My 35 Whelen Loads Pressure Test Results

[jwp475]

Many felt that my loads were over pressure, so I had them pressure tested. Here are the results.

 

[HuntingGold]

Thanks for posting this. I'm waiting for the acraglas to fully cure on my gun before I shoot it again. Im getting high speeds out of my gun along with flat primers at fairly low powder charges. We cant seem to put our finger on it. Tight barrel??

 

[Nevada Mike]

... Im getting high speeds out of my gun along with flat primers at fairly low powder charges. We cant seem to put our finger on it. Tight barrel??

Headspacing?

 

[C.W. Richter]

Tight chamber can do that (in a positive way, too!) I've NEVER had any overpressure rounds in 06 case variants (incl. 338-06 A-Sq and 35 Ack Imp-most similar to yours.) No worries! As much as I love others, John Browning's Perfect (slight improvement of Paul Mauser's) cartridge case, it's exceedingly efficient. Hard to overcharge. No worries in a solid gun. Some worries in the latest, greatest black plastic from Wallyworld! Overpressure in this instance meaning pressure so high the cartridge got stuck, the primer blew out (or damaged the gun and/or shooter.) Anything over book pressure is fairly close to SAAMI-established avg stds to be handled by all guns, incl. the aforementioned black plastic junk. When most max book loads are 100%+/- case capacity, it's pretty hard to overcharge (even moreso when the bullets get heavier/longer and eat up powder space)! Again, perfect case size. The taper allows good feed with hot handloads even in pump, lever and semi-auto guns that don't quite have the ejection power advantage.

 

[jwp475]

My velocities out of my Highwall's 28" barrel were as follows

180-grain TTSX. . . .. 3231 FPS
200 grain Hornaday Interlock. 3080 FPS
220 grain Hammer Hunter. 2911 FPS
225 grain Accubond. 2800 FPS
225 TSX. 2850 FPS
250 Grain Interlock. 2745 FPS

 

[C.W. Richter]

Realizing you have the long bbl, those Vs appear a bit high for a 35W (they're more like 300 WM.) I'd say the P IS too high. I get 2750 w/ 200s in a shorter bbl and 3000 w/ 165s. Highest V I see on a reloading forum is <2650 for the 250 and 3000ish for the 180, which are at max book pressure (they run the math and won't publish loads over SAAMI pressure.) 35s should be in the 10 fps/1" of bbl, so...What is the twist rate of your bbl? Those Vs are so high, just drop the powder charges until they are book value and be glad yours shoots faster than the rest, for less! Show us the gun!

 

[C.W. Richter]

I have a load for a .257 AI (no big secret-same pet loads PO Ackley recommended.) They are over today's SAAMI pressures, but the cases are fine, no sticking, etc. and they fly 3,450 fps (100 gr) out of a 26" bbl. Never a worry (unless you're 2 deer spotted, with 2 tags in-hand!)

 

[jwp475]

Realizing you have the long bbl, those Vs appear a bit high for a 35W (they're more like 300 WM.) I'd say the P IS too high. I get 2750 w/ 200s in a shorter bbl and 3000 w/ 165s. Highest V I see on a reloading forum is <2650 for the 250 and 3000ish for the 180, which are at max book pressure (they run the math and won't publish loads over SAAMI pressure.) 35s should be in the 10 fps/1" of bbl, so...What is the twist rate of your bbl? Those Vs are so high, just drop the powder charges until they are book value and be glad yours shoots faster than the rest, for less! Show us the gun!

Did you look at the pressures? Most are in the 52 to 55 thousands psi. They are not even up to SAAMI max average pressure which is 63,000 PSI

 

[C.W. Richter]

Did you look at the pressures? Most are in the 52 to 55 thousands psi. They are not even up to SAAMI max average pressure which is 63,000 PSI

yes but how was the pressure determined?

 

[C.W. Richter]

and again, is the twist rate high (which causes even more pressure, and once again due to even more bearing surface of the longer bbl)? sometimes too much of a good thing. I don't think of the 35 as a long range ballistic. there are diminishing returns to "canonizing" one.

 

[C.W. Richter]

if you get a certain V out of a round, you can back calculate P (generally.) Those Vs indicate high pressure IMHO, irrespective of numbers printed on a chart. was this Real pressure testing, or some calculator? And, did it take into consideration backpressure from the 4-6" longer than std bbl for std twist of this caliber.

