.500 Whelan Mauser
- Thread starter moosehunt
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highorder
Member
thats a good one, I have never heard of it...
what can you tell us to get started?
what can you tell us to get started?
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
I've never heard of it either.
Somehow, Whelen, Mauser, & .500 just don't seem right.
Whelen was big into 03 Springfields, 30-06's & 30-06 based wildcats, and helping to invent the .22 Hornet.
And a .500 bullet would be bigger around then the case-head of a 30-06.
SO you would have sort of a "reverse" bottleneck!
1920's would have been pre-.348 Winchester, so getting an American made case that big would have involved wildcatting some old rimmed black-power round.
rcmodel
Somehow, Whelen, Mauser, & .500 just don't seem right.
Whelen was big into 03 Springfields, 30-06's & 30-06 based wildcats, and helping to invent the .22 Hornet.
And a .500 bullet would be bigger around then the case-head of a 30-06.
SO you would have sort of a "reverse" bottleneck!
1920's would have been pre-.348 Winchester, so getting an American made case that big would have involved wildcatting some old rimmed black-power round.
rcmodel
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Vern Humphrey
Member
Are you sure you don't mean the .40 Whelen? This was the first, and didn't set the world on fire.
The problem is, when you neck the .30-06 case up to .40 cal, you don't have enough shoulder left to adequately headspace it.
The solution, if you want to go that way, is to have your reamer made up with a sharper shoulder -- more like the Brown-Whelen shoulder.
The problem is, when you neck the .30-06 case up to .40 cal, you don't have enough shoulder left to adequately headspace it.
The solution, if you want to go that way, is to have your reamer made up with a sharper shoulder -- more like the Brown-Whelen shoulder.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
That's what I was thinking too.
The .400 Whelen would have been more in keeping with the time frame in question, and what Whelen was doing at the time.
rcmodel
The .400 Whelen would have been more in keeping with the time frame in question, and what Whelen was doing at the time.
rcmodel
Bad Flynch
Member
Well, the very first of the Whelen cartridges was the .35 Whelen and it is still probably the best. It was made by necking up a .30-'06 to take a 35 caliber bullet. It is a very successful cartridge, even today. Someone else, not Col. Whelen, made it up and named it in honor of the Col.
Soo thereafter came varuations on the theme: .375 and .400. Elmer Keith got into the act and tried the .333 OKH.
The .400 had a few problems, most notably was that the shoulder was so narrow that it had a hard time maintaining the cartridge headspace. That, considering that only reloads could be had and that some reloads would naturally be low in pressure and not hold cartridge dimensions well.
The .400 pretty much died a naturaly death. You can read about it in Phil Sharpe's loading book.
Soo thereafter came varuations on the theme: .375 and .400. Elmer Keith got into the act and tried the .333 OKH.
The .400 had a few problems, most notably was that the shoulder was so narrow that it had a hard time maintaining the cartridge headspace. That, considering that only reloads could be had and that some reloads would naturally be low in pressure and not hold cartridge dimensions well.
The .400 pretty much died a naturaly death. You can read about it in Phil Sharpe's loading book.
I am pretty sure the 500 Whelen was never very common anywhere. The 400 Whelen just barely functions in the 06 case and not very well (the previously mentioned headspacing issue)or it would be more popular then it is. Fred Zeglin used to have a good rundown of what was possible for the various cases on his website.
Even the 50 Alaskan was VERY RARE and did not come into being until 20+ years after the time frame that you mention. The only 50's that would fit the time frame were the 1886 Win rounds or the earlier single shot rounds. Maybe the 577 Snyder in a Martini (which would make sense)?
As far as bolt rounds I have no idea, but would appreciate you sharing any info you find. Where did you hear about this round? If it truly was in a bolt rifle it would have undoubtedly remained popular in that part of the world up to today.
Even the 50 Alaskan was VERY RARE and did not come into being until 20+ years after the time frame that you mention. The only 50's that would fit the time frame were the 1886 Win rounds or the earlier single shot rounds. Maybe the 577 Snyder in a Martini (which would make sense)?
As far as bolt rounds I have no idea, but would appreciate you sharing any info you find. Where did you hear about this round? If it truly was in a bolt rifle it would have undoubtedly remained popular in that part of the world up to today.
Note that I spelled it Whelan--that wasn't an error. Russel Annabel mentions it several times in his writing. I'm not saying 'ol Rusty was perfect, but he was pretty on line. Plus, every story was published in "Outdoor Life". Back in the 40's, 50's and 60"s, "Outdoor Life" was a class magazine, not prone to errors, especially repetitive. I'm not at all sure that the rifle that Rusty referred to was at all related to Col. Townsend Whelen. But it could have been. The .35 Whelen came about in 1922, and Rusty starts referring to it right about then, but possibly earlier. You have to deduce the date based on his claimed age at the time and his birthday (1907). In stories he wrote where he claimed to be 19, he first refers to it. He calls it "the wickedest weapon available in those pre-magnum days". Several of his stories mention it. I thought of the Whelen cartridge deal, to my knowledge based on the '06. No way an '06 can have a .500 slug. I reckon that is maybeso what stimulated my curiopsity. I'm still curious.
