35 Whelen Twist Rates

[GlockNation]

Please I need you help and advice!

I just found a used 35 Whelen Interarms Mark X at a large chain store that sells used and new and put it in layaway, and now I am trying to decide if I should keep it. It has a synthetic black stock. I always wanted one of the Remington 700s, but the stocks were too short for me. This Interarms has about a 14" or 14 1/4" LOP and just "feels right".

Anyway I have since learned that the twist rates on the 35 Whelen are about as diverse as the 6.5 x 55 swede, with the same consequences, the looser twist rates work better for smaller bullets and the tighter twist rates better for the big bullets. A lot of posters on various websites have complained about the looseness of the Remington at 1:16, being poor with the the bigger bullets. Apparently Shilen makes barrels in 1:14. I found one posting who said his Interarms Mark X was a 1:12 (yeah! This is the twist I want for the bigger stuff and hope mine is too), but, said the barrel was aftermarket.

Does anyone know if there was a standard twist rate for the Interarms 35 Whelen? What clues should I look for on the rifle?

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice!

 

[35 Whelen]

I built a 35 Whelen on a Mauser action and had a Douglas 1-in-12" barrel put on it. Since this was to be my elk rifle, I figured I'd only shoot 225+ gr. bullets. It works great and is an accurate rig.

My Dad has a 700 Classic in 35 Whelen that I've shot extensively while developing loads. Of course it has a 1-in-16" twist. I've mainly loaded it with 225 gr. Sierra's and it shoots them well. A few years ago I decided to work a load up for him using a 250 gr. Speer as I had quite a few on hand.
I used Re-15 and worked up until I reached a little over 2500 fps. The targets are below:


Point of this is the 16" twist handled the big 250 gr. bullet fine. I've also shot some 225 gr. TSX's which are at least as long as the 250 gr. Speer's and they stabilized just fine.
I don't know what twist the Interarms has, but I wouldn't worry about it. If you like the rifle, grab it up. I've always felt Mauser based rifles like the Interarms are overlooked jewels.

35W

 

[dirtyjim]

Mine has a 1-14 twist. I usually shoot 200 grain bullets but it handles 250 grain bullets just as good

 

[GlockNation]

Thanks gents for your replies!

Does anyone else know anything about the 35 W's, especially from Interarms?

Thanks in advance for your response.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Interarms never produced a .35Whelen. It most assuredly has an aftermarket barrel.

My Interarms .30/06 has been rebarreled to .338/06 and currently resides in a Hogue stock.

Like other posters mentioned, the "standard" .35Whelen twist is 1/16", however I've heard of many with 1/14" or 1/12" twist.

Back in the '60's and '70's, you could get "heavier" than 250gr .35cal bullets, but most today are gone.
A 250gr bullet is "enough" from a .35 if it is constructed properly. A Nosler or Swift is.

For many years I contemplated rebarreling my MkX to .35Whelen. When I got around to it, the .338/06 had come on the scene and offered much of the advantage of the .35Whelen but the better b.c. and s.d. of the .338" bullets.
I don't regret the .338/06, but still find the .35Whelen attractive.
I recently picked up another MkX in decent shape in .270wcf. I'd wanted my original one in .270 but could only find the .30/06 in 1975 when I bought it. (afik,.25/06, .300winmag and 7mmWinMag. are the only other calibers they were imported/sold in. A few of the "Viscounts" were sold in .308wcf, as well as the "Whitworths" in .375H&H and .458winmag).

I'm trying to resist the "bug" to rebarrel the .270wcf to .35Whelen..... I don't really "need" it, but, you know.......... I really, really like .35's.... (Already have a Marlin M336 and BLR .358wcf.). And with a .375Ruger, I really don't "need" another heavier than .30cal rifle.

 

[GlockNation]

Wow, Thanks Goose! I especially appreciate the Interarms informtion.

Can anyone else chime in with whatever they know or about their 35W rifles?

Many thanks in advance for your input!

 

[natman]

Goose's reply is right on. The barrel on your Mark X has to be aftermarket or rebored because Interarms never made any in 35 Whelen. You'll have to measure the twist, but I really wouldn't worry about it because a 1-16 twist is fast enough for a 250 grain and a good 250 grain bullet will stop anything you should be shooting with a 35 Whelen. If it's not enough, it's time for a 458.

