For 275 gr bullets , Hodgdon #26 gives a starting load of 51 gr RL 15 for 2234 fps @42000 cup and a max of 55 gr RL 15 for 2392 fps @47500 cup . They don't mention what brand of 275 gr bullet they tested .

Just got 270gr. North Forks for my 35 Whelen and am looking for recipes. Mike @ North Fork says good results would come from IMR 4320, Reloader 15. Understandibly, he is reluctant to recommend anything but minimum loads to start with.



I ran this through Accuload, which I don't have the most confidence in, and came up with a mid-range load of 48 gr. of either powder. Also looks like Vitvouri 135 could be interesting. I have a long throat in this rifle.

Any inputs would be appreciated.



Thanks,



Bob

Hey Borealis Bob,

I have a custom .35 Whelen built on a VZ24 action. I had my Whelen built so that it would handle heavy bullets and get as much out of cartridge as can be expected. I wears a 27" Shilen barrel. The data I collected a couple years ago shows that with a 280 gr. Swift I was getting 2,547 fps and with the 310 gr. Woodleigh I was getting 2,200+ fps. The powder I was using was RL-15. My gunsmiths said that it appears I am able to get that velocity because of the longer barrel and having the chamber long-throated.

I have to be careful with the RL15 because the RL15 appears to be temperature sensitive. For me, the 280 gr. Swift proved to be excellent in both velocity and accuracy. I hope that the North Fork would be equally accurate. The next lot of bullets I get, I will buy North Fork. I have heard a lot about the bullets on this bulletin board and others and from what I've read, they seem to be perfectly adequate for larger game.

Here are some pictures of my rifle...which I am happy to show off at the least provocation.

Good Shooting,

Smoker*

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63937&sort=7&thecat=544&password=

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63940&sort=7&thecat=544&password=

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63942&sort=7&thecat=998&password=

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63941&sort=7&thecat=998&password=

In my 24" barreled FN 35 whelen I use 56.0 grains of RE15 with the 250 grain North Fork for 2550fps. You can roughly extrapolate from here that at least a grain or 2 less would be a safe and sensible maximum. Remember NF's use a slightly lower powder charge to achieve the same pressure and velocity as traditional cup and core bullets so the load data quoted from Hodgdon should be backed off a bit. I would load according to the chronograph, 2400 fps should be absolute max. as long as you don't have other pressure sign s before it.

Your loads make sense. Accuload tends to be quite conservative on some loads, so one never knows.

Thanks for the help.