Author Topic: Bullets for the Whelen (Read 3956 times)

rickt300 · « **on:** July 17, 2011, 02:27:12 PM »

I just ordered 3 boxes of the 220 gr. Speer flat noses, 2 boxes of 225 gr. Sierra bullets and 2 boxes of the 250 gr. hornady Spire points. I use this rifle as a stand gun for deer and hogs but mostly for the hogs. I think the 220 gr. Speers could be the perfect bullet for slapping some silly into the sometimes pretty big hogs on our lease. I plan on 2500 fps as a starting velocity to keep recoil down and to not stress a bullet designed for the 35 Remington.

336SC · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2011, 03:02:47 PM »

I just did some load development with the 220gr FNHC Speers in my 18.5" barreled .35 whelen bolt gun. Used H335 and got 2588fps
with superb accuracy. Using TAC I was able to achieve 2671fps with the RPPCL 200gr and again great accuracy. Either bullet would put a hurting on Hogs or Whitetail deer. I use the HDY 200gr RN or the 200 RPRNCL @ 2450-2500fps out of my .358 Winchesters and the deer here in NE Pennsylvania absolutely hate that load!!! They go down so fast they just dissapear! Last deer season I floored a
large doe with the HDY FTX 200gr bullet at 2404fps from a 7600 .35 Remington pump using a +P+ load. The FTX 200gr bullet held together nicely and tore the heart completely free of the lungs. Instant zero blood pressure.
336SC

336SC · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2011, 03:04:08 PM »

Quote from: 336SC on July 17, 2011, 03:02:47 PM

I just did some load development with the 220gr FNHC Speers in my 18.5" barreled .35 whelen bolt gun. Used H335 and got 2588fps
with superb accuracy. Using TAC I was able to achieve 2671fps with the RPPCL 200gr and again great accuracy. Either bullet would put a hurting on Hogs or Whitetail deer. I use the HDY 200gr RN or the 200 RPRNCL @ 2450-2500fps out of my .358 Winchesters and the deer here in NE Pennsylvania absolutely hate that load!!! They go down so fast they just dissapear! Last deer season I floored a
large doe with the HDY FTX 200gr bullet at 2404fps from a 7600 .35 Remington pump using a +P+ load. The FTX 200gr bullet held together nicely and tore the heart completely free of the lungs. Instant zero blood pressure.
336SC

Sorry, I wanted to correct a spelling error and quoted instead.
336SC

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2011, 07:04:37 PM »

I've owned only one Whelen and like a dummy let it go without ever firing it. I figured I could easily replace it but have found that's not so easily done as Remington discontinued the CDL in the round.

If I manage to get another I imagine I'll start and end my bullet search with the Nosler 225 grain Partition and Accubond bullets. In fact I think I still have a few boxes of them left from when I had that rifle. I keep holding onto them just in case I fun into another.

What I REALLY want it chambered in is one of the M700 LSS Rifles with the gray laminated stocks. I picked up a .30-06 to rechamber but like it so well as an '06 I've just not made the decision to send it off.

crash87 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2011, 12:16:44 AM »

Quote from: rickt300 on July 17, 2011, 02:27:12 PM

I just ordered 3 boxes of the 220 gr. Speer flat noses, 2 boxes of 225 gr. Sierra bullets and 2 boxes of the 250 gr. hornady Spire points. I use this rifle as a stand gun for deer and hogs but mostly for the hogs. I think the 220 gr. Speers could be the perfect bullet for slapping some silly into the sometimes pretty big hogs on our lease. I plan on 2500 fps as a starting velocity to keep recoil down and to not stress a bullet designed for the 35 Remington.

