35 Whelen

[HWL]

Sometimes it makes me wonder that they did not chose the .375 diameter...

All the advantages of the 9,3x62 plus legal everywhere...

A 9,5x63!


HWL

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Your right there Bob, getting the best out of a cartridge doesn’t mean you hot ridding, and a little common sense goes along way.
Just a question to put out there regarding the Nosler Partition bullet, does anyone know the difference between the standard partition and the partition gold and is the gold the standard partition now?
Ken

@K95
I remember Nick answering that a long time ago. From memory he said the partion gold was a great bullet .
Bob

 

[K95]

@K95
I remember Nick answering that a long time ago. From memory he said the partion gold was a great bullet .
Bob

Yes he took his 8 mm mag to Africa with 200 partitions, told me he has never been so disappointed in a bullet and it nearly ruined the trip. Tracking animals long distances is no fun. He said during the butchering it showed how once the nose of the partition blew off the base would fly off in any direction.
He later tried the partition gold and said they were a different kettle of fish. A brilliant bullet, said they moved the partition forward making the base larger and stiffened up the jacket thus greater weight retention and deeper penetration. This may explain why some people swear by them and others swear at them. Thus my question, are the new partitions the old gold. I haven’t tried any for long long time and perhaps there a lot better then they use to be. Hope someone might know something about the gold.
Ken

 

[K95]

Sometimes it makes me wonder that they did not chose the .375 diameter...

All the advantages of the 9,3x62 plus legal everywhere...

A 9,5x63!


HWL

That would have been a great cartridge. They did however make the 9.5 x 57 and in 1915 the 9.5 x 73, a necked down 404 Jeffery. Sadly the Germans couldn’t compete with the 375 H&H

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yes he took his 8 mm mag to Africa with 200 partitions, told me he has never been so disappointed in a bullet and it nearly ruined the trip. Tracking animals long distances is no fun. He said during the butchering it showed how once the nose of the partition blew off the base would fly off in any direction.
He later tried the partition gold and said they were a different kettle of fish. A brilliant bullet, said they moved the partition forward making the base larger and stiffened up the jacket thus greater weight retention and deeper penetration. This may explain why some people swear by them and others swear at them. Thus my question, are the new partitions the old gold. I haven’t tried any for long long time and perhaps there a lot better then they use to be. Hope someone might know something about the gold.
Ken

@K95
After reading about nicks dislike of the partion when driven hard I decided to load the 225 grain accubonds and Woodleigh PPSP for Namibia. Both had excellent penetration and performance. I only managed to retrieve 1 of each. They were hard driven at up to 2,900 fps out of my Whelen. This is over recommend impact velocity but I don't shoot game at the muzzle, so at impact range of around 120 yards the woodleigh was still at max impact velocity and worked well. Straight line performance from both. The accubond went from front to rear ham on a kudu. The woodleigh was found under the skin on the off side.

225 grains of woodleigh PPSP

225grain accubond
Bob

 

[sestoppelman]

What was retained weight of the two bullets?

 

[CoElkHunter]

@K95
After reading about nicks dislike of the partion when driven hard I decided to load the 225 grain accubonds and Woodleigh PPSP for Namibia. Both had excellent penetration and performance. I only managed to retrieve 1 of each. They were hard driven at up to 2,900 fps out of my Whelen. This is over recommend impact velocity but I don't shoot game at the muzzle, so at impact range of around 120 yards the woodleigh was still at max impact velocity and worked well. Straight line performance from both. The accubond went from front to rear ham on a kudu. The woodleigh was found under the skin on the off side.
View attachment 406480225 grains of woodleigh PPSP
View attachment 406481
225grain accubond
Bob

Can't argue with that bullet performance!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

What was retained weight of the two bullets?

@sestoppelman
Retained weight was around 180 grains for both or about 73%
Bob.

 

[K95]

Can't argue with that bullet performance!

Yes no bullet recovered from a dead animal has failed. The penetration was also perfect especially if you only recovered 2 Bullets on the off side. I have attached some pics of typical bullet results I experience.
First is a 160 gr Accubond 7mm from a 7mm mag from boar at 200 yds 52%
Second is a 250 gr Partition in 338 cal from a red stag 180 yds 55%.
Third is a A swift 250 gr 338 cal from a 338 Rum ,scrub Bull , 90 yds
91%.

