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Hi Gentlemen, I do not reload, but I know where to come for good advice...AR! Can someone tell me the best velocity I can hope for using a 280 gr. SAF in a 35 Whelen, with a 22 or 23" barrel? What powder would produce these results? Thanking you in advance. | ||
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Maybe 2,350 fps w/RL-17 Not my load, just off of Quickload "Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" -- Ronald Reagan "Ignorance of The People gives strength to totalitarians." Want to make just about anything work better? Keep the government as far away from it as possible, then step back and behold the wonderment and goodness. | |||
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I concur. Ray gets more velocity w/ RL 17 in his 9.3x62 than my speed gun shows. W/ a 280 in the Whelen, 2350 seems very doable. Might be a bit shy of a 9.3x62 w/ 286g, but not very much. | |||
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I get 2400 out of a Whelen AI with 24" barrel using the 275 Hawk bullet over Alliant PP 2000-MR. I think 2350 is a little ambitious for a standard Whelen and 280 Swift. But even at 2275-2300 it should be a great killer of tough game. | |||
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I get 2412 and 2415 FPS respectively with both RL-15 and WW-748 with a 275 gr. Swift, and decent brass life in my Jack Haugh 24 inch barrel mauser..I can get a better than that with RL-15, but a little better accuracy at the 2412 FPS....and see no need for more velocity with that heavy bullet..Several Reloading books show similar results. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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I use varget in my brown whelen behind a 275 woodleigh for a little over 2500. A-frames seem to biuld higher pressure than woodleighs from what I've seen. Usually running about 50fps slower. If you were getting 2350 with a swift 280gr then I would expect 2400+ with the 275gr woodleigh. Either one would be a freakin hammer at those velocities. Also, the heavier bullets like the 275,280,and 300gr are the bullet weights that built the whelen's reputation as a great killer of heavy game. It's nice to see a post from someone who gets it. 225s work ok and shoot a little flatter but.....why use a whelen? 250 and up, that's why. Steve | |||
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Thanks everybody. I appreciate all of your responses and shared wisdom. | |||
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Steve, I have been considering punching out my 35 Whelen to a brown whelen, Ackley shows it to compete with the 358 Norma, but cases are a pain to make as necking up to 40 and down to 35, then having to fireform each case has been my concern (getting lazy in my old age)...The 35 Whelen IMP. isn't enough to bother with IMO, but the Brown Whelen keeps haunting me!!  Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Ray, It's a "labor of love" I guess. The way I see it, the standard whelen works damn fine as is. After all it's the bullet that does the work and 2400+ with a 275gr woodleigh does a lot of work. I don't push my brown very hard anyway. By the way Ray, what were your results with RL17 and the 310 woodleigh? Steve | |||
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I got about 2210 FPS av. with RL 15 but I'm not there yet, I am hoping for 2300 to 2350 but that may be optimistic..I use Lothar Walthar barrels and have always gotten more velocity with them than with other barrels. I have yet to shoot the RL-17 loads, been real busy and had a brush with my ticker and just now healing up and hairing over.. Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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Sorry to hear about that Ray. Hope you heal up stronger than ever. Seems we live long enough to learn a few things and about that time the body starts to give out. Well, when I pushed my brown whelen to see what it would do I was using H-4350 and seating the bullet long. Was getting 2450 with the 310 woodleigh. It was a heavily compressed load and that's where the RL17 may be better. Maybe a little slow burning for the standard whelen case but you never know till you try. Max impact velocity is 2200 for that bullet so 2300 to 2350 over the crony is about right. Good luck. Steve | |||
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Ray, Hope you start healing very quickly. We're pulling for you! | |||
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I know I'm late for the party but I just got my M70 back from J.E.S. Reboring and It was chambered for 35 Whelen AI and I can say I'm impressed with what you can get out of the AI so far. It's what the Standard Whelen should have been. So far I've only worked with the 200gr AB which I plan on using for White Tail deer and so far it will out perform a 300 Win mag and pushing a 338 Win mag. Can't wait to see what it will do with heavier bullets but taking it one load at a time. | |||
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Yeah, you go man! Those that call the Whelen a brush cartridge are repeating lore from the forties, when powders were wanting. The 35 Whelen is the do it all medium medium. Welcome to the forum | |||
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Thanks guys, a stint is an easy deal, got 2 of them and going strong, mowed the lawn two days later..Id rather get a stint installed than a root canal!!  The down side is they won't let me eat but 6 oz. of beef once a week, but I can eat buffalo, elk and deer as much as chicken and fish so this should be a bumper year hunting, but I am now officially a subsistence hunter, no more time for trophy hunting..I've become a hunter-gather!  Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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What is the twist in your barrel.. | |||
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I had it bored with a 1-12", I also had the chamber throated for a OAL of 3.500". This is still shorter than a Remington Factory chamber which is 3.638" in my Classic M700 35 Whelen. It's a proven fact that you don't need to touch the lands to get good accuracy and I like the idea of a little free bore to hold down excessive pressure. And thanks for the welcome to the forum. I've lurked for awhile but couldn't resist when I saw the Whelen post. | |||
