Woodliegh solids

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I managed to horse trade some powder I don't use for some 35 calibre 310gn Woodleigh Solids.
When I examined them I was surprised they didn't have the usual round nose but a rather good flat meplat of about .25".
When I looked at the base I was intrigued to find 3 different layers. Cupro- nickel, steel and lead. When I held a magnet to them they stuck to it confirming it was steel. This appears to be a very strongly constructed projectile that would drive in a straight line and have excellent penetration with an sd of .346 and a good crimp Grove to hold it together.
I thought wow this is overkill in a 35 cal solid so contacted Geoff at Woodleigh. His reply really shed some light in the construction.
The lead core is bonded to the steel jacket, then the steel jacket is bonded to the cupro- nickel jacket. The cupro- nickel jacket is folded 90 degrees on the base to help it all stay together. Man these appear to be on tough bullet.
Bob
The projectile

Geoff's replies

Bob

 

[ChrisG]

I managed to horse trade some powder I don't use for some 35 calibre 310gn Woodleigh Solids.
When I examined them I was surprised they didn't have the usual round nose but a rather good flat meplat of about .25".
When I looked at the base I was intrigued to find 3 different layers. Cupro- nickel, steel and lead. When I held a magnet to them they stuck to it confirming it was steel. This appears to be a very strongly constructed projectile that would drive in a straight line and have excellent penetration with an sd of .346 and a good crimp Grove to hold it together.
I thought wow this is overkill in a 35 cal solid so contacted Geoff at Woodleigh. His reply really shed some light in the construction.
The lead core is bonded to the steel jacket, then the steel jacket is bonded to the cupro- nickel jacket. The cupro- nickel jacket is folded 90 degrees on the base to help it all stay together. Man these appear to be on tough bullet.
Bob
The projectile
View attachment 574636
View attachment 574637
Geoff's replies
View attachment 574638View attachment 574639
Bob

Woodleigh made some of my favorite bullets. A good bonded Round Nose Soft Point! Gilding Metal (copper and zinc) is a tough brass to boot. So I agree! Bob, those are gonna punch through and through whatever you hit from whatever angle and probably whatevers behind it too! You're whelen should push those to 2,100-2,150fps? Right in the sweet spot for penetrating through a Dodge Power Wagon stem to stern!

 

[geoff rath]

Bob Nelson35Whelen, we await your "in-field" report with bated breath ...

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Woodleigh made some of my favorite bullets. A good bonded Round Nose Soft Point! Gilding Metal (copper and zinc) is a tough brass to boot. So I agree! Bob, those are gonna punch through and through whatever you hit from whatever angle and probably whatevers behind it too! You're whelen should push those to 2,100-2,150fps? Right in the sweet spot for penetrating through a Dodge Power Wagon stem to stern!

@ChrisG Hoping to get them up to 2,250 to 2,300fps. I wouldn't like to stand behind a 12" gum tree and let someone shoot it.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob Nelson35Whelen, we await your "in-field" report with bated breath ...

@geoff rath
And test them on what, a pig.
Bob

 

[geoff rath]

@geoff rath
And test them on what, a pig.
Bob

Naaah, something bigger: scrub bull?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Naaah, something bigger: scrub bull?

@geoff rath
Would love to bit the scrub bull hunt I was supposed to go on in August didn't happen because the property I was to hunt was sold to a company that just wanted it for the carbon credits and banned hunting. The outfitter lost his business. They wouldn't even let him lease land to hunt on.
Before that he offer me a great deal and was ready to go but shit happens.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

Hey Bob,

Geoff's reply says they are suitable for dangerous game. He knows you are only using a .35Whelen right?

 

[Wyatt Smith]

It sure looks tough!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hey Bob,

Geoff's reply says they are suitable for dangerous game. He knows you are only using a .35Whelen right?

