Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What are your favorite powders for .35 Whelen

I plan to be reloading for .35 Whelen in the near future, just as soon as I can have a rifle rebored. The rifle in question will have a shorter (19”) barrel.

I plan to try out 200, 225 and 250 gr bullets. I’d be very interested to hear what powders any of the reloaders in this forum have settled on for any of these projectile weights in the .35 Whelen?

Varget is the best one in mine, followed closely by RL15.

Thats easy.

BLC 2

Good velocity, meters like water, ......you can buy it damn near anywhere.....

Pushes Speer 250's at 2,450 fps out mine.

Nice thing about this powder is how you can use it from .223, .243, 308, 3006 and a bunch of others along with the Whelen.......if you had to have only one powder this would be it.

Best

Heavy

Those R15 takes the lead for me, but Varget is right there with it. Then again, H4895 and TAC have also done some nice things for me.

I've not tried it, but 4320 often receives good reviews in the Whelen.

FC

My 35 is the Gibbs version. RL-15 is the only powder I've used and it's fast and accurate.

Another vote for Re 15.

RL10x is a good one if you want to replicate a .358win load with book data. Nosler shows it in their manual. If I recall correctly, I burn somewhere around 48gr with a 225gr NAB for 2,420fps. Works nicely on deer and hogs inside 250yds.

I use IMR 4064 with 225 gr. bullets and IMR 3031 with 200 gr., in 25 + years since I have had my Whelen I have found these powders to give me the best accuracy. I have tried Varget and RL-15 and while both were good the powders I've mentioned bested them.

IMR-3031 and IMR-4895 for 200 gr bullets
Varget and IMR-4064 for 250's

Re15.
Paul B.

There is a pretty heavy concentration of Whelens around my area because we can use the round in a single shot for primitive firearm season. Everyone I know that shoots handloads use RL15 and a 225gr bullet, either Sierra or NAB.

In my TC Encore RL15 is the champ followed by IMR-4895. I shoot 200gr AB's.

Loaded for three 35 Whelens and they all responded great to IMR 4320 and Speer and Hornady 250 grain bullets.

IMR 4320 and IMR 4064 for 220gr Speer flatnose.

Reloder 15 is a popular choice. For you guys who are using it, how do find the metering? I’d plan to use a powder measure, either RCBS Uniflow or a Lee Perfect.

I have three Whelens and I start with H-4895 for 200-250 grain bullets. IMR-4320 can also work well.

I currently only have 2 Whelen's and RL 15 is now my go to powder for 225 & 250 gr. bullets.
Have also used XBR8208 with fine results.
Used a Redding measure for both with no problems.

After years of use I landed on the 225 gr TSX and RL 15.

H4895 with 200gn

Varget with 225gn

IMR8208XBR with IMR4064 running a close second. 250 gr. Speer HC and Hornady IL. Never bothered with any lighter bullets.