I see no problem there, in fact, you could up it to 2600 and not tax the bullet at all. Use that one along with the remington 200 gr. SPCL in my 350 Mag. I've used the hornady 250 SP's at 2800fps in my 358 STA to take 3 moose, at 2500 in the Whelen, I see a good load for the game you intend to hunt. In my whelen the 250 gr Speer gets the nod, at 2400fps, in my Win 1895, it has not failed to perform. But, these days I usually put a LBT lcfn down the tube at about 2000fps, bottom line is, with the 35 Whelen, I really don't think you could go wrong with anything you got. CRASH87

Higene · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2011, 01:43:33 AM »

+1 250 Sierra Boat tails.

drdougrx · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2011, 04:38:26 AM »

Playing with mine for a TX Nilgai and Oryx hunt in late Oct. Working with 225gr TSX as the partitions are pretty hard to find and VERY expensive since Nosler doesn't do boxes of 50 anymore. My go to bullet though is the SGK....accurate and fine for the majority of thin skin animals that I'd hunt.

rickt300 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2011, 07:03:03 AM »

I planned originally on using the Remington RNCL but two problems cropped up. My Whelen is somewhat long throated so I have to seat them too far out to get good accuracy, better than 2 inches anyway. I thought they were perfect for my 358 BLR which I sold (foolishly). I did use the 200 gr. Hornady Spire point bullet to good effect, it shot well and worked perfectly on a couple of big hogs but it seems to me that Whelen bullets should start at around 220 grains and go up. I also used the 250 gr. Speer with no complaints and still have some in the drawer where my 35 stuff goes. I also tried some Hornady 250 gr. round noses and find that I need to do some rail work on the left side of the Mauser action as they like to run into the right edge of the chamber. I have over of a hundred of them so polishing the left rail is in planning. I hunt a lot at night sneaking up on hog toys and the shots I get are often very close and not at perfect angles so I feel the Whelen is a better choice than my 7x57. Wish it would cool off some so I could get in some bullet testing.

Dave in WV · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2011, 12:44:10 PM »

Here's some interesting reading on 35s.http://35cal.com/35bullet_study/35bullet_study1.html

BBF · « **Reply #9 on:** July 18, 2011, 02:13:26 PM »

I don't think the Speer 220 will be a problem from a Whelen. I would not use the standard 200 gr RN's that are loaded into the 35 Rem.

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2011, 03:19:05 AM »

I have shot a 35 Whelen (Rem. 700 Classic) for many years with a variety of bullets. It has been used on whitetail, mule deer, antelope, elk, and one mountain lion.

All of the bullets listed in the OP will perform just fine on hogs and deer (and elk for that matter). Screaming velocity is not required for any of those bullets to do their job. The Whelen isn't the best choice if extended ranges (250 yds. and up) are the norm. It is one of those modest, compromise cartridges that has power to spare and a reasonably flat trajectory out to 250 and a little beyond AND it does it without the expense, noise, and painful recoil of a magnum.

The 220 FN is one of my favorite bullets. It is a good balance of velocity, trajectory, and penetration for short and midrange shots. Waters wrote that his 35 Whelen was at its best with 225 gr. bullets. Others have pronounced the various 250 gr. bullets to be the "standard" for the Whelen. It's hard to go wrong in bullet choice anywhere from 200 - 250 gr.

woods · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2011, 05:59:52 PM »

I'm shooting a 350 rem mag useing siera 225's both these cartridges are allmost interchangeable I have not tried them on game yet but they seem to be the most acurate bullet I've tried so far. Haven't delved into the nosler line yet but have tried the hornady and speer bullets all under 225 gr. For what its worth I think I'll use the 225's siera on deer this fall. The distance thing is another story acuracy is still there past 250 you just have to know your rifle and distance. Not many people put enough rounds down range to really know that much about distance shooting. I haven't owned my rifle for more than 6 months yet but It has digested over 200 rounds thats not many in my book but much more than the normal Joe's rifle will see in years of shooting. You have to shoot it to learn what it can do.

woods

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2011, 07:30:04 PM »

As mentioned above, my Whelen has taken whitetail, mule deer, antelope, elk and mountain lion. I am not obsessive about taking pictures of all my animals and only have one for my Whelen. I can't remember the load or bullet but this small bull was shot withthe Whelen at less than 75 yards in 2005.

PS -- There was a full body attached before I shot it.

Skunk · « **Reply #13 on:** July 21, 2011, 05:13:17 AM »

Quote from: WyoStillhunter on July 20, 2011, 07:30:04 PM

PS -- There was a full body attached before I shot it.

