Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 35 Whelen pet loads.

Here is some QL data to get you started. I would think IMR4895 would work just fine. Great speeds and if it shoots well, it'll be just as good as any other powder.

Cartridge : .35 Whelen
Bullet : .358, 225, Barnes 'TSX' 35824
Useable Case Capaci: 58.702 grain H2O = 3.811 cm�
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : IMR 4895

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 85 46.00 2180 2375 32594 6687 90.4 1.393
-18.0 87 47.15 2233 2492 34800 6890 91.6 1.355
-16.0 89 48.30 2286 2611 37143 7086 92.6 1.318
-14.0 91 49.45 2339 2734 39625 7276 93.6 1.282
-12.0 94 50.60 2393 2860 42263 7458 94.6 1.247
-10.0 96 51.75 2446 2988 45084 7632 95.5 1.213
-08.0 98 52.90 2499 3120 48106 7797 96.3 1.178
-06.0 100 54.05 2552 3254 51343 7952 97.0 1.143
-04.0 102 55.20 2605 3390 54814 8096 97.6 1.110
-02.0 104 56.35 2658 3529 58539 8230 98.2 1.079 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 106 57.50 2711 3671 62540 8351 98.7 1.048 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 108 58.65 2763 3815 66843 8460 99.1 1.018 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 111 59.80 2816 3961 71477 8556 99.4 0.990 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 113 60.95 2868 4110 76474 8639 99.7 0.962 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 115 62.10 2920 4261 81872 8707 99.9 0.935 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 117 63.25 2972 4414 87712 8760 100.0 0.909 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by � 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 106 57.50 2827 3993 74946 8090 100.0 0.975 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 106 57.50 2549 3247 50589 8196 93.3 1.144


Cartridge : .35 Whelen
Bullet : .358, 250, Nosler PART SP 44801
Useable Case Capaci: 59.664 grain H2O = 3.874 cm�
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.340 inch = 84.84 mm
Barrel Length : 22.0 inch = 558.8 mm
Powder : IMR 4895

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 83 45.60 2102 2452 32972 6861 92.9 1.461
-18.0 85 46.74 2152 2570 35178 7057 93.9 1.421
-16.0 87 47.88 2202 2692 37529 7245 94.8 1.380
-14.0 89 49.02 2252 2816 40036 7426 95.7 1.339
-12.0 91 50.16 2302 2942 42709 7597 96.5 1.300
-10.0 93 51.30 2352 3071 45560 7759 97.2 1.262
-08.0 95 52.44 2402 3203 48603 7911 97.8 1.225
-06.0 97 53.58 2451 3336 51850 8052 98.4 1.190
-04.0 99 54.72 2501 3472 55320 8182 98.9 1.157 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 102 55.86 2550 3609 59029 8300 99.3 1.124 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 104 57.00 2599 3749 62998 8405 99.6 1.093 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 106 58.14 2647 3890 67249 8497 99.8 1.063 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 108 59.28 2696 4034 71807 8576 99.9 1.033 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 110 60.42 2744 4179 76700 8641 100.0 1.005 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 112 61.56 2791 4325 81961 8694 100.0 0.978 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 114 62.70 2839 4474 87625 8744 100.0 0.952 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by � 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 104 57.00 2699 4043 75306 8065 100.0 1.019 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 104 57.00 2455 3345 51074 8387 95.4 1.192


This should give you a place to start out with for your rifle. Good luck, but like many other Whelen, I bet it won't take long to find a good hunting load. I haven't seen many that didn't shoot real well right outta the gates.

Thanks for the help and the quick reply

In my 7600 56 GR 4320 with 250 GR Speer, around 2500 FPS.

With 225 GR NP 55.8 GR RL 15 around 2480 FPS but very accurate.

I used a lot of IMR 4064 and after some correspondence with Bob Hagel used IMR 4320 and now prefer that.
I am finding that Varget is also a good choice.
whelennut

Beretz,

That's interesting QL data for IMR4895.

I've used 58 grains of IMR4895 and the Hornady 250-grain Spire Point in three .35 Whelens, one of them a Remington 760, without a hint of high pressures, and muzzle velocities in the 2500 fps range. Of course the Hornady produces somewhat less pressure than the Partition, but still.

Hodgdon's latest data shows 53.5 grains as maximum with IMR4895 and 250's, but I've seen .35 Whelen data take a nose-dive over the past decade or more. Alliant used to list 59 grains of RL-15 as max with a 250 only about 10 years ago, but now lists 54 grains, if I recall correctly.

I don't why this would be so. While there has been a general lowering of maximum loads with the use of piezo-electronic pressure equipment over the past 25-30 years, I don't know of any other cartridge that's seen the drastic reduction of max .35 Whelen loads. Maybe a few old rifles chambered back in the wildcat days had problems, but I've certainly seen to reason for the reduction in any of my rifles with SAAMI-standard chambers.

