35 Whelen

[Echo]

Yo;

I just had a 1917 Enfield rebarreled to 35 Whelen. The gun had been 'bubba'd', and the action had been milled to get rid of the sight ears, so it had no collectors value. I have the RCBS 180 gr Sil boolit, and several pistol caliber molds, and need some advice re other boolits and any other advice. I've ordered 100 cases from Cabela's, and have dies...

[Echo]

Bump - c'mon, guys...

[sthwestvictoria]

Have you seen these two threads I started:
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?183081-35-whelen-project-which-mold-for-this-chamber-cast-and-twist
This thread has a great picture from Blammer with various mold offerings.

and

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?183082-35-Whelen-and-pistol-38-357-boolits

I have only the two pistol molds currently. I have ordered the CBE 250grain GC mold but only this week so don't have my hands on it yet. I do have some .35 GC so as soon as it turns up I'll be making up some rounds.

The Lyman 4th ED has loads for the Lyman 195grain GC #358430 with unique, 2400, SR4759, IMR-4198 and IMR-3031.

Lee Modern Reloading 2nd ED has 180 grain jacketed information only. You could use Richard Lee's 1% reduction method to arrive at a cast lead load although I do not have any direct experience as yet. Or as the data is given for H4895 you could use the Hodgdon company's 60% rule for H4895.

[lotech]

Lyman #358009; don't know if this is currently offered, but it makes an excellent .35 Whelen bullet - gas check design, about 280 grains cast from wheelweight.

[sundog]

Echo, what twist barrel?

[Jeff Michel]

358009? isn't there currently a group buy NOE?

[Hyphenated]

I like the 245gr GC SAECO. It's just a nice all around bullet in the 35's.

[sundog]

The 358009 is a pile driver and can be easily driven past 2K fps. Accuracy can be very good if it likes your gun.

[GBertolet]

I too have a 35 Whelen built on the P17 Enfield. It has a Douglas 1-12 twist barrel. Mine is the Ackley Imp version of the Whelen. I have two bullets that I like. The Lyman 358315 @ 210gr. and a SAECO 245gr. Both shoot quite well. I had it built for a moose/caribou hunt in Newfoundland in 2001. I had used the 250gr Speer Hotcores, taking both types of animals. Since then I had switched to using cast bullets, mostly for target shooting, and occasional attempt at local deer hunting. I had been using IMR4759 for most of my shooting. 1600-1800 fps loads I feel are more than adequate for this type of shooting, providing decent accuracy. 1 1/4 to 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards are not uncommon. Wheelweights, enriched with a little tin, hold up well at these velocities. I had the idea of trying heat treated bullets, with annealed noses, on the 245 gr bullet, driving it at around 2500 fps. I am hoping it would withstand the velocity, and still expand on big game, while still giving me a decent trajectory for any longer shots. I have a bunch of old phone books I was planning to use in testing. After the weather breaks the experimenting will commence.

[Echo]

Thanks, guys - looks like I will be looking for the 358009 or RCBS 35-200 or 358315 or...

[Shuz]

Thanks, guys - looks like I will be looking for the 358009 or RCBS 35-200 or 358315 or...

Good choices as far as the 358009 and RCBS 35-200. I use 358009 in a 1:12 twist 35 Whelen custom, and use the RCBS 35-200 in a Rem 700 35 Whelen with a 1:16 twist. Both are very accurate and do well on game. I've not see the need to try anything else.