Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 250 Partition In 35 Whelen

1885 Highwall with 28" 5 groove 10 twist barrel. RP cases, F215 primer, 65 grains of CFE223

That'll work. Great performance! How precise are they and were any wide variations in velocity readings noticed?

If the weather clears up I'll get some more results tomorrow and shoot a group to check the accuracy

Ouch!

I hope that rifle is > 10#!

For sure, that load'll wallop the hell outa anything on the receiving end.

FC

Good show jwp475 !

I just posted my results on "the other" .35 Whelen thread using CFE223 from the single-shot: Traditions OUTFITTER G3 in .35 Whelen: 225 Nos AB at 2850 fps into sub-moa using 69 grs CFE223, WLRM primers, Rem brass at 3.45" COL. 22" barrel plus brake.

Rifle wt with scope +1 cartridge = 7.5 lbs.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

Thank you Sir Bob. I was hoping that you would weigh in. People see the velocity and incorrectly assume over pressure. They do not realize how much better speed can be had at safe pressure with CFE223 for heavier bullets and Power Pro Varmint in the lighter weights

I just loaded up the last 22 of my 250gr partitions in a 35 Whelen yesterday with 55 gr of Varget. Used up the last of the partitions of that flavor. Do you know anyone who might have another box laying around that they would part with? I am hoping for 2500-2550. I don't have a 28" barrel though, more like 22".

That sucker is impressive. I used RL15 and 250 PTs for 2630 in a 24” barreled CDL. That long barrel has a lot going for it.

The over all length is tee same as your 24" bolt action rifle.
People hear 28" and think it is overly long but the forget that the longer action is there

I started shooting my Whelen before the new powders came out. Used Imr 3031 to get 2450 out of my 19 inch barrel and then dropped the velocity to 2300 fps to match the 358 I had traded off. I also shot a lot of 225 gr. Woodleigh RN's at 2200fps. I never chased higher velocities with it because it seemed the 358 velocities worked just fine.

Yeah, "back in the day" RL-15, Varget, etc, but there are much better powders now that have safely added 300 fps to the old formulas from equal length barrels. 2700 fps is now a "normal" goal from 250 grainers. Then, it's been finally "realized" that Saami pressure is NOT 52,000 psi, but 52, 000 CUP which is 62,000 PSI!

All former manual loads were based on the false conception that CUP and PSI were the same pressure! Then when Remington made the .35 Whelen legit, and published their 250gr at 2400 fps from a 24" barrel, THAT became the standard in the minds of writers, technicians and hobbyists. That is, except for some of us!

From a 24" barrel using "new" powders, like those mentioned, 2700 fps from 250s is the "new normal" within 62,000 PSI.

Edited to add: Those ballistics equal the original claimed for the .338 Winchester Magnum at 64,000 PSI from a 24", and 8 - 10 grs less powder. Reason? The .35 has a better expansion ratio than a .33 and profits from a faster powder - which means less powder = less recoil for the same effect if rifles weigh the same... OR same recoil at less weight for the .35 Whelen.

Bob
www.bigbores.ca

I usually want all the velocity I can get within the safety envelope, but 2,500 (+ change) fps with 250’s in a 7#, 12 oz rifle provides all the recoil I’d ever care to eat.

For sure, the moose had it far worse than my shoulder did, but I kinda found my personal limit with that load. It’s been eye-opening to see the load books show even hotter recipes since I worked that one up.

FC

That is hauling the mail for sure. !

For sure John. It's a dandy rifle!

Hell of a load there, the Whelen just gets better and better. Brinky72 was getting 2700 out of his Whelen with MR2000 and 250 Speers, I want to say a 23" barrel.

Winchester and Hornady 30-06 case sized to 35 Whelen hold the same amount of CFE223 when filled flush with the top of the case mouth. The same goes for Power Pro Varmint. The Federal cases that I have hold 1 grain less.
Keep this in mind when looking at my data.

CFE-223 certainly is an awesome powder using 250 gr bullets. I've worked to a maximum load of 64.0 gr, which is the Speer max load with their 250 gr HotCor spitzer.

64.0 gr will get you to 2,600 fps, which is certainly .338 Win Mag power levels. I settled at 63.0 gr with the Partition.

I think I'm setting at about 8.5# for rifle and scope.

I pretty much stick with two shot groups from a cool barrel. It'll take a toll on guy pretty quickly. Older guys even more so

Wish I could find some CFE-223 locally

I had 64 grains of CFE223 behind the 250 Hornady pressure tested and it was only generating 53,700 PSI, I figured another grain would be OK

Great to hear as the numbers I was getting from PP 2000-MR were scaring me a little. Cases looked fine, I just had 2502500 sort of stuck in my head as the guideline.

Dumb question but how did you get the load pressure tested.

A friend has a strain guage to pressure test with.. I tried 2000MR, but found that the batch that I have wouldn't do quite as good as my batch of CFE223. It was close