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Author Topic: 35 Whelen inquiry  (Read 657 times)

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Offline cwlongshot

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35 Whelen inquiry
« on: January 02, 2009, 02:35:02 PM »
I have the opportunity to head out to Colorado for some Elk hunting. I built this rifle back in '87 along with the intention of moving out west. I finished the rifle...got married and I'm still here in Connecticut.  Its accounted for a couple deer and worked well with the 200Gr Hornady. Oh well, anyhow, I have some family out there now and this is a opportunity for a lo-cost hunt so I'm very likely going to go. the Whelen will be my rifle of choice.

I haven't used the new Nosler Accubond bullets. But I hear some good things, so I picked up a box today. I have a good load for the Sierra 225Gr as well as the Partition of the same weight. I'm out of the partitions and so was cabelas today. SO, I have the accubonds.  ;D

What do you think about this bullet and whats been your experience.

CW
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Offline Totenkopf

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2009, 08:59:29 PM »
I have never hunted with a 35 wheelen. I build long range rifles. I encourage my customers to send me feedback on their hunts. I send them out the door with a set of dies and load data on their rifle. On this rifle the guy took a 6x6 elk at 400 yards using the accubond. Bullet was at far side under skin with a low vitals shot. Broke a rib on each side. Bullet was mushroomed to 58 caliber and 1/4 of original height. He didn't send the weight retention of the bullet. Sounds like he was very happy with the performance of the 225. Here's the load. BTW reloader 15 is supposed to be the most accurate powder in the 35 w. I tried 6 bullets in this weight, Accubond was the most accurate.
Bullet Nosler Accubond
BulletWeight 225 grs
Powder Alliant Reloader 15
PowderWeight 62.5 grs
Primer Remington 9 1/2
Brass Make Remington
Barrel Length 24 (inches)
C.O.L 3.25 (inches)
Velocity 2826 fps
Group .32 (inches by 5 shot at 100 yds) 
Gun Info  Totenkopf Rem 24" barrel     
Energy 3982 ft-lbs 
TKO 31.79 
OGW 1714 lbs 
IPSC PF  635.85
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2009, 06:12:30 AM »
Thank you sir!!

 That is just the prompting I needed to try the RL15 in this caliber. I had read and read about others using and getting good results. I had a good accurate load with 4350 and the 225 sierra but always thought the velocity's where low. Esp when you take into account I was getting just shy of 3000 out of the Hornady 200's and 2520 powder. (I have a 26" bbl) The 62.5Gr load is above what my manuals say is a max. So. I'll be starting a tad lower and working up!!  ;D

 I picked up those Accubonds and 100 new cases @ Cabala's yesterday. I just ran thru them and they are all prepped for loading. 

CW

 Edit:

 I loaded up about 25, three apiece in increments. I decided to start at 54Gr's and work up in 1.2gr increments stopping at 57Gr's. All manuals I have, listed 58.5 as a Max and most stopped at 56.5. That's actually what Nosler says was max. The 55Gr load was slightly compressed, with no movement inside after seating.



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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2009, 08:32:14 AM »
During a search here I ran across this link..  http://www.35cal.com/loading.html
Though it may be useful read for some readers...

CW
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Offline Graybeard

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2009, 10:12:54 AM »
The Nosler 225 BT was long a favorite of mine. I think it has now been replaced by the 225 AB which is really the same bullet other than it is now bonded so it should be even better. RL15 is an excellent powder choice and should do well. Don't over look that AA2520 powder tho.

Long ago I found that absolutely NOTHING could touch AA2520 in the .358 JDJ which has a powder capacity only very slightly less than the Whelen. I have to believe that for the Whelen too it would be a near best choice powder. In the .358 JDJ it gave both best accuracy and best velocity by far using both the Nosler 225s that were available back then the BT and PT.
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2009, 10:35:42 AM »
Bill,
 Thanks for the tip!!  Your right I do like what the 2520 powder can do and do use it for the Hornady 200's.  Its what I WAS going to use until a bit of reading suggested the RL15. Then a bit more reading found many corroborating stories about RL15. I had a pound on the shelf, so that's what I decided to try. I'm kind of excited, I remember how well this rifle shot with those 200's!!  Hopefully it will do equally well with the 225's!! I loaded the BT's and will substitute the Accubonds once I find a good load.

 I didn't realize the BTs where discontinued!! Mine was a old box from when they where first offered. I just never used them until now. I carefully measured and weighed both and to me they seem identical sans the ivory and white tips.

 I haven't used it in about three years as I haven't headed out of this state deer hunting. Connecticut is quite populated and I am perfectly safe with any legal caliber, I just feel better with the pistol calibers in rifles as well as plain old shotgun and slugs. There are lots of bird hunters around and my shots easily "blend" with theirs. That's not the case when you open up with a short barreled 35, 308 or such.




CW
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Offline cwlongshot

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2009, 07:16:22 AM »
Any one else use these Accubonds? How about in a 35 Whelen?

I'd love to hear about your experiences with them.. ;D

CW
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Offline witnessing

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2009, 05:07:14 PM »
I have a 35 whelen built on a Savage action with a 26" Douglas premium barrel.One of my loads consists of the 225 gr accubond and reloder 15.  I  am at max load 55 gr reloder 15 , velocity is 2591 fps ,and oal is 3.34". Brass is r-p 35 whelen. The poi changes with the temperature...zeroed at 30 degrees, three inches high at 90 degrees. Group sizes range from .75" to 1.5" ,depending on the temperature. There is a decrease in velocity going up to 56 gr.
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Offline Boxhead

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #8 on: January 14, 2009, 03:28:42 PM »
Can't exactly help you but I am a "died in the wool" Barnes X/TSX fan. The critters below fell to the 225 gr TSX from my Whelen driven at 2700 fps this past season. Bang flop, bang flop....



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Offline Dixie Dude

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #9 on: January 14, 2009, 03:50:04 PM »
I was going to mention the Barnes 225gr TSX and reloader 15.  I think the TSX is too much for whitetail.  The 200 gr plain jane Reminton CoreLok is fine for deer, but the TSX is touted to be better for elk, moose, and bear.  Also, the 250 gr Nosler Partition for big heavy game. 
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Offline BBF

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Re: 35 Whelen inquiry
« Reply #10 on: January 14, 2009, 05:52:54 PM »
Don't overlook the Speer 250 gr.
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