Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Favorite Black Bear loads in 35 Whelen?

Where I hunt the average bear may be 150-200 lbs. However the good ole boys may go around 500-700 lbs.
Does anyone have any actual experience with the Whelen on bears.
If not I will go with the 225 gr Nosler Partition at 2681 fps muzzle velocity.
whelennut

my one and only bear was taken with the 250 grain partition loaded to around 2400fps with reloader 15

shot one bear with 35 whelen, was using 225 nosler partition took out both shoulders. bear dropped where it stood . only reason i haven't used it since is that i wanted to try other rounds just for the heck of it. by the way used the speer 220 gr. on 4 deer and couldn't be happier with it for deer.
good luck ed in idaho

wn

I've used several different bullets in the Whelen for bear...ie, 225NP, 220Speer FT, 250gr Hornady RN, and 250gr Speer--both SP and the old Round Nosers from back in the 70's. They all worked very, very well. I'm sure you would be pleased with any of them.

I have a MI bear tag this fall. I'm going to use my new/old M760Rem in .358WIN with 220gr Speers.

Good luck with your hunt.

WN

Thanks to all who replied!
Keep the 35 alive.
whelennut

I really love this one!

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=46&products_id=174

Wow! That makes my 275 gr. Barnes originals look puny.

That 250gr loading isnt too expensive at 26.50 heck the only factory load for the 358 win goes for 30 dollars!

I use the 250gr Speer in my Whelen for all hunting. They have been accurate in most of the 35s I've owned.




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I was just at the range yesterday and shooting the 250 gr Speer with 53 grs IMR 4320. It should give me 2,000 ft lbs of energy out to 200 yds. Accuracy is plenty good too.
whelennut

If I recall, my load is 57.0g R-15 behind a Hornady 250g Interlock. Worked for me on 2 bucks and a bear in 2006.

My bears (and an elk, a nilgai, a few hogs and a few whitetails)have been taken with the plain old 250 Speer over 58 grs of RL-15. The only round I use a non-premium bullet in as I have seen no reason to. Finn Aagaard recommended the bullet in the Whelen.