@CBH Australia
Chris if the 9.3x62 is suitable for dg and the Whelen is its balistic twin with high sd projectiles available it will do the same job just not legally.
I have been saying for ages I would gladly take on cape buffalo with the whelen load with a good Woodleigh 275gn, 310gn soft and solid or 280gn swift A Frames. The 9.3x62 has been taking dg for over 110 years so the Whelen would do the same thing.
Yes Geoff does know the cartridge I'm loading is a Whelen.
Bob

 

[ChrisG]

@CBH Australia
Chris if the 9.3x62 is suitable for dg and the Whelen is its balistic twin with high sd projectiles available it will do the same job just not legally.
I have been saying for ages I would gladly take on cape buffalo with the whelen load with a good Woodleigh 275gn, 310gn soft and solid or 280gn swift A Frames. The 9.3x62 has been taking dg for over 110 years so the Whelen would do the same thing.
Yes Geoff does know the cartridge I'm loading is a Whelen.
Bob

I was just going to add the sheer number of people who considered a 350 Rigby a suitable Elephant, Buffalo and Lion gun (got some of them killed) using solids that were no where near as heavily built as the ones in this thread. 35 whelen will do just fine for anything it is legal to hunt. @Bob Nelson 35Whelen, is it Zimbabwe or Zambia that has no minimum for buff? You could try it there! I don't know how it would do turning a charge with a body shot, but it should penetrate and kill just fine.

 

[PerH]

Ive seen custom data for them In .358 Norma Mag at 770 -780 ms and then some over that
( custom loads not FL)

 

[michael458]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen , back in the early 2000s I was traveling around with a Winchester M70 Custom Shop 358 STA. This was a great plains game, bear, type rifle. It was also extremely unique, in the fact that I had three loads, 3 bullets, for 3 separate missions if required. I used a 250 Hornady Interlock for lighter critters, sighted 1.5 inches high center at 100 yards. For heavier animals, such as eland, a 280 Swift A Frame at 2700 and change, it settled at 1 inch high center at 100 yards. Then for those possible emergency encounters of the seriously heavy kind, I had this 310 gr Woodleigh Solid that you have now discovered at 2485 fps dead center 100 Yards. I always carried 5 or so of these on me when rambling around in Africa with the 358. Back in those days I did some light testing with this bullet, and yes, it does drive very straight and deep. It is one of two Woodleighs that would perform up to my standards with straight line penetration. Not perfect, but more than good enough. I never had to use one in the field, but I have zero doubt that if needed, it would have performed any mission I required of it. I did shoot a lot of critters with the 250 Hornady and the 280 Swift however. This rifle/cartridge solidified my fondness of .358 caliber over .338 caliber, which I have a place for both in my medium caliber needs.

This bullet does indeed have a sort of Flat Nose on it, and it does assist its front end drive ability.

They used to make a 310 Soft Point as well, and it was excellent for thinner skinned game. For heavier I would rather have the 280 Swift.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen , back in the early 2000s I was traveling around with a Winchester M70 Custom Shop 358 STA. This was a great plains game, bear, type rifle. It was also extremely unique, in the fact that I had three loads, 3 bullets, for 3 separate missions if required. I used a 250 Hornady Interlock for lighter critters, sighted 1.5 inches high center at 100 yards. For heavier animals, such as eland, a 280 Swift A Frame at 2700 and change, it settled at 1 inch high center at 100 yards. Then for those possible emergency encounters of the seriously heavy kind, I had this 310 gr Woodleigh Solid that you have now discovered at 2485 fps dead center 100 Yards. I always carried 5 or so of these on me when rambling around in Africa with the 358. Back in those days I did some light testing with this bullet, and yes, it does drive very straight and deep. It is one of two Woodleighs that would perform up to my standards with straight line penetration. Not perfect, but more than good enough. I never had to use one in the field, but I have zero doubt that if needed, it would have performed any mission I required of it. I did shoot a lot of critters with the 250 Hornady and the 280 Swift however. This rifle/cartridge solidified my fondness of .358 caliber over .338 caliber, which I have a place for both in my medium caliber needs.

This bullet does indeed have a sort of Flat Nose on it, and it does assist its front end drive ability.

They used to make a 310 Soft Point as well, and it was excellent for thinner skinned game. For heavier I would rather have the 280 Swift.

@michael458
With the RIGHT bullets I wouldn't feel undergunned for any game I hunt whit my 35 Whelen. Yes it may be marginal in some situations but would do the job if needed in the RIGHT hands.
Bob