Woodleigh 35 cal 310 sn on big hogs?

[RevJim]

 I have a good load in my 35 Whelen Ackley Improved using the Woodleigh 310gr soft nose. I have never used it on game, but have used the older original Barnes 250X and newer 200X in South Africa on plains game. I want to use this Woodleigh on a big Russian Boar, but want some opinions.
  I am planning on taking a boar in the 300+ pound range, and at less than 120yds. I haven't clocked my load of 55grs of Reloder 15, but assuming its between 2200- and 2350fps. Do the Woodleighs open up well on this size game? I am sure they would on a zebra/big wildebeest and the heavies, but are hogs tough enough to make the 310 ( or similar 300's in whatever you guys have used, i.e .375/9.3/etc) open up. I don't want it to act like a solid of course. I will also most likely shoot the boar through both shoulders/heart/lung are just to break him down. I can shoot him behind the ear with my 22-250, but hey, the Woodleigh in this Ackley Improved just looks "cool", ha. It really favors the old 350 Rigby magnum round. I love Barnes X bullets, but really want to try an "Old School" heavy bullet. Anything you guys can tell me about these Woodleighs is appreciated!! Thanks and G-day to you!

[RevJim]

 Well, are there any 9.3x62 users down there? What load do you like in it>

[RevJim]

 Well, are there any "Woodleigh" bullet users in any caliber down there are does Woodleigh just Export them? lol

[Jacko]

I am not much help to you RevJim as I have some of the 250 gr Woodliegh RN SN projectiles loaded in my 35.303 that I have not had the opportuniity to try out on Game. I bought the 250 gr rn sp for Red Deer , Pigs and Goats and expect them to stay inside a Red Stag and to make a fair hole right through Pigs and Goats. Regardless of how well they perform I will be sticking to my 250 gr Cast Proj as .35 Cal premium Jacketed proj are very expensive
 
I can only offer reports I have read about these Woodlieghs and that is the rn sn projectiles expand well and drive in deeply but are not reliable with Texas Heart Shots, the Woodliegh Protected Point is better for this.  The 310 gr Woodliegh is also a very long proj and needs a 1:12 twist , in a pinch 1:14 if your pushing it hard.
Just for kicks I necked up a .270 case to .358 last week and compared it physically and Data wise to my 35.303 - The 35 Whelens one impressive Cartridge
 
regards Jacko

[RevJim]

Thanks Jacko- I have since picked up a Ruger 77 African in 9.3x62, so will be using it on the boar; old world round for an old world hog, ha. Actually, the 35 Whelen Ackley Improved is just about the same powder capacity asthe 9.x62! I just got a deal on the African, and it actually has the CRF. I will be using the Lapua 285 Mega round on the boar. Should be a hammer!

[kombi1976]

Sorry to chime in late.
Woodleighs have a reputation for opening up under most circumstances.
If you have a look at Woodleigh's website they list recommended impact velocities.
Here's their bullet list for .338" -.375" cal bullets:
http://www.woodleighbullets.com.au/bullet-lists/traditional/338q-375q
As you can see it recommends a minimum impact velocity of 1800fps.
You'll have to do your ballistic tables and work out what that means in terms of range but looking at the range of possible muzzle velocities to ensure expansion you'll want to work out when it drops below 1800fps and make that your maximum target range.
If you can push it as far as 2350fps then you're doing well and you've got over 300yds thanks to the superior BC of the 310gr RNSN.
But it's a heavy bullet and unless the 35 Ackley breathes fire more readily than I'm aware of I'd be saying it's closer to 2200fps.
That limits your maximum prefered range to 240yds, no sneeze but no plains game load either.
A standard 9.3x62 will only push a 300gr to just over 2200fps and while it isn't improved it's an indication of what that sort of cartridge can achieve.
You're also going to pay recoil style.
Hope this helps.
But plant it on anything within 200yds and it'll go down like a bag of the proverbial.

[RevJim]

 Well I took my Leupold 1.5x5 off the 9.3x62 (which has FTF issues) and put it on my Whelen Improved in a set of Low QD rings. (I have my Bushnell 2x7 set up in Med QD rings with the Barnes 200 TTSX +3 @ 100= -3.5" at 300yds) I went to the range this AM and it dialed right in with the 310gr Woodleighs. I intentionally left the ammo out in the cold ( 36 deg) and set up my chrono to shoot over. I got 2424 fps for three shots. Awesome! I love this round, very efficient! I must add that this particular rifle has a "fast" barrel. I have a good load here, so that big Russian Boar is in trouble! This 310 sp has a BC of .458, and a SD of over .34...sweet.

