Fire forming 35 Whelen Imp.

[Alaskaman]

I need to fire form some brass for a 35 Whelen Imp. I have a good supply of 158 grain jacketed pistol bullets and was thinking about using them to fire form the brass. Could anyone recommend a good powder or load to use to fire form the brass.

[HL]

I don't have this caliber, but Hogden has some good data for the 35 Whelen. Varget looks like the likely choice for fireforming. The pressure level of their max load with 200 gr. bullets is only 42,000, which should allow you to fire form without exceeding the 50,000 limit if you seat the bullet to touch the lands.

It's all up to how you want to do it. IMO, I would use the heaviest bullet possible. the 200gr bullets would most likely fireform better than the lighter 158gr. bullet.

On my wildcats, I always try to use the heaviest bullet I can get my hands on for fireforming.

[Nobade]

Why not just load and fire with any normal 35 Whelen loads? If the rifle is set up properly (i.e. headspaced correctly) you'll not lose any accuracy and you can use it for hunting or whatever purpose you would use the rifle for anyhow. If you have to seat the bullet into the lands it's NOT set up correctly. (you should show a good amount of crush on a factory unfired case when you close the bolt on it.)

[Drilling Man]

(you should show a good amount of crush on a factory unfired case when you close the bolt on it.)

  This isn't always true....  It depends on which "improved" he has...  Some move the shoulder foreward, and that won't allow a "crush fit" with a factory case...

  DM

[Nobade]

OK, I should have said Ackley Improved. Obviously a Brown Whelen doesn't work this way. But when most people refer to "improved" they mean the Ackley version, and they all either work as I have described or the rimmed ones use the rim to control headspace and allow the shoulder to move forward.