35 whelen?

[Link23]

what is a good twist rate for a 35 whelen Ackley improved? i want to shoot around 250 grn though it

Thanks
Link23

[OuchHot!]

No slower than 14. I have a 1 in 16 that so far is fine with all 250 bullets that I have tried, but I recommend hedging your bets with just a a bit quicker.

[Larry Gibson]

No slower than 14. I have a 1 in 16 that so far is fine with all 250 bullets that I have tried, but I recommend hedging your bets with just a a bit quicker.

+1.

Larry Gibson

[SlamFire1]

I have a 35 Whelen that has a one in 10 twist barrel. The previous owner shot lots of 250's and 270 grain bullets and his records indicate good good groups at 200 yards.

I have not done as well. I had lots of problems with hangfires in cold weather, replaced the mainspring for one thing. This is also a lightweight rifle and kicks something awful. Flinching is not helping group size. The rifle had the worst hangfires with AA2520, a ball powder, it did very well with IMR 3031 and IMR 4064.

I really think IMR 3031 may be the best overall powder in this caliber. I am thinking of trying N135 in the future.

I would use Federal primers as they are the most sensitive primers out there. I am of the opinion that the standard Whelen has a very slight shoulder and that cushions the firing pin blow.


Wish I have more chronograph data, I shot 250's but the weather was too cold for my chronograph.





35 Whelen 1:10 twist 24" Douglas barrel

225 Sierra SPBT 52.5 grs IMR 4064 wtd Lot 2449 CCI 200 OAL 3.30
necked up R-P 30-06

16 Oct 2009 T = 65 °F

Ave Vel = 2260
Std Dev = 34
ES = 113
High = 2331
Low = 2218
N = 10

nice rounded primers, smoked case necks, most accurate load
no hangfires!


225 Sierra SPBT 53.0 grs IMR 4064 wtd Lot 2449 CCI 200 OAL 3.30
necked up R-P 30-06

16 Oct 2009 T = 65 °F

Ave Vel = 2270
Std Dev = 24
ES = 56
High = 2290
Low = 2234
N = 6

nice rounded primers, smoked case necks, no hangfires


180 Sierra SPBT 58.0 grs IMR 4064 wtd Lot 2449 CCI 200 OAL to cannulure
necked up R-P 30-06

16 Oct 2009 T = 65 °F

Ave Vel = 2506
Std Dev = 19
ES = 56
High = 2529
Low = 2473
N = 10

nice rounded primers, smoked case necks, no hangfires

[405]

Link23,
I'll echo the advice about the 14" twist for the 35 Wh AI. Been there, done that with both the Whelen and Whelen AI. The AI is a good choice and if I tout its superiority over the regular Whelen again, it may start another yabut war :)
No matter, the 14" twist WILL stabilize 250 grainers. If treated and loaded right it is a very very nice cartridge.

On a side note, if you can find a Lee neck collet sizer for the 35 Whelen it will also work for the AI version. Lee used to make a few but don't know about now.... maybe a special order item now. The Lee neck collet is the best neck sizer I've found for accuracy oriented reloading of bottlenecks- and yes, even better than the much more expensive Redding neck bushing dies and the Wilson/Sinclair neck bushing dies.

[Dean D.]

My .35 Whelen has a Douglas 1:10 twist barrel and I am very happy with it. I'm glad I listened to my gunsmith when we chose the barrel. ;)

[Larry Gibson]

Assuming the OP wants to shoot cast, perhaps at 2200 - 2500 fps, the 14-16" twist will be a lot more user friendly.

Larry Gibson

[Ron.D]

I must agree with Larry on this. For jacketted bullets, for long range and straight line penetration on game a fairly fast twist may be an advantage. For cast shooting a 14 twist is the fastest I'd go. Most folks here report good accuracy with the 280 gr. Bator group buy boolit with 14 twist. I have a 358 with a 16 twist that handles 250 gr. boolits just fine. The 14 twist is a little more cast friendly than the 12 and should allow an increase in achievable velocity. Ron.D