Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles IMR 4350 or 4831 for the 35 Whelen?

I have plenty of this powder for my 30-06, but I'm thinking about adding a Whelen.

Any loads out there for the 250grain bullets?

I'm thinking 4350 is too slow, and 4831 is way too slow.

I don't have experience with those powders in the Whelen, but I do have experience with IMR 4895, 4064, and Varget. I think you'll find those powders slower than you want in the Whelen, IMHO.

Wasn't sure, but thought I'd ask...

I agree with the others. I think 4831 would be way too slow. You could probably do something with 4350 but would be better off with Varget (what I use), RL-15, 4064 or something along those lines.

62.5gr of RL-17 with a 250 Partition gets me a little over 2600fps.

Rl-15 or 4064

4064 was the best powder in the .35 Whelen I had, but I can't say much for the platform it was chambered in. A Remington 7400.

Anyway, 4064 gave me my only sub-3 MOA groups.....

4350 is temp sensitive so I'd go 4831, but I'd probably try RL 22 first.

Varget and RL 15 work great in my 9.3x62 with 250 grain bullets which is darn close to what you are doing

RL-22 is as slow or slower than the 4831's. I love RL-22 in the .270 and .300 Win Mag. It is even ok in the .30-06 with heavier bullets but I don't think it is a great option for the Whelen.

I tried it once with H4831 based on a load in Nosler data for one of their 180 pistol bullets in the Whelen. They considered it a reduced load. Less power than a 35 Remington. A case full produced about 2000 fps with a Hornady 180 single shot pistol bullet.

After trying all sorts of combos, I think 4350 may still be a too slow for a 300 grain bullet. The 250 shines with RL15. Think 308 powders, not 30-06 powders.

The only powder that worked for me when I had a 35 Whelen was RL15. I also tried IMR 4064 and H4895. Those two just didn't cut it in my particular rifle. I'm told BLC2 works for some folks too.

Dan

Never hear that H4350 is temperature sensitive!! I've tested it from 20 to 90 degrees and haven't had more than 30 fps difference. Now Re 22 is an entirely different story.

My Whelen loves Re 15 and 250 grain bullets. But some lots of Re 15 also were a bit temperature sensitive. I had to shoot a round or two when I get back up in the hills for late elk. Usually took a few clicks to get POI back up to 2.5" above POA at 100 yards. Finally found a lot that displayed fairly minor differences and bought another 10 pounds of it several years ago. Be a bummer when that runs out.

Both 4350 and 4831 are waaaay too slow for the Whelen. The go to powder for this cartridge has been IMR4064.

Too slow. I've tried it (IMR 4350) and in a 22" barrel only got about 2200-2300 or so with 250 gr Speers. That's nothing to sneeze at but you'll do a lot better with something like IMR or H 4895, IMR 4064 and don't overlook IMR 4320

Lot of Whelen shooters around these parts during "primitive" season and all I know that handload use RL15.

All IMR and Reloder powders are temperature sensitive with the exception of 8208 XBR and Reloder 15, and none of the 4350s or 4831 powders or others with similar burn rates are ideal powders for the Whelen. I'd recommend the same powders most are here such as Varget, Reloder 15 and the like.

I've tried varget, RL 15, 4895, 4320, H-380 and 3031. Tried them all with the 250 partition in my 7600. Hand's down in the accuracy dept 3031 gets the nod. Shoots consistent 1/2 moa but not the fastest at 2385 avg fps. Others shot all 1.5 and over. Not sure why but that's just my gun. Id try 50.5 gr. of IMR 3031 and see how it does.


Roy

Varget, Imr 4320, Imr 4064 would be my top three choices.
whelennut

with a batch of different things considered.... the easiest way to figure out powders for the 35 Whelen, is to see what powders work best in a 30/30.....

4350 and 4831 are very very accurate in a 30/30... but also give ya about 300 fps less velocity than the faster powders like Benchmark or 3031 give you...