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

Burned a lot of 3031 in my 19 inch barreled Whelen, got great accuracy and a bit over 2400 fps using 53.0 gr. with various 250 grain cup and core bullets. Really don't need much more than that for my mid range hog and deer shooting and the effect of this load has always been perfect. I did use some surplus WC852 for a while because I had it. Shot a bunch of hogs with that powder under the 225 gr. Woodleigh with perfect results. That said when I finally got around to putting it over the chrony my load was ruined getting barely 2225 fps!

FWIW, I did most of the 2000-MR load development in the link I posted above through the Arizona summer months. I'd start first thing in the morning but it was still usually 80-90 degrees during firing.

And for the 200 grain TTSX, I am finding good results with PP Varmint. I think the 2000-MR is just too slow for those bullets - can't get enough in the case. The Varmint is giving 100% load density and over 2950 FPS in my rifle with the 200 TTSX, but I have not yet done a series of CHE readings on that load. I have six loaded in new cases for that purpose on the next trip (hopefully Friday) and I'll add the results to that thread I linked.

Cheers,
Rex

The results I reported above were done just last weekend, in ~40-45° F typical of PNW coastal "winter", but results of my 69gr load were almost identical to yours.

I don't place much stock in case head expansion measurements to indicate pressure any more though; it's too easily influenced by other factors, like headspace (which is dependent on how you size your cases, which might be different than what I do or somebody else). Velocity is a more reliable indicator. Both of our rifles seem slightly faster than Sierra's load data, but still under max and very reasonable loads. That 69.0gr charge in mine is at least 2-3gr below max.

Just curious what is the optimum barrel length for best powder/burn rate in a 35 whelen. I have a 19” barrel I’m thinking about sending off the JES to have it rebored to 35 whelen. Would I be better to go with a 22” barrel? I’m looking to shoot some 200gr bullets around the 2900fps mark.

My choice would be a 22" barrel and I would not push 200gr. bullets that fast, 2500fps will yield great results as far as accuracy and performance on whitetail size game.

Who’s using Re15 with 220 gr Speers?

I’m working up a load and curious what other people have found accurate?

Re 15 and 4320 work well with 225-250 gr Nosler Part or Woodleighs. Also with 225 gr Hawk-
My pre-64 Winchester M-70 is with orig Win 24 in BBL rebored and re-rifled. Stock resembles a Super Grade.
It handles remarkably well and is designed for elk-moose-bear. BBL length adds at least 175 FPS velocity.

The equivalent in a lever action is the excellent Model 71 in 348 WCF.
A 348 Ackley Imp is the equivalent to a 35 Whelen, just infinitely
faster on repeat shots. Very nice to have in grizzly country.

I had promised to get some CHE data from the 200 TTSX / Varmint load work I've been doing. I finally got to the range with 6 rounds loaded of the 68 grain charge I had interpolated as about maximum in the Whelen AI, and guessed that it would give about 3000 FPS. WARNING, in a standard Whelen the interpolation indicates 67 grains as the maximum with the 200 grain bullet.
The specific load was newly manufactured Remington cases, formerly initially fireformed to the AI chamber with 16 grains of Bullseye, topped with a tissue wad and the case filled to halfway up the neck with Cream of Wheat. This fireforming produced no measurable CHE. Primer was CCI 200, loaded to 3.375" OAL and of course 200 Barnes TTSX and 68gr Varmint.
The velocity for the six rounds averaged 2976 with an SD of 8, on a 65 degree day.
Group size for the first 3 was 1.44", with the first round "out" a bit, so I decided to fire the second group of 3 on the same target. These three clustered to 0.66 entirely between rounds 2 and 3 from the first group. So the total group size for the 6 shots was 1.44 and if one omitted the first round the remaining 5 landed in 0.94.
CHE was .0003, .0003., .0005, .0004, .0005, and .0004 for an average for the 6 of .0004, which is within the criteria for a safe load from those who subscribe to CHE as a metric.
I've now shot 6 different groups at charges from 65-68 with the 200 TTSX/Varmint combo and only two of the groups have been > an inch. I may make this my new "go to" load for the Whelen, as a friend has reported spectacular performance from the 200 TTSX in his 35 WAI. I am building a 9.3x62 now so anything I previously would have used the 250 Partition on in the Whelen may get a 286 Part or 250 NAB from the Nine-Three in the future. Though my Whelen shoots sub MOA at 2645 FPS with the 250 Partition and 2000-MR (with .0002 CHE).

Bottom line - try Varmint with 200 grain or less bullets in the Whelen. Try 2000-MR with 225s and heavier. I bet you'll be happy.

Cheers,
Rex

RL 15 & IMR 4320 loaded for 5 different Whelen,s

H-4895

My 35 Whelen Imp likes IMR 3031 and R 15

I tried Varget and RL 15 in my Whelen with 225gr. bullets and IMR 3031 and IMR 4064 gave better accuracy.

I use this combo as well.

H4895

I’ve loaded an initial charge ladder of Reloder 15 under Speer 220 gr bullets. As soon as our club range can reopen I’ll give them a try. I plan to try out 2000-MR and CFE223, both with Speer 220s snd 250s

Not sure if I mentioned it in this thread, but in my 35 WAI, the 250 Speer HotCor is a great surrogate for the 250 Partition for less expensive load development. I get identical velocities (and by inference...pressures), POI, and pretty similar accuracy from those two bullets for a given charge in my rifle.

Cheers,
Rex