I loaded some of those 250 Grand Slams up last week and went to the range today. The cdl came thru again. It shot the G. Slams better than it did the hornadys.

WOW.....great shooting....I've never had much luck with Grand Slams.....maybe they have improved somewhat!

Ray, VERY nice. I'd load some up with the 59 grains and go 'get' something. That's a dynamite combo of accuracy and great versatile bullet IMO.

Good on ya--Don

Vapodog, I don't know I tried some in a .308 I just bought and the best I could get out of them was about 2 1/2" but I think the gun just doesn't like flatbase bullets. That 35 does like them though. Fish I'm going to run some over the chrony and see how fast they are going. Hopefully 2550 fps.

Yah! Attaboy! Good shooting.

I like Grand Slams, although I've never found any combination that shot like that. I confess I haven't tried them in the Whelen but I think maybe I ought to. -WSJ

Good shooting Ray. I have some of the Grand Slams also but haven't had time to try them yet. I hope they shoot that good in my rifle. Karry

Try them guys, all I did was measure the bullet, the brass and set the bullet in the brass .358 deep with loads of powder till I was at 59 grs. So I guess I got lucky.

Great shooting! Looks like the Grandslam load would give you the "do anything" load with a good bullet. I think the Grandslam is one tough bullet, but for some reason I can't seem to get them to shoot very accurately. Gotta love those Whelens! I love groups that look like that.

Ray: Thanks for the posting. I have the RL15 and will round up some GS's. Would make a great Moose load in my Classic!

Outstanding! And a randomly picked Load! I don't believe I'd do anything Load wise, except get more of the same Lots of those Bullets and the same for the Powder. Sure don't want to loose that combination.

Plenty of weenie Varmit rifles don't shoot that well. I'd guess there are some Hogs down your way that could use a good Grand Slam before Deer Season.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

Oh yeah, I've only taken one elk with this rifle so I need to add some more game to it's credit. I didn't think I would find a load that shot better than the 225 tsx's but I did. So far it's been real easy to get loads to work in this rifle usually just by working up towards max. The closer I get to max the better this gun shoots. I have wondered if all the cdl's shoot this good or if it's mostly the 35 whelens. I'm going to load up a few in 58 and 59 grs and chrony them.

Ray,
Keep us posted on the velocity and groups you are getting. I've got some RE15 and Hornady 200gr. sp and 250gr. rn that I need to work up loads for. So far the only thing I've shot through it are Rem 200gr. factory loads and my CDL does not like them at all.
Thanks, Greg

I will. I'm hoping it'll do that again, I've had loads fool me before. I think I need to tinker with the 225 tsx load a little more. I believe it'll do as good as this. That load will shoot one hole sometimes. Most of the time it hangs around an inch. I'll try to chronograph some this weekend.
BTW mine shot the 200 gr fac. loads 1 1/2"-2" when new. I haven't tried them since.

Now I'm very tempted to try the GrandSlams.

Only problem is that with 225 Accubonds or 200 TSX I dont need to think about trajectory. With Grandslams there is little room for error in distance estimation even on moose with ranges beyond 200 meters. The 200 TSX penetrate around 1 meter or over 3 feet in moose with impact velocity a bit less than 2600 fps, and they shoot very well in my gun. Its always fun to try something else and nice to have some testing to do at the range.

I am about to take possession of my new semi-custom 35 Whelen, so I have been looking for a variety of loads to try out. I have a number of reloading manuals at my bench. These include the Nornady, Sierra, Nosler, Lyman, Barnes, AND Speer manuals.

In the 13th ed. of the Speer manual for the 35 Whelen on the introductory page it lists 52,000 CUP as max pressure. The load data for the 250 gr GS and SP bullet lists 54 grains of RE 15 as max load with a MV of 2284fps. I know that one can work loads up beyond max listed in books and that these loads are 'guides', but is 5 extra grains of powder not a bit on the hot side? In fact except for the Barnes manuals I haven't seen a lozd that comes close to matching this with a MV to boot. Well, I take that back...except on a reloading forum listing 35 Whelen loads.

