35 Whelen loads

[35WhelenAI]

I used a 35 Whelan AI for a bit over 20yrs. My first load was the original Barnes 250x over 53,5gr of 2015br BR2 primer, remington case. I shot a wad of game with it in '96 first trip to South Africa. Only recovered 2 bullets, both lengthwise shots on a zebra and kudu. Another trip, I used 58gr of H322 under the Barnes Secant Ogive 200x for 2970fps, 22" barrel. I later tried the 200 TTSX and 58 1/2gr H322 gave me 2950. +3 at 100 = -3 at 300! Never had any temp issues with either one.

We are cut from the same cloth, RevJim. Our bullet choices over the years are eerily similar for the 35 AI. I've settled on IMR4064 as my main powder as shared in a post above. No temp issues that I can tell either. Power Pro Varmint wins the speed contest, but too much good has come from bullets sitting on top of IMR4064. The extra velocity PPV gives to push the 200 TTSX over 3000 fps is for bragging rights to show it can be done safely. Since I began using it, the 200 TTSX is the holy grail of bullets in that cartridge, IMO.

 

[RevJim]

You bet! I forgot to say that 200X ( which I feel the TTSX are even better) killed and penetrated as well as that old 250X did! I was zeroed only +2" at 100 with the 200X, and I held on the backline of a 347yds Black Wildebeasts, plop. I shot that zebra from prone, laying over the bank of a pond, aimed at base of neck at 250yds. It missed her spine but got both big arteries. She turned and ran so fast, at 50yds , as she fell she ran into a clump of CamelThorn and broke them off at knee level! Zebra are solid! ha. But that 200 was a flat shooter! Both those loads were Max from Barnes first load manual. I could get more Powder/speed in that AI, but this was the sweet spot for both.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Cow taken with 200X at 341 yds. Broadside, exited.

200X and 250X recovered from other elk, hard angle quartering to (200X) and hard angle quartering away (250X). Unfired shown for comparison along with 200 TTSX. Have not recovered a 200 TTSX from any animal whether elk, mule deer or whitetail.

Current 200 TTSX load with IMR4064 in my 35 Ackley Improved (25" bbl) at 2940 fps is 1 gr. over Barnes max for the std. Whelen. Case head expansion (CHE) measurements show it is in the low-middle of accepted/established norms. This load shows no traditional pressure signs as well.

For comparison, the 200 TTSX at 3030 fps over a worked up to charge of Power Pro Varmint is safe based on CHE and traditional established pressure indicators. I referenced Speer data for the 180 gr and 220 gr to start low and develop the load for the 200 TTSX.

*Disclaimer: Do not use any load info or reference in this post as a claim to being safe in any gun but the one it was established in.