400 Whelen

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Got my gun back from the smith! My first big bore (ok big-medium)

Dpcd (Tom Jackson) on AccRel, did the work. Its his custom contour, which is based on the "Duke of Marlborough" contour (very similar to a Brit stalker/Rigby highlander). Douglas .410 bbl 1:14 twist. This is the Petrov/G&H/ Original Whelen correct chamber, not the copy cat chamber that got the bad rep for head space issues.

M70 Classic 24" Douglas bbl. It is going to be sent out for cerakote here shortly after I sella few more items.

Dies are in the way. This should throw a 400 gr bullet around 2125-2160, but I think i'll try to find a good load with a North Fork 360 gr bullet, which has an SD of .301 and should easily hit 2250+ for +4000 ft-lbs. Do believe that'll knock a buff down. Those are the same numbers as the 450/400 with the same bullet.

Right now it's wearing a Zeiss Terra 3X 2-7x32 for test fitment and pictures. May move my Leupold 1-4x20 over from my 375 or buy a FX-II 3x20 or Weaver Classic V 1-3×20. Heck may even try out a Weaver Classic 4x32 Ive got sitting around.

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@ Milehighshooter
Why spoil a good thing leave the terra on it. Good for in close or out aways.
Nice rifle.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Not stainless, just unfinished for the moment.

@Milehighshooter
Save your money mate just get it bead blasted. Gives a nice mat finish. That's what I did to my little 35 Whelen

Bob

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Got my gun back from the smith! My first big bore (ok big-medium)

Dpcd (Tom Jackson) on AccRel, did the work. Its his custom contour, which is based on the "Duke of Marlborough" contour (very similar to a Brit stalker/Rigby highlander). Douglas .410 bbl 1:14 twist. This is the Petrov/G&H/ Original Whelen correct chamber, not the copy cat chamber that got the bad rep for head space issues.

M70 Classic 24" Douglas bbl. It is going to be sent out for cerakote here shortly after I sella few more items.

Dies are in the way. This should throw a 400 gr bullet around 2125-2160, but I think i'll try to find a good load with a North Fork 360 gr bullet, which has an SD of .301 and should easily hit 2250+ for +4000 ft-lbs. Do believe that'll knock a buff down. Those are the same numbers as the 450/400 with the same bullet.

Right now it's wearing a Zeiss Terra 3X 2-7x32 for test fitment and pictures. May move my Leupold 1-4x20 over from my 375 or buy a FX-II 3x20 or Weaver Classic V 1-3×20. Heck may even try out a Weaver Classic 4x32 Ive got sitting around.

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Cool rifle. Thanks for sharing.

 

[35400Whelen]

@Milehighshooter
Save your money mate just get it bead blasted. Gives a nice mat finish. That's what I did to my little 35 Whelen View attachment 359385
Bob

Bob, that looks nice.
I duracoated my 35 Whelen barrel in flat black, it matched the Savage blued action well. It sells for $45.95 here in the US. Barrel prep is easy and you just but three coats on just like spray paint, and let it cure for three to four weeks before hard use.

 

[35400Whelen]

I got to work up some loads for the 400 Whelen.
Hawk .411 dia. 350gr. RT with .035 jacket thickness. CFE 223, 66.5gr. 2313 fps.
Hornady .410 dia. 400gr. DGS, CFE 223, 65gr. 2127 fps.
Hopefully I'll get to take some game with it this fall.

 

[Iclimb]

21”

 

[Iclimb]

Weaver rifles did I fantastic job and really professional/prompt! Easy!

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I got to work up some loads for the 400 Whelen.
Hawk .411 dia. 350gr. RT with .035 jacket thickness. CFE 223, 66.5gr. 2313 fps.
Hornady .410 dia. 400gr. DGS, CFE 223, 65gr. 2127 fps.
Hopefully I'll get to take some game with it this fall.

@35400Whelen
They are some pretty potent loads out of a little ought six case.
Ifn things don't fall over when hit with that 400 you ain't done your part properly.
How bout a photo of a round.
If I needed a 40 cal that's the way I would go but the baby 35Whelen has all the power I will ever need.
Just goes to show James V Howe and the Colenel got it right with the 35 and 40. Using newer powders they is even more goodera than they ever were.
Have fun mate
Bob

 

[Iclimb]

@35400Whelen
They are some pretty potent loads out of a little ought six case.
Ifn things don't fall over when hit with that 400 you ain't done your part properly.
How bout a photo of a round.
If I needed a 40 cal that's the way I would go but the baby 35Whelen has all the power I will ever need.
Just goes to show James V Howe and the Colenel got it right with the 35 and 40. Using newer powders they is even more goodera than they ever were.
Have fun mate
Bob

I have a set of c4h die’s 400 Wheln griffin & howe….if ya get the bug worse than you have it x)

 

[Gerald Boyd]

Never heard of a 400 Whelen before today. Here is an interesting read:

http://www.finegunmaking.com/page33/page51/page51.html

Shoot my .35 Whelen often, 2 trips to Namibia.... might hafta add a .400 as it reads great.

 

[Milehighshooter]

Great looking rifle Iclimb!

 

[Milehighshooter]

To make things more tempting, Hammer Bullets has been adding some 41 bullets that will really open up the uses for a 400.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

Got my gun back from the smith! My first big bore (ok big-medium)

Dpcd (Tom Jackson) on AccRel, did the work. Its his custom contour, which is based on the "Duke of Marlborough" contour (very similar to a Brit stalker/Rigby highlander). Douglas .410 bbl 1:14 twist. This is the Petrov/G&H/ Original Whelen correct chamber, not the copy cat chamber that got the bad rep for head space issues.

