Reloading for the .35 Whelen.

[Adam Helmer]

I got my first .35 Whelen a year ago; it is a Remington 700 BDL Classic circa 1988, new in the box for what the former owner paid for it on the hang tag. I nearly got carpal tunnel in my right wrist when I wrote out the check for this unfired gem!

I bought a set of RCBS dies and some .358" jacketed bullets. I had 100 rounds of new .30-06 nickel brass on the heap, so I ran them through the .35Whelen sizer and made up the needed Whelen cases. All my nickel .30-06 cases are, from now on, made into Whelen brass. If its a nickel .30-06 case, it is Whelen.

I loaded up cast Lyman 358429 172 SWC bullets, 158 grain .357 caliber JSP pistol bullets and 200 grain jacketed Whelen bullets for range testing. The cast and jacketed pistol bullets were fired to set the scope and get used to the rifle.

Some folks say the .35 Whelen has too skimpy of a shoulder for proper resizing and firing. I have not found this to be a problem, nor has the Lyman Reloading Handbook. My Whelen is my biggest gun and one day I will take it to Alaska with my son.

Adam