The Accurate Reloading Forums
35 Whelen Twist
04 February 2012, 22:58
Ted6835 Whelen Twist
Ordering a Krieger 24" barrel for a 35W build. Will mostly be shooting 250 grainers. Sometimes lighter, others heavier. What is the suggested twist?
05 February 2012, 00:20
akrangeI've built 2 35 W's and 1 35 STA all with Krieger Barrels with a Twist of 1-14... Per Nolser's Recommendation...If your going to shoot their bullets then I'd think you'd want to choose that Twist... I shoot the 225 BT ,225 Part's, the 250 Part's and the the holes are crisp on the target at 200 yrd's...
Oh, and Elk Drop in der Tracks...
AK
05 February 2012, 05:06
tom hollandquote:
Originally posted by akrange:
I've built 2 35 W's and 1 35 STA all with Krieger Barrels with a Twist of 1-14... Per Nolser's Recommendation...If your going to shoot their bullets then I'd think you'd want to choose that Twist... I shoot the 225 BT ,225 Part's, the 250 Part's and the the holes are crisp on the target at 200 yrd's...
Oh, and Elk Drop in der Tracks...
AK
Nosler reloading manual uses custom barrels for their reloading data. Manual #6 they used a Lilja 1/12 twist for the 35 Whelen.
VFW
05 February 2012, 06:28
akrangeTom
I talked with their Rep..I think his name started with Chub...
05 February 2012, 08:40
376 steyrGo with the 1 n 12" twist.
05 February 2012, 18:00
tom hollandquote:
Originally posted by akrange:
Tom
I talked with their Rep..I think his name started with Chub...
Must of been some time ago as Nosler Manual #6 published 2007 doesn't list the 225gr BT it's been replaced with 225gr Accubond.
I'm shooting the 225gr AB in a 35 WhelenAI.
VFW
05 February 2012, 18:48
akrangeYa I'm Old ... The BT's boxes all say 35 Whelen on them.. Like 15 of them.. Now how Old are they would you say..
I hope I live long enough to be able to shoot some of those Accubonds.. I got to burn a lot of 4320 and those BT's First..
What's going First Me or the Barrels....
05 February 2012, 18:54
vapodogquote:
Originally posted by 376 steyr:
Go with the 1 n 12" twist.

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05 February 2012, 21:21
tom hollandquote:
Originally posted by Ted68:
Ordering a Krieger 24" barrel for a 35W build. Will mostly be shooting 250 grainers. Sometimes lighter, others heavier. What is the suggested twist?
What I do is call Krieger tekll them the bullets you want to use see what they say as to twist.
VFW
05 February 2012, 21:45
Fury01It is the "sometimes heavier" that calls you to the 1-12. Sometimes the 1/14 works fine on the "sometimes heavier" and sometimes it does not. I don't recall much being written on the 1-12 not working on the "sometimes lighter." In the sometimes heavier catagory are some very fine bullets in .358 caliber available nowadays should you want to use 275, 280, or +300 grains on something. If one talks cast bullets, the finest bullet ever made for the 35 caliber, the Lyman 358009 and it's copies runs from 280 grain to 290+ depending on moulds and alloys. Again though 1-14 sometimes works fine...sometimes it does not. Either choice you make, you will love the Whelen, a true big game classic in every sense of the word.
best regards,
dmw
"The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights."
~George Washington - 1789
05 February 2012, 23:09
tom hollandquote:
Originally posted by akrange:
Ya I'm Old ... The BT's boxes all say 35 Whelen on them.. Like 15 of them.. Now how Old are they would you say..
I hope I live long enough to be able to shoot some of those Accubonds.. I got to burn a lot of 4320 and those BT's First..
What's going First Me or the Barrels....
The Nosler 225gr BT was only in one Nosler manual which was #5 published 2002
VFW
06 February 2012, 01:04
akrangeMr.T
Somewhere between #4 1996 and # 5 2002 the BT's came to be... I'll use the "96" baseline that's 16 Years ... How time Flys... No Flyer's with a 1-14 Twist Either...
06 February 2012, 02:58
BarstoolerFaster twist does not hurt anything.
1:12 as a minimum if you want to shoot 275gr.
You want to shoot heavier than that then get a 1:10 twist.
Barstooler
06 February 2012, 03:16
tom hollandquote:
Originally posted by akrange:
Mr.T
Somewhere between #4 1996 and # 5 2002 the BT's came to be... I'll use the "96" baseline that's 16 Years ... How time Flys... No Flyer's with a 1-14 Twist Either...
