Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only 400 Whelen update

After all this time of packing my 400 around in the white, I finally got the rest of the work done. I had it rust blued, drilled and tapped for a Lyman 48, barrel band swivel and front sight installed. It came out pretty nice. It kind of has that pre war well aged look to it. Thanks for looking.

Mart

Mart it looks good, how was the shooting going with it?

That is NICE!

Sweet!

Now that's nice,looks like the new CZ express rifle.

Thanks fellas. Raybass the shooting has been going well. I have done quite a bit with 350 and 400 grain bullets. I am going to do some load development with 300 grainers this winter. I really like the Woodleigh 400 grain RN in this rifle. My wife took her caribou two season back with it. That big 400 grain round nose is entirely adequate for caribou. For all the powders I've tried none have done better than H4895. Gives the best accuracy and velocity of any of the powders tested so far. Luckily I found 4 pounds of it recently.

I'm kind of anxious to run some tests with the Lyman 48 sight. The 48 would be fitting with a wildcat of this vintage.

Mart

You got the period look so right that you might have to wear an old time campaign hat when you hunt with that great rifle.

Kind of like this.

Just like that!

Whelen and Angier knew how to do and write it right.

Nice looking rifle. I only see one problem with it. I'd need to have my right arm cut off and transplanted to my left shoulder.

That's a beauty Mart!!

You lucky dog on the powder,,I have my buddies on the neverending search for 4895..

Jim

Thanks. I've had an 8 pounder of H4895 on back order for a year and a half. I just happened to hit Sportsman's Warehouse at the right time when they had some one pounder bottles in.

Mart

I bet that is a fun rifle to shoot mart.

It really is. I enjoy it more than just about any rifle I own. I have an Accurate Molds bullet mold that throws a 400 and a 320 grain bullet. The little I've tested with cast has been encouraging. I am looking forward to some serious cast bullet testing later this year.

Mart

Is that one mold that drops both weights?

If so, that is a tremendous idea.

Yes. Accurate Molds will cut a mold with two different weights. It was an extra $15 if I remember correctly. I suppose they would even cut one with two different calibers but I don't know that for certain. It was an economical way to get both bullet weights.

Mart

I am TOTALLY diggin this one, amigo! Nice overall execution and look combined with serious horsepower.

Classy x 10......

I'm not a huge Winchester fan like others but that is probably the best use of a LH model 70 action I have seen, very nice. That's a real good looking thumper you have there.

What kind of velocity are you seinng with that? Always been interested in doing a 400 whelen.

I am able to run 2150 with 400 grain bullets, 2250-2300 with 350's and 2350-2400 with 300 grainers. The 400 grain Woodleigh at 2150 sighted in 2" high at 100 is 2" low at 200 and 21" low
at 300. Not the flattest trajectory but makes 300 yard shots doable without any difficulty. I haven't tried the other weights yet at 200 and 300 yards to know what their actual trajectory will be. That's a job for this winter. I've more work to do with the 300 and 350 grain bullets before I go afield with them. I really am liking the 350 Swift A Frame. My rifle likes them and they will probably flatten the trajectory out a little.

Mart