 

[sestoppelman]

Here is a couple pix of my Whelen. Very modern indeed! Its a custom 1903 Springfield, builder unknown but he did a really nice job of it. Action is a high number in the 1.4 million range so a safe one.
Lots of nice custom features. 24" barrel is factory '03 bored out to Whelen by JES in Oregon, twist is 1-14. Scope is an old Redfield 2-7X, just right for the rifle and caliber.
Afraid it doesnt get much attention so hope to give it a bit more soon.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Here is a couple pix of my Whelen. Very modern indeed! Its a custom 1903 Springfield, builder unknown but he did a really nice job of it. Action is a high number in the 1.4 million range so a safe one.
Lots of nice custom features. 24" barrel is factory '03 bored out to Whelen by JES in Oregon, twist is 1-14. Scope is an old Redfield 2-7X, just right for the rifle and caliber.
Afraid it doesnt get much attention so hope to give it a bit more soon.
View attachment 406571
View attachment 406572

Very nice!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yes no bullet recovered from a dead animal has failed. The penetration was also perfect especially if you only recovered 2 Bullets on the off side. I have attached some pics of typical bullet results I experience.
First is a 160 gr Accubond 7mm from a 7mm mag from boar at 200 yds 52%
Second is a 250 gr Partition in 338 cal from a red stag 180 yds 55%.
Third is a A swift 250 gr 338 cal from a 338 Rum ,scrub Bull , 90 yds
91%.
View attachment 406485View attachment 406486View attachment 406487

@K95
Can't compĺain at that Ken.
My accubond was recovered in the ham of my kudu from a front on shot. Thru the chest cavity the launch and intestines and lodged in the ham. About 5 foot of penetration at around 120 yards. You would expect it to lose some weight.
On a black wildebeest at 180 yards the accubond penetrated near the b back rib angling forward thru the lungs and punched a we 20 cent size hole in front of the off side shoulder. One dead animal in less than 20 yards.

Here is a couple pix of my Whelen. Very modern indeed! Its a custom 1903 Springfield, builder unknown but he did a really nice job of it. Action is a high number in the 1.4 million range so a safe one.
Lots of nice custom features. 24" barrel is factory '03 bored out to Whelen by JES in Oregon, twist is 1-14. Scope is an old Redfield 2-7X, just right for the rifle and caliber.
Afraid it doesnt get much attention so hope to give it a bit more soon.
View attachment 406571
View attachment 406572

@sestoppelman
Lovely. I like what can be done with the old rifles. My 25 and 35AI are both a Dr on rifles dating from be for 1917.
Bob

 

[Shootist43]

Bob, your post just started me to thinking. Why do you think "old" guys seem to prefer old(er) guns? Or is it just me? A sizable portion of my rifle battery is well over a hundred years old and still capable of shooting the "socks" off current offerings.

 

[walk-in]

Bob, your post just started me to thinking. Why do you think "old" guys seem to prefer old(er) guns? Or is it just me? A sizable portion of my rifle battery is well over a hundred years old and still capable of shooting the "socks" off current offerings.

How do you define "old?" I'm 46. Most of my hunting rifles are are 20-40 years older than I am. I have a particular affinity for Swedish Mausers, and I firmly believe everyone should own at least 1 sporterized Mauser. My younger son (15) is the only 1 of my kids that really hunts these days. He started out with a 30-30 manufactured in 1952 and just recently moved up to a Husqvarna 270 Win. (FN action) built in 1950. I plan to take my next grizzly with a pre-war Winchester Model 71 that (to the best of my knowledge) hasn't been hunted with since the '60s. I do own a few more modern rifles, but for the same money, I'll almost always buy something older. Same goes for calibers. I don't own a rifle in any caliber developed after the '30s.

