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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 23, 2018 7:56:14 GMT -5
I had picked up a nice 80's version of a Remington 700 BDL in 35 Whelen several years ago... ( it fit nicely into my bolt action collection ) it's got pretty wood... is / was, probably unfired, but with several handling dings... I've not fired this one much ( if at all yet ) but plan to remedy that this next summer... I mounted a Luepold scope on it ( no sights, or scope, or mount ,or signs that a mount was ever installed ) is why I'm assuming this was unfired before I bought it... I've been stocking up on Remington 250 grain Core Locked pointed soft point ammo, as back up, & to provide correct headstamp brass for reloading & am planning on handloads using 250 grain Swift A Frame bullets...
I'm pretty unfamiliar with this cartridge... as far as calibers it fits nicely between a 338 Win Mag Rifle & a 375 H&H rifle... while it is a long action, it's got less muscle than it 2 closest brothers at my house... I expect she'll kick a bit more than a 180 grain 30-06, which the cartridge is based on...
what do you use yours for... & what loads do you like???... I'll probably shoot this one at paper more than anything, but plan to stretch it out to 300 yards, hence the pointed bullet choices...
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Post by bushog on Jan 23, 2018 8:14:50 GMT -5
While I don't own a .35 I do own several 9.3x62 and a couple other 9.3s.
The 9.3x62 case is basically the same size (.366) as your Whelen.
These medium bores typically shoot very well and kill far beyond that their numbers on paper may indicate.
I shoot 250gn Accubonds or Barnes TTSX out of mine and either of those bullets be they just a little lighter in .35 will have a better trajectory for you. My choice certainly would not be an A-Frame unless hunting big bears with that gun. Plus, they're spendy for what you say you want to do. In fact a Sierra would be a good choice for you. RL-15.......
In that 700 it really shouldn't recoil too badly.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 23, 2018 8:28:54 GMT -5
yes... was looking at the cost of those... haven't bought any yet... with as many calibers as I reload, I'm always thinking premium performance, as I'd like my loads to be the best hunting possible, even though I'm only shooting paper at that point... doesn't mean I wouldn't pull that load & take it hunting... of course if I were hunting big bears, it's brother on either side, or the 416 Rigby might be a better choice... however the Whelen could get the nod for black bears... I've not shot a lot of Barnes bullets, but those I've tried have shot well, so long as the rifle was of sufficient twist to stabilize the usually longer copper bullets... funny that they are now cheaper than some of the other premiums like the A Frame... I'm wanting to stick in the 250 grain range, as I shoot 225's in the 338 & 300's in the 375... Thanks for the suggestions on bullets ( I'll look them over again ) & on the powder... I'm pretty sure I don't have any RL-15 in my powder library, but will give it a look as well... and from the bench... everything in that caliber range has a pretty good kick
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Post by bradshaw on Jan 23, 2018 9:34:06 GMT -5
“... picked up a nice 80's version of a Remington 700 BDL in 35 Whelen several years ago...” ----magnumwheelman
*****
Measure the twist before you buy bullets. Some of the Remingtons in .35 Whelan came with 1:16-inch twist. My late shooting partner, Ed Verge, made rifles in .35 Whelan and .35 Whelan Improved; excellent cartridges. In my youth I heard the necked up .30-06 described as a “poor man’s .375 Holland & Holland.” I was alerted to failures on mountain whitetails when bullets designed for the .358 Normna Mag were used. This is what happens when cases representing a wide velocity range latch onto a single bullet diameter. Goes to show a whitetail can be harder to kill with an elk bullet than than an elk with the elk bullet.
Back to the twist. While unable to verify motive at Remington, I suspect Remington had a rack full of 1:16 barrels left over from the .35 Remington, which centered around a 200 grain Round Nose. For which a 1:16 twist works fine, as I would later find with the .357 Maximum. Load a Hornady 200 grain Spire Point in the .357 Maximum, and the longer bullet wants a 1:14 twist in the sixgun. Rifle velocity improves stability, but not nearly as fast as a faster twist.
Ed Verge and others building rifles on the Whelan used 1:12-inch twist, which stabilizes 250 grain spritzers with ease.
Measure your twist and then fetch bullets. David Bradshaw
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 23, 2018 10:20:39 GMT -5
Thanks for the heads up... I'll measure the twist
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Post by bula on Jan 23, 2018 11:11:58 GMT -5
None here, but always thought it a very sensible working mans cartridge for North America.