WOW!! A total decapitation. I'll just be keeping my good old 35 Whelen.

rickt300 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 21, 2011, 07:40:08 AM »

The Speer and Sierra bullets arrived today, both brands make pretty bullets too. Think I will use up some of the 3031 I have and load some this weekend.

rickt300 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 28, 2011, 07:15:00 AM »

My 250 gr. Hornady bullets arrived that I bought from the Midway blem sale, Nice looking Hornady 250 gr. Spire points. I loaded 10 of the 220 gr. Speers on top of 59.5 grs of H380 to run over the chrony saturday. After thinking about it I could easily get away with this bullet going 2300 fps and the reduced recoil would be okay too. On the lease I hunt the longest shot at deer I have taken was 150 yards but the average in 12 years has been 60 to 75 yards. The feral hogs are invriably shot at less than 75 yards and sometimes inside of 15 yards.

K-1 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 28, 2011, 04:12:24 PM »

I am useing 225gr.Sierra GK with 59gr. RL- 15 in both of my Rem. 700.

WyoStillhunter · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2011, 06:41:26 PM »

You are almost right, Skunk, but not on this animal.

Years ago in Missouri I shot a whitetail doe at about 25 yards through the white patch under her chin as she stared right at me. The bullet was the Rem. 200 gr. PSP. The bullet hit dead center of the 2nd or 3rd vetebrae. It took exactly two swipes of my pocket knife to complete the removal of the head.

The elk pictured above was hit squarely through the spine just behind the shoulder and dropped on the spot.

RevJim · « **Reply #18 on:** August 02, 2011, 03:24:26 AM »

I've only used the old style Barnes 250X and 200X in my 35 Whelen AI on game. I used the Speer 220FN seated out for a crush fit to fireform my brass. I just used them for practice. They were accurate, and hit rocks very hard. I have done some load work with them in a .35 Remington marlin, and I plan on doing the same in a new to me .350 Remmag. I also worked up a load with the Sierra 225 in a Rem 750 standard Whelen awhile back, very accurate. I think the 225's are about optimum as a traditional bullet, whether cup/core or Partition. I have loaded the Woodleigh 310SN in my Whelen AI, just to see if they'd shoot....they do, like a varmint bullet! I just have to wait until a circus elephant goes berserk before I have something to use them on! ha. Good luck to you.

Barstooler · « **Reply #19 on:** August 03, 2011, 04:02:43 PM »

I personally believe the answer also depends on what other rifles/calibers you hunt with. I have not used anything other than 250gr Speer in my Whelen in the last 40 years hunting mostly deer and elk. That bullet (for me) has killed everything I have shot at with one-shot kills. It went length-wise through a 8 point bull elk at 75 yards. It has busted shoulders and always leaves two holes.

If I desire or decide to shoot 200-225gr I use my 338-06. Below that I use a 30-06, 270, 6.5-06, or 25-06. Above the Whelen I use a 375 Ruger.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Barstooler

hogwars · « **Reply #20 on:** August 03, 2011, 08:08:39 PM »

I like using sierra pro-hunter 200gr round nose for whitetails,but it seams like everybody is sold out of them even Sierra. Did they quite making them? Anybody have any info?

rickt300 · « **Reply #21 on:** September 05, 2011, 08:01:20 PM »

Well I shot some more of the rounds I had loaded with the 250 gr. Hornady RN's on top of a book max load of 3031. Actually I can't honestly say this load is in the mild recoil category. But I needed the brass! I also polished the left rail and got them feeding just right. I did chrony the 220 gr. Speers on top of the 59.5 gr. of H380 and got an average of near 2500 fps. I have to say I never expected the Whelen to be so easy to load for or that it would be so accurate. This rifle could regularly take sparrows at 100 yards. Felt recoil with the 220 seems a lot easier to shoot than the full loaded 250 gr. bullets. Going to the lease to get the feeders going soon, hope a big hog volunteers for bullet test duty.

