Thanks to dpeahoy, I was able to add a 35 Whelen barrel to my collection. Been tough getting to the range(truck needed new eng), but got out today.
First shot low at 25. Made adj, bullseye. Shot again for the heck same hole just made it oval. Looking good.
Two shots at 50 very high, but touching.
One more shot,...opps too low re-adjust.
Four shoots all touching near bullseye. ;
Now it all goes down hill,...at 100, I dont know to blame it on me, or if the rifle likes to shot clean, but of 4 groups the best was 1.75 (1st)and the worst 3.25" (last) It is averaging about 2.25 with dirty math. From the previous shots I had expected better, but still pleased. The barrel barely warmed in the cool 50 degree weather, and shooting groups and walking the lonely range to check and repost targets. Using O-ring on forearm also.
So I wonder if a cleaning and another range session will help figure it out.
Details:
250gr Remington Factory loads chronied about 2430fps from 10 ft.
Of the two boxes, 9 failed to fire, but at this point I'm blaming the ammo not the barrel, because I have had soooo many remington
9 1/2 primers fail. And I left 6 unfired to decide whether I use for deer season or not. That leaves me 25 good fireformed pieces of brass to reload with. I will be using the Hornady 200gr SP and Winchester primers tho. And if they shoot well enough, I will resight and use for hunting instead. But as I stand I have a POWERFUL 100yd deer rifle if need be. With those groups I wont feel comfortable shooting past 125. Heck they might not even go boom.
And I sure must have gone soft shooting those 357maxi loads, cause the Whelen made the shoulder a little sore.
But I like knowing when a rifle goes off. No,...I know some are thinking I started flinching and that led to the bad groups toward the end,...but with the fail to fire loads, I observed no flinching other than hammer vibration thru the scope.
Jerry
