Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 35 Whelen 225 TSX can I hit 2700 fps?

Thanks for everyones input, I will try out some 225 partitions so I dusted off my Nosler manual.

Here in CA I need to be lead free so I shoot TSX's but wanted a little more speed for a road trip that starts by hunting cow elk and mule deer in SW CO and ends up in Texas for pigs and a cull whitetail hunt.

Many years we get within 200 yards in CO but have had the elk hold up across the canyon making the shots closer to 400. I could use a WSM or 7 RM but want to setup my Whelen for this trip.

Alot depends on the individual rifle..... I believe custom chambers and throating vary widely in the Whelen caliber , and accordingly , so do the powder charges a rifle will take .

My 24 inch Whelen will run 225 Noslers to 2700+ easily .

Third from left is the Whelen load with a 250gr XFB, note the overall length.
2684fps

60 gr. of RL15 with a 225 TSX gives me a very consistent 2611 in my Classic. The factory TBBC gave me 2601 with huge extreme spreads. I recently tried 58 grains of RL15 with the 225 partition and got 2549 in a very accurate load.

I'm running just over 2600 fps with a 250g Hornady in my 24" CDL. I haven't tried 225's yet because the 250's shoot so well.

Bb

When I went caribou hunting in Alaska I decided if a bear was looking for trouble I would be ready.
I used a 225 gr Nosler Partition and IMR 4320 out of a 22" barrel Remington 700 Classic actual speed across the screens at 10 ft. was 2682 fps with 55 grs of powder.
Accuracy improved at 56 grs and I went with that.
No need for further experimentation IMO the caribou was very dead and so was a black bear I shot with the same load.
(similar to being struck by lightning)
whelennut

I am getting nearly 2800 with 225's. 24" CDL

I have used the 225 gr. Sierra a fair amount and with my loads in my rifle, it chronos right over 2600 fps. Very accurate and effective on game, but I limit it to game under about 300-400 lbs, just me in that regard. I use the Federal TBBC or handload a Partition for larger game. I do like the 225 gr. weight in the Whelen. I think it gives the best of both worlds for that cartridge.

As we know barrels vary as much as anything. That said my old Ruger 35 Whelen RS gets a touch over 2700 fps with the 225 gr TSX and 60 grs of RL-15. These two dropped at the shot from the load. It was as though the Hammer of Thor had hit them... Seriously, my guide was impressed.





This was the only bullet recovered, from under the hide of the off shoulder after essentially drilling both of the moose at a bit under 200 yards.

I don't know as I've ever even fired a Whelen round. But, based off my experience with my 338/06 I'm gonna say it's doable.

I've been working with R17 the last couple of weeks for the first time in it. And with the 200 NBT it's running @ 2911 fps.

So yeah, I gotta think that 27 is more than doable with R17 and the 225.

Am I right or am I wrong....?

Dober

Thanks Dober, that 338-06 sounds like sound what the 338 mag I had would do..I never tried R17 will try some since all the other reloader powders I have tried have had great results..

I run 2725 ft/sec with AccuBonds and around 2650 ft/sec or so with NPs and TSXs. These numbers are through a 22� Lilja with 59 grs. of R-15 . CP

Do you get bullet battering in the magazine with lead tipped bullets? I do, that's why I went with the FXB's many years ago and now with Accubones where applicable.

I am running an OAL of 3.340� with .225 gr. NPs in my 7lb 14oz Mark ll/scope. It takes about 3-4 shots for the rounds down to show slight signs of bullet batter. Fortunately, I did not detect any significant OAL changes through my tests on the rounds down. CP.

I seat bullets one caliber and still 0.110" of the rifling, this gives a calculated 11% increase in effective combustion chamber size compared to a factory OAL

Haven't used TSXs but with the Sierra and Nosler PT 225s in a 22" bbl I hit 2700-2715 fps with 60-61 grans RL-15.

I have not fired the 225 gr. TSX bullet in the 35 Whelen, but can easily get 2,700+ fps from 225 Nosler Accubonds and a 24" tube.

I just looked at ammo giude , and they have a couple loads with 225 grain tsxs that just cross the 2700 mark.
One of the loads is the 60 grains of RL-15.
Your barrel might not reach that mark.
For what its worth I shot 59 grs or RL-15 under a 250 grain speer and got 2600.
I got the load form a web site that latter replaced it with a max charge of 52 grains.
I got about 50 of them loaded. I will only shoot them on cold days...tj3006

I don't think you can stuff enough RL 17 in there to get it done. My 22" barrel rem classic made 2670 with 62 gr RL 15 and its pretty compressed. I did back off a grain when I started splitting case necks on the third firing.