35 Whelen

[Slamfire]

I just got a 35 Whelen. Custom job, from the 60's or 70's.

I have lots of once fired 30-06 cases. Basically, a 5 gallon bucket of 30-06 cases.

Do I just lube 30-06 cases and run them through a 35 Whelen sizing die?

(to me, that is a lot of stretching)

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You can do it that way. If your rifle has a claw extractor (like a Model 70 Winchester, a 98 Mauser, or my custom '03 Springfield) you can load about 10 grains of Bullseye in a primed case with a bit of toilet paper to keep everything honest, chamber the round and shoot it.

The ejected case will be fully formed, and then just size and decap as normal.

 

[nicholst55]

Every time I form .35 Whelen brass by simply expanding .30-06 brass, they end up about .050" short. Probably not a big deal, but... it bothers me.

When I form them from .270 Winchester brass, they end up about .003-.005" short, which I find easier to live with.

Form them from .280 Remington, and they generally need to be trimmed before loading. You also have to be certain to set the shoulder back far enough so the bolt will close on the .280 brass.

Make certain that your .35 Whelen sizing die has a tapered expander before you try to expand brass. Redding does; not sure about RCBS or anyone else.

 

[KI.W.]

With LEE Universal Expander die .22Horn-.458Win Mag. it is very easy.

 

[Slamfire]

Thanks for the advice.

I will asking questions about expanders on dies, and I may try the Bullseye with tissue paper on a couple of cases. Taking measurements off those cases will at least, allow me to set up my sizing dies correctly.

 

[fguffey]

Slamfire1, necking up cases for the 338/06 or 35 Whelen creates one problem, when the case is necked up, the case squats (compresses) because of the amount of effort required to force the sizer ball through the neck, to prevent splitting a lot of cases, use new brass, if you use fired brass, anneal the case to the junction of the new shoulder, on a 280 Remington, that would be .046.

I started using 280 Remington on my 30 Gibbs, the case length after firing was .050 thousands shorter than the chamber, the neck on my Gibbs is .218, the extra case length made the number .258 thousands.

On the Internet, annealing is described as being anything from waving the case over a fire, heating with a candle and at temperatures that run from 400 to 800 degree, the link below is one of the better links for critical information and that is the TEMPRETURE and where to apply.

I avoid nickel cases when necking up a case and I do not use reduced loads, I fire the case one time with predictable results.

The link places annealing at 660 to 665 degree, in my opinion, that is a narrow window.

http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/jun96cases.html

F. Guffey

 

[fguffey]

forgive

.046 to .051 thousands below the shoulder of the 280 Remington.

F. Guffey