I'd like to try Varget in my .35 Whelen, but load data seems sparse. Plan to ty the 225gr Speer Hot Core, and the 250gr Hornady RN. Starting load suggestions/comments would be appreciated.

Pedestal

With 250gr Hornady spire point I use 55gr Varget and 210M Federal primer for 2450 fps in my Rem classic.
Havent tried the 225gr. This load thumps deer, little hole going in, very big exit hole. The best part no tracking job. I might add that I have shot deer as close as 60-70 yds and as far as 150 yds all with the
same results.

Deans

Pedestal

A question. Is the 225gr you are referring to actually the Sierra Boatail? Or, do you mean a 220 Speer FT? Or...is there something new on the market these days that I'm not aware of. I'd like that!

I have no experience with Varget in the Whelen.
R-15, IMR4064, and IMR4895 are my go-to powders for the Whelen. Varget should work just fine.

The Hornady and Speer 250's are both fine bullets as is the 225 Nosler Partition (my favorite).

WN

WN

Made a typo-its the Speer 220gr FN... Rl15 seems to be the goto powder, but I don't have any, so I wanted to try something I had on hand.
General question: Mag primers or standard?

I'm pretty sure Hodgdon has their Varget/Whelen data online at their website . In my experience , Varget will produce about the same speeds as RL15 , but my impression is with maybe a bit more pressure . Some folks do prefer the Varget .

Standard primers are fine .

Try both std and mag primers. There's no real way to predict which will work better with any given load. In my Whelen and using RL15, switching from standard to magnum primers with no other change shrank my groups from about 2 moa down to a true sub-moa (and upped the velocity by 15 fps, dropped the SD by 2 fps, and gave no pressure signs).

Hi Pedestal,

Hodgdon lists 55gr of Varget at their website as maximum for the 250 grs Hdy SP. Deans has already mentioned that load but since its declared maximum i would step back a few grains for starting. Steve´s reloading pages http://www.again.net/~steve/358_2_250.html lists 49,5 to 55 grains.

For the 225gr Speer Hot Core i think there is some loading data in the latest Speer reloading manual. Unfortunately i don´t have it at hand in this momment.

http://www.again.net/~steve/358_2_200.html lists from 52,0 to 61,0 grains of Varget.

Hope this helps!