What is the difference between the two. I know there is factory ammo for the standard 35 Whelen. What about the Ackley Improved? What modifications need to be done to 35 Whelen to fire the improved round? Any reloading data?

The usual "improved" cartridges require the chamber to be reamed out resulting in a sharper shoulder and straighter body to the case. Normally, improving a cartridge will increase the case capacity and resultant velocity in the neighborhood of 4% to 8%, depending on the amount of capacity expansion. Some cartridges lend themselves quite well to the improving process while others really don't benefit all that much as far as increased velocity. The less body taper will result in less bolt face thrust and the sharper shoulder will allow better headspacing and case stretching with each firing, which means more reloads before having to discard the brass.

No, there are no commercial loadings for improved cartridges - it is a handloading proposition only. Not really all that hard to fireform cases for the improved configuration. Simply shoot the loaded factory or handloaded standard cartridges in the improved chamber and the cases will form to the new form. After that, neck sizing only or partial full length resizing will be required.

Most reloading manuals will not list loadings for improved cartridges - those that do will only have a few of the more popular improved cartridges listed. Nosler is one that comes to mind. No big trick to establish though. Just use the standard cartridge loadings and work your way up in small increments of half to full grain loads until you reach a comfortable power level. A chronograph is a very useful tool in this work. Watch for all the normal high pressure signs and if encountered, back off the loads a couple of grains.

What is the difference between the two. I know there is factory ammo for the standard 35 Whelen. What about the Ackley Improved? What modifications need to be done to 35 Whelen to fire the improved round? Any reloading data?


The 35 Whelen is so good that I can't imagine changing anything......this is probably not one that is worth the expense....the standard 35 Whelen is a wonderful adaptation of the 30/06.

I owned and used a .350 Elliott Express, a variant of the .35 Brown Whelen for many years. Had a slightly shorter neck and about the same steep shoulder as the Brown. Was a lot of fun, but it was also a 100% handloading operation, and that was it's problem. I could spend more time making new cases for it out of .30-06 brass than I could shooting it.. The round was great, but why fool around with the difficult to build wildcat when you have factory .35 Whelen available, or better yet, 9.3x62mm and 9.3x64mm available? It is all a matter of choice. If you love handloading, go for it.

Larry

Guess us old Missouri boys are thinkin' alike on this one. (I was born and raised in Boone County, MO.)

MTMRolla is right. The Whelen is great as is. It's the poor man's magnum. I see no reason to tweek it except just "for the halibut."

Wayne Van Zwoll makes about the most sense of any current gun writer. In his book "Elk Rifles and Elk Hunting" he talks about his Whelen Improved and admits that the ballistic advantage is minimal. He says he isn't tempted to build any more.

I love my Model 700 Classic Whelen. It has been effective on a fair variety of game for me: antelope, whitetail, elk, and mountain lion, all with factory ammo.

The 35 Whelen is so good that I can't imagine changing anything......this is probably not one that is worth the expense....the standard 35 Whelen is a wonderful adaptation of the 30/06.

Having owned a 35 whelan since 1987 when remington first came out I can think of only one reason. The very slight shoulder makes setting the sizing die a little fussy. Its easy to push the case in too far and end up with too short of headspace. The result is a blown primer. The sharp should would inprove this. Since the cost to rent a reamer is the same, why not use the improved chamber. It won't limit you in any way and you get the benefits of easier reloading, and marginally better balistics.

I've got an article on the .35 Whelen AI that was sent by another forum member that might shed some light on the difference in ballistics. I've also got a commercial Mauser with a 25 inch tube with the AI chamber. If you would like me to send you the article, let me know and I'll try to dig it up for you. Send a PM with email address if you're interested.

In my rifle the difference between factory published ballistics and my results in my rifle are signifigant, but not earth shattering, and I believe the longer barrel has more than a little bit to do with the results.

jr,

This question has a really simple answer; it is contained in the posts above, but not all in one place.

*II* you are building a new rifle, and *IF* you are a handloader, then build the AI version. If you currently have a .35 Whelen rifle or if you aren't (or don't want to become) a handloader, stick with the factory round.

The AI version will give slight improvement in velocity, but no game animal will ever know the difference. It will give significatnly longer case life, but that isn't an issue anyway if you're using factory ammunition, or buying standard unfired cases... they are cheap. You will have to do less case trimming with the AI, assuming you are a handloader. As for lower bolt thrust with the AI, it is of no concern... your rifle can stand the thrust of the factory round (some assumptions built into that statement).

Cheers/buffler

What is the difference between the two. I know there is factory ammo for the standard 35 Whelen. What about the Ackley Improved? What modifications need to be done to 35 Whelen to fire the improved round? Any reloading data?


Good Question. My experience with the standard 35 Whelen is long. I've only seen one Improved. The owner said for all practicle uses the stadard was as good because he never saw any difference in th field, on elk, moose and brown bear. My wife and I both use 35 W 's. She has taken Eland, Sable, Kudu, Widebeast, and smaller African antelope all with one shot each. Our PH said it performs similar to the 9.3X62 mm. (I wouldn't know, never used one). My own use of the 35 W caliber over nearly 36 years has been on about 110 head of North American game. A couple of score of these were moose elk and 4 big brown bear. The experience has left me with no complaints about the cartridge.
Longest shot referenced in my hunting notes was about 350 yds at a Brown bear shot in the foot with a .338 by a poor shot. One 250 gr speer spitzer put him down. Penetration with this bullet has been great, the 250 Noslert works good as well. Given my experience with the standard Whelen I can't see why the improved version would not be at least as good, maybe a mite better in some circumstances. Good hunting and good luck with your project.
Tekaan