Cast boolits for 35 whelen

[whelen fan]

Hi fellas.

I recently got a remington 700 classic 35 whelen and it has a 1-16" twist. I did a bit of reading on the forum and found a great thread about cast for the 35 colonel but it was mostly about the 358009 and the concensus was that a 14 twist was needed. What noe or accurate mold do you recommend for my twist? Just for plinking and fun shooting. Doesn't have to be pushed super fast either and if pistol or shotgun powder can be used rather than 45 gr of rifle powder I wouldn't mind that either.

Any suggestions?

[OuchHot!]

I have used various boolits originally made up for .357 and .38sp and red dot. They do not hit to point of impact but are fairly accurate at the 50yds I play at. This is in the same model rifle as yours.

[Blackwater]

My Whelen is the Ackleyized version, and I regret to say that this is one of the things I haven't gotten my round tuit to do yet, but hopefully soon. All I can tell you is I'm planning to try all the .38/.357 moulds I have, which are several, and let the rifle sort out what it wants to shoot. My gun has a 14" twist becasue I wanted to shoot up to the 250 gr. jacketed and still wanted to keep the twist as slow as possible in order to, perhaps at least, shoot PB cast as fast as possible. It'd just give me the most latitude I could expect for this type rifle and the loads I wanted to shoot. Wish I could provide some solid data for you, but I plan to try the Lee 158 RNFP, the Lyman, Lyman 358429, and at least a couple of others. The Lyman 215 gr. SWC based on the #156 mould design looks mighty interesting, too. It is shorter than the 280 gr. #009, so will likely stabilize in the 16" twist, especially at some speed, and it has a GC, so speedy loads with it would enable you to use cast on deer or whatever with the right alloys. Went to the NOE website, since I too am interested in this subject, and the 180 gr. WFN sure looks interesting as well, and it would most certainly stabilize in your 16" twist. Lots of variables, and the only final arbiter is to try them and let the rifle tell you what it wants, and if there's a bullet you particularly want to work, and can't at first get the results you want, come back and the guys here should be able to help with most anything that's likely to come up. And BTW, since I have one as well, I have paid attention whenever talk arises about this subject, and at least some folks have gotten the 280 gr. #009 to shoot in 16" twists, but by no means all of them. If someone has a few they can let you buy to try out, that might be a good thing to try. I do have the RCBS 200 gr. FP designed for rifles, but have yet to try it, so unfortunately I can give no testimonials, but lots of guys have praised it and the Saeco of a similar design. Saeco used to also offer a 250 gr. RNFP of a very similar design to the 200 grainer, but I haven't tried it. Some guys here have all these moulds, and they'll be able to provide more useful info for you, but as one of the posters here have said, "Good things start happening in the field with cast bullets when you get to the .35 caliber." Or at least that's a paraphrase of what he said. Makes a heck of a lot of sense to me! All I can give you, really, is the fact that after shooting 2 deer with mine and J-bullets, I was MUCH impressed with the reactions to the shot at impact. Big bullets DO have traits lesser calibers just can't match. That's a very small sampling, to be sure, but the results were dramatic and similar enough, and impressive enough, that both I and my buddy who was watching were sold on the merits of the larger calibers on game. Hope you enjoy your new shootin' iron. I have great faith that you will.

[Yodogsandman]

One beautiful thing about the 35 Whelen is that it will shoot so many different boolits just fine. Just pick one to fit your needs. From 38 spl boolits up to heavy weight buff busters. I hear good reports on the RCBS 35-200 and Ranch Dog 190gr. I've been using a NOE 360 230 RG2 and having great results, along with the Lyman 358009 and NEI 358 282 GC. I shoot them in a 12 twist, though. Those last two might not stabilize in your rifle but, who knows?

[Tatume]

While I don't own a 35 Whelen yet (but I have a barrel I plan to have rebored), my 358 Winchester lever guns shoots the RCBS 35-200-FN very well.

[whelen fan]

I have a few moulds for my 686. Will see what shoots minute of clay at 50 yards and go from there. Might not have to buy one.

