Author Topic: 35 Whelen Deer bullets (Read 1928 times)

anthony passero · « **on:** November 15, 2005, 04:11:37 AM »

Hello, What bullet do the the 35 Wlelen shooters out here in Greybeard land use? Seems most everything available is for Elk and Bear. Also anyone know if Remington 350 Mag 150 grain pointed core loks are available and where to find them?

Tight groups, Anthony

Robert · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2005, 05:14:44 AM »

I used Sierra 225 gr softpoints for deer this past season, and was not very happy with them...they are soft and did not penetrate well....got the deer though. 60 yd hot and the Sierra vaporized and did not pass through. They were loaded to about 2580 fps.
I switched to Hornady 200 gr softpoints for my Elk hunt, loaded to about 2750 fps....they were very accurate and flat shooting at the range. I sighted them in 1 inch high at 100. I took my bull at 240 yds Sunday morning and it went neatly clear through the Elk and vaporized his heart on the way through. He walked about 20 ft and dropped like a rock. I was very happy with the Hornady 200. I have done extensive experiments with big heavy bullets in my Whelen, and it will certainly handle them, but the extra velocity that you can push a 200 makes for a wonderful trajectory and enough power to stop any beast on this continent. I also swage my own jacketed flat-points, I can make them any weight I choose, but have settled on 225 grs...they are excellent for cheap plinking with my favorite rifle, and I would not hesitate using them for deer or bear within 100 yds or so.
Now I have heard that NEF is bringing back the Whelen...what great news. This will make it very affordable for many more hunters to become aquainted with this wonderful cartridge.
P.S. Can you tell that I love my Whelen?

Rummer · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2005, 11:26:23 AM »

Anthony,

I posted the same question in july. Here is a link to the response that I received:
http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=65362

I settled on the 200 grain Hornady Spire Points because they shot the best. Another place I went for information that you might try is midwayusa.com. Many of their products have product reviews posted. You can read the product reviews and see what other folks experiences are.

Robert- Thanks for sharing your experiences with those 2 bullets. I was surprised to hear of 200 grainer being used on elk (although I suppose there is at least one guy shooting them with factory loaded winchester 200 grainers in the .358). I am moving out west soon and haven't had a chance to develop a heavy load for my whelen. If 200 grainers will work on Elk (Assuming I am close) then I may have an all around load on my hands.

Rummer

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2005, 01:16:05 PM »

For deer I'm loading 180 gr. Barnes X bullets for my Whelen. Lawdog

Barstooler · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2005, 04:53:55 PM »

I keep things simple and use the 250gr Speer for everything in my Whelen. Deer or Elk -- it doesn't matter. When you pull the trigger, the first thing you see are "feet" pointing at you as the 35 Whelen takes the body mass of the animal and knocks it away from you -- leaving the feet pointing back at you.

Barstooler

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2005, 05:13:19 PM »

I settled on the 225 Sierra for everything. I just don't know what I am going to run into.

The Remington 200 round noses shoot excellent in my 7600. I have also tried 200 spire points with excellent results.

The one moose that I took with the 225's dropped forward from the hit in his tracks. No contest though, nine yards. I think I have shot 4-5 caribou and they also dropped in their tracks. Nice holes, about the size of a .338 WM.

The 200's are probably more than enough for deer. The 220 Hornaday could be useful too. I have some but have not refined a load for them yet.

anthony passero · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2005, 12:08:26 PM »

Thank you everyone, I guess I am going to stick with my 250 gr Speers on top of a stiff load of IMR 4320. Accurate but painful! Anthony

JD338 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 20, 2005, 04:11:56 PM »

You might also want to consider the Nosler 225 gr PT. I have used this bullet on several WT deer and a Black Bear. I always get an exit hole about the size of a quarter and the few blood trails that I have followed were very heavy and very short.
I have also used the 200 gr Core-Lokt bullets on 4 WT deer, I recovered 2 of the 4 bullets just under the hide.

Regards,

JD338

tom ga hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** November 24, 2005, 10:58:17 AM »

I have shot 2 good size deer with 225 sierras and they have both dropped in their tracks but there was no exit hole on either..although 1 have 50 225's loaded i'm going to try 225 partations, my rifle doesn't shoot 200 hornadys very well

billyhornsby · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2006, 05:06:49 PM »

Quote from: Lawdog

For deer I'm loading 180 gr. Barnes X bullets for my Whelen. Lawdog

Could you tell me how you are loading the 180 grain Barnes X in your 35 Whelen? What kind of performance? What FPS are you getting? I was told you could get 3000 fps with the Barnes X in a 35 Whelen. Thanks, Billy

killdeer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 21, 2006, 07:30:10 PM »

Billy,
welcome to Graybeard Outdoors!
Lawdog has passed and I'm not sure if he quite got 3000 fps with with those Barnes bullets in his Whelan but he definitely was a fan.