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Jan 23, 2018 11:36:41 GMT -5
I've had and shot the 9.3×62 Mauser . And currently use a 375 Whelan Ackley Imp. I hunt with the 250 gr TTSX pushed by 55.5 gr H4895. It gives 2550 fps from the rifles 19" McGowan barrel. The 35 Whelan is a great round. I just have never had one yet.
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Post by dougader on Jan 23, 2018 12:41:28 GMT -5
I went with the 338-06 instead. It just made more sense for me. In fact, I sold my 30-06 and kept the 338. 225's @ 2600 and 250's from 2400-2500 fps.
I think the Whelen is a super mid-bore, as is the 9.3
I have a little CVA single shot in 35 Remington that's a little tack driver.
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ryan
.30 Stingray
Posts: 402
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Post by ryan on Jan 23, 2018 12:48:56 GMT -5
I've been shooting Whelens since the mid-90's and currently own 4 of them, not counting a Rigby 400-350 which is has very similar ballistics to the Whelen. I've shot a few deer with Federal 225 Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and a 900 lb. moose with Remington factory 250 grain SP. That being said, my favorite loads run with 225 and 250 grain Partitions. I'll take one of these rifles bear hunting this spring.
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nicholst55
.375 Atomic
Retired, twice.
Posts: 1,047
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Post by nicholst55 on Jan 23, 2018 16:42:42 GMT -5
I built a .35 Whelen on a NIB Whitworth Mark X Mauser in .30-06 - just rebarreled it, no other mods needed. Recoil really isn't bad with mine, or my friend's Remington that I shot extensively. I settled on the Hornady 250 grain spire point for a bullet in that weight; relatively inexpensive, and quite accurate in my rifle. I used either IMR-3031 or H4895 for velocities in the high end of the 2300-FPS range. My oldest son talked me out of that rifle, but I feel the urge for another once I return to the States.
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Post by magnumwheelman on Jan 23, 2018 16:52:37 GMT -5
I have both those powders... thanks for the suggestions
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Jan 23, 2018 21:21:55 GMT -5
The last time Ruger came out with the stainless M77 mk ll Hawkeye in 35 Whelan. They wrongly advertised the twist as 1 in 16" . I had no use for a slow twisted Whelan so I never pursued it. Then after they discontinued the rifle, I discovered the factory barrels were 1 in 12" twist. I've been saving a box of 247 gr Kodiak Bonded Core Spitzer bullets for at least 20 years for the time when I got a 35 Whelan or 358 Norma Mag. I don't think I've seen any more than 2 , 35 Whelan rifles on the used gun racks of the gun shops I go into . In the past nearly 40 years in Alaska. That tells me that its nearly a perfect round. Once someone gets one , they never want to get rid of it. I really like my 375 W.A.I. . It just pokes a hole thru caribou and so far they just fall down on the spot. Looking forward to shooting more game with it.
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Post by coldtriggerfinger on Jan 23, 2018 21:26:20 GMT -5
I went with the 338-06 instead. It just made more sense for me. In fact, I sold my 30-06 and kept the 338. 225's @ 2600 and 250's from 2400-2500 fps. I think the Whelen is a super mid-bore, as is the 9.3 I have a little CVA single shot in 35 Remington that's a little tack driver. Several friends here in the Copper Basin have 338/06 s they all really like them. And have killed lots of game with them.
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GSSP
.30 Stingray
Posts: 108
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Post by GSSP on Jan 24, 2018 18:44:36 GMT -5
Though the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen are fine rounds, I too went bigger; 9.3x62. Basically, the same case but the potential for a larger diameter/heavier bullet (286-300 gr); near 375 H&H ballistics. Took a Pre 64 M70 action and a 24" Pacnor #3 barrel, put it all together in an Echols Legend stock and I now have one fine killin machine. The 250 accubond is my "light" bullet where the BC beats any 165/165 gr 308 bullet and comes pretty close to a 180 BT/AB. Running nearly 2600 fps i've got a 500 yd yd tack driver I would feel comfortable taking big bear with when I get back up to Alaska. For practice, I cast up and shoot 250 gr WFN bullets from a Veral Smith LBT mold. With Varget, I get sub moa @ 2200 fps.
Hope you find what you're looking for with the Whelen.
Alan
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Post by bigbrowndog on Jan 25, 2018 22:50:38 GMT -5
I have both, 338-06 and 9.3x62, so no real desire to shoehorn a 35 Whelan in there. It is a fine round and I have friends that really like theirs, but I’ve always been more partial to 338 bore size. The 9.3 is a more recent acquisition intended for overseas hunting and ammo availability.
Trapr
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