[Yodogsandman]

Ooooh, you just made me realize, I haven't tried my 357429 in it yet. I have tried Lyman 357477 148gr SWC with 10gr Unique and that was minute of clay at 100 yds.

[JonB_in_Glencoe]

Hi fellas.

I recently got a remington 700 classic 35 whelen and it has a 1-16" twist. I did a bit of reading on the forum and found a great thread about cast for the 35 colonel but it was mostly about the 358009 and the concensus was that a 14 twist was needed. What noe or accurate mold do you recommend for my twist? Just for plinking and fun shooting. Doesn't have to be pushed super fast either and if pistol or shotgun powder can be used rather than 45 gr of rifle powder I wouldn't mind that either.

Any suggestions?

I have some NOE 358009 boolits on the shelf, that I'll never use ...if you want some samples.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have successfully used Lyman 358009 for years in a 1917 Winchester that was rebored to 35 Whelan using a 1 in 12 twist. It will shoot consistently into 2-3 inch groups at 100 yards using moderate charges of 3031. Recoil is moderate, no leading. The mold is a double cavity and if casting is done too fast then I get overheating and smearing and have to slow down. LLS

[Whelen35]

Anybody have a Handi Rifle in this caliber? I've been looking at one for a while. I have a few molds I could use.

[35 shooter]

Anybody have a Handi Rifle in this caliber? I've been looking at one for a while. I have a few molds I could use.
My brother in CO. has a 35 whelen in the handi rifle. He shoots basically the same loads i shoot in my Encore with about the same accuracy. He really likes his.
I thought the handi 35 whelens were 1/16 twist but he says his info showed 1/14 twist rate?

[Blammer]

try this in your whelen, I like it. :)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Targets/35Whelen/ACWWIMR4350002.jpg (http://s54.photobucket.com/user/blammer8mm/media/Targets/35Whelen/ACWWIMR4350002.jpg.html)

they move along at about 2500fps. :)

[Shuz]

I have 2/ea .35 Whelen rifles. One is a custom 700 with a 1:12 twist, but the other is a Remington factory, not a Classic, but it still has a 1:16 twist. I shoot the Noe 360-318HP, weighing 235g out of my 1:16 twist rifle with great accuracy using 17g of Unique and a .359" Bhn 11 boolit. Best 5 shot group so far is .520" at 50 meters. Velocity is only 1555 but SD is 14. I shot this same load yesterday at 100 yds and have yet to measure the 5 shot groups, but they look to be about 1-1/2".

[sthwestvictoria]

I have used the Lee 158-358-SWC plain base with AP70N (Hodgdon universal) and Trailboss and the CBE 250grain with AR2206H (H4895).
CBE (Cast Bullet Engineering) may be worth a look as the exchange rate has switched from beneficial to us Australians when one $AUD was buying $USD1.10 last year to beneficial to you in the US where one $AUD now only buys $USD0.75.
CBE produces a clone of the RCBS 200grain, 225grain, 250grain and 300grain.
http://www.castbulletengineering.com.au/bullet-moulds/rifle/358-calibre

[RobS]

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=356

This is a good design. If you don't prefer the hollow point then there are other mold configurations to choose from.

[Shuz]

I measured the 17g Unique 100 yd 5 shot group I shot on Friday with the NOE 360-318HP and it measured 1.573". Velocity 1544fps, SD 22.
17g of Unique and the RCBS 35-200FN shot a 1.89" 5 shot group also at 100 yds. 16 or 18g of Unique with either boolit opened up the groups. Velocity of the RCBS boolit was 1640 fps, SD 7.

[whelen fan]

Thanks fellas. Will probably pick up a mould from NOE. Looking at a round nose one so it doesn't chew up my bullet trap like the flat nose ones.

[Blammer]

I'm thinking 35 whelen, RN or FN it's gonna chew up something. :)

[SSGOldfart]

Hi fellas.

