I found a deal on some Hornady .358" 275gr roundnose bullets. I scooped 'em up before anyone else could get 'em even though it is reported that the 1:16 twist rate won't stabilize anything over 250gr.

Has anyone had success with bullets heavier than 250gr in the Whelen with the facotry 1:16 twist? What was your load?

I have a Remington 7600 and an NEF Ultra-Handi in the Whelen. If these 275's won't stabilize, I suppose I will be forced to have a Whelen built with a 1:14 twist huh? It would be wrong to let these bullets go to waste, right?

Always wondered why they would use a 1 in 16 twist in the whelen and a 1 in 10 twist in the various 338s. Seems like I read that they use a 1 in 12 twist in the .376 steyr.

Elmer Keith was a big fan of heavy bullets in the 35 Whelen. Shoot them and see what happens.
What is the length of the 275 RN's compared to the 250gr SPZ?

The .338WM uses a 1 in 10 twist.

[ 11-18-2003, 06:22: Message edited by: Ray, Alaska ]

I'll bet those sucker's will flop. That's a long bullet. If you do rebarrel, or make another whelen, consider the 12" twist. One for the 220 grainers, the other for the 275's. Swift, woodleigh, others also make nice, heavy bullets, maybe A-Square if they get their act together.
And they will both probably handle the 250's well, though I'd put my money on the 12".
I might be interested in buying them from you if it doesn't work out.
Cheers.

When Howe developed the .35 Whelen, the 1 in 12" twist was the rate of choice. Why in hell Remington and Ruger used the 1 in 16" twist is beyond me, although I have a sneaking hunch on that. If you read P.O. Ackley's HANDBOOK FOR SHOOTERS AND RELOADERS, he says the standard twist is 1 in 14" and special twist is 1 in 16".
Methinks the two "R"s had their head up their arses.
Paul B.

TXpitdog ,
Did you ever get around to shooting any of the 275gr RN in your 1X16 twist rifles??

Harpy

I shoot 275 gr Barnes Originals at 2350 fps in my Remington 700 .35 Whelen with excellent accuracy. (Remington brass, WW primers, H335 powder. Around 50-51 grains, as I recall.) I suspect Hornady 275 gr RN's are shorter than the Barnes semi-spitzers, and might shoot even better. Fortunately, I learned that 1-16" twist wouldn't stabilize 250 and heavier bullets after I had developed accurate reloads with a number of different bullets. I am trying to keep this information from my rifle, so that it will continue to shoot well.

I would also be interested in some of the bullets, if they don't work out for you.

Muledeer. I'm shooting the Lyman #3589 and a copy from a custom mold maker with the nose slightly flattened. Both bullets are surprisingly good groupers in my Reminton 700 Classic. One group was actually the size of a dime. The #3589 weighs 285 gr. and the custom mold 10 gr. less.
I have 35 of those Hornady bullets, discontunued in 1967 BTW and would like to find more. never know when a surly T-Rex might come stomping through my back yard.
Funny thing though. While the remington shoots those bullets just fine, My Ruger 77 tanf safety model scatters them all over the place, as does a custom mauser with a 1 in 14" twist. They just don't like those bullets.
Paul B.