Here's my first range report for the new NOE 360-310 FN "35 Thumper" from the recent group buy. These groups were shot in my VZ-24 Mauser, 35 Whelen with a 22" barrel, 1 in 12 twist at 100 yards. The scope used was an old, heavily scarred Bushnel Banner 3x9x40. Shot 5 rounds then waited for the barrel to cool down and shot 5 more for each group. Conditions were 55*F sunny and breezy with 15 MPH gusts. I thought the heft of this bullet would buck the wind good.
Bullets were cast from COWW's and about 2% Sn, oven heat treated at 430*F for an hour and quenched in ice cold water (with ice). As cast weight was 308gr. The bands measured .360" and the nose tapered from .349" to .352" per the NOE drawing. They were sized at .360" dry to seat Hornady GC's and then were coated with three coats of Ben's Liquid Lube. I waited five days for them to age harden after HT before shooting.
I did no special case preparation, just full length resized. Used Win 30-06 brass resized to 35 Whelen. Case lengths ran from 2.465" to 2.477", didn't bother to even trim them to even them up. They were shot 22 times prior without annealing and had been trimmed back once just to even them up. It really is time to do it again.
Starting load was 48.0gr IMR4831 over WLR primers at an O.A.L. of 3.380".
Then went to 49.0gr IMR4831.
Future loads will increase in one grain increments. I plan to try three different powders, IMR4831, IMR4350 and H414 (using magnum primers).
One major mistake in my calculations, though. My magazine box will only allow a C.O.A.L. of 3.200", I loaded these to 3.380" with no regard to that and had to load them one at a time. I found out they were too long at the range! Will try a length that will fit next time.