 

[jwp475]

yes but how was the pressure determined?

Pressure was taken with a strain Guage on Olher equipment

and again, is the twist rate high (which causes even more pressure, and once again due to even more bearing surface of the longer bbl)? sometimes too much of a good thing. I don't think of the 35 as a long range ballistic. there are diminishing returns to "canonizing" one.

This is a fallacy twist rate doesn't affect pressure

 

[C.W. Richter]

My velocities out of my Highwall's 28" barrel were as follows

180-grain TTSX. . . .. 3231 FPS
200 grain Hornaday Interlock. 3080 FPS
220 grain Hammer Hunter. 2911 FPS
225 grain Accubond. 2800 FPS
225 TSX. 2850 FPS
250 Grain Interlock. 2745 FPS

are we talking 2 diff guns here? these Vs don't mesh with your chart above?? spreadsheet above shows fairly normal expected Vs from this cartridge in most guns-and as such wouldn't expect to be over P.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Pressure was taken with a strain Guage on Olher equipment

This is a fallacy twist rate doesn't affect pressure

it can in certain calibers. i have a hot 6.5 that is very sensitive with certain bullets in this fast twist (w/ high Vs-it's related to the higher bearing surface of the longer 160 gr bullets v. the fast twist. bbl is only 23".) ok but your spreadsheet has nothing to do with your 28" highwall? yes? the Vs don't mesh up. I'd expect those loads to be over P. It takes more E to spin a bullet faster, thus it can have an effect on back P. I know many say "negligible," but it's there in varying degrees (size of bore, bullet, length, etc. etc.) and it only takes a slight amount to be over book P. There's also the "too much of a good thing" re: twist in some guns, where the resistance of the faster twist slows down the bullet somewhat. Not all are the same!

 

[jwp475]

Despite what you think twist rate doesn't affect pressure.
Of course it is 2 different rifles. I sent my loads to be tested I didn't send my rifle. Jeez man

 

[sestoppelman]

I had my Ruger No.1-S with 24 inch bbl out today. Shooting 225 gr Sierra's with CFE223 from 63-67 grs. Grouping was not great, but two loads did best: 65 and 67 grs at around one MOA. While the loads will definitely get anyone's attention, I did not see any obvious signs of over pressure.

I just got it back from Ruger for service because on two occasions I had misfires, light strikes.

Got back a note underlining in bold RED that GREASE needs to be kept to minimum in the action, LOL
I suspected that may have been the issue but I didnt want to start digging around in the innards of the receiver, buggering screws etc. Besides I bought it used so probably good to let them have a look.

They sent back a test target too, which I have never known them to do, I didnt complain of its accuracy.
Test target showed 3 shots of Rem 250 Spitzer at 50 yards in the same hole! I have used that same load at the range and it is a good one.

 

[jwp475]

Power Pro Varmint is good with 225 grain bullets also.

 

[sestoppelman]

I have no doubt but havent seen any Alliant powders here for some time.

 

[shootist~]

Thanks for posting this. I'm waiting for the acraglas to fully cure on my gun before I shoot it again. Im getting high speeds out of my gun along with flat primers at fairly low powder charges. We cant seem to put our finger on it. Tight barrel??

My $.02:
I would start with a Headspace GO gauge and make sure the bolt will close with no pressure. Same for your reloaded and or factory ammo, btw.

If it passes the GO gauge, then shoulder measurements using several fired cases with a Hornady Cartridge Case Headspace Tool would then give an indication if the Headspace is good. (Use the Hornady tool to also measure the GO gauge for a baseline. ) Normal Cartridge HS should be about .002" or so, but could be .0000 to about .007" for non belted cases.

Grain of salt, I'm not a gunsmith, but this is what I see between factory barrels and factory ammo as well as my reloaded ammunition. (I shoot for ~.002" cartridge headspace when setting up my sizer dies).

Also check the freebore (Maximum COL Vs your load's actual COL), compared to what works for others. Hornady has another tool for this. My 9.3x62 has a ton of Freeborn, btw.

 

[jwp475]

I just noticed a typo error on the pressure chart, the 250 grain Hornady was loaded with CFE223 not Power Pro Varmint