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I have a problem of sorts with my Jack Hough 35 Whelen other than it being too nice to hunt with but I'll get by that..The problem being its built on a ultra rare single square bridge action by Obendorf in 30-06 length. These were only produced for Wesley Richards for the .318 WR...I go into cold sweats thinking about scoping it and have been shooting it with the irons that came with it..Jacks guns are bloody expensive...the need for a scope is creeping up on me as I continue to age, dammit!! So do I grind the square bridge for Talleys or cut the wood for Griffen and Howes, what to do???? maybe sell it? Other scope options? Its a problem as its the finest custom rifle I've ever seen and many a sho nuff expert has defiled me for the thought of changing it in any way..Jack Belk and Dave Wesbrook went into convulsions when I said lets cut it off, install Talleys and rechamber it to a 358 Norma or 35 Brown Whelen! decisions, decisions??? What is the opine of the local AR crowd?  Ray Atkinson Atkinson Hunting Adventures 10 Ward Lane, Filer, Idaho, 83328 208-731-4120 rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com | |||
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It's probably worth more the way it is fwiw | |||
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If you could post some pictures it might be easier to advise on what to do. No rifle is worth anything if you can't use it the way it is and only you can make the decision on modifications. If it were mine it would be a know brainer and I would scope it. | |||
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I had a 35 Whelen years ago and was appalled at the rainbow trajectory of the 250 grain bullets. Now I shoot 286 grain bullets in 9.3X62s and think it is a great caliber. Maybe I've learned to limit the distance I shoot. Quick, Cheap, or Good: Pick Two | |||
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Ray, that's a hell of a pickle you are in. I dunno what I would do -- mebbe grill a bison tenderloin and think on it some more. There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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I think most persons consider the 35 Whelen as a 'rainbow' trajectory as well. Factory loaded ammo with the 250 gr. @2,400 fps doesn't help. In my Dakota 35 Whelen, I shoot Nosler Custom factory ammo which is a 250 gr. NP @2,550 fps. In this rifle, that load produces a 2-0-10 trajectory with a 23" barrel. A 30-06 180 gr. bullet @2,700 fps is traditionally a 2-0-9 rifle. Few persons consider a 30-06 a rainbow tosser. The difference of an inch at 300 yds. means nothing to me at least, and the 35 cal. 250 grainer hits a bit harder than the 30 caliber 180 grainer. Some folks here on AR have said that they get 2,600 fps out of their Whelen with a 250 gr. bullet. Would someone else tell me what trajectory you get out of your Whelen? Thanks in advance. | |||
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Interesting comments. Not sure what velocity I get out of my Whelen, but I do know I was not happy with the way it shot as it came from the factory. It is a Model 77 Ruger, and came from the factory with a 22 inch piece of stove pipe. After 3 years working with it I had it re-barreled with a 26 inch Shaw No. 3 Sporter weight barrel and started working with 225 grain Barnes "X" flat base bullets and the rifle and I both like the results. I am not a fan of barrels under 24 inches even in brush. I feel with the load I am using I am in good shape out to 300 maybe 350 but rarely ever have to try such shots. Just my experiences with the caliber. Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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Crazy Horse, is your Model 77 from the early years when Ruger was famous for lousy subcontracted barrels? (I had one of those in 7X57.) There is hope, even when your brain tells you there isn’t. – John Green, author | |||
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Possibly, I believe mine was from either the first or second year that the 77 was offered in .35 Whelen, it is a Tang Safety model. It is a great rifle, especially after having the new barrel installed. I have killed 3 or 4 elk, a caribou, an axis deer, several white tails/feral hogs and coyotes with it. There was just something about that 22 inch barrel that did not work for me. As a side note, before I went to the 225 Grain "X" Flat Base bullets, the rifle really did a great job with 250 grain Remington Round Nose Core-Locts. | |||
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I load mid range charge weight for 250gr an ar2208/varget, an I would estimate that not much faster then 2350-2380? from the Hawkeye and 22 inch barrel... it shot accurately here and has no need for speed as I use other cals for that now days, still I would load hotter if I did want the best trajectory I could of the whelen, my case life seems to be exceptional too. in aus we have 185gr .358 projies made of Copper which are apparently Buff worthy! WL | |||
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One can also buy Barnes 185 grain loaded ammo which has a fairly flat trajectory. As a hand loader I use the 225 grain accubond and (coupled with a good rangefinder) consider the .35 Whelen a darn fine Big game round to 400 yards. I delivers boo koo energy out there and has a trajectory very similar to a hot loaded .30-06.....and that's not all that bad! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// "Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill | |||
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I leave Thurs for Elk in CO. My rifle choice this year, LaPour/Kobe 35 Whelen loaded w/ 225 NAB @ 2670 fps. I'm feeling good a/b my choice ! I can't wait to hear the boys screaming all nite long ! HOPFULLY, I'll have a cooler full of organic meat on the way home. | |||
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Texas Killartist, Welcome to CO. I love hunting elk here more than anything else. Good luck to you! You brought the right rifle... | |||
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