What gives? Am I missing something? I would definitely like to use this load, get this sort of accuracy and MV along with the power! But I do not want to take any chances. Could these be loaded down due to a variety of aging firearms? I do see that for the 220 grain fodder one can get the 59 gr RE 15 loads....And with the TSX you can get a load that rivals the high 50ish grain RE 15 load...but anyway...I would like to hear what people think.

RenegadeRN

What the heck? Who makes the Nornady book? LOL! I meant Hornady book.

That Whelen loves and was made for 250 Grain-er’s.
I wonder why Remington stopped making the 250 SP.

I still believe that the Whelen is too powerful for deer.

I have some Interlock 250 RN and will work on a load to try to match yours Ray, For our Black Bears here in NY and PA.
But I want to make a lighter bullet for deer you think I should go with the 180 or 200 Gr Interlocks……?

By the way Ray good shooting and it looks like you went right to a max load with 59Grs.
What Brass and Primer are you using?

vinnyg,

I am a bit taken aback by the statement that "the Whelen is too powerful for deer."

I do not have a Whelen ... but have used the 9,3x62 rather extensively in the US. It pushes a .366" bullet at 2404 fps in my loading. It has taken deer and pigs in the US and Impala, Warthog, Blue Wildebeast, Kudu and Zebra in Africa.

The chambering delivers DRT (dead right there) on impact ... and the meat damage done to white tails has been less I've seen with lighter bullets in .308 Win. The "heavier, larger diameter bullet, moving slower" works GREAT on deer and piggies.

The Whelen should work every bit as well.

quote:

Originally posted by RenegadeRN:
I am about to take possession of my new semi-custom 35 Whelen, so I have been looking for a variety of loads to try out. I have a number of reloading manuals at my bench. These include the Nornady, Sierra, Nosler, Lyman, Barnes, AND Speer manuals.

In the 13th ed. of the Speer manual for the 35 Whelen on the introductory page it lists 52,000 CUP as max pressure. The load data for the 250 gr GS and SP bullet lists 54 grains of RE 15 as max load with a MV of 2284fps. I know that one can work loads up beyond max listed in books and that these loads are 'guides', but is 5 extra grains of powder not a bit on the hot side? In fact except for the Barnes manuals I haven't seen a lozd that comes close to matching this with a MV to boot. Well, I take that back...except on a reloading forum listing 35 Whelen loads.

What gives? Am I missing something? I would definitely like to use this load, get this sort of accuracy and MV along with the power! But I do not want to take any chances. Could these be loaded down due to a variety of aging firearms? I do see that for the 220 grain fodder one can get the 59 gr RE 15 loads....And with the TSX you can get a load that rivals the high 50ish grain RE 15 load...but anyway...I would like to hear what people think.

RenegadeRN

I couldn't get anywhere near those internet loads in my Whelen. I got pressure signs well before book max. Thats why they list start loads, I believe in them again.

My 1992 Hercules powder reloading manual gives
a load of 59.5 gr. of RE-15. Alliant's website
gives the same load. I have used this load in
2 different rifles, a 1-16" Rem. and a 1-12"
Douglas with 250 gr. Partitions, 250 gr. Speer
Hot-cor and 250 gr. Hornady with excellent results and no pressure signs. I have not shot the Grand Slams. Be careful and good shooting.

quote:

2284fps

Sound very slow. The norwegian reloading bible "Ladeboken" list 58 gn N150 giving 2530fps and 58 gn Norma 203b giving 2570fps as max with a 250gn Norma Oryx

I have not tried these loads, but other 35 whelen loads from the same book seem conservative pressurewise in my gun.

I get to 60 gr RL15 in my Whelen with 225 TSX and would like to load up to 62 gr. but due to compression bullets will not seat to 3.30 which is where I need them in my tang safety Ruger.