 

[GlockNation]

310 grain

Natman, what do you think the best factory round for the 250 grain is and what do you think of the 310grain Woodleigh Weldcore?:

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_46&products_id=174

Would the 1:16 twist group the 310 well?

 

[natman]

Natman, what do you think the best factory round for the 250 grain is and what do you think of the 310grain Woodleigh Weldcore?:

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_46&products_id=174

Would the 1:16 twist group the 310 well?

The two 250 grain factory loads I'm aware of are the Nosler Partition and the Remington Corelokt:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/37...-whelen-250-grain-partition-spitzer-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/61...-grain-core-lokt-pointed-soft-point-box-of-20

I suspect that at 35 Whelen velocities the Corelokt would work just fine, although there's the Partition if you're going after something really big.

The 310 Woodleigh is a tough bullet and would penetrate well, but as I said earlier, I don't see how it would work a lot better than a 250 grain Partition. With its round nose and modest velocity it would be a short range proposition.

While the 310 bullet is heavy, it's RN shape makes it relatively short (1.352") according to Midway.

With that length, it should stabilize in a 1:16 twist barrel according to the Greenhill formula and the Stability calculator here, but the only way to be sure is to try them.

Again I have to ask, what are you hunting that a 250 grain Partition isn't going to be up to the task?

 

[GlockNation]

35W

Natman, again many thanks for the input. I have put the a Notify me a Midway for the Noslers.

I shoot pigs. Yes the 250gr will be probably be more than I need, But I subscribe to the frame of mind of carrying the biggest you have for the unexpected.

When I carry my 45-70 it is loaded with 405s

Again thanks for the schooling!

 

[GlockNation]

310

Natman: this is from the 310 Weldcore bullet link you sent me. This guy says his Remmie with the 1:16 twist stabilizes just fine:

James Knight of Sandy, UT

5 stars

Date Posted: 03/28/2012

Loaded this 310 sn to 2400fps out of my .35 Whelen Ackley Improved. I shot around a 200# Eurasian hog at 35 steps, broadside. I was concerned this bullet would not open well on such a small animal, but not to worry! It blew chunks of lung/tissue for 30ft out the other side, hog ran "maybe" 25ft. 40 cal entrance hole, 70 cal exit, massive damage and no bloodshot meat. This is a Remington 700 with a 1 in 16" twist, I get under .75" for 3 shots, and it hit point on on the hog. I had concerns it may tumble at close range if not stable enough, again, not to worry! I will use this on elk/deer, whatever this coming year.

I am picking up my 35W tomorrow!!!

Many thanks to all who responded!

 

[natman]

Natman: this is from the 310 Weldcore bullet link you sent me. This guy says his Remmie with the 1:16 twist stabilizes just fine:

James Knight of Sandy, UT

5 stars

Date Posted: 03/28/2012

Loaded this 310 sn to 2400fps out of my .35 Whelen Ackley Improved. I shot around a 200# Eurasian hog at 35 steps, broadside. I was concerned this bullet would not open well on such a small animal, but not to worry! It blew chunks of lung/tissue for 30ft out the other side, hog ran "maybe" 25ft. 40 cal entrance hole, 70 cal exit, massive damage and no bloodshot meat. This is a Remington 700 with a 1 in 16" twist, I get under .75" for 3 shots, and it hit point on on the hog. I had concerns it may tumble at close range if not stable enough, again, not to worry! I will use this on elk/deer, whatever this coming year.

I am picking up my 35W tomorrow!!!

Many thanks to all who responded!

The 310 will certainly put down a hog with authority, but then again so will a 250 grain Corelokt, with considerably less cost and recoil.

Do what you like, you can't go too far wrong.

 

[NCsmitty]

If you are concerned about knowing what twist the Mark X barrel has, simply measure with a cleaning rod and patch and use a marker and you'll know. It's likely that it won't matter though, and will probably handle whatever you shoot through it.


NCsmitty

 

[GlockNation]

March 88' Guns and Ammo

ALL:

I just read an article by Bob Milek in the March 1988 Guns and Ammo mag. He was testing a newly released Remington factory 35 Whelen (1:16 twist) and this is a quote from his article:

"I was able to achieve excellent results with every bullet from the 180 grain Speer flat nose up through the big 275-grain Barnes spitzer. However, I was never able to get the 300-grain Barnes roundnose to shoot in my rifle. Groups with this big heavyweight at 100 yards consistently ran around 3 1/2 to four inches, while all bullet weights up through 275 grains produced superb groups."