JES, a big charge of RL-15 in new Hornady brass lit with CCI-250's sent them at max mag box length of 3.340 inch a bit over 2600 fps and three round groups well under an inch.

I like to have one load for all game per rifle, that way any gun I grab will easily take game hunted that day with ease, trajectory is math and easily repeated, a 250gr 35 cal bullet will kill small deer as easy as it will a 700lb bull elk at 300 yards.

I might add that Federal Premium 225 gr TBBC factory loads are never a bad option for hunting.

My pet load for the .35 Whelen is 60.4 gr. of R15, Remington brass,, Winchester WLR primer and the 225 gr. Barnes TSX. Velocity is 2710 FPS with sub MOA accuracy and puts elk down hard. Even the ones not dead one the first hit could not get up to try and get away. Rifle is a custom Mauser with 24" barrel, 1 in 14" twist. I have to admit that same load will lock up the bolt on my Remington M700 Classic. I also have a Ruger M77 Tanger but it has a headspacing problem so only use it for cast bullet shooting where the bullet if jammed into the rifling. I have 225 gr. Accubonds and Partitions but just haven't gotten around to trying them since the results with the TSX were so good. I believe I'd tackle anything in most of the world with that TSX load and not look back. I figure a load that will pass through an elk from exhaust pie to appetite should work quite well.
Paul B.

I took my 35 Whelen to Alaska for Caribou.
I knew there was a chance to be close to Brown Bear so I used 225 gr bullet at 2680 fps.
From a 22 inch barrel. Nosler Partition and IMR 4320.
Varget works just as well. My Remington Classic 700 seems to group 225 gr bullets the best.
This will be my last rifle.
whelennut

2502700 whelen would be a absolute hammer!!

Back in the 80s JDJ told me that IMR 4320 was THE powder for the Whelen. I used it with 200 HSP for 2800 + in a 22" Rem 760 I had rechambered.

Looks like 4320 still ain't too shabby.


Jerry

I got 2750fps/250 partition from a 22" 1/16 twist Mod 700 classic, BUT it was with the 35 Whelen Ackley over 61gr R15 and a Fed 215M primer. I'm sure in a 24 inch standard Whelen and the right powder that 2700 "could be reached", no way to know w/o trying it. These newer powders are amazing. OTOH, I got 2550 with the 250X behind 53.5gr of the old AA2015br and a BR2 primer ( Rem cases fireformed in the WAI) It was just "awesome" to see how Plains Game reacted to being hit with that load. Not sure what a partition at 2700 could do that a 225 Barnes couldn't do at 2700-2800 better!? At any rate, any Whelen is a fine heavy game rifle, runs right on the heels of the 338 Win Mag.

I have near 3 decades of experience with the Whelen, with several dozen successful hunts, it has been a hammer, without fail, 2500fps. As of last year, my go to load is anear case full of PP2000MR under a 250 gr Partiton. While I did not feel a need for more velocity, the accuracy of the package could not be ignored. It just keeps getting better.
Overkill is under rated.

I have been a .35 Whelen loader for more than 25 years, with a 225 gr. Sierra Game King or Nosler Ballistic Tip IMR 4064 gives best accuracy in my Randall Redman rebored pre'64 M/70. With 200 gr. Hornady Interlok RN IMR 3031 gives best accuracy, I used this load to harvest
a KY whitetail last season and couldn't be happier with the performance, it will be my go to load from now on.

I should have added, that 200 H S P is also a HAMMER on WT. I've seen them knocked sideways upon impact.
One buck stiffened up like an ironing board (if anyone remembers what that is). He stood more erect, all 4 legs straight as boards and he took a couple stiff legged steps......TIPPED over sideways.

I've also SEEN deer have MORE visible reaction to being hit with magnums, esp 300 WM, than lesser cartridges including 270 W.


Jerry

With what you all are claiming with 35 Whelen I wonder what my 358 NM will do with the new pwdrs. as I have not got it going yet!! Cheers NC

You are the first guy I have heard of using PP 2000 MR, have you had a chance to run it over a chronograph yet? I would love to try some of the new powders with some 225's, have a great 200 gr load but could do some experimenting with the 225's to see what happens.

I had a 358 NM for a while too and it is a hammer, with newer powders it's got to still be a good 200 + fps faster than the Whelen!

I haven’t chrono’ed them yet but 200AB’s with 57gr of IMR-4985 and 210 match primers shot really well for me. I’m shooting them out of a 28’’ TC Pro Hunter so I’m thinking the velocity should be around 2750-2800fps.

Technology is great.... 👍

for sure, my first custom was a whelen 25 years ago, I've killed alotta critters with the chambering.... I'm a fan...