MD, I am not sure why the Whelen is so watered down myself, it seems it was highly built in Springfield's, 1917's, etc...(Pretty strong rifles right?) Probably the same reason the 257 lingers, but loaded to modern spec's runs very hard? Don't know.

I got my M700 CDL in 2005. Shot a few deer with the Remington ammo, 200 PSPCL's. I didn't like how they performed at all. I started looking for a better bullet and some data for it. I found some on 35cal.com and then I found the load you mentioned on Alliant's website with a 250. I worked up slowly with the 225 TSX, and got to 59 grains of RL15 and everything looked pretty mild there, so I crept up to 60.5, I averaged around 2750 with that bullet and excellent accuracy.

I see the same softening of the data you are. It's really too bad, as I believe a 35 Whelen and 338 Win Mag, loaded to the same specs are pretty close ballistically, at least to 400 yards. I use both the Whelen and 338 a bunch. Love the two cartridges.

Also, I am not sure what happened but you have a "I've seen a"... Then it stopped.

That was just the start of sentence I started to type, then decided to go a different direction--and failed to edit it out.

I'll have to ask some of the powder and bullet manufacturers I know why the drastic reduction in .35 Whelen data. The non-wimpy data we saw a decade ago came out LONG after Remington standardized the cartridge.

56.4 of vv140 and a 250 hot core for me. Same charge with Varget is just about as accurate.

That would be great information sir, if you find out, I'd love to hear the reasoning. I saw a report just recently, of Nosler Custom Ammo, loaded with 250 PT's and advertised at 2550FPS, only chrono'ed 2300 out of a Nosler TGR? Seems like 2300 is really tame. Heck, With a ton of powders, 2500 is pretty mild in most Whelens can get their without any real drama.

2450fps for an accurate load and 2525fps top load less accurate though

Thank you. Might have to give it a whirl. RL15 is tough to get lately.

"Hodgdon's latest data shows 53.5 grains as maximum with IMR4895 and 250's, but I've seen .35 Whelen data take a nose-dive over the past decade or more. Alliant used to list 59 grains of RL-15 as max with a 250 only about 10 years ago, but now lists 54 grains, if I recall correctly."

MD. I wonder if it is a similar problem like Remington did with the .280 except this time it was all worked up with bolt actions in mind and then they decided to go with pumps and semi-autos so downloaded the ammo?
I do know that when I did the load work up with the 250 gr. Speer SP, 59.0 gr. proved to be a bit too hot in my Ruger M77 and Remington M700 Classic. I hadn't yet acquired my Mauser yet, but it accepted 60.4 gr. of Re15 and the 225 gr. Barnes. I've reached 59.0 gr. with the Nosler Accubond and Partition but it starts getting uncomfortable with 60.0 gr.
During a discussion with another Whelen shooter I know, he said that were some very noticable variation in burning rates between the different lots of Re15. Maybe that's the source of the downloading. Aw hell, what do I know?
Paul B.

Currently using 61.4 grains of TAC under a 225-grain Sierra Game King in Hornady Brass with Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers. Velocity is just shy of 2,700 fps from a 22" Remington 700 Classic. I tested this load at 3.370” COAL, which is very long, but this rifle has the typical very long Remington throat. Groups are tight. Recoil is brisk.

Speer's latest rifle data (https://www.speer.com/reloading/rifle-data.html) has loads that bring the 35 Whelen very close to the 338 Winchester Magnum.


Okie John

I’m loading 60.5 g of IMR4064 and 225 SGK at 2725fps. It’s a thumper on whitetails. I intend to play with 225 Accubonds and Partitions this summer….just because. In a 7600 with no recoil pad, it reminds me I’m still alive. These routinely shoot into 11/4”. I’m pretty sure the gun has more potential accuracy but I’ve yet to master bag placement with a pump (I’ve noticed a distinct difference in group size when the putting downward pressure on the fore grip).

These are my loads out of my 1885 Highwall with 28" barrel

200 grain FTX & Interlock 66 grains of Power Pro Varmint for 3080 FPS

250 grain Hornaday Interlock
64 grains CFE223 2745 FPS

180 TTSX or TSX 68 grains Power Pro Varmint 3231 FPS

220 Hammer
64 grains Power Pro Varmint 2911 FPS

225 TSX
63 Grains Power Pro Varmint 2850 FPS

They all shoot MOA are under

I use H4895 for mine with the same bullet. I hear you on feeling alive when it goes off. Guilty accurate with that combo though.

Tag
Bugger

Bump for this.


MD did you ever get a reasonable answer from bullet or powder folks (experts) on why the Whelen data has become so anemic? I mean the Varget data max's out a 49,500 cup with a 250gr bullet

Very useful data for the Whelen here. This needs to be a sticky

I don't see any Whelen loads.