Anybody load their Whelen or Whelen Imp with >250g bullets?
I'd love to hear about it.

BTT.
I'm not looking for reloading data, just an idea of what the round will do with big bullets.
Note, I didn't say "hot," just "heavy," as in "heavy bullets."
Don't be shy!

Hey Bwana-be,

I have a custom 35 Whelen on a VZ24 action that I had made just for shooting heavy bullets. It has a 27" Shilen barrel and has been throated to shoot 310 gr. Woodleighs.

The data I ran on this rifle shows that it can shoot a 280 gr. Swift at 2,547 with 60 grains of RE15. I used a Beta Master Chrony to develop the data. No pressure signs were observable as long as the temperature was 50 degrees or cooler. (I did some shooting at 90+ degrees last summer and started blowing primers.) The accuracy was sub MOA. The rifle has a classic Oberndorf stock in Claro Walnut with a very large schnabel. The recoil comes straight back with very little jump.

I couldn't find a powder that gave velocities much above 2,300 fps with the 310 gr. Woodleighs. I believe I will stick with the 280 gr. Swift bullet. (I use only one bullet with each of my rifles and that bullet is usually the heaviest bullet that I will yield the best combination of velocity and accuracy.)

I can't wait for the opportunity to use this rifle on something like an eld, moose or one of the big bears. Maybe some day.

I certainly don't recommend this load to anyone because this rifle has been designed for shooting heavy bullets. If you don't have a rifle designed for shooting heavy bullets then, be safe and don't attempt this load. If you do have a rifle that is designed to shoot heavy bullets, then, back off the powder 10 percent and work your way up very slowly.

Bwana-be, hope this info. is helpful.

Good shooting,

Smoker*

Hey Bwana-be,

Oh yeah, if I could figure out how to post pictures to this board, I'd post some of the pictures I had taken of this rifle. My gunsmiths did a fantastic job.

Smoker*

go to faq at the top of the page(s).

Hey Bwana-be,

I think I have it...

Thanks,

Smoker

35 Whelen

35 Whelen Full View

35 Whelen - Checkered Schnabel

35 Whelen - Jeweling of the bolt.

Smoker, that's a smokin' piece!
Is that a 26" bbl? What's the twist?
Me likes that forend.

Hey Bwana-be,

I believe the twist is the standard 1-14. The barrel is a 27", #4 contour Shilen.

I asked the gunsmith to leave the schnabel large and asked that it be checkered. I thought it would be something really different. It is...the way the schnabel is formed on the underside is a real hazard. I took out a nice piece of meat from my knuckle with the first 310 gr. Woodleigh I shot. After that I learned to keep my hand back a little.

What I like most about the gun is that even though the rifle looks like a million bucks, it shoots like a million bucks too.

Thanks for the heads-up about the FAQs. They helped me get the answers I was looking for.

Good shooting,

Smoker*

Bear/Moose load
35 Whelen in Rem 7600

Speer 250 SPT
IMR 4320 @ 56.0
Fed 210 GM Primers
Fed Prem Cases

2600 FPS load in my rifle....very accurate.