I have found loads to be all over the boards on the Whelen mostly IMO due to the early autos made by Remington I believe it was. Just work up and enjoy the round.

Also use a lot of H4350 with 250 gr A Frame and Partitions in my Whelen.

Guys they are right, I got that load off Alliants web site. Due to speer#13 loading manual I worked up to 59 grs. from 51 grs. just to be on the safe side. We all know to work those loads up. Like muygrande I also am running 225 gr. TSX's with 60 grs. of RL-15. That load almost shoots as good as the GS loads. I'm starting to wonder if my rifle will shoot an even heavier bullet good. One of these days I may try.

Sorry guys I have been a little busy the past couple of days. Remington brass and winchester large rifle primers are what I use for all my whelen loads. So far this has been a good combo.

I think muygrande hit it on the head with ehe early autos made by Remington and being safe. I've been all over the place and except for Alliants website cannot find a dose of RL15 close to this. I wish that the manufacturers would get together and publish data that was not only more consistent, but listed loads for bolt guns, single shots, and pump/semi-auto loads. Heck, I load for a .300 Savage using 150grain fodder and found changes of max loads of THREE grains on the Nosler site versus other data I have. I know about the Sav99, but I have a Rem722 bolt gun. The same goes for my .223 and AR-15's, and other calibers.

Its just frustrating to say the least when you want to wring out the best from a bolt gun and can see from other people's hard work what the 35 Whelen has to offer.

Just back from the range, yeah skipped church. Did manage to seat a few of 225 TSX's to 3.32 in my 3.34 limited magazine. Load was 62 gr of RL 15 and no pressure signs. It was about 60 degrees. Also shot a few 60 gr loads. Ruger really wants to shoot the 62 gr load but I do not know the speed and am just not comfortable with the compression needed to hit the 62 gr load. Will back off to 59 or so and see if groups come back at the lower level. Did not like the 60 ish load too well.

This rifle really shoots the 250's (A Fr and Partitions) well with H4350. Guess I may have a desiginated 250 gr rifle!

Muygrande?
I noted you mention shooting H4350. I was wondering what your loads were for H4350? I like the idea of a 250gr rifle and was wanting to try some of the A Frames and Partitions when I get the rifle dialed in. The costs of throwing around bullets of that caliber can get expensive.

RRN, yes I have worked up a load of 61 gr H4350 using both the 250 nosler partition and the 250 a frame. As usual work up to this load as it is near max I believe.

Muygrande? I asked this because during a my initial 'rampage' in the reloading section of the store I bought 2lbs of H4350 thinking I would work up a load for a 30-06 of a friend of mine. Well of course it wasn't going to be the sweet powder for the rifle. Since I was the only one I know who reloads I was stuck with it. I wouldn't just fertilize the lawn to just fertilize it.

So NOW maybe I have use of the H4350 even though I still have IMR4064, WW748, and some RE15.

Reloading can be so tough when there is so little time and so many bullet and powder combinations!! LOL!

I just wish Nosler made a 250gr Accubond in .358. Wonder how the Barnes TSX bullets shoot? And did anyone notice that Swift makes a 280grain offering? And other specialized companies make up to 300grain? Does anyone have experience with the heavier grain bullets? Or do you think that would be venturing into areas best left to a different caliber for the situation?

I guess I have been lucky with the H4350 as I load with it for 25-06, 30-06 (3), and 300 H&H, 338-06 and the 35 Whelen.

My 35 is the Ruger with the dreaded 16 twist so the heavier than 250 gr bullets are of no interest. I would move to the 375 H&H for those heavier needs.

