I've been working up a 225 Game King load for my 35 Whelen, and am having some difficulty keeping the ES under control. FED 210 primer, Rem cases. With 4064 the ES is over 200, with TAC, it's just over 100, and with Varget, it's in the 60's. Accuracy at 100 is comparable between the powders, and quite good.

The velocities achieved with TAC are by far the highest, with less pressure (the case doesn't even expand fully at 2600 fps) than either 4064 or Varget.

What's the best way to get the ES down? I can't seat closer to the lands (magazine length already). I could pick up a Lee crimp die, or use the RCBS seater to crimp? Hotter primer? Cooler primer? I already have .003 neck tension, can't really see getting any benefit from reducing the expander ball size. Or, do I just quit fighting it and go to RL15? (geez, ANOTHER powder on the shelf...) HELP! Dutch.

Dutch,

When I got my Whelen 10 years ago I tried all the powders from H4895, IMR4320, 4064, 3031, BL-C, AA2015, AA2495, AA2520, RL12, RL15 & Varget.

The best load was using RL15 w/ 225 & 250 gr bullets, as far as velocity and accuracy.

It has been some time since I check ES, if memory serves me I want to say it was 20 or less.

Since I have an Elk tag this year I was going to try some H414 & N550 with 250's.

Just my .02 worth

BD

Dutch

Ok. ES=Extreme Spread, right??.

What kind of groups are you getting with the various combinations you're using? Wouldn't group size be a realistic measure of load quality?

I have tried a small variety of powders/bullet combinations in my Whelen. These include RL15, IMR4320, IMR3031, H380 with 225 gr Sierras and Nosler partitions. I also tried Nosler Ballistic Tips but they were way to long for my chamber/magazine lengths.

I settled on RL15 for all my Whelen reloads - 225 and 250 gr loads. It is simply the best I have found. With the 225's I use 59-60 grs. I was at 61 grs but that was too warm so I reduced to 59. I get great accuracy and velocity(2700 fps) with both 225's. Es ran 19-48.

Velocity is around 2630 fps with the 250 Hornadys using 58 grs. ES is 2 to 30.

From my notes I don't see a clear correlation between group size and ES

[ 08-20-2002, 19:46: Message edited by: Mauser98 ]

Several things.....(1) Try a milder primer. Unless I am loading for a big case I use a benchrest-type primer....(2) Have you deburred the inside of the flash holes. I know this may seem strange but my ES seem to come down a bit when I do this....(3) Do you segregate your cases by the number of times fired? Do you anneal your cases on a regular schedule. If you don't do this you aren't getting the neck tension you think you are.

Mauser98, I can't see a correlation at 100 yards, either. I really can't see a statistical difference between any of the groups (that is a GOOD thing in this case). At 250 or 300, though, a 200fps spread is going to add almost 3" in vertical spread from just the velocity.

In the end, it's a confidence thing. Don't want to have doubts of any kind when that 6x6 steps out from behind the tree this year. In other words, it's something that's bugging me, and I want it fixed! I could use Varget, but I really don't want to give up the speed/energy.

It's a good thing I'm not obsessed by this reloading stuff..... LOL! Dutch.

For whatever it's worth , RL 15 does deliver extremely uniform loads in my Whelen .

I think loading for a Whelen without some RL 15 on hand is sort of like swimming against the current .....

Another vote for RL-15 in the .35 Whelen. Give some a try.

-Bob F.

I would suggest a Lee Crimp die. I have one for all of my rifle cartridges and it did reduce the ES on all loads.

O.K, I get the drift. Time to quit swimming up-stream. Went to the local sporting goods emporium and got a can-o-RL15. I'll try the 215's under the TAC as well, can't hurt, even though the 210 should be plenty hot, as is.

If that doesn't help, I'll dial in for a crimp die. Appreciate everyone's input. Dutch.