I don't know where they would have gotten the brass, except maybe from the Newtons? Will try to find out, my cartridge books are presently about not where I am at. Best easy way to find out would be to ask over on the wildcat or big bore forums at accuratereloading.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Bad Flynch
Member
>No way an '06 can have a .500 slug<
Well, considering that the case head on a .30-'06 is 0.473" across, then stuffing a bullet of 0.508-0.510" in the case would give it a reverse taper or reverse shoulder. When those arrangements were tried last, they didn't work well, at all.
Well, considering that the case head on a .30-'06 is 0.473" across, then stuffing a bullet of 0.508-0.510" in the case would give it a reverse taper or reverse shoulder. When those arrangements were tried last, they didn't work well, at all.
Both wildcats
The .400 Whelen was the first and only cartridge the widely traveled hunter developed. it is about a straight case 06 with only the merest shoulder. Elmer Keith (surprise!) liked it but mentioned the problems with headspacing.
The .35 Whelen was a tribute to Col Townsend Whelen. He never had one or used one, IIRC. It was released as a Remington cartridge some time later.
The .400 Whelen was the first and only cartridge the widely traveled hunter developed. it is about a straight case 06 with only the merest shoulder. Elmer Keith (surprise!) liked it but mentioned the problems with headspacing.
The .35 Whelen was a tribute to Col Townsend Whelen. He never had one or used one, IIRC. It was released as a Remington cartridge some time later.
Wil Terry
Member
There Was No Such Thing As A 500 Whelen.
Mr Howe, GRIFFIN&HOWE, most certainly DID make a 35WHELEN for Col. Townsend Whelen. REMEMBER, this cartridge goes back into the 1920'S and Howe named it after his pal Col. Whelen who was the superintendent of FRANKFORD ARSENAL at the time.
[ ...if I remember it all correctly at this late date...]
Mr Howe, GRIFFIN&HOWE, most certainly DID make a 35WHELEN for Col. Townsend Whelen. REMEMBER, this cartridge goes back into the 1920'S and Howe named it after his pal Col. Whelen who was the superintendent of FRANKFORD ARSENAL at the time.
[ ...if I remember it all correctly at this late date...]
Mr. Terry, that's a pretty bold statement, especially since you took the liberty to change the spelling I gave and explained. I've already said that I don't think it has anything to do with Townsend Whelen. Of course it couldn't have been made on an '06 case. That's obvious, but I believe maybeso it could have been on a Newton case. I pretty strongly believe it did exist, as I have seen it referred to in old writings more than a few times. Still hoping someone out there has the skivvy on it.
Wil Terry
Member
ALL THE WHELEN CARTRIDGES INCLUDING THE 35 WHELEN WERE MADE ON THE 30/06 CASE NECKED UP, DOWN OR SIDEWAYS. CAPS INTENTIONAL !!!
There were a bunch of 'em all gone and forgotten now. The 35 caliber one was the only one to survive to modern times.
PS: Col. Whelen furnished ALL the 30/06 brass used in the experiments as he was the Chief, cook, and bottlewasher at FRANKFORD ARSENAL, the U. S. of A.'s government ammunition plant where almost ALL--ALL!!!---of the ammunition experimenting going on in this country was being carried out.
There were a bunch of 'em all gone and forgotten now. The 35 caliber one was the only one to survive to modern times.
PS: Col. Whelen furnished ALL the 30/06 brass used in the experiments as he was the Chief, cook, and bottlewasher at FRANKFORD ARSENAL, the U. S. of A.'s government ammunition plant where almost ALL--ALL!!!---of the ammunition experimenting going on in this country was being carried out.
ThomasT
Member
I've done a google search and looked at accuratereloaders site and can't find anything on a .500 Whelan. I suspect that if Cartridges of the World doesn't have anything on it, it most likely doesn't exist.
The other poster, Wil Terry is one of the most knowedgeable gun guys around. If HE hasn't heard of it then i doubt it was ever made.
That being said i hope that moose can come up with an article or other proof that the round was made. There is good documentation of rounds made in the past. It should have come up on a google search if it ever exsisted.
The other poster, Wil Terry is one of the most knowedgeable gun guys around. If HE hasn't heard of it then i doubt it was ever made.
That being said i hope that moose can come up with an article or other