Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles IMR 4350 in the .35 Whelen.............

Looking for a load for 200gr. bullets in .35 Whelen using IMR 4350, anyone got one ?

That's a really slow powder for the Whelen. IMR 4895 is a lot more like it.


Okie John

It’s too slow. I tried it myself. I almost always use H-4895 for everything from 200 to 250 gr bullets. That’s for three different rifles.

There are some newer powders that can get a little more velocity.

I ran it for a while under 250 grain bullets. Got 2380 fps and long case life. Not that I shot a lot of them. Truthfully though 3031 is my favorite Whelen powder.

It wouldn't even be on my radar for the combination asked about.

Gunswizard,,,,for my 2 cents,,, I have used IMR 4350 but not the 200 pill...I loaded some 180 Speer over 60.0 gr.
best group was 1.5 in at 100 yds, off sandbags.
I hope this helps.
However,,, I did get my best groups with IMR 3031 and the same 180 Gr Speer.

I doubt you could get enough in the case to be dangerous !!

Try IMR-8208 XBR with said 200gr bullets. My Whelen achieved 2891 fps and super accuracy with 200gr Barnes TTSX bullets. See Nosler load data for details. I flattened a button buck a couple years ago with this combination.

I'm with Mathman on this and put IMR-4350 somewhere else more suitable for that burn rate.

I’m currently using IMR 4350 for 100gr 243win and 150-180gr 300 win mag.

A Quick Look in my Lee loading manual and I’m noticing your off track with your powder. IMR 4895 or IMR 3031 would be much better powder for the 35 Whelen. H335 or Varget would be better powders also for 200gr bullet.

For the past 30+ years I've been using IMR 3031 and IMR 4064, just have a pound of IMR 4350 leftover from a .257 Roberts and .30-06 that I've sold. If it's not for the Whelen I'll trade it or sell it.

That's the best idea. In that 3031 and 4064 range there are several other candidates like 4895, RL15, N135, N140, Varget.

I've tried Varget and RL15, but 3031 and 4064 work better in my rifle.

Cfe 223

Reloader 15 is not easy to find right now.

Out of 244 tested loads on Ammoguide for the 35 Whelen, not one is with IMR 4350.

Only if you're loading 310gr Woodleighs and want 2450 fps, then it's H-4350, smaller granules and temp stable for leaning against the PSI wall.

That's the thing, 4350 class powders come in for the 35 Whelen at the very heaviest end of the bullet weight spectrum. Totally off the radar for the 200 grain bullets of the OP's question.

Agreed, couldn’t imagine getting enough to make good speed.

The answer is Hodgdon CFE-223. Fotis & I agree. This powder will turn a 35 Whelen into a 35 Whelen Ack Imp. Check it out-
SPEER Reloading manual P. 597.

The Amecican Rifleman-July/23 issue-mentioned CFE-223 as one of THE new powders for the 35 Whelen-to increase safe velocity.


Like the 350 Rigby: I always thought bullet weights for the 35 Whelen started at 225 gr and then moved up in increments of 25 to 50 grs.
Why limit bullet weight in a superb cartridge?