35 Whelen - Anyone have experience with

[TTE]

Accurate 2520 powder

I have a 35 Whelen (built 30+ years ago) that I got in a trade a long time ago.

Shot Remington 250 gain factory loads in it, when I wanted to shoot it. Accuracy was pretty darn good. However, accuracy all over with 200 grain bullets.

Now factory loadings are difficult to come by, so I decided to reload for it (have primers. cases and I have a supply of 250 grain bullets so will be using only 250's.bullets).

I have not loaded for it previously ( have loaded for 30+ years) just not for this cartridge.

I am looking for a powder that will have good velocity with above average accuracy. I have seen Accurate 2520 in some of the reloading data and 2520 is available (unlike many other powders unless you want to spend $90 a pound).

Just wondered if some here has had some experience with 2520 and 250 grain bullets in the 35 Whelen.

Thanks for your comments

 

[Ray123]

I shoot the 350 mag in a 20" barrel...2000MR is the fastest powder I know for both...250 gr over 2600 fps, as the water capacities are almost the same, and I load mine to 2.910" instead of 2.8"

But Hornady manual has load data for 2520, but I haven't used it in either of these calibers.
35 Whelen
250 grain Start load 2520 is 45.5 gr 2100 fps
250 gr max load 2520 53.5 gr for 2400 fps
In a 22" barrel Remington 700 test firearm.
Page 694 tenth edition.

 

[HandgunHTR]

I haven't used it in a Whelen, but it was my go-to powder for loading the 35 Remington with 250s. I have two pounds of it and am contemplating building a Whelen, so if you get it to work for you, I would be interested in your results.

 

[TTE]

I haven't used it in a Whelen, but it was my go-to powder for loading the 35 Remington with 250s. I have two pounds of it and am contemplating building a Whelen, so if you get it to work for you, I would be interested in your results.

I will keep you updated. Still looking at powders, but AA 2520 is in the lead for now.

Thanks to all for your comments

 

[mikeinct]

My old Whelen is fond of this load. I've never changed it in twenty years. 250 grain Hornady SP Interlock code #3520. IMR 4064 . CCI LRP in RP cases.

 

[358WCF]

Never used 2520 in 35 Whelen, but it may be a good choice. The Whelen isn't terribly picky in my experience. IMR-3031 & 4064 were the hot setup at one time. RL-15 is another excellent choice. ...BUT... PP2000MR has become my 1st choice in the last 2 or 3 years. Data is available in Speer #15 & Sierra VI. I've safely reached 3000fps with 200s, 2900fps with 225s, & 2650fps with 250s in a 22" factory Remington barrel. Group sizes hover between 3/4 & 1" with a 5x scope @ 100 yds. Best accuracy is a usually a tad below max., but not much. I believe this powder is still made in FL, so becomes available more often than the foreign made powders have been. One of the 4 or 5 on-line places I check regularly had some for a couple days just last week.

 

[TTE]

Thanks to all that responded.

Some ramblings from me -

Got this scoped Mauser action custom & $200.00 in a trade for a a 300 Wby. (and I did not really like the 300 Wby. ... I could never warm up to it, it shot well, but it just never felt right).
The loaded ammo I got with the rifle were made from 30-06 cases, so I am guessing it was built as a Wildcat back then.

Anyway ... always wanted a 35 Whelen from my early gun days.

- - - - - - - -

I am trying to get this rifle up to snuff now for a trip next year. As I said, the rifle was built 30+ years ago. I have shot 4 - 6 boxes of factroy loads threw it over the years, but have not shot it in at least 6 years (kept it oiled up but no range time).

When I started shooting, Hoppe's #9 was what everyone used to clean barrels. Being old school, I still use it today. So after each time I shot this rifle I cleaned it with Hoppe's until patches came out clean.

Well, .... got a bore scope a week ago.

HOLY SMOKES ! The barrel on this Whelen is the same color as a freshly tarred road, .... full of carbon !

So trying to salvage it, I ordered some Carb Out. Started cleaning it this am .... I should have taken pics of the before, but I can tell you, Carb Out works. And it works really well, I can actually see the lands and grooves now.
Not done with the cleaning just yet, however, I am amazed at how well this stuff works.

Will keep you updated on progress with this rifle.

Thanks for listening.

Cheers

 

[drop_point]

Personally, RL15 and Varget worked great for my .35 Whelen.

 

[TTE]

Personally, RL15 and Varget worked great for my .35 Whelen.

