"Too many folks read too many magazines and shoot too little before making absolute statements."
That would Be MY point on the Headspace comment.
"I have never had an ignition problem with factory ammo or reloads in my Rem. M700 Classic (1984 mfg.) .35 Whelen."
I would have to agree with that statement also, the difference being, my rifle is a '95 Winchester. (Thanks for those quotes WyoStillhunter, well said.)
My clarification of the headspace comment would be that, there really is no headspace problem with the 35 Whelen. (See that part about the reading of magazines and taking their opinions as truths. Many a fine sporting cartridge and firearm has been put to bed forever because of this, and that is unfortunate.) If your "RIFLE" experienced misfires, why then is the cartridge to blame or in this case, headspace of that cartridge to blame. What about the rifle. I've got a 700 remington that allows my factory cases to streatch .020" of an inch on the 1st firing. 2 to 3 loads later case heads have cracks. Is that the Cartridge? 7mm Remington (belted) Mag by the way. I think not.
"headspace is measured from a point located midway down the shoulder called the “datum line"
I'm fully aware of that as I measure it when setting up sizing dies all the time. While it may have read like it, that was not the point.
"However .35 whelen for decades had problems because of case design, why else would there be so many Improved versions; Ackley / Brown /Z-hat...."
Aside from Z-hat (basically copying what has already come before him) those earlier configurations were a result of getting more powder in the case, more powder was more power, magnum is what they would call it. To try and get a rifle capable of taking the big beasts without buying a expensive magnum actioned .375. In those days it was not about a case design being faulty, which it was not, but about getting magnum performance without the expense of a magnum length rifle. To add to that many cartridges with what some here would deem as "better headspace on the shoulder" were wildcated and still are. They do it for improving ballistics, giving them something different, More velocity than the factory cartridge. Except the 35 Whelen, that is widcatted soley for the purpose of "HEADSPACE", again I think not.
"also Jeff Cooper liked the .350 rem mag. for the same
reason, 25* shoulder and .495 at the begining of the shoulder.
There is just more support,..."
Elmer Kieth was fond enough of the 35 Whelen to have one built in said chambering and head off to Alaska and hunt Brown Bear, successfully, with it. It was also his "stopping" rifle when guiding for brown bears. If there was a headspace issue, I think Elmer would have thought twice about it. 2 writers, the likes of which sadly, we will never see again, with 2 completley different opinion of what a rifle should be, for THEIR application.
Back to the question, for what it's worth I just picked up my 1st 9.3mm rifle. I went with the 9.3X74R, the R standing for rimmed. While it stands to reason it should headspace on the rim, I still set it up to set back the shoulder .002 of an inch. Just like my Whelen and everything else on my bench Why? because they work, everytime I squeeze the trigger. CRASH87