I recently got a remington 700 classic 35 whelen and it has a 1-16" twist. I did a bit of reading on the forum and found a great thread about cast for the 35 colonel but it was mostly about the 358009 and the concensus was that a 14 twist was needed. What noe or accurate mold do you recommend for my twist? Just for plinking and fun shooting. Doesn't have to be pushed super fast either and if pistol or shotgun powder can be used rather than 45 gr of rifle powder I wouldn't mind that either.

Any suggestions?

One 358009, I've got one if you want to try a test run first,shoot me your address by pm

[Whelen35]

I ordered a 35 Whelen Handi Rifle online yesterday. Also a RCBS 2 die set. I already have M dies and RCBS expanders. Any recommendations for scope mounts, scopes, and rings?

[35 shooter]

I went through 2 new redfields quick on my Encore and my brother went through 2 vortex on his Handi in 35 whelen. I went back to leupold and no more problems. I put a varix11 on mine, but the rifleman series are a lot cheaper or a varix 1.

[Blammer]

I'd get leupold rings and a 3x9x40 leupold scope.

[whelen fan]

Just a quick update. I ordered a 360 230Gr. RF RG2 cavity GC (RD) Brass mould from NOE. Will post further updates when I cast some boolits with it and also how it shoots.

[Yodogsandman]

That's a great mold!

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=1069

[bgokk]

I bought a Handi Rifle in .35 Whelen on the tenth of this month. Shot it on Wednesday at 50 yards load #2 3 ¼” x 3 7/8”. Load #3 1 ¾” x 2 5/16”
Here is the load data.

My load #2
Bullet: RCBS 35-200-FN Alloy: WW+Tin Wgt: 215.4 Gn. Sized: .359” Lube: Car Red Case: Win. FC Fired X: 1 as 30-06 Powder #: SR4759 Wgt: 23.6 Gn. Filler: N Primer: CCI 200 Seat depth: .3815” Crimp: Light OAL: 2.9730” Vel.: 1741 Date loaded: 3/22/2015
High:1791 Low: 1713 Average: 1741
Extreme spread: 77.8 Standard deviation: 28.8 Average deviation: 24.4

My load #3
Bullet: RCBS 35-200-FN Alloy: WW+Tin Wgt: 214.8 Sized: .359” Lube: Car Red Case: FC Fired X: 1 as 30-06 Powder #:SR4759 Wgt: 23.5 Filler: 1.3 Gn.Dac. Primer: CCI 200 Seat depth: .3815” Crimp: Light OAL: 2.973” Vel.: 1793 Date loaded: 3/24/15
High: 1810 Low: 1780 Average: 1793
Extreme spread: 29.4 Standard deviation: 10.4 Average deviation: 9.1

The Dacron filler really made a difference.

[35 shooter]

I bought a Handi Rifle in .35 Whelen on the tenth of this month. Shot it on Wednesday at 50 yards load #2 3 ¼” x 3 7/8”. Load #3 1 ¾” x 2 5/16”
Here is the load data.

My load #2
Bullet: RCBS 35-200-FN Alloy: WW+Tin Wgt: 215.4 Gn. Sized: .359” Lube: Car Red Case: Win. FC Fired X: 1 as 30-06 Powder #: SR4759 Wgt: 23.6 Gn. Filler: N Primer: CCI 200 Seat depth: .3815” Crimp: Light OAL: 2.9730” Vel.: 1741 Date loaded: 3/22/2015
High:1791 Low: 1713 Average: 1741
Extreme spread: 77.8 Standard deviation: 28.8 Average deviation: 24.4

My load #3
Bullet: RCBS 35-200-FN Alloy: WW+Tin Wgt: 214.8 Sized: .359” Lube: Car Red Case: FC Fired X: 1 as 30-06 Powder #:SR4759 Wgt: 23.5 Filler: 1.3 Gn.Dac. Primer: CCI 200 Seat depth: .3815” Crimp: Light OAL: 2.973” Vel.: 1793 Date loaded: 3/24/15
High: 1810 Low: 1780 Average: 1793
Extreme spread: 29.4 Standard deviation: 10.4 Average deviation: 9.1

The Dacron filler really made a difference.
bgokk it may get even better as you move up with 4759. 26and 33 gr. with a dacron filler work great in my Encore with the same boolit you have and the noe clone of that boolit.

