Author Topic: 35 Whelen - Sierra 225 gr. Gameking for Elk (Read 1735 times)

charlesr · « **on:** April 20, 2006, 12:37:41 PM »

Is this a satisfactory bullet in a 35 Whelen for hunting elk?

JD338 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2006, 06:11:56 PM »

The 225 gr Sierra is a great bullet in my M700 Classic 35 Whelen for target shooting. I have had great success with the 225 gr Nosler PT. For Elk, I would use either the 225 gr or the 250 gr Nosler PTs.

JD338

45north · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2006, 06:24:57 PM »

Those might work but I would go with a tougher bullet like swift A- frame, nosler partition, or the barnes tsx and there are many other great bullets out there. They will all cost a little more but they are worth it. Elk are tough, IMHO

45north

Golsovia · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2006, 03:33:56 PM »

That Sierra is very tough at 358 Win velocities and should still be fine going just a bit faster. Gamekings aren't sold with "forgiveness of sin" as some bullets seem to be sold. The bigger calibers and weight, though, are made with tougher cores than many of their lighter counterparts so are good big game bullets. Whether you want to spend more and hope for a bullet that can correct poor shot placement or not is kind of a question only you can answer. Place the bullet well and it will work.

45north · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:11:05 PM »

Golsovia,
I sure would like to find out where you got the information about sierra bullets having(tougher cores) in the larger calibers. Please enlighten me? I am always looking for a better bullet to make up for my poor shot placement.

45north

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:54:58 PM »

That particular Sierra bullet is a VERY TOUGH one. It is perfectly suited to use on elk in the Whelen. If you have any doubts call Sierra and they will confirm it. I called them on this bullet for use on elk in the .358 JDJ at 2300 fps muzzle velocity and they told me to not use it as it was way too tough to use started that slowly.

Stoneybroke · « **Reply #6 on:** April 21, 2006, 06:05:40 PM »

I have a custom Whelen. The Sierra bullets shoot very well, but I'll be using TBBCs or Noslers for moose this year. One of my friends shot a whitetail buck with the Sierra from his Whelen. Shot placement was perfect at about 75 yards. The bullet hit about 2" behind the left shoulder through the lungs. That Sierra never exited! The whole front end of that buck was jelly. FYI Nosler will be making the Accubond in 225 grain-35 caliber later this year.

Golsovia · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2006, 08:08:54 AM »

Quote from: 45north

Golsovia,
I sure would like to find out where you got the information about sierra bullets having(tougher cores) in the larger calibers. Please enlighten me? I am always looking for a better bullet to make up for my poor shot placement.

45north

I tested them, I've used them, then I read up on them. If you look over the bullet descriptions in the Sierra manuals, you'll see that they use various core alloys (along with varying jacket thicknesses and tapers) to control the bullet's performance. For example, the 300 grain .4515 JSP (revolver bullet) is detailed to have a core of 6% antimony, 4% tin while the 300 grain .375 SBT (rifle bullet) is described as a 3% antimony core. I think I've seen somewhere a number of different core alloys they use. They don't tell the exact alloy of the 225 SBT in question but it does seem, from what I've seen, to be similar to the 300 .375 SBT (which I have blasted through bears among other things.) Sierra bullets may not be the most advanced bullets in terms of "bells and whistles" nor the most expensive but I do think they are sometimes gblamed when the guy on the trigger actually failed.

45north · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2006, 09:07:51 AM »

Well I sure agree with the last part of your post.

45north

Golsovia · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2006, 09:30:30 AM »

Well, I'm not singularly a proponent of Sierra products but I do think they get sold short sometimes based on unfounded assumptions. I know my eyes were opened when I actually tried some of their big heavies- they aren't the bombs that some of the lighter calibers can be at times, especially when they are driven at impact velocities greater than Sierra recommends. Sierra does make - and has dropped - some very excellent and useful bullets (presumably due to lack of sales in regard to those which have been dropped.) I do like the forthrightness of the company employees: when I queried them about their 300 .458 for use on moose, they were honest and said it would probably be okay under just the right conditions but said a 350 or 400 would probably be even better - weights they don't even make! (How many companies will basically come right out and say, "Yeah, you should use a Hornady or Speer bullet instead of ours?") I have never entertained the idea of using their 300 HP for moose anyway but I thought I'd see what they said in light of the fact that they do show some moose in their books taken with it.

I have had more one shot, on-the-spot-drop kills on big animals like moose with "regular" bullets (like the Sierras) than with the premiums - and I haven't had a Sierra in the bigger calibers and weights go off like the proverbial bomb they are sometimes discredited with being. Jacket loss: sometimes; bomb: no; good, deep holes: yes.

I would answer the original question differently if it had included something like a 358 Norma or 358 STA as a bullet launcher and we were talking thick timber. The 225 SBT should be plenty good for elk (or at least moose since I don't normally hunt elk) in the 358 Win, 350 Rem Mag, or Whelen cartridges at any probable distance though.