M70 Classic 24" Douglas bbl. It is going to be sent out for cerakote here shortly after I sella few more items.

Dies are in the way. This should throw a 400 gr bullet around 2125-2160, but I think i'll try to find a good load with a North Fork 360 gr bullet, which has an SD of .301 and should easily hit 2250+ for +4000 ft-lbs. Do believe that'll knock a buff down. Those are the same numbers as the 450/400 with the same bullet.

Right now it's wearing a Zeiss Terra 3X 2-7x32 for test fitment and pictures. May move my Leupold 1-4x20 over from my 375 or buy a FX-II 3x20 or Weaver Classic V 1-3×20. Heck may even try out a Weaver Classic 4x32 Ive got sitting around.

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Excellent rifle and cartridge!! Elmer Keith thought highly of it and hunted with one for years with great satisfaction.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Shoot my .35 Whelen often, 2 trips to Namibia.... might hafta add a .400 as it reads great.

@Gerald Boyd
What loads are you using in your Whelen mate. Hogdon CFE223 is a great powder in it.
If you use a 60cm drop tube you can get a good dose of H4350/2209 into the whelen with a 310gn and get over 2,400fps. This is with a 35 cal bullet with a better sd than a 350gn 375.
Bob

 

[Flewis]

Got my gun back from the smith! My first big bore (ok big-medium)

Dpcd (Tom Jackson) on AccRel, did the work. Its his custom contour, which is based on the "Duke of Marlborough" contour (very similar to a Brit stalker/Rigby highlander). Douglas .410 bbl 1:14 twist. This is the Petrov/G&H/ Original Whelen correct chamber, not the copy cat chamber that got the bad rep for head space issues.

M70 Classic 24" Douglas bbl. It is going to be sent out for cerakote here shortly after I sella few more items.

Dies are in the way. This should throw a 400 gr bullet around 2125-2160, but I think i'll try to find a good load with a North Fork 360 gr bullet, which has an SD of .301 and should easily hit 2250+ for +4000 ft-lbs. Do believe that'll knock a buff down. Those are the same numbers as the 450/400 with the same bullet.

Right now it's wearing a Zeiss Terra 3X 2-7x32 for test fitment and pictures. May move my Leupold 1-4x20 over from my 375 or buy a FX-II 3x20 or Weaver Classic V 1-3×20. Heck may even try out a Weaver Classic 4x32 Ive got sitting around.

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416 or 411 bore?

 

[Milehighshooter]

416 or 411 bore?

.410

 

[AZDAVE]

@Milehighshooter Which of the hammer bullets are you using? I have looked at them but haven't ordered any yet.

 

[Gerald Boyd]

@Gerald Boyd
What loads are you using in your Whelen mate. Hogdon CFE223 is a great powder in it.
If you use a 60cm drop tube you can get a good dose of H4350/2209 into the whelen with a 310gn and get over 2,400fps. This is with a 35 cal bullet with a better sd than a 350gn 375.
Bob

Hey Bob, Not reloading it just yet. Its a Mauser 98 with a 35 Whelen screwed on by Cutting Edge Firearms in Oklahoma City and it has lived on a diet of Nosler Trophy Grade 250 gr bullets. I think I will be ready for working out a good reload once we have all this 'mess' settled from our COVID stricken govt and the supply chain. 1lb of powder has crept towards $30!! Can't find primers..... stupid for sure.

Thanks for the loads, will make sure I give them a try in the coming year.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!! Hope its a great year!!!

Gerald

 

[Gerald Boyd]

Got my gun back from the smith! My first big bore (ok big-medium)

Dpcd (Tom Jackson) on AccRel, did the work. Its his custom contour, which is based on the "Duke of Marlborough" contour (very similar to a Brit stalker/Rigby highlander). Douglas .410 bbl 1:14 twist. This is the Petrov/G&H/ Original Whelen correct chamber, not the copy cat chamber that got the bad rep for head space issues.

M70 Classic 24" Douglas bbl. It is going to be sent out for cerakote here shortly after I sella few more items.

Dies are in the way. This should throw a 400 gr bullet around 2125-2160, but I think i'll try to find a good load with a North Fork 360 gr bullet, which has an SD of .301 and should easily hit 2250+ for +4000 ft-lbs. Do believe that'll knock a buff down. Those are the same numbers as the 450/400 with the same bullet.

Right now it's wearing a Zeiss Terra 3X 2-7x32 for test fitment and pictures. May move my Leupold 1-4x20 over from my 375 or buy a FX-II 3x20 or Weaver Classic V 1-3×20. Heck may even try out a Weaver Classic 4x32 Ive got sitting around.

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Milehigh.... Now its been a couple of years. How's your 400 running?!??! I have a Rem 700 that will be my donor action but I'm thinking a 24" barrel. This gun is already wearing a Boyds laminate.

 

[Milehighshooter]

I am happy with the few forming loads I've shot, but haven't done anything serious. Since i built the 400 i acquired a 416 Taylor built by Frank Wells, and also a 404 Jeffrey from Parker Hale. Take time had been limited and i can only shoot so many big-mediums at a time lol. I am actually taking it to the smith tomorrow to have the 25" barrel cut back to 21.5 or 22". I don't need top DG performance from it, but I do need a short handy thumper for work here in the USA, so that'll be the ticket!