 

[Shootist43]

Walk-in, Have you been looking in my gun safes? I have about 15 Swedes for which I have a known affinity for. My youngest son's first deer rifle was a Winchester Mod 94 made in the 30"s. My Model 71 was made in 1936. I also have a pre war Model 70 that some jackass re-chambered to a 300 Weatherby Mag. The 03 Springfield that I had converted to a 35 Whelen is also well over a hundred years old. I own a few newer rifles in 416 Rigby and Remington Mag, a couple of 404 Jeffery(s) and three 375 H&H(s). But unlike you I do have a couple of black rifles in 7.1 and 556. However I don't hunt with them. But who knows what the future holds?

All three of my grandsons have taken white tails with their own Swedish Mauser. At least I got them started out right!!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, your post just started me to thinking. Why do you think "old" guys seem to prefer old(er) guns? Or is it just me? A sizable portion of my rifle battery is well over a hundred years old and still capable of shooting the "socks" off current offerings.

@ Shootist43
I think it just that we have come to realise that old usually means better quality and has proven itself over time. Someone once worked out it would not be financially viable to produce the 03 Springfield or the M17 Enfields anymore because they were labour intensive. With a good gunsmith they can be made into beautiful bespoke rifles. What can you do with a modern rifle.
My son has a 60 year old Slazanger model 12 22 with a boyds evo stock. People at the range have trouble figuring out what it is. When told they don't believe it and ask why I wasted money on such an old rifle.
When they see 10 shot groups using Winchester T22s measuring lest than half an inch at 50 yards they stop asking and want to shoot the old girl.
To me the Winchester 1885 low wall is the quintessential small game rifle and mine was made in 1891. All that had to be done to make it into a really classy rifle was add some nice wood.
I love it when you turn up at the range with a nicely set up old rifle in an old or oddball cartridge and proceede to shoot the lights out of these new wizz bang tacticool toys with scopes you can see the rings of Saturn with and need a golf buggy to cart around.
Even my Whelen uses an action designed in 1958 and is still going strong.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

How do you define "old?" I'm 46. Most of my hunting rifles are are 20-40 years older than I am. I have a particular affinity for Swedish Mausers, and I firmly believe everyone should own at least 1 sporterized Mauser. My younger son (15) is the only 1 of my kids that really hunts these days. He started out with a 30-30 manufactured in 1952 and just recently moved up to a Husqvarna 270 Win. (FN action) built in 1950. I plan to take my next grizzly with a pre-war Winchester Model 71 that (to the best of my knowledge) hasn't been hunted with since the '60s. I do own a few more modern rifles, but for the same money, I'll almost always buy something older. Same goes for calibers. I don't own a rifle in any caliber developed after the '30s.

@walk-in
For a young fella it's good to see that you have an appreciation of older rifles. 3 of my rifles date back to 1917, 1914 and 1891. I have a couple of Winchester 92s that date back to the early 1900s as well as ll nice rifles
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Walk-in, Have you been looking in my gun safes? I have about 15 Swedes for which I have a known affinity for. My youngest son's first deer rifle was a Winchester Mod 94 made in the 30"s. My Model 71 was made in 1936. I also have a pre war Model 70 that some jackass re-chambered to a 300 Weatherby Mag. The 03 Springfield that I had converted to a 35 Whelen is also well over a hundred years old. I own a few newer rifles in 416 Rigby and Remington Mag, a couple of 404 Jeffery(s) and three 375 H&H(s). But unlike you I do have a couple of black rifles in 7.1 and 556. However I don't hunt with them. But who knows what the future holds?

All three of my grandsons have taken white tails with their own Swedish Mauser. At least I got them started out right!!

@Shootist43
Do I ou have a 6.5 made by sako in you collection. I used to know someone that had a 6.5x55 and a 7.62x54 Mosin Nagant made by sako and both were extremely accurate.
Bob

 

[Shootist43]

Sorry Bob, no 6.5 x55 Sako(s). Carl Gustav Stads & Husqvarna.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

I have a question for you knowledgeable folks:

Would a 225 gr Accubond bullet be the optimal bullet in the 35 Whelen? I know it can get impressive speeds with the new powders. Plus, it’s a bonded core bullet, and is a stoutly made bullet, but not too stout to use it for smaller game.


Hawk