375 "Wildcat" from Downunder

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m pushing the limits of my 375 Whelen AI to get into the upper 2500’s with a Speer 235 grain bullet. Fire forming loads are in the 22-2300 FPS range. I will be interested to see what you actually get out of the rifle when it’s done

@Bullthrower338
Cody the case capacity of the 375/280AI should be pert bear the same as the 375 Whelen AI there are newer powders out there so it would be interesting to see what powder he is using.
Our gun guru in Australia Nick Harvey reckons he is getting 3,200fps with 48gn of Re26 out of a 243 with 100 gn speer projectiles. May be he is or maybe he isn't I don't know. I do know that with Max loads of 2209/H4350 or 2213sc/ H4831SC the best I could ever get was 2,800 fps that is 400 fps slower than his. My loads were for a 22 inch barrel, Nick's was a 24 inch tube so a big difference.
I'm not saying the speed in the 375/280AI can't be done but I am curious about how.
People used to say the speeds I am getting out of my 35Whelen were pie in the sky until they tried them and realised it could be done and done safely so it may be possible, I just need more information.
Bob

 

[geoff rath]

@geoff rath
The quality of the brass has nought to do with it. Norma brass just has more uniform flash holes and come prechamfered. Apart from that it has the same metallurgy as other brass cases. Workmanship plays a small part in it. There are a lot of good smith's out there like Rob Spittles, tse engineering who even make actions as well as barrels,Allan Swan, Robert Tobler just to name a few.
I'm not saying it can't be done safely but there's only so much you can do with an 06 case. I run my 35 Whelen at near max pressure and it's impressive but I can only get 2,950fps out of it with a 225gn Woodleigh. Yes bullet base area plays a part in it along with expansion ratio but I don't think it would be that much.
Could you PM me his load so I can run it against load from a disc. My results will only be communicated to you and no one else. What does it do with 275gn and 300gn. The speed he gets with the 235s would make it devastating on pigs and deer but for bulls and buff in the territory I would want a heavier bullet.
Cheers Geoff you have peaked my interest.
Bob

I'll check in with Anthony, and get back to you; don't wish to overstep the mark with such a good bloke ..

 

[Bullthrower338]

I just wonder if numbers were not transposed 32 vs. 23. I just hope the OP doesn’t have the let down that I experience every time I shoot my new bow across a screen and it isn’t as fast as I thought. 2500 FPS with a 235 gr would be excellent on Sambar and Chital deer so I would not feel under gunned ever. When I get this move completed I plan on playing with the 375 Whelen with superformance powder, who knows what I may see. There are a few cartridges that I can not duplicate factory velocities with any other powder. 3200 out of the little 375 would be bad medicine for most animals short of DG. I am anxiously awaiting confirmation on this also.

 

[rdog]

Why not just go with a 375 Taylor & cut out all the black magic? Bigger case, lower pressure more affordable brass better head spacing than that little shoulder, feeds out of the magazine better due to more case taper.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Why not just go with a 375 Taylor & cut out all the black magic? Bigger case, lower pressure more affordable brass better head spacing than that little shoulder, feeds out of the magazine better due to more case taper.

+1. Then, when you get tired of shooting the .375 Taylor, buy a set of .416 Taylor dies and with the same .338WM cases, form the .416 brass and never look back. LOL

 

[CBH Australia]

@rdog
It's because people like to tinker. Probably how the .375 Taylor and others came about.

No different to Ted Mitchell and others developing something to put their name on a case.

 

[CoElkHunter]

@rdog
It's because people like to tinker. Probably how the .375 Taylor and others came about.

No different to Ted Mitchell and others developing something to put their name on a case.

How about a .416 Whelen? Probably not enough case diameter though? Where's Townsend @Bob Nelson 35Whelen, he might know?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I'll check in with Anthony, and get back to you; don't wish to overstep the mark with such a good bloke ..

@geoff rath
I agree mate upsetting people does no good for either party.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

Is there something based on a .325?

