I thought this kind of thing never happened to me, but get this. I found a VERY nice BDL in 35 Whelen at a pawn shop of all places. Out the door - $350 and he even threw in a gun case! Looks like it hasn't even had a box of rnds down the tube. The bluing on the bolt lugs is perfect and the stock has two small dings on it. I am guessing the pawn shop caused those. Bore is new too of course.
This is my first Whelen so I am pretty pumped. Testing some loads today if it isn't too darned cold.
Here's what I am starting with:
200 gr Hornady SP w/53.5 through 55.0 gr of H335. Brass is some Federal 30-06 stuff I had laying around. Federal brass doesn't last long so I thought I would use it for my first session, then get into better brass. I am going to move up to the 225's and 250's as soon as I can find some somewhat reasonable (price) bullets.
I'm a happy new Whelen owner!!

Congrat's on the find. I never get that lucky. I haven't tried H335 but have had good luck RL-15 and 225gr. XXX shocks. I am going to try some 225gr. accubonds and see how they shoot. I didn't know there were any BDL's in 35 whelen made. I have the CDL and I believe the classic was chambered so. Let us know how your very cool find shoots. The pawn shops around here want new prices for used guns so I don't go much anymore.

Reloader 15 and BLC-2 are the powders I use for my Whelen and 250 grainers.

Actually, I didn't know Remington made the BDL in Whelen either, but irregardless, there it was. I shot it yesterday, but only 5 times and only 25 yds. Only took one adjustment to get it dead on at 25. That should put me about 2.5-3 inches hig at 100. Not that it means anything, but after my first shot and the adjustment, my next 3 shots were all a little cloverleaf. I think its going to be a shooter. If its not too darn cold this afternoon, I plan on stretching it to 100 and 200 yds.
I fired the 53.5 gr load and it was a pussycat. So now I'll work up to the rifle's max.
Oh yeah, I also found some bullets at one of the gun shops that I haunt. $14.00 a box for Hornady 250's, Win PP 250's, and Hornady 200's. I bought 4 boxes. I'm set with bullets for a little while. Anybody have any luck with the Winchester PP's? They look like a well made bullet.

I fired it today at 100 yds. It's a keeper. I'll put my last group of the day as a link below. The 200 gr Hornady SP and 54.5 gr load of H335 seemed to be a nice mild load and gave the best group. Velocity was 2640 mean; and the groups averaged around 3/4" with the last group just under 1/2".

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c65/Billx55/Whelen/Whelen1.jpg

Nice find, I worked up a load for my 35 whelen imp. using H380 and 225 gr.bullets and am getting well under inch groups at 100 yards. Everything I've read about the 35 whelen said it was only good up to 250 yards. Last year I took it hunting and baged two white tails at just about 400 yards. It is one of my favorite rifles.

Gotta be happy with that load, and the rifle too !
My whelen is a custom mauser I like it alot. I recomend you look at the aliant web site and get the data for the 250 grain bullets and RL 15. I use the max load listed, and it about fills the case. gets right at 2600 and real good groups.
I would like to try some of the .225 grain tripple shocks.
Enjoy, its a good one !
...tj3006

Bill, I have a Remington Classic in .35 Whelen. My pet load is:

Remington case, Reminton 91/2 primer, 58 grs. Reloder 15 and a 250 gr. Speer spitzer seated to OAL of 3.295.

With that load it shoots like gangbusters!

Standard caveat, start low and work up.

Dave

Thanks for all the advise guys. This thing is my first rifle above .308 and I now see why you all rave about them. It's just fun to seat that big'ol fat pill. And even more of a kick to trip the trigger on it. Now I have to wait 9 months for deer season!!
I think I'll try them 250's next with some RL 15. I got a smoking deal on some 8 pounders at Camp Perry last year and been waiting for an excuse to pop the seal on one.
It's going to be hard to beat the accuracy of the H335 load though. There were no pressure signs at all with those loads, so I may sneak up a little and see what happens. If the accuracy lessens though, I am going back to the 54.5 gr load. Besides, it was about 20 degrees when I shot, so I can expect some increase in velocity and pressure when it starts to warm up.
I'll post results when I try the 250's.