I would try some if it wasn't $80 a pound (I'm too cheap I guess)

 

[TTE]

More on my journey -

Spent this weekend cleaning the carbon out of the barrel.

Cleaned about 29 years of carbon out of it. Unfortunately, the rifle is more than 30 years old, so still have a bit of carbon removal to do.

The Carb Out says it helps prevent carbon build up, so think I will take it out to the range (in the next couple of weeks) with my limited supply of factory ammo, (before starting another weekend of carbon removal) and see how it shoots.

I found some Accurate 2520 powder, so will start with that and 250 grain Hornady's when it comes time for reloading.

Will keep updating this thread as the loading moves along.

Thanks for listening.

 

[SeabeeKen]

While i dont have a Whelen, I did a lot of testing with the very similar 9.3x62 Mauser. 2520 shot .6 with 250 gr. Powders that gave .5 or better were IMR-3031, RL-17, W-748, H-380, and Big Game. 3031 and RL-17 both gave .3"

 

[Gary in MD]

OP, I don’t own a 35 Whelen but have seen it in action on elk. Also, anything based off of the ‘06 case is going to be a good one.
For some good reading on the cartridge, see Ken Waters Pet Loads on it. His writings on cartridges are always worth the time. Although some powders and bullets that he used may not be the latest and greatest.
Gary

 

[TTE]

While i dont have a Whelen, I did a lot of testing with the very similar 9.3x62 Mauser. 2520 shot .6 with 250 gr. Powders that gave .5 or better were IMR-3031, RL-17, W-748, H-380, and Big Game. 3031 and RL-17 both gave .3"

Good info, .... thanks

 

[djporter]

Ditto on 3031

 

[TTE]

3031 and RL-17 both gave .3"

Seems odd/strange that these powders would give good performance, since they are quite a bit different in burn rate

 

[TTE]

Seems odd/strange that these powders would give good performance, since they are quite a bit different in burn rate

Even though I have some 35 Whelen brass, I thought I would 'make some brass', being that the Lee die has a tapered expander. I did not anneal the cases as I thought the case shoulder would be too soft (but I don't know about that for sure).

Started with some new RP 30-06' brass that measured 2.4870.
Chamfered the case mouth and lubed up the inside of the case mouth and body then started to expand the neck. A pull on the handle a bit, rotated the case and expanded a bit more. Basically I rotated the case about 20 times before the final pull. I did not FL size with this die.

Then FL resized it with the RCBS die. Measured the case length, it was 2.4565
I knew it would be short, but that is pretty darn short I thought (0.0305 shorter)

SO THEN, I thought I'd be a smarty pants and try some new Winchester brass in 270 WInchester. I thought that with a measurement of 2.5330 it would need to be trimmed after reforming to 35 Whelen.

Followed the same procedure as with the 06' brass.

Final measurement of the 270 Winchester brass reformed to 35 Whelen was 2.4855 (0.0475 shorter)

I was pretty amazed that is was basically the trim to length.

Did I do something incorrectly ? I thought for sure the 270 brass would need to be trimmed after reforming.

Thanks for your comments

 

[rickt300]

My Whelen was put together to shoot the then available round nosed bullets and I used 3031 and AA2520. I easily built loads that shot very well and were deadly on game. My rifle is a bit light so I like to load it around 2300 fps with the 250 grain bullets. I have tried some of the newer powders that really add some speed, recoil is jumped up a lot also! My rifle shoots everything well, MOA seems the norm for 3 shots.

 

[TTE]

Nice. Thanks for the info

 

[TTE]

Have my brass cleaned and annealed. Still need to size and measure cases
Was thinking of starting with 50.0 grains of Accurate 2520 powder ... Fed. Mag primer ... 250 grn. Hornady RN in RP 35 Whelen cases.

Off on vacation for a couple of weeks, so will get to loading when I return

Thanks to all that have responded.

 

[TTE]

Got 10 rounds loaded today in ready for a range trip next week (if the weather cooperates)

First experience with ball powder (AA2520) .... it was a bit different.

For the record, RP 35 Whelen are not the best. Many of the cases had a small lip on the outside at the case mouth that would 'catch' your fingernail. I don't have a 35 cal neck turner, so had to figure out something to get that sorted out. Finally got that worked out, then trimmed/chamfered to length.

These are the bullets I got when I got this rifle. I have not seen the cannelure so far up the bullet previously.

Bullets seated to the same length as Remington 250 grain, 35 Whelen factory loads