35 Whelen -- first PC bullets a success. Now what?

[shaman]

Over the weekend, I finally got to test my first cast loads with the 35 Whelen. I had cast a 200 grain RCBS 358 200 grain GC and then powder coated the result. I tested just before loading and bullets were BHN 15.6:


Out of my Rem 7600 they chrono'd at an average of 2200 fps with 42 grains of H4895.

My question to y'all is this: what next? I can probably hunt deer with this load as is. 2200 fps makes it equivalent to a hot 35 Remington. How much more H4895 should I expect to dump in? What is a reasonable target velocity? 2400? 2500? This is my first cast boolit centerfire rifle project.

Question #2: If I can make another batch of boolits that match the 15.6 BHN, is that an appropriate hardness for plugging whitetails?

[RobS]

Velocity depends on the twist rate/RPM's and the boolit's ability to not skid the rifling (toughness of the boolit). Accuracy is of top importance so your results may vary all depending on if the boolit can keep it's track down the barrel for a centered launch. Once a boolit starts to skid the rifling/and or gas cutting starts in undesirable results take place and inconsistent launch from the barrel occurs.

Only the target will tell the tale.

Your 15.6 BHN solid is fine for deer size game but may not be fine for accuracy as the velocities/RPMs increase.

[Blammer]

try for 2500fps. You should be able to get that easy, I do out of my 35 whelen and I just use cast bullets with lube and a GC.

[M99SavNut]

Learned a new acronym today - when I saw the name of the thread thought "Politically Correct" boolits?????

The above is an oxymoron, however "Powder Coated" boolits is, while a term unfamiliar to me, maybe the up-and-coming thing for cast projectiles. And they're the correct color for our current political environment, so two advantages for the price of one....

Guess I need to read more of these threads and get myself up-to-date.

Jess

[35 shooter]

shaman what kind of accuracy are you getting with that load and the pc in your whelen?

[shaman]

shaman what kind of accuracy are you getting with that load and the pc in your whelen?

Thanks all for the responses so far.

Accuracy? Funny you should ask. I really don't know yet. I was well on my way to finding out over the weekend, and the wind came up unexpectedly. In order to do the chronograph readings, I had to turn my firing line 90 degrees and fire out into another pasture, otherwise the chronograph would have tipped over. I did manage to pull off a few shots at the target I'd put at 25 yards, and they stayed where they should. This was going to be my inauguration of my new 100 target stand too. Drat.

[35 shooter]

I use straight ww alloy and had to heat treat to get accuracy past 1800 to 1900 fps. I also use Ben's Red for lube, so i haven't tried PC and so can't speak for the hardness required with that.
I ht @ 465* for 1 hour, then water drop for a bhn of 27.

My best loads for accuracy seem to be in the 2200 fps.range with imr4350, but did work up to 48 gr. of h4895 with the NOE 200 gr. boolit for a pretty accurate load with a
'bit of speed'. I've shot a bit hotter loads with h4895, but accuracy went south after 48 gr. for me.
I slowly worked up to 51 gr. h4895, but accuracy wasn't consistent as it was at 48 gr. in my rifle.....again, this is with a bhn of 27 and regular lube...don't know how it will work for PC.

Oops, forgot to say the rifle is a 35 whelen!

[runfiverun]

forget the fast powders for velocity.
i use Rl-19 in my 358 win and poke a 250gr boolit along over 2300 fps without any grief.
the small meplat and higher velocity play well together.

the whelen should be able to walk all over that, however when it comes to hunting your boolit shape and alloy is gonna determine your results as much as velocity.
unfortunately the velocity is also gonna determine how the alloy reacts on flesh.
there is a balance to be found when you get over about 2100 fps.

[sthwestvictoria]

Accuracy? Funny you should ask. I really don't know yet.

Well as Wyatt Earp stated "fast is fine but accuracy is final" so some range testing in better weather will be great. I am also using H4895 in thw 35 whelen however did not have as much luck with the 200grain as a 250grain. I am using 42grains H4895 under 250grains for 1900fps. I get tighter groups with Oven HT than Air Cooled WW however the ACWW would be fine for hunting.