7600 35 Whelen Question

[Tim50]

Finally found my Whelen and now I need some info on ammo. I do not reload. What is anybody shooting? It will be used for Pennsylvania (the pump gun capital of the world!) Black Bear. I can get both the Remington factory loadings (200-250) and the Federal Preimum 225. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks..........

[stv]

Any one of those loadings will work well.  Select the one that seems to group well and your dealer can get readily.  You should think again about reloading the Whelen.  Reloading in its own right is a satisfying hobby and for a round like the whelen improves the availability of ammo.  You can make brass fram any good quality 30-06 or buy headstamped stuff.  There are lots of good bullets that you wont get to use otherwise.

[kciH]

Tim50,
I have a 35 Whelen AI in a bolt rifle, so I can't speak specifically to your rifle.  The Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet that is offered in the Federal Premium ammo is of a superior design to the Remington ammo.  Do you need it?  I don't know.  I would get a box of each that are available and do some careful bench testing for accuracy.  For bears, depending on how large, I would steer clear of the 200gr Remington loading and use either the Federal or the 250gr Remington ammo.

If you like to shoot over 5 boxes of ammo a year, or think the practice would be good, I would also encourage you to load your own ammo.

[Alaska-Bush-Man]

I also have a Rem 7600 in 35 Whelen, I reload for mine, it seems to prefer:

250 Speer Spt
IMR 4320 @ 54.0
Fed 210M Primer
Fed Prem Case

After using Partition and Grand Slam bullets, I observed while at 2500 FPS the regular Speer and Hornady SP perform just as well, and cheaper too!

[targshooter]

Tom 50,
I would try as stv suggests. Some sporting goods stores will break up a 20 round box into half a box, and in this manner you can get 10 shots each for a specific load to try and save time and money in your search. I have found stores willing to do this, especially if you want to try 3 or 4 different loads, as they are then selling you enough ammo to make this activity worth their while.
Regards,
Targshooter

[old06]

I have had a 7600 in Whelen since they hit the market I've shot factory loads and my hand loads and if I was in your position I would pick the factory 250 grain soft point RN. I feel it has the best of both worlds . Its the most accurate round in my gun and its the one I judge others by not to hampered by its  range and will open up at all ranges

[sasu]

I am a few years late posting here...

My current favorite for 7600 35 Whelen 22" is

250 gr RN Hornady
53.0 Vihtavuori N135
2408 fps

1.5" group with 3 shots at 100 meters.

[jager]

My 7600 (.35 Whelen) shoots the Remington 250gr factory loads into about 1 1/8" at 100yds and the 200gr factory into about 1 3/4" to 2" at the same range. It shoots my handloads of 57.5gr/RL15/CCI/Rem/250Speer Spt. @ 2480fps into less than an inch, as well as the same bullet over 53.0gr/H4895 to the same POA and "grouping. I've not tried Federal's factory 225gr load, but have read several reports that it is very accurate at about 2600fps. Good luck!

[fknipfer]

You can get good ammo from the following two ammo houses that load.

http://www.doubletapammo.com
http://www.cp.cartridge.com

Thats just two houses there are several others.  Just put 35whelen ammo in your search engine and I am sure you will find them.

fknipfer