.35 Whelen and New Mould [Archive]

Johnw...ski

11-22-2009, 09:46 AM

I had Mountain Molds make me a 255 gr. 35 caliber mould and received it last August. I did cast some boolits with it to try it out but had no time to go further.
A few days ago I loaded some test loads and tried them out yesterday.

The mould was designed to produce 255gr. with an alloy of
91% Pb/3 % Sn/6% Sb. The meplat was as small as allowed and I tried to get generous lube grooves. The mold number is Mtn. Molds,255 gr,GC,#460nL
Using an alloy that is around 14 BHN I sized the boolits to .359 from .360 and attached a Hornady gas check lubing with White Label Carnuba Red.
I tried two loads 38.0 gr. and 39.0 gr. of IMR 4064 lit by CCI BR2 primers.

The 38.0 gr. load produced 2-1/2" groups at 200 yds., not too bad.
The 39.0 gr. load shot 1-3/4" groups at 200 yds. I can't complain about these results and I have only just started. There was not the least sign of leading when I cleaned the rifle so I expect to try some 40.0 gr. and maybe a 40.5 gr. load.

These results didn't just happen, I have been using Glenhills 245 gr. boolits with excellent results ( 40.5 gr. IMR 4064, 1-1/4" at 100 yds.) so I did have some idea of where to start. From a minute of angle standpoint I have already bettered my best groups. There may be still a bit more to be gained.

These were all shot therough an FDH#2 single shot (see avater) with a 26" barrel with 1 in 14" twist.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk166/JohnWski/MtnMolds255grGC460nL.jpg

Blammer

11-22-2009, 10:17 AM

very nice!

I like!

joey02g

11-22-2009, 11:25 AM

Nice groupings. Doing your homework pays off!

mroliver77

11-22-2009, 07:53 PM

John,
Fantastic! Good enough shooting for me anyday. I would be off to kill something with it. ;)
If I remember correctly this is one of the rifles you built?
Jay

arcticbreeze

11-22-2009, 08:12 PM

I had Mountain Molds make me a 255 gr. 35 caliber mould and received it last August. I did cast some boolits with it to try it out but had no time to go further.
A few days ago I loaded some test loads and tried them out yesterday.

The mould was designed to produce 255gr. with an alloy of
91% Pb/3 % Sn/6% Sb. The meplat was as small as allowed and I tried to get generous lube grooves. The mold number is Mtn. Molds,255 gr,GC,#460nL
Using an alloy that is around 14 BHN I sized the boolits to .359 from .360 and attached a Hornady gas check lubing with White Label Carnuba Red.
I tried two loads 38.0 gr. and 39.0 gr. of IMR 4064 lit by CCI BR2 primers.

The 38.0 gr. load produced 2-1/2" groups at 200 yds., not too bad.
The 39.0 gr. load shot 1-3/4" groups at 200 yds. I can't complain about these results and I have only just started. There was not the least sign of leading when I cleaned the rifle so I expect to try some 40.0 gr. and maybe a 40.5 gr. load.

These results didn't just happen, I have been using Glenhills 245 gr. boolits with excellent results ( 40.5 gr. IMR 4064, 1-1/4" at 100 yds.) so I did have some idea of where to start. From a minute of angle standpoint I have already bettered my best groups. There may be still a bit more to be gained.

These were all shot therough an FDH#2 single shot (see avater) with a 26" barrel with 1 in 14" twist.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk166/JohnWski/MtnMolds255grGC460nL.jpg

Dang those boolits look too pretty to shoot.:kidding:

Rockchucker

11-22-2009, 08:38 PM

Very nice, and love that White Label Carnuba Red.

Johnw...ski

11-23-2009, 07:13 AM

John,
Fantastic! Good enough shooting for me anyday. I would be off to kill something with it. ;)
If I remember correctly this is one of the rifles you built?
Jay

Yup, It's one of my own

Shuz

11-23-2009, 05:44 PM

John,
Those are truly beautiful looking projectiles and it sounds like they give good accuracy too. Have you measured the velocity?--Shuz

EMC45

11-23-2009, 06:02 PM

Pretty bullets!

Johnw...ski

11-23-2009, 06:02 PM

John,
Those are truly beautiful looking projectiles and it sounds like they give good accuracy too. Have you measured the velocity?--Shuz

They should be 1900 FPS or so. I have gotten this number by the amount of drop between 100 and 300 yards, the calculated ballistic coeffecient and ballistics tables.

John

outdoorfan

11-23-2009, 10:00 PM

They should be 1900 FPS or so. I have gotten this number by the amount of drop between 100 and 300 yards, the calculated ballistic coeffecient and ballistics tables.

John

Very cool! What ballistic coefficient do you figure they are?

Is that a nose bore-ride section where that line is on the nose? What's the meplat? Looks to be around .2.

The reason I ask is I'm about to begin my own journey with the Whelen.

Johnw...ski

11-24-2009, 07:37 AM

Very cool! What ballistic coefficient do you figure they are?

Is that a nose bore-ride section where that line is on the nose? What's the meplat? Looks to be around .2.

The reason I ask is I'm about to begin my own journey with the Whelen.

I am getting a BC of .339. You are correct there is a bore rider. The meplat is .200.

John

Shuz

11-24-2009, 11:41 AM

FWIW--In my .35 Whelen, I use 48g of AA4064 and the Lyman 280g 358009 and the velocity is "only" 2150 fps. My bbl is 24" and the twist is 1:12.

Marlin Junky

11-24-2009, 09:22 PM

Wow, even I'd be happy with those results and I've been told by some that one can take this perfectionism thing too far. :smile:

Now all you need is an HP version of that mold that produces the same results!

MJ