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #22 on:** September 06, 2011, 04:48:26 PM »

I'd be very interested to hear the twist rate of the Whelens under discussion here. I know Whelen barrels vary from as fast as 10" to 16" twists. I'm in the final stages of a build on a VZ24 action. My smith had a Whelen barrel on hand, so I told him to fit it up thinking it was a 14" twist barrel. When I measured the twist on receiving the barreled action, I discovered it has a 16" rate. I know the Remington 700s are also 16" barrels. Maybe the Ruger, too, but I'm not sure.

Have any of you Remington 700 folks had trouble stabilizing any of the 250 gr. bullets that may run a bit longer (as opposed to the round nose)? Presuming my Whelen build works well with the mid-weights, I'm not gonna complain, but I'm curious. (Some of the old time discussion about the Whelen was devoted to 300 gr. loads!)

As for the 220 gr. Speer FN, I handload that bullet to about 2100 fps in my 336/.35 Remington. I shot a small black bear with it a few years ago (broadside behind the shoulders). The hole knocked through that critter was very impressive. I don't think I'd feel all that under armed with that load if I had to root out elk in the thick stuff, but that's a topic for another thread.

PC

drdougrx · « **Reply #23 on:** September 06, 2011, 06:05:50 PM »

Hey Peter,

I haven't. I shoot a 700 CDL with a 24" barrel. I've not shot bullet weights greater than 250gr though....that's when the 375H&H comes out to play.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #24 on:** September 06, 2011, 08:01:21 PM »

Quote from: PeterCartwright on September 06, 2011, 04:48:26 PM

I'd be very interested to hear the twist rate of the Whelens under discussion here. I know Whelen barrels vary from as fast as 10" to 16" twists. I'm in the final stages of a build on a VZ24 action. My smith had a Whelen barrel on hand, so I told him to fit it up thinking it was a 14" twist barrel. When I measured the twist on receiving the barreled action, I discovered it has a 16" rate. I know the Remington 700s are also 16" barrels. Maybe the Ruger, too, but I'm not sure.

Have any of you Remington 700 folks had trouble stabilizing any of the 250 gr. bullets that may run a bit longer (as opposed to the round nose)? Presuming my Whelen build works well with the mid-weights, I'm not gonna complain, but I'm curious. (Some of the old time discussion about the Whelen was devoted to 300 gr. loads!)

As for the 220 gr. Speer FN, I handload that bullet to about 2100 fps in my 336/.35 Remington. I shot a small black bear with it a few years ago (broadside behind the shoulders). The hole knocked through that critter was very impressive. I don't think I'd feel all that under armed with that load if I had to root out elk in the thick stuff, but that's a topic for another thread.

PC

You should be fine with the 250Gr in a 1-16 twist barrel. When you start to step above that is when you will need the 1-14 to 1-12 twist barrels. On the Cast BOOLITS forum some have had a little luck with the cast 358009 which is about 300 Gr but it is not the norm.

That is why when I had mine built I opted for the 1-14 twist as more of a middle ground that would allow me to shoot the heavy weights as well as some of the lighter weight projectiles out there. But with all of the information that I have read which is almost to make me go blind lol. I think the Whelen is best with the 220 to 250Gr class of bullets. But even though I am very new I still think of the 250Gr jacket bullet for the 35 Whelen is the one to go with. But then again I am also in the process of having a 358 Winchester built on a savage short action for the 220-225 Gr class of bullets but may still use the 250Gr in it as well.

If you go to Midway they do have some 358 Winchester and 35 Whelen barrels for sale in Stainless with a 1-14 twist.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #25 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:17:23 AM »

Quote from: Barstooler on August 03, 2011, 04:02:43 PM

I personally believe the answer also depends on what other rifles/calibers you hunt with. I have not used anything other than 250gr Speer in my Whelen in the last 40 years hunting mostly deer and elk. That bullet (for me) has killed everything I have shot at with one-shot kills. It went length-wise through a 8 point bull elk at 75 yards. It has busted shoulders and always leaves two holes.