[Sweetwater]

Good job there, Rev Jim! I'm thinking you just admire that 35WhelenAI too much not to be taking it on the hunt. LOL!
Never had a FTF with my Ruger 77 - what gives?
Jeff
NRA Life

[RevJim]

 Hey jeff- the rifle seems to me like it had it's headspace set on the outer limits, and the 9.3x62 has a mild shoulder angle. I got light primer strikes on a several factory loads ( both the cheap PRIVI 285's and the very expensive Vortex 286TSX) of course, when I recocked it, they went off. I didn't have time to try and work up a reload on fired cases as I don't have but just the few fired cases, ha. I don't believe it was a light firing pin spring,etc as the fired primers all show great strikes, like my old 1917 Enfield did! ha. Well, going on a money hunt, after a hog that can cut me from ankle to crotch, hearing that rifle go "click" spooked me, ha. My Whelen has had "all" the bugs worked out of it, what few it had, but it "always" went bang! Plus, my fireformed Ackley cases are perfectly headspaced on that sharp shoulder, but heck, I never had a standard Whelen round FTF in it. I have had similar FTF in a custom .404 Jeffry I had made up, shooting factory ammo. It had the long sloping shoulder and I think there was just enough "give" between the oddsize case and the chamber.
  Now, I had a Ruger MKII in .338 WM, back in '93 that shot the Remington factory 250gr ( it was the Speer GS they used too) into bug holes. I had 5 boxes of the stuff. When I tried it handload for it, I had 8 out 0f 20 FTF. I tried everything, then finally figured out it was headspaced on the outside limits. I traded that thing off for a gem-dandy Mod 700 Mountain Rifle in .280. I've owned a total of 3 new Ruger 77 Hawkeyes, a .338 Federal; .257 Roberts and this 9.3x62. Only the latter was a problem. No matter, I found someone who wanted it more than me, sold it!!! Yep, the 9.3x62 is GONE! I am just too fond of my old Whelen Improved. Besides, I gave my SIL a CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62 when he married my daughter, and it goes "bang" with everything, so I am givng him all my ammo,etc. I can shoot it anytime I could ever pry myself away from my Whelen, ha. I "may" be just getting crotchety Jeff! I find I have less time to load/shoot so I am more focused on hunting like never before.

[Sweetwater]

Rev Jim,
The Lord has blessed you with the ability to let go of a rifle tht doesn't suit you, and given you a buyer to take it off your hands. Me, I'd have a closet full of stuff I didn't like, couldn't use, or whatever.
Got my 35Rem yesterday and will have my 45Colt this afternoon sometime late I expect. Looks like we will see you at church tomorrow. IF'n you should need it, just ask and I'll let you borrow your 444 for special occasions - like next month! LOL!
 
Jeff
NRA Life

[kombi1976]

I'm sorry to hear the FTF issues forced you to sell your 9.3x62. I laid low 5 kangaroos with mine today, the furthest @170yds & the closest @40yds. And I wasaccidentally only using 2x on my Leupold VX-I 2-7x32 when I hit the big male at 170yds. It's a fun rifle. Game doesn't know what hit 'em. Its the reason I've named it "The Judge". 

[RevJim]

 Hey kombi, don't worry, I bet there isn't .02 cents difference in the field between the two calibers! ha. I liked how that Mod 77 African looked/felt, but it was just too much hassle for me, and I am at the age where I really, really, get aggravated at hassles, ha. As a Minister, I get enough of that "on the job", I sure don't need it when I am getting ready for a hunt, ha.
  I bet that 9.3 was awesome on those kangaroos! My first trip to south Africa with my first Mod 700 Whelen Improved and the Barnes 250X was a bonafide 9.3x62 duplicate on game, according to the two Afrikaners I was with. I "ruined" that rifle when I got back to the States, had it rebarreld, converted to a .416 Taylor, as I was going to go back and shoot a buffalo cull. That light Mod 700, with a 20" bbl and one of those "holes all around" muzzlebrakes was the kickingest, loudest, most obnoxious rifle I've ever had. I sold it, then for years played with other mediums, including the Mod 70 9.3x62, .338/.340 and found this present Mod 700 Classic, NIB, online in 2000.
 At first, I had it blueprinted, pillar bedded, Shilen trigger installed and put through Cryogenic process. Broke it in with fireforming loads. Had the brake I like ( I will have to post a pic this week) put on because I had a neck fusion previously, and took it to South Africa in 2002. I used that 200X that trip, with the same results as the old 250x! Upon my return, I then had it restocked in a synthetic Brown Precision High Country stock, coated for weatherproofing, and been tickled pink ever since, ha. I was very pleased to see my load clocked 2400fps with the Woodleigh 310 and 55gr R15/ BR2 primer! No buffalo in my future, so this is a good chance for me to use this bullet on something "dangerous"! ha. God bless, watch out for those "roos", I hear they can box pretty well!

[RevJim]

 I was surprised at how well this big Woodleigh performed! 30yd shot, but had a 40cal entrnace hole with about 70 caliber exit, no bloodshot meat! It blew lung and tissue over 30ft out the other side! Super blood trail for the entire 25ft it ran, ha! I will use this bullet some more. These were close to 200 lb ( 90 Kg to you guys! ha) just two fat sows. My buddy used the Barnes 168gr TTSX in his 30.06. I could have used a 22-250 just as eays, but how else was I to try out my Woodleigh? ha