Molds for .35 Whelen

[r6487]

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

358318 & 358315

[Wolfdog91]

If you're going to rebarrel or build your own Whelen then I suggest a barrel twist not any faster than 12". I prefer the 14" twist because it will stabilize 250 gr bullets. The RCBS 35-200-FN is a favorite of mine for the 35 Rem. 35x57 CBC and the 35 Whelen. The Lee clone should work just as well.

Actually looking at hair buying a CVA scout. One of these days I'll have my own lathe and be able to make my own stuff


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[Wolfdog91]

Ok so I'm loving the looks for the RCBS 200 rf , especially the MP HP clone but I see lee make some pretty similar, so anyone have any experience with it?


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[Larry Gibson]

I've a CVA Scout in 44 Magnum. That 35 Whelen looks like an excellent choice.

[405grain]

Wolfdog91: Your spec sheet says that the CVA scout weighs 5.8 pounds. With cast loads this rifle would likely be great, but with full power jacketed loads in 35 Whelen -- Ouch! Looks like a great rifle, and with cast loads it should be, but with full power loads I think it would be shoulder abuse.

[Mk42gunner]

I tend to agree with 405grain on the recoil potential of that rifle. I have a 98 Mauser in .35 Whelen that weighs very close to 10 pounds all up (haven't weighed it in a while) and it isn't much fun on the bench. Oddly enough, I have never felt recoil from it when I shot it at deer.

Also the 1:14" twist is a good idea in my opinion.

Robert

[no-bama in 2012]

My rifle has a long throat, so Accurate molds 360- 215N works well for me.

[white eagle]

I use a 260 gr mold from Mountain Molds
Dan always made good molds

[MT Gianni]

No one has mentioned the Saeco 352, a 245 gr flat pointed tc. It shoots well in the 35 Whelen, 35 Remington and 358.

[mehavey]

No one has mentioned the Saeco 352 . . .
shoots well in the 35 Whelen, 35 Remington, 358 . . . .

...... aaaaand the 350L

See Post #8
Maaaahvelous projo....

[braddock]

MPs mold is excellent in every respect bar one, it's made of brass and it's too heavy.
Lee Mold is pretty good and is lighter.
My lee mold turns out bullets that weigh 220 grains, my lead is about 12 BHN. Image of the lee and MP HP, MP HP and the MP mold.
Both the MP and the Lee bullets shot pretty good I only do 3 shot groups and out of my Heavy barreled Mauser they make about an inch or so at 50 yards.
HTH


358 lead bullets.jpg359 hp boolit for whelen.jpgmp mold.jpg

[Bigslug]

Wolf,

My take on the Whelan: if you want to shoot 200 grain bullets out of a .30-06-based case, just shoot them out of a .30-06. 200 grains at .35 caliber will give you a bump in frontal area - - but at a reduction in overall sectional density. True, most of the factory barrel offerings have a slower rate of twist than the '06's standard 1-10", which will allow you to generate a little more speed. The question, as always, becomes "what are you trying to accomplish?"

I see the Whelan as the American 9.3x62 Mauser, which in turn was intended to be the fits-in-standard-actions / poor-man's-dangerous-game rifle. 220-250 grains, IMHO, is where it wants to be (i.e. Accurate's 36-250D). The 200 grain .35's are concocted as a .35 Remington / woods carbine sort of thing, which our parent .30-06 already does just fine with its standard range of bullet weights.

I like the idea of the Whelan if you're fixing to thump something large. If you want to de-tune it to deer rifle specs, the gas-checked revolver bullets will serve.

[Rfeustel]

Either of these two bullet moulds....

Mehavey, noob question - are you crimping onto the bottom edge of the first driving band? I'm looking at Accurate's 36-245S which is based on the Saeco 352 (popular in sales) and wondered if the entire front band is seated in the case. AI (Grok) tells me it is but I'm not buying it. Thank you.

[mehavey]

Not having a 35 Whelen barrel (now I gotta get one),* I went back to QL to see what
the Seated Shank Depth was of the 350 Legend cartridge above.

