Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 35 Whelen, 310 Woodleigh, 16" Twist

Ray,

That's an interesting result you got. I used to have a CZ 9.3x62 with a 24" barrel, and I could never get it to run bullets any faster than my 22" .35 Whelen, at least with all the loads I tried. It was also about a pound and a half heavier than my Whelen. I eventually sold it to someone who viewed it differently than I had come to. I then took the Whelen to Africa, with 250 gr Woodleighs at 2500 fps, and none of the animals killed knew the difference .

I always thought the 9.3x62 ought to be slightly superior ballistically, but I could never get there. Maybe I'll try it again sometime. With a lighter rifle...

Dennis

muledeer,
In theory the 9.3 should be a slight bit faster. In practice, taking the variation in individual rifles ... I think the practical difference is non-existant. The bigger difference is how they're viewed bullet wise ... the Whelen seems to be viewed as a 200-250gr cartridge, the 9.3 as a 286gr + cartridge. Seems odd, but many years ago one of Australia's gunwriters was pushing how good the 9.3 is with a 232gr projectile particularly on our deer species ... but that view is rarely encountered in the bush or on internet forums.
Cheers...
Con

I don't know how the 9.3x62 would do with them, but I shoot 232's and 250's in my 9.3x57, and it really shoots them well. If I ever acquire another 9.3x62 (I kept the dies... .) I will load 232's, 250's and 270's in it more than 286's, because I won't likely shoot really big animals with it. I kept thinking I should be able to get 2600-2650 fps with 250's, but I never could.

As you say...every rifle is a little different from every other one.

Dennis

Tell me the 9.3x57 ain't a sexy machine with a 285gr Lapua Mega

I've liked mine a good while with 250 Woodleighs... .

But I don't have any glittering pictures.

Dennis

Muledeer,

I get 2553 FPS with the 286 gr. Nosler and a big dose of RL-15...
I get 2719 FPS with a 250 gr. BX, RL-15
I get 2406 with the 320 gr. Woodleigh, RL-15

All with 210 Fed. primers, Norma, RWS, brass...26" tube...I am of the impression that the 26 inch tube really works well in the 9.3x62 caliber..A 215 primer just about takes me over the top and I have to cut back a grain or two.

I have chronographed these loads and (I have a long throated BRNO Mod 21) with 10 shot averages, taking out the high and low round, and temps were probably in the high 90s or 100s..

I am squeezing out the last drop of velocity I can when I work up these loads, and they are definatly max, therefore I omitted the number of grains of powder, but brass is lasting about 10 shots and needs trimming between every 3 or 4 loadings..

Not much need for the 320 gr. except for Cape Buffalo or perhaps Bison. Also I know a PH that hasn't had very good luck with the 320 gr. Woodleighs in his carbine 9.3x62 and those African powders..but they work great in my gun with RL-15

My go to town load is the 286 Nosler, its a tad tough, but doesn't ruin a lot of meat on plainsgame and deer, perfect for elk...a great all arounder IMO. I have not killed anythign with the 250 gr. BarnesX but it should work well. The 270 gr. Speer bullet is way to soft for even Rockchucks IMO..

The 9.3x62 is really an amazing caliber IMO...

Your rifle is running 150 to 200 fps faster than mine did, though with two inches more barrel. That wouldn't make all the difference, but the results don't really surprise me that much anyway. At one point I had three .280's, in three different brands. With some loads, the fastest one would fire it 150 fps faster than the slowest one. And they all had 22" barrels. So you will never know what any rifle is going to do until you test it enough.

Dennis

My 35 Whelen is the Rem 700 Classic, 1-16 twist,,,before I started reloading I bought factory ammo,, I wanted a load that would give me the best accuracy...so, I tried rem 200gr and the rem 250gr and the nosler 225gr and the woodleigh 310gr.... I found that in my rifle,, the 310gr was the worst,,,,5 inch group at 100yds...best was the 200gr...that was a 2 inch group...since I started hand loading....I have so far got a 1.25 inch 3 shot group/100yds,,,with the 170gr sierra pistol bullet...I am going to order some of the Speer 180gr rifle pills..I think it is all about the slow twist.

I don't...and I've been shooting my Remington 700 .35 Whelen since 1993. It will shoot 1" groups at 200 yards with 250 gr Hornady RN's, launched at 2550 fps.

You might want to check velocity, among other things. But there is certainly no value to shooting pistol and lightweight bullets in it, at least if you plan to actually hunt with it.

Dennis

Yep, 250gr Partitions are my mainstay in a Remington, 250gr Speers shoot just as well.

Now if I was to build one, it wouldn't have a 1-16" twist.

If you want to shoot 300-plus grain bullets from a Whelen, the 35 isn't the Whelen you want.


Cast ain't sexy either....


The 35 remains a dandy with 250 Parts or the 225 TSX.

As do 250 gr Hornadys and 250 gr Woodleighs. And 250 gr Winchesters, which my friend in Colorado who introduced me to his .35 Whelen in 1992 used almost exclusively. His is a Remington 700 with the dreaded 1-16 twist as well.

Were I ordering a barrel from Pac-Nor I would definitely go tighter, likely 1-14. But after 16 years and a fair amount of shooting stuff with it, I have zero complaints about my 700 and its 1-16 twist.

Dennis

Since this thread has taken a turn away from the origional question about 310gr bullets, I have one about Sierra 225gr. I reload and shoot them thru a Rem 750 .35 Whelen. They shoot very well averaging about 1.5" at 100yds. I have not chonographed them yet but they should be at around 2400-2500fps. Is this bullet at this velocity going to give good performance on game from deer to elk? I don't get too caught up in the complete pass thru vs expending all energy in the animal debate. I just want a bullet that will hold together enough to get the job done.

muledeer , maybe its just my rifle but it seems the faster I push the bullet the better it shoots. Has this been your experience? I have tried the 225 gr accubonds finally, same dismal results as usual 1" group with 59 grs of RE-15. 200gr, 225gr and 250gr are all I have tried to date. All these weights shoot good with the 1 in 16 twist. I had a classic 35 whelen too at one time, it was the same way. Some will not agree with the loads I use and I would not argue the point but my loads did come from Alliant and Nosler. They work too.

Yep. I'm running the 250's at 2500 to 2550 fps, nowadays all running with Re 15. They shoot well, hit well, and kill well. Don't think I can ask for more... .

Dennis

If I was going to build a 35 Whelan and intended to shoot 250 to 310 gr. bullets I would opt for the 1x16..If you want a 9.3x62 your locked in to a 1x16 as that is the standard and all there is out there...That twist has suited me perfectly in both calibers..

I also push the 9.3x62 pretty darn fast and get great accuracy..In fact I have a Brno Mod 21 in 9.3x62 for sale in the classified as we speak, it has a 1x16 Lothar Walthar barrel and it shoots 250 to 320s inside an inch...

My CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 has a 1-14" twist.

-Bob F.

Same here 1-14".

you guys are forgetting about the 280 gr cast bullets, they are recommended for a 1/15 and should work in your 1/16 twist. they work/group extremely well out of my 25", 1/14 twist, 35 whelen ackley. they can be cast semi soft for lower velocities or a bit harder for higher velocities for the bigger stuff. deer/bear out to 200 yards are no problem with it. I have shot targets to 250 with it, but just to much drop at that distance. I would consider, if I ever have the chance, taking it up north for bigger game. just my 2 cents worth jim