I don't here much about .325 other than my mate has a .325wsm

I've seen the .425schade and .425 is another calibre I don't think is common but you could have projectiles turned up in any diameter or calibre of you really wanted to have something different. Perhaps having the barrel made would be more the issue of a custom bore size

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I just wonder if numbers were not transposed 32 vs. 23. I just hope the OP doesn’t have the let down that I experience every time I shoot my new bow across a screen and it isn’t as fast as I thought. 2500 FPS with a 235 gr would be excellent on Sambar and Chital deer so I would not feel under gunned ever. When I get this move completed I plan on playing with the 375 Whelen with superformance powder, who knows what I may see. There are a few cartridges that I can not duplicate factory velocities with any other powder. 3200 out of the little 375 would be bad medicine for most animals short of DG. I am anxiously awaiting confirmation on this also.

@Bullthrower338
Cody superformance in the bottle isn't the same they load superformance ammo with. The bottle superformance is a wee bit slower than 4831sc and Re22 so it won't work in your Whelen AI but feel free to try it and let me know.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

How about a .416 Whelen? Probably not enough case diameter though? Where's Townsend @Bob Nelson 35Whelen, he might know?

@CoElkHunter
There's no flies on a .400 Whelen. It equals the 400-450.
Bob

 

[Bullthrower338]

@Bullthrower338
Cody superformance in the bottle isn't the same they load superformance ammo with. The bottle superformance is a wee bit slower than 4831sc and Re22 so it won't work in your Whelen AI but feel free to try it and let me know.
Bob

My only experience with it are in the short mags, 325 and 338 RCM, it really shines in both, I was hoping it would in the 375 also. P.O. Ackley used a lot of 4064 and 4895 in the development of the 375 Whelen AI and was getting 2600 FPS out of the 235 Speers.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My only experience with it are in the short mags, 325 and 338 RCM, it really shines in both, I was hoping it would in the 375 also. P.O. Ackley used a lot of 4064 and 4895 in the development of the 375 Whelen AI and was getting 2600 FPS out of the 235 Speers.

@Bullthrower338
Cody that's the reason I stayed with the 35 Whelen. I did look at the 375 Whelen and the AI. When I can get 2,900 fps with 225s, 2,700fps with 250s, 2,500fps with the 275s and hoping to get 2,300 with the 310s. I will find out next weekend. When I'm getting that with bullets with higher sd than the 375s and the same weight I couldn't justify the 375 Whelen AI. The 35 has more power and penetration than I really need but hey it's fun.
Bob

 

[Bullthrower338]

@Bullthrower338
Cody that's the reason I stayed with the 35 Whelen. I did look at the 375 Whelen and the AI. When I can get 2,900 fps with 225s, 2,700fps with 250s, 2,500fps with the 275s and hoping to get 2,300 with the 310s. I will find out next weekend. When I'm getting that with bullets with higher sd than the 375s and the same weight I couldn't justify the 375 Whelen AI. The 35 has more power and penetration than I really need but hey it's fun.
Bob

Who makes the 310s Bob?

 

[425SCHADE]

Thinking of duplicating it?? Looks good, eh??

Nah, got my own wildcat

 

[rdog]

@rdog
It's because people like to tinker. Probably how the .375 Taylor and others came about.

No different to Ted Mitchell and others developing something to put their name on a case.

Yes i agree, but some times its like reinventing the wheel for no gain, the easy option is the 375 Taylor , dies are avail, same action length, better case capacity std 338 WM brass, proven efficient cartridge.Yes i know Ted gave him some 35 cal bullets when he was playing around with 8x57 35 cal thing. Ted is one of the best bushman i have ever met, if you can put up with his practical jokes.

 

[PerH]

Who makes the 310s Bob?

Woodleigh 310 Soft,Solid ( copy of .400-350 Rigby bullets)

They also make a 275 PP

Swift a 280 Aframe as max weight

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Who makes the 310s Bob?

@Bullthrower338
Woodleigh make a 310 grain round nose soft point as well as a solid Cody. The max load in the standard Whelen is 59gn of H4350 for a pressure of around 49,000 psi.
If you use a 4 inch drop tube and an electric toothbrush you can get 62gn in and still seat the bullet. I'm hoping the get over 2,300fps from it. The standard load gives just under 2,300fps. I am going to the range in a couple of weeks to chrono it.
Bob

 

[colorado]

Interesting, but I'll stick with my mild 7 1/2 lb (with scope) 375 Weatherby.

 

[Anthony George]

Gday

I'll wade in and answer any Qs if required

Thanks for the kind words Geoff,

Bit of a story with this one, happy to regale if of interest

Few pics