Heavy Bullets in the 35 Whelen

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

JPW, yes, perhaps you can say that. Because a cartridge is capable of being pushed at X velocity it doesn't mean I have to push it to the max. I'm having perfectly good results with moderate ballistics--mostly those that duplicate classic British cartridges. I'm sure I'm missing out, but I'm too old to change.

@Tom Leoni
Not to old to change mate but you have found what works for you. As long as it works have fun, it's just nice to know that better velocity is achievable if you need it.
Bob

 

[Tom Leoni]

@Tom Leoni
Not to old to change mate but you have found what works for you. As long as it works have fun, it's just nice to know that better velocity is achievable if you need it.
Bob

Thanks, Bob--very much noted. Somehow I've always stuck to mid-range loads--nothing particularly philosophical about it, just (as you said) what has worked for me for a long time. One of these years I'll have to give "your" caliber a try. I think it's one of the best designed wildcats in history, and one that deserves a wider fan-base.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Sierra list max velocity of the 225 game king with cfe223 at 2900 fps. That seams to be getting pretty hot, what do you think?

@35400Whelen
Finally got around to trying Sierra load with 225gn game kings
Started at 67grains of CFE223 and worked up to thier 70gn max load.
This gave me an average of just over 2,880fps for 3 shots with no signs of excessive pressure.
That game king is a short bullet with a small bearing surface so that may explain the load.
Bob

 

[jwp475]

JPW, yes, perhaps you can say that. Because a cartridge is capable of being pushed at X velocity it doesn't mean I have to push it to the max. I'm having perfectly good results with moderate ballistics--mostly those that duplicate classic British cartridges. I'm sure I'm missing out, but I'm too old to change.

You certainly don't have you, but I fail to see why a flatter trajectory isn't a plus. As long as pressures are within SAAMI safe area.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

You certainly don't have you, but I fail to see why a flatter trajectory isn't a plus. As long as pressures are within SAAMI safe area.

@jpw475
If'n I can make an old cartridge even better by changing my loading and do it SAFELY I'm willing to give it a go. As long as I get good accuracy with the velocity.
A 310gn Woodleigh RNSP hits a lot harder when it leave the barrel at 2,455fps than it does at 2,200 fps.
As long as the bullet performs at the higher velocity I'm all for it.
Bob

 

[EfRed]

The .35 solution to that problem is a 358 Norma mag.

I had a .338 Win Mag Weatherby Custom Safari re-bored re-chambered to .358 Norma, just because I loved that cartridge from reading about it when it came out (pretty young then). Recoil's about the same, but that .358 bullet is reputed to hit with greater authority. If you need/want more than a .308, the .358 gives a significant step up, where the .338 maybe doesn't. I'm less concerned with long-range ballistics than most, having learned the trajectories of most of my guns (including big bore pistols) by field practice. I was lucky enough to have thousands of acres of sagebrush hills available; hike and shoot for hours through those hills. I am grateful to God for making that country, and grateful to my Father, who obtained the right for me to use it.

But I like my Springfield 35 Whelen, handy, because I grew up shooting a sporterized Springfield .30-06 that I had re-bored to .358. The rifle is about the right size and handles well. While the .30-06 is likely adequate for any NA game, the .35 Whelen is more adequate at little additional cost in recoil. Love the cartridge and the rifles in appears in.