If I desire or decide to shoot 200-225gr I use my 338-06. Below that I use a 30-06, 270, 6.5-06, or 25-06. Above the Whelen I use a 375 Ruger.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Barstooler

Barstooler I have to say I used that load today in my 35 Whelen. Which was the Speer 250Gr Hot Core with 54.0Gr of RL-15 in 35 Whelen RP Brass and a Wolf LRP and shot a little over 1/2 inch at 100 yards. Now I hope I see a hog this weekend.

RevJim · « **Reply #26 on:** September 27, 2011, 04:16:58 AM »

I have a 1988 Model 700 Classic 35 Whelen, reamed out to the Ackley Improved design. I can shoot the Woodleigh 310 into less than an inch. The orignal barnes 250X is very long also, I got around .5" average with it. My impression is the Whelen will shoot about anything you put in it! What a great cartridge!
Last night, I loaded up some of the new Barnes 200 TTSX, over H322. I shoot the 2nd generation 200X (Secant ogive) over 58gr for 2970 ( I have a fast barrel also) I am going to see if i can meet or beat it with this more streamlined design, working up slowly of course.
I got this load, years ago, from Barnes original Load Manual #1, and this 58gr was for a standard Whelen. I could put more powder in the Improved case, but found that 58gr was perfect for accuracy and moderate pressure ( another reason I like the Ackley design) Since I use the 200X as an all around load, the TTSX looks very appealing to me.

336SC · « **Reply #27 on:** September 28, 2011, 01:57:02 AM »

I too have a 1988 700 Classic in .35 Whelen. I just had an E.R. Shaw barreled Savage 110 in .35 Whelen cut down from 24" to 18.5" for
hunting the thick stuff here in N.E. Pennsylvania. Shoots the 220gr Speer Flat Nose Hot Core at 2588fps with groups right at 1" @ 100yds. Those Speer Hot Cores are tough SOB'S so I'm sure it won't fragment upon impact. Our deer and Black Bear won't like that
220gr FN load one bit! Gotta work up a load with the 220gr FN bullet in my three .358 Winchesters.
336SC

JesterGrin · « **Reply #28 on:** September 29, 2011, 08:19:59 AM »

Quote from: 336SC on September 28, 2011, 01:57:02 AM

I too have a 1988 700 Classic in .35 Whelen. I just had an E.R. Shaw barreled Savage 110 in .35 Whelen cut down from 24" to 18.5" for
hunting the thick stuff here in N.E. Pennsylvania. Shoots the 220gr Speer Flat Nose Hot Core at 2588fps with groups right at 1" @ 100yds. Those Speer Hot Cores are tough SOB'S so I'm sure it won't fragment upon impact. Our deer and Black Bear won't like that
220gr FN load one bit! Gotta work up a load with the 220gr FN bullet in my three .358 Winchesters.
336SC

I hope to have my Savage 110 short action back in a few weeks with a Shaw 358 Winchester cut down to 20 in. And will try some of those Speer 250 Gr Grand Slams or Hot-Core in that puppy.

Barstooler · « **Reply #29 on:** September 29, 2011, 10:53:10 AM »

Quote from: JesterGrin on September 23, 2011, 12:17:23 AM

Quote from: Barstooler on August 03, 2011, 04:02:43 PM
I personally believe the answer also depends on what other rifles/calibers you hunt with. I have not used anything other than 250gr Speer in my Whelen in the last 40 years hunting mostly deer and elk. That bullet (for me) has killed everything I have shot at with one-shot kills. It went length-wise through a 8 point bull elk at 75 yards. It has busted shoulders and always leaves two holes.

If I desire or decide to shoot 200-225gr I use my 338-06. Below that I use a 30-06, 270, 6.5-06, or 25-06. Above the Whelen I use a 375 Ruger.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Barstooler

Barstooler I have to say I used that load today in my 35 Whelen. Which was the Speer 250Gr Hot Core with 54.0Gr of RL-15 in 35 Whelen RP Brass and a Wolf LRP and shot a little over 1/2 inch at 100 yards. Now I hope I see a hog this weekend.

Interesting. That is the same load that I use in mine except for Rem 9 1/2 primers and I get the same results.

Barstooler