[35 shooter]

Just a quick update. I ordered a 360 230Gr. RF RG2 cavity GC (RD) Brass mould from NOE. Will post further updates when I cast some boolits with it and also how it shoots.
Agree with Yodogsandman, that has been a great boolit in my 1/14 twist. Bet it works well in your 1/16.

[bgokk]

bgokk it may get even better as you move up with 4759. 26and 33 gr. with a dacron filler work great in my Encore with the same boolit you have and the noe clone of that boolit.
The thing that holds me back right now is forming the brass. I am using some white wax that has been repackaged (by me years ago) to lube the cases. I think it was Hornady in a plastic tub. I am also using it in the case neck. I roll a nylon bristle brush in the lube and put a liberal coat in the case neck. It is working very well with the FC brass. The loss with Winchester brass was about 33% mostly split necks.

I will be working up with the powder weight looking for best groups. Where I hunt a 50 yard shot is about as far as it gets. The velocity I got with 200 Gn. + boolit should do for deer.

[TXGunNut]

Just a quick update. I ordered a 360 230Gr. RF RG2 cavity GC (RD) Brass mould from NOE. Will post further updates when I cast some boolits with it and also how it shoots.

Great mould indeed. Coming close to a good hunting load with 54gs IMR 4350. Dress code for my party is BAC or possibly NRA 50/50 lube, GC and a heat treated alloy of 50/50 WW/PB plus a touch of tin. I'm using BAC now but NRA gave acceptable results. YMMV, still working on this load but it's looking good.

[Buck Neck It]

What size is your rcbs 35-200 FN mould dropping at?
My throat on my 35 Whelen is .361.
I would like to know before I buy one, thanks.

[35 shooter]

What size is your rcbs 35-200 FN mould dropping at?
My throat on my 35 Whelen is .361.
I would like to know before I buy one, thanks.
The rcbs mold i have in the 200 gr. drops at .3595. The noe 200gr. rcbs clone boolit drops .3605" to .361". This was with straight ww in both molds.

[Shuz]

FWIW--I shot some of the NOE 360-318 cup point,(245g) and solid point boolits(252g) with my load of 17g of Unique, out of the same 1:16 twist Rem 700CDL and the 5 shot "groups" were over 3" at 100 yards. Looks like this gun needs the deep hollow point version (235g) in order to get decent accuracy.
Next I'm gonna try some of the cup point, hollow points and solids in my 1:12 twist Whelen to see what happens.

[Yodogsandman]

Just a quick update. I ordered a 360 230Gr. RF RG2 cavity GC (RD) Brass mould from NOE. Will post further updates when I cast some boolits with it and also how it shoots.

FWIW, I've been using IMR4064 with the NOE 360-230 HP's (214gr), the last time I chronographed it, it averaged 2560 FPS. I tried another 1/2gr and the group shrunk some (2 1/2" 10 shots, 100 yds). I'm hoping that I'm creeping up onto a new accuracy node. I know it's much too fast for hunting so, it's just for giggles. My start load was 48gr IMR4064 and it was a very comfortable and accurate load but, I didn't put the chrony on it.

[whelen fan]

Gave the mould a whirl today and she works great. The bullets dint work with the lyman seater I have for my 35w dies though. What are you all using to seat them?

[Yodogsandman]

I just use the same ol' RCBS 35 Whelen F/L seating die with no modifications or anything special. In MY rifle, I'm seating to an O.A.L. of 3.015" with the NOE 360-230 214gr HP's, YMMV.

[jonp]

Anybody have a Handi Rifle in this caliber? I've been looking at one for a while. I have a few molds I could use.

I bought one from Buds last year for $205 shipped. I havn't had time to work up loads for it yet.