KD

Mac11700 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 21, 2006, 07:52:43 PM »

Here's a nice looking 358 cal bullet..and I suspect it would work rather well...they do have heavier ones available..

http://www.northforkbullets.com/358-200.htm

Mac

billyhornsby · « **Reply #12 on:** March 22, 2006, 05:25:44 AM »

Quote from: killdeer

Billy,
welcome to Graybeard Outdoors!
Lawdog has passed and I'm not sure if he quite got 3000 fps with with those Barnes bullets in his Whelan but he definitely was a fan.

KD[/quote

Sorry to hear about that. I have a friend that uses the 180 gr. Barnes. It is his favorite load. Billy]

davem270win · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2006, 05:10:22 AM »

I've used 200 gr hornady spires. I shot a button buck with this load two years ago - the deer was facing me at about 40 yds, and I hit it almost square in the chest. The bullet exited out the deer's right side, leaving a turkey platter size exit wound (I guess because of the angle). Anyway the deer turned left and started to run and it's whole right side was red, I didn't bother with a follow up shot.

Based on that single experience, I'm looking at something that would stay together a little bit more. Perhaps the 225 Nosler.

killdeer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2006, 09:35:25 AM »

You really don't need to try and achieve max velocity on the .35 for deer.
Any standard cup and core bullet should perform beautifully at Whelan velocities and be an absolute hammer on game. I would take that savings and put it toward some quality optics! :grin:

KD

RussB · « **Reply #15 on:** April 03, 2006, 09:19:20 AM »

A somewhat older thread that I dug up because I think one thing that's important, but was not mentioned, is the fact that bullet weight can "sometimes" describe a round.

In saying that I'm thinking;
.270 Win. with it's 130gr bullet.
7x57 with it's 175gr bullet.
30-06 with it's 180gr bullet.
45-70 with it's 405gr bullet
And, the .35 Whelen with it's 250gr bullet.
These weights "seem to be" the weights that first stirred interest in these rounds for hunting purposes, and perhaps that is as it should be.

I'm sure there are many others, and the weights I listed can be substituted with your own favorite weight in any caliber....still yet, when we speak of a .35 Whelen I personally feel we are also saying 250gr, with very few exceptions.

I have played around with all the weights, plus casting some rather odd but interesting weights....including Lyman's 358009 at 282gr, and I feel the 250gr best describes the .35 Whelen.

Respectfully, Russ..

fishdog52 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 20, 2006, 05:06:03 AM »

A look at the current offerings show that most of the premium bullet makers have decided that 225 grain is the hot ticket. I have used the 200 Hornady a several whitetails & a couple mule deer with complete satisfaction. As i have a new rifle, I am going to try the 225 gr sierras & nosler partitions. 25 grains this way, or that way, doesn't worry me to much in this caliber, assuming good construction. The key questions is which groups the best. :twisted:

Sourdough · « **Reply #17 on:** April 29, 2006, 08:29:30 AM »

For the .35 Whelen, the 250 is my favorite. From Deer to Moose it works great. As for the .350 Rem Mag, depends on which gun you are shooting. If you have a Remington 600 then the 200gr is your max. Anything heavier is too long for your magazine. If you have a Ruger then you can get away with a 225, and sometimes a 250, depending on the bullet design. The magazine is longer in the Ruger. I load Nosler 250 for my .35 Whelen and Nosler 225 for my 350 Ruger. I don't shoot the Remington 600 it's a wall hanger, too pretty and kicks too hard. It is the hardest kicking gun I have ever shot.

killdeer · « **Reply #18 on:** April 29, 2006, 08:43:59 AM »

Quote from: Sourdough

I don't shoot the Remington 600 it's a wall hanger, too pretty and kicks too hard. It is the hardest kicking gun I have ever shot.

Might be dethroned when the 338-378 arrives.

Sourdough · « **Reply #19 on:** April 29, 2006, 07:05:19 PM »

338-378 has a brake, the Rem 600 don't. Don't plan on shooting the Weatherby without the brake either. I've got the Weatherby in my vault. Just haven't loaded any ammo yet.

killdeer · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2006, 03:08:30 AM »

Sweet....What's she gonna wear for glass?