Bottom Line: 350L/SAECO #352 OAL 2.166" --> Shank depth 0.590" for what you see in the pic.

Then I went out to someone who actually loads the 35 Whelen with the #352 to get the OAL as loaded:

35 whelen saeco 352 official load is 53.0grs Imr-4320 loaded to 3.075" oal

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...s#Post16906928

That gives me the #352/Whelen shank depth of 0.455" -- much more bullet exposed.

Which would look like this at max/untrimmed case length:
35-Whelen-SAECO-352-240.jpg







* ... and with already having a 375 H&H, I need one like hole in the head

[Rfeustel]

My goodness, how did I miss that was a legend. Thanks, Mehavey, and for the extra info. That drawing is pretty cool!

[Marlin41]

Greetings,

I tend to group a lot of shooting into two different categories:
1. Fun
2. Serious

I shoot the Whelen, primarily with 250's. i can tell you that the Remington Core-Lokt's (bulk from Midway a hundred years ago), Speers, and the Sierra 225 Gameking will all knock down a cow elk with authority. That, and getting ready for that is the serious stuff.

I think the 200's would be great for the fun shooting, plus deer. It's a great cartridge that offers a different experience both in terms of learning, and terminal ballistics.

I've enjoyed your posts over the years. I think you have a great attitude about learning and doing stuff around the farm. I'd say if you want the Whelen, get it and make it your own.

Best

[Harter66]

I haven't had the opportunity to use the 358 on anything but paper thus far .

I have a host 38/357 and 9mm moulds from 95 to 161 gr .. As dedicated rifle moulds go only 2 are on hand the Lee 358-200 and the RCBS 35-250.

I messed around with the 125 and 158 gr RNFP and 148 & 161 WC . The 200 gr was more than good enough for anything currently at hand . The 35-250 is a sledgehammer of a target bullet .

I would use the 35-250 on elk out to 200 yd with basically a case full of IMR 4350 .
I have a 1-14" . The recoil is very manageable in the 98 pattern 24" barreled 358 at 2100 fps .

[TurnipEaterDown]

I have a 35 Whelen Improved (which really gains nothing over the standard), and I really like it.
It has killed everything quickly I ever pointed it at: Bison, Elk, Deer, Boar.

I use an NEI cast GC marked as 232 gr (weighs up 252 checked and lubed), a NOE 289 gr RN CG (I believe a copy of Lyman 358009), and have used the Accurate 205B GC as well.

Jacketed, I have used anything from 158 gr to 310 (Woodleigh RN). Lots of different 250s - Speer, Hornady, Barnes, etc. RN, Spitzer, tubing jackets...
I really like the 250s for most stuff, would use 275s on Bear likely (I have some old Hornady RNs).
I did find that the 250 Speer SP does tend to unravel on boar at 50 yds.

Have used a number of powders never in published data, and to good effect. However, if you seek velocity look no further than Alliant PowerPro 2000MR - look up the online Speer data. 35 Whelen w/ 250 gr at over 2700 fps.

14" twist is the "faster" in the 35 Whelen - will stabilize a 310 gr jacketed. Mine is a 14" twist.
I think most used to be 16", and won't stabilize more than a 275 gr reliably - I understand it's why Hornady made the 275 RN.

[Rfeustel]

I've learned a lot in this thread, and now want a 250gr mold for my Whelen. I was considering Accurate's 36-245S (based on the Saeco 352), but that puts the crimp groove way outside the case. Seems there are bullets optimized for 35Rem, and bullets optimized for the Whelen. I'm considering the 36-250C and would welcome thoughts:

https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_det...bullet=36-250C

[PaulH]

I've shot quite a few 200 gr WFN's out of my 35 whelen, I believe it was an old balisticast mold, and also the Lyman 358009. I have the MP 220 gr hp and will have to try it. Long story short my 35 whelen got sold and replaced with a 350 Rem mag, essentially the same performance as the whelen. Maybe this fall/winter I'll get around to trying the 220's.