I have some of the original 250 gr. Grand Slam bullets with the dual cores. I haven't loaded them yet. One powder that has worked well in three .35 Whelen rifles, a Ruger 77 tang safety, Remington 700 Classic and a custom Oberndorf Mauser with a 1 in 14" twist is H-335.
Based on a web article by Paco Kelly. I started about 10 percent low and worked up to his max load of 53.0 gr. of H-335 using 250 gr. Speer Hot-cores, and Hornady round nose and Spire Point interlocks. Accuracy was good with all top loads running right around 1.0" to 1.25" at 2530 to 2550 FPS and absolutely no signs of pressure. I don't figure a big game rifle needs to have varmint rifle accuracy, although I'll admit it don't hurt. It's not like I'm shooting at Prairie Dogs at 400 yards.
The one time I tried RL-15, I couldn't come close to the 59.5 gr. load Alliant calls max. I've done a small amount of work with H-4895, IMR-4064 and IMR-4320, but so far the H-335 load is the most impressive in my rifles.
probably my all round choice for the Whelen will be the 250 gr. Speer Hot-core. A couple of my Canadian buddies use that bullet for all their moose and Grizzly Bear hunting. I figure that if they consider that bullet good for game up to bears, well then it ought to be good enough for anything I'll ever get to hunt. Hell! I didn't even draw an elk tag this year. If I get one next year, it'll be 6 years since I got to hunt elk. Now I'm just hoping for a deer tag. If I get one, you can bet I'll be taking the Whelen.
Paul B.

Well went over to a freinds house today and chronagraphed some loads. I forgot my load book so I just wrote the speeds down on a peice of paper. I lost the paper! It just wasn't my day today. But the loads exceeded my expectations. I do remember enough and just for the record the 59gr load looked hot this time so I only shot 1.

58grs. average vel.-2573 fps E.D. 10fps

58.5grs average vel.-2594 fps. E.D. 24fps

59grs. 1 shot 2607

I wasn't shooting groups so I wasn't really trying(I always worry about shooting the chrony), but even then the groups looked fine. I only loaded up three apiece because I almost ran out of RL-15. I need to buy more and I guess this comes in 5lb or 8lb. All I ever buy is 1 pound. Anyways I'll go back with the new powder and have a shootoff between the 58gr and 58.5gr load. Which ever one shoots the best wins! I hope the place I buy the powder at has the same lot number. . I'll be happy with either one.

Funny how everyone is always trying to get that last foot per second out of the 35 Whelen. It doesn't matter to me one bit if I am running at 2450 fps instead of 2550 with a 250 grain bullet. I have had perfectly acceptable results with 4320, 3031 and H380. Don't have a chrony and don't care. Work up a nice shooting load and go hunting. If I want a long range rifle I'll just pick one out from the gun safe.

rickt300, great, thats what it's all about is accuracy. Just so happens my rifle likes em warm, plus the fact I like to see what it can do. Groups started out not so good, 2", as I came up with the charge it shot better. My "long range" load is a 225 gr TSX @ 2730 with no pressure signs. I could push it farther but choose not to. I like loads that can be shot in any weather , hot or cold. Good luck guys.

Here's a 250 Grand Slam that I recovered from an Alaskan moose. Fired from a pre war Griffin and Howe Mauser chambered in 35 Whelen. Muzzle velocity just under 2500 fps. Range was about 80 yards. Excellent bullet performance!

I've had a 700 Rem Classic .35 Whelen since early 2000. I tried several different powders with only fair results. Someone tipped me off to RL 15. I worked up to 58.5 grains. This was with New Rem. Brass , WLRP's (the old ones), and 250 Grain Nosler PArtitions. I was rewarded with 2,525 average fps and several 5/8" groups. Seldom does it ever shoot into more than an inch as long as I don't mess up. I've shot 4 elk and 3 moose with that load. The longest shot was 280 lazered yards at a Wyoming moose standing looking straight at me. I used a pine tree for a rest and held on his nose allowing for 8-10 inches drop and fired.He kept spinning around and I kept shooting. All four rounds hit fairly close to each other and he dropped before he got into any rough stuff which made everybody happy (except the moose).
This has become my go-to rifle for most of my hunting.
Rich Elliott