I know there are cast bullets out there for the 35 Whelen, like from Beartooth Bullets. Now even though those are have a gascheck on them, wouldn't the velocity still have to be held off to a minimum because of leading? Thanks guys.

There are lots of factors that influence leading, and how fast you can push a bullet before it leads. In general, a properly fit bullet of reasonable hardness and using a good lube can be driven up to 2200 fps with no problems of leading, and one can go upwards of 2600 if everything is just right.

With a heavy for caliber cast bullet, say 280 grs, you can push a cast as fast as the whelen is capable with no leading problems, provided the bullet is sized for your barrel. Whelens typically have a slower twist barrels 1-14 or 1-16, which are more friendly to cast.

With the lighter bullets, you may have to back off the speed a touch, but you can still get fine accuracy even with the pistol weight bullets. I find a 200 gr cast bullet at about 1500 fps to perform quite well from the 35 rifles.

For what it's worth I use 35 Whelen jacketed bullet data for my 375 Whelen cast bullets. My 375 Whelen has never had a jacketed bullet put through it.
I picked the same jacketed bullet weight loads in 35 Whelen, and loaded the powder charge behind the same bullet weight cast bullet.
I would start low and work my way up until I found the accurate load or I could not stand the recoil any more.
Jim

How about a regular pistol bullet (say 158 gr Lasercast) at 1400 fps in a 35 whelen with Unique or whatnot. Would these require a gas check?>

In theory, a plain base bullet will be OK at low velocities and low pressures. It easier to get good results with a gas check, though.

I am just talking plinking at less than 50 yards. Don't want to lead up barrel.

Pop. Every rifle is different. Some .35 Whelens shoot great with a 158 gr. pistol bullet and others are, well not so good. I do believe that there would be less chance of barrel leading with a gas check bullet, but even those might lead.
About the best suggestion I can give is try some and see what your results are.
Paul B.

I will be shooting some .358s 250gr. gas checks tommorrow at an anticipated 2400 ft/sec. or close. I'll post the results. roger

quote:

Originally posted by POP:
How about a regular pistol bullet (say 158 gr Lasercast) at 1400 fps in a 35 whelen with Unique or whatnot. Would these require a gas check?>

No need for a gascheck provided the bullet isn't undersize and doesn't have a bevel base, those will likely cause leading. A .359" plainbase 158 gr bullet should have great accuracy at 50 yds with no leading, and I'm guessing the correct load of Unique will be right around 13 grs or a tad more.

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
I will be shooting some .358s 250gr. gas checks tommorrow at an anticipated 2400 ft/sec. or close. I'll post the results. roger

Well I Did and they didn't. The load was 33.5 gr 680 behind a 250 gr gas checked bullet in my 9X41 . Instead of the anticipated 2400 fps the chrono measured a little over 900fps. twice. Well the old brain went into super drive and overtime and when I checked my work up loading data it just didn't make sense;

That is untill I pulled the bullets and weighed the powder charges. NOT 33.5gr. but 13.5gr. and I weighed every charge !!!!!WRONG!!!!

Yesterday if someone had told me I was capable of such an error I would have told them they were full of the soft brown mushy stuff.

This is my I am humble night. roger

A sobering thought. Thanks for posting it.

It could have easily been bigger rather than smaller.

Keep us posted - I'd love to work up a 250gr load for my 35W since 1:16 won't stabize the 358009.

I peaked out at about 2100 fps for MOA accuracy in the .358 Win, using the Bator Heavy, which is basically a clone of the 358009. My twist is 1-12. I'm surprised your 1-16 won't stabilize it. What is your twist, and what velocity are you trying for? I know Shuz and Pilgrim are in the 2200 fps range in thier Whelens, with the same bullet (I think) and seem to believe they kill moose just fine.

My Rem 700 Classic has 1:16 twist (35W). At 50 yards I could keep most but not all on 8-1/2x11 with keyholing. Worst shooting of all the moulds I've shot in my life! Paul has the mould now.

In time, I'll build a mould much like the 009, just a little shorter, that the 1:16 will handle.

I'll be darned! I've been asking for recommendations for the best twist for heavy bullets in the bore size, and was told 1-14, or 1-16. As good as my 1-12 shoots, I guess I won't consider going slower than 1-14.

There ARE a few folks that have made it work, most don't. I'd even reconsidered rebarrelling to 1:14 or 1:12. I'll be satisfied with a lighter bullet.

Trk. RCBS has a 250 gr. mold #35-250-SP that shoots reasonably well. The biggest problem is they consider it a special order deal and when I got mine it was $106.95 plus S&H.
Now that they've changed hands again, it may no longer be available. I see they quit making "custom" dies so maybe they're doing the same thing with special order bullet molds.
Paul B.

Thanks, Paul. I have a lot of respect for RCBS. I'm getting closer to making my own moulds. I got a double acting 6" vice off EBay about 6 months ago. I'm building the fixturing for it to hold the mould blocks. When that's done, I'll learn how to make the cherries. Then comes the experimentation and making of one-of-a-kind moulds to get good at it. Another year or so. (one little step at a time)