Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 35 whelen load, still coming up short

The powder giving the highest velocity in a cartridge will give the highest velocity regardless of barrel length. If R-15 out of a 22" barrel is faster than 4064, the same will hold true with a 18" barrel.

My rile is a custom built on an Oberndorf mauser. barrel is 23:, stock pure classic. The foreend tip and grip cap are made from elephant ivory. It has a 1 in 14" twist. I spotted it at a gun show as part of an estate sale and when I picked it up and threw it to my shoulder, I was hooked. I've never in over 54 years of hunting found a rifle that fit me so well. Accuracy is superb with the 225 gr. TSX, usually running .50 to .75".
I also have a Ruger M77RS and Remington Classic in the Whelen but they haven't been used very much. All three rifles will do 1.25" with the 250 gr. Hornady RN and SP and the 250 gr. Speer Hot Core with the H335 load I mentioned.
There's an awful lot of .35 Whelen talk going on over on the Nosler forum for those who are interested. You'd almost think the Whelen was one of the only cartridges worth owning. http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/index.php I posted the url for those who might want to take a looksee.
Paul B.

well thanks again guys. letr me ask one more question. and this is completley personal preferance but if it wereyou would you just keep the load ive been shooting which is a 225 PT @2500 or the 250 horn rn @2400. probably splitting hairs. although the hornady is much cheaper and looks way sexier

There's an awful lot of .35 Whelen talk going on over on the Nosler forum for those who are interested. You'd almost think the Whelen was one of the only cartridges worth owning. http://www.noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/index.php I posted the url for those who might want to take a looksee.
Paul B.

Simply not the case. When considering 20-24 inch barrels this might be the case sometimes, but when going much shorter say 17 or so inches or much longer 27+ inches the velocity produced may and does vary wildly and certain powders are more effective than others in producing maximum velocity. BTDT again and again.

"There are a few of us 35 Whelen shooters at the Nosler forum that's for sure."

Ain't that the truth.
Paul B.

this morning i loaded up some 250gr hornady RN on top of 60gr of RL15. accuracy is just an inch. could probably be better but it was 88 degrees and i was sweatin my sack off and wasnt really shooting to my normal ability. my crony was in the shade, about 15 feet off the muzzle and i was reg. an average velocity of 2420fps from my 18.5" barrel. ive read enough from the guys on here who DO know that 2400fps w/ the whelen w/ a 250gr bullet is more then enough wallop. however i just cant get past wanting to achive the 2500/2550 mark w/ the 250's.

i was told that since i have a carbine length bbl that IMR3031 may yeild more velocity then r15 since its a slightly faster burning powder. does this seem right? also, i had some 250 horn. rn loaded w/ 54gr of IMR4064 that was reading around 2300fps and some 225gr nos. pt w/ 59.5gr of r15 at 2500fps.

also, would the extreme humidity and heat give false readings on my crono? thanks in advance for any input.

-Brandon

...And where do you come by your opinion? I come by mine from real world shooting. I have a remington model 7 with a 18.5" barrel. I shoot 129gr Hornady Sp out of it and guess which powder gives the best accuracy and velocity out of that stubby barrel? WXR/Rel-22.

I've seen the same thing in a 19" barreled 284 win, an 18" barreled 308win, 4" 357 revolver, and other guns. I've also read the same thing from ballistic engineers and reloading experts.

In this case, it doesn't matter, you could load it with rice crispies... it's a 35 Whelen!

And where do you come by your opinion? I come by mine from real world shooting. I have a remington model 7 with a 18.5" barrel. I shoot 129gr Hornady Sp out of it and guess which powder gives the best accuracy and velocity out of that stubby barrel? WXR/Rel-22.

I've seen the same thing in a 19" barreled 284 win, an 18" barreled 308win, 4" 357 revolver, and other guns. I've also read the same thing from ballistic engineers and reloading experts.

Well if you have two rifles and a pistol how can I argue with that experience. Then add that you read it from an expert no less and, voil�, it must be true.

I've numerous examples (many times your cited 3) where powders with quicker burn rates produce greater velocity in shorter tubes--not too mention that powders like RL 25, H1000, etc. absolutely shine in tubes over 26 inches in cartridges such as 264 WM, 25/06, 7mm RM and with 24 inch tubes I'll take RL22 in any of those chamberings for greater velocity. Of course some of us are forced to shoot numerous chamberings in numerous rifles and simply can't help but find the truth......