Got a question what year did you call Nosler about the 1x14 twist barrel? Since the #4 manual has 6yr different I say the 225gr AB came out 1999 that make it 13yrs old.
VFW
06 February 2012, 03:26
Yentna River1 in 12" to stablize 250gr and heavier (longer) bullets. These are the bullets the whelen was designed for. Oh yea, you can shoot lighter bullets in a 1 in 12" twist barrel just fine.
IMO, Remington hamstrung one of the finest American hunting cartridges when they offered the 35 whelen in a rifle with a 1 in 16" barrel and under loaded factory ammo. A damn shame.
Oh, and for those who beleive there is no differance between a 225gr 358 and a 220gr 308 all I have to say is bullet diameter counts and it counts a hell of a lot more when dealing with the largest NA game. I'm not saying the 30-06 with 220s isn't capable but I would choose a whelen over an 30-06 for the big stuff every time. And if you go up in weight to 250 or 275 it's in a completely different class. Shoot a bear with a 275 woodleigh and you'll know exactly what I mean.
Steve
06 February 2012, 04:40
jeffeosso1:12 is the great compromise - 1:10 is better, 1:14 still works, 1:16 is too slow
06 February 2012, 17:02
Arild IversenMy old reliable "Ugly Betty" a Ruger M77 has a 22" Shilen barrel with 1-14 twist.
It shoots very well with both 225 grs Game Kings and 250 grs Woodleig RN. Those are my go to bullets, and they have counted for quite a few red deer over the years.
As the 1-12 most likely would be an asset talking of the heavier bullets, I find that the 1-14 is a very good compromise.
Arild Iversen.
07 February 2012, 06:07
wheleniteMy custom Mark X Whelen AI has a 24" long 14" twist barrel and it stabilizes all bullets beautifully up through the 275 Hawk with .035 jacket. I think for the 280 Swift or 300 grainers I'd want the 1 in 12.
07 February 2012, 11:38
akrangeIt's just me but if I were going to Shoot over 250gr. bullets I'd pick the .375 H&H... Let's face it the "Poor Mans" .375 H&H meaning the Whelen does not apply in this day and age..
250 Grain bullets @2600 FPS will Kill everything in N.America out to 200 yrds... If you want to do the same with 275gr. Bullet pick up the .375 H&H... Know New Twist to the Story...
07 February 2012, 22:09
Jerry EdenI agree with AKRANGE. My Whelen is twisted 12". The heaviest bullet I'll ever shoot in it, or want to shoot in it, is the 250. I have learned to really like the 225 Ballistic tip. On elk and buffalo it is just a superior performer. The last buffalo shot with my Whelen and a 225 Ballistic tip, it went this way. At the shot the buffalo, spun around spewing blood everywhere, and dropped, DRT. About 1300lbs. Same on elk. IMO, nothing else is needed in North America, heavier bullet, Africa, I also have a 375 H&H.
Jerry
NRA Benefactor Life Member
07 February 2012, 23:01
BISCUT+2. Heavier I would go to 375 H&H as well. Love my Whelen AI. Went with Hart 1/14 25".
08 February 2012, 00:49
Paul BThe more I play with the Whelen, the more I like it. Currently I have a Ruger M77, Remington M700 Classic, having 1 in 16"twists and a custom Mauser I picked up at at estate sale that fits me so well, you'd swear it was made for me. It has a 1 in 14" twist. All three rifles will shoot the 250 gr. bullets accurately. I have exactly 35 Hornady 275 gr. bullets I picked up at a gun show but haven't loaded them yet. Seems, according to the Hornady #1 load manual that the bullets had already been discontined. I would think that at any top velocity a .35 Whelen could put out with that weight a bullet that no premium configuation would ne necessary.
I have two Canadian pen pals that shoot the Whelen for Bullwinkle and their bullet choice is the Speer 250 gr. Hot-Core. A couple of years back one of the guys drew a coveted tag for Grizzly Bear. He used his normal load for moose. The sad part was the bear didn't cooperate so we'll never know how it would have worked for him I happen to think he'd of been just fine.
I'm thinking of doing another build, but whether it will be another Whelen or a 338-06 is the question. If it is a Whelen though, it will have a 1 in 12" twist
Paul B..
08 February 2012, 02:01
jpexPaul B , I have a bunch of Hornady and Barnes 275 -300 gr. 35 cal. I also have 100 Swift
A-Frame 280 gr. I was going to list them on Gunbroker but if you are interested PM me.
Any other 35 cal shooters can also. I haven't counted them but its a couple hundred at least.
Just wanted to give a heads up. If any interest I can list them in classified on AR.
09 February 2012, 03:36
Ted68Twelve it is. Thanks everyone.