.400 Whelen

[Blkpwdrbuff]

Hi all,

I just got my .400 Whelen put together and now I need to pick your brains.
I am using a Accurate mold of 300 grains.
I plan on using this rifle to hunt elk.
Now for my questions.
Would you cast bullets of 50/50 WW and lead?
This is both a plain based and gas checked design.
Also, would it be possibe to get around 2200 fps with a cast load?
I know Petrov was getting that with Hornady 300 gr jacketed.
Any and all input is always greatly appreciated!
Blkpwdrbuff

[wmitty]

What action did you use to build the rifle? What twist rate on the rifling? Try coww first and see how it shoots before going to the softer alloy. You can heat treat the remainder of your boolits if the as cast slugs are too soft to withstand the velocity you are seeking. Looks like 4895 and Re 15 are what's being used to obtain 2200 fps with 300 gr. bullets.

[5Shot]

I am getting close to that with the 35 Whelen and a 300grn slug...so I bet you could. Have not seen any load data for the 400 though, so I couldn't say for sure.

[runfiverun]

I'd water drop the alloy.
if he can get it with jacketed you can get it with cast cast is slipperier and the pressure should be a tick lower.
I'd step the powder speed down 2 steps from the jacketed powder speed and work up [using it's data] looking at the velocity.
this will keep you In a safe pressure zone without actual data to work from.

[Blkpwdrbuff]

Thanks for the replies.
I built it on a Savage 110 action, Shilen #5 contour CM barrel 1 in14 twist.
The reamer was built to the G&H specs and dies from CH4D

[quilbilly]

Unless you are shooting across two canyons, with that size boolit (300 gr), you shouldn't need that much velocity so why beat yourself up with recoil. 1800-1900 fps from my experience on larger Roosevelt elk will give you an effective range of about 200 yards and a little more depending on the shape of the boolit (I.E. semiwadcutter vs round nose). You will likely need that gas check design though for any velocity over 1500 fps. It would be pure fun to shoot that 300 gr plain base design at an MV of about 1300 and it would be more than adequate for black bear out to 75 yards and mule deer out to 150 yards. You should bring your project to NCBS in the spring so we can all admire your handiwork.

[Blkpwdrbuff]

quilbilly,
The NCBS sounds fun. I wish I had known about it earlier.
My family and I are going to be in Sedona that weekend. ****!
The elk around here are shot at 200 plus yards but I'm going to try and get a lot closer.
I know what a 50 cal 370 grain Maxi Ball does on mule deer so this comes as no surprise.
As soon as mud month gets over here I'm going to start playing with the .400.:bigsmyl2:

[lotech]

I had a .411 Hawk, about the same thing as a .400 Whelen. I used cast bullets exclusively in weights ranging from about 330 -385 grains. Recoil, at least for me, became uncomfortable as velocities approached about 1,900 fps, even with the lightest bullet. Depending on your tolerance for recoil and the 300 grain bullet, you may be able to reach your velocity goal painlessly. My guess is that 2,200 fps or more should be safely achievable.

My rifle was built for elk hunting, but it was never used for that as my interests changed. I eventually traded the rifle off. Nevertheless, for a cast bullet elk rifle, yours should work well.

[quilbilly]

Sedona is nice too! Also impressive is what a saboted 429 SWC 265 gr boolit out of a 50 cal muzzleloader does to a large elk at 60 yards. Before the smoke filled the horizon, my last visual was the elk completely off the ground with feet rotating skyward.

[Blkpwdrbuff]

Quilbilly, that is amazing.
If I remember correctly, in one of Sam Fadala's books he has a series of photos showing him shoot a bison in the face with either a .50 or .54 caliber Hawken.
it shows the front end of the bull in the air, down on its haunches, then tipped right over backwards.
The old "miserable loaders" still pack quite a punch!

[MarkP]

You should be able to attain 2,200 fps (3,225 ft-lbs) as you will gain some efficiency over the 35.
I have a 416 Wildcat based on a 300 WSM; Rem M SEVEN 20" bbl with a 1:18" twist. Accurate mold for a 315 gr and 400 gr. Once the 400's are over 1,700 to 1,800 fps it is pretty brutal off the bench in a Tee shirt. I have shot the 315's at 2,350 fps and 400's up to 2,150 fps while maintaining decent accuracy. The total weight is just a whisker over 6 lbs. Furthest I have shot on paper is 225 yds. I have found best consistency with RL-7.