I want to try the Speer 180 FP in my .35 Whelen, what has been your experience with this bullet on whitetails? Your preferred powder?

I shoot the 180 gr Speer bullet in my 35 Rem. It is a very soft bullet and expands nicely @ 35 Rem velocities. At 35 Whelan velocities it would literally come apart. It would be a varmit bullet You haven't indicated what you plan to shoot with that bullet in your Whelan but I would suggest the lightest you would want to use on deer sized game would be the 200 gr Hornady spire pt.

I would like to use the 180 on deer and understand the need to keep the velocity to .35 Remington levels.

keep it at the 35 rem speed and it will work like a bullet for deer.
speed it up and expect varmint bullet performance.

Why not a 180 grain TTSX for deer? I know they're more expensive than the Speer, but you don't have to worry about keeping your velocity low. Or the 200 grain Hornady Interlock would be another good choice for a low cost 35 Whelen bullet.

have shot some 190 grain single shot bullets before out of my Whelen.

They are silhouette bullets i believe.
The coyote did not like it.

I have, in 358, at stoopid vels, back in my young and bold reloading days ... i don't recall them being very accurate, and they did kill hogs

With all the good proven bullets out there why would you want to use a stubby 180 gr. bullet in any 35 caliber?? just interested..

I sometimes feel the need to use a certain rifle. If I want to use a 35 whelen, and my range is 150 or less, I'd use a load that preformed like a 35 rem.
I will add, I don't shoot critters up the arse, so premium bullets not needed.

quote:

Originally posted by theback40:
I will add, I don't shoot critters up the arse, so premium bullets not needed.

Premium bullets work when not shooting critters up the arse as well.

You don't shoot criters up the arse?

I have many times if for no other reason than someone wounded one and I didn't want it to get away.Anyone that hunts a lot will have to take a Texas heart shot from time to time.

Any bullet I use on game will normally have the ability to shoot lengthwise thru the game Im hunting..I have at times not followed that advise and paid the price, Im not without sin!

Ray, I don't care if you or anyone else shoots game up the ass, or in the lips for that matter.
I said I don't.
I was raised just slightly less strict then the Boer kids. You did not shoot game in the ass, period. I would have got my ass beat, and all the oldtimers around would have shunned me if I did. If it was facing the wrong way, I learned I was going to fast, or not paying good enough attention.
I teach new kids to hunt, they learn the same way. I have not had a kid loose a deer when I've been with them yet, but they do learn to be slow and patient. No guns allowed by the adult, and I hunt alone the rest of the time.
I hunt my way, and don't push it on others, they can do whatever floats their boat.

quote:

Originally posted by theback40:
I sometimes feel the need to use a certain rifle. If I want to use a 35 whelen, and my range is 150 or less, I'd use a load that preformed like a 35 rem.
I will add, I don't shoot critters up the arse, so premium bullets not needed.

Who can prophecy 150 yards or less for a future hunt? 150 yard spook can quickly turn into 250 yards stopped and broadside.

back40:

Pay the extra 30 cents or dollar, or whatever the extra expense of a premium bullet. You will probably get better groups which is honourable in hunting IMO and better kills from pass-thru's.

ar corey I don't care what you think.

Back 40

If your so sure then why ask..This is a forum of opinnions and conversation, and apparently you need only agreement, to bolster your ego, the perfect hunter that never needs a follow up..congratulations.

Ask a simple question looking for information and sure enough someone will come along and turn the thread into a pizzing contest. Thanks to all who posted positive useful info, all the others you know what you can do.

Ray, what did I ask?
You questioned why I don't shoot animals in the arse, then went on to say everyone who hunts much has to.
it's you with the ego, and acting like an ass, I only said it doesn't fit my style.

Gunswizard you are right, I apologize for any on my end. I tried to make it a simple answer about soft bullets. Any combo used with-in it's intended parameters works just fine. How an individual wants to change those parameters is up to them. My 2 cents, that NO-ONE has to agree with, nor looking for agreement.

You know what Gunswizard, that's AR for you. Personally in the 35 Whelen I have no desire to shoot 180's. Why, cause I don't have any or I'd use them. I did get some 200, 375'S and I am going to use them in the 375 H&H on hogs, but they are loaded to 375 Winchester velocities and I expect good performance. I am sure you'll get the same with yours.

I don't comprehend the choice to shoot such cheap bullets. I once watched a guy shoot a monarch bull elk with his 35 Remington handgun. He was all proud of "his caliber" and the shot was under 100 yards.

Most game is taken less than 200 yards yet what if you see an animal at 300? You are going to be wishing you went with a premium bullet at near full power.

Some people own 20+ rifles, or drive an 80,000 dollar 4x4 yet complain when a box of component bullets cost more than 20 dollars.

I have read articles from a few professional gun writers and the titles are all the same: "Do We Need Premiums?"

Obviously these writers are stirring up market share of advertising revenue because nobody will ever go broke choosing to shoot a Barnes, Nosler or Swift premium.

Look for your rifle caliber here:
https://www.speer-ammo.com/en/reloading/rifle

I have been monkeying around with a couple of 35 Whelens. Just for velocity reference, I tested the 180 gr Sierra SPBT in two 35 Whelens, one with a 1:10 Douglas barrel, and the other with a factory 1:16 barrel. The velocities between the barrels with the exact same load was surprising.

I did not receive better than average accuracy with the 180's, at least not with the loads I tried, so I stopped experimenting. I may try later, but my 225 Sierra SPBT's really showed outstanding accuracy with 55.0 grs IMR 3031, in the Remington, and my other testing have been with 220's, 225's, and 250's. I have an order of 200 pulled Federal Fusions coming, I will be giving those a try. In as much as shooters have liked IMR 4064 in this caliber, in my rifles, I am having good accuracy with slightly faster powders, such as IMR 3031, N135, and N140.


M1903 1:10 twist 24" Douglas barrel

180 Sierra SPBT 58.0 grs IMR 4064 wtd Lot 2449 CCI 200 OAL to cannulure
necked up R-P 30-06

16 Oct 2009 T = 65 °F

Ave Vel = 2506
Std Dev = 19
ES = 56
High = 2529
Low = 2473
N = 10

nice rounded primers, smoked case necks, no hangfires

180 Sierra SPBT 58.0 grs N135 wtd Lot 901/98 CCI 200 OAL to cannulure
necked up R-P 30-06

5 Nov 2014 T = 68 °F

Ave Vel = 2576
Std Dev = 16
ES = 39
High = 2594
Low = 2555
N = 5




M700 Remington 24" 1-16 twist

180 Sierra SPBT 58.0 grs N135 wtd Lot 901/98 CCI 200 OAL to cannulure
necked up R-P 30-06

13 Oct 2017 T = 75 °F

Ave Vel = 2666
Std Dev = 26
ES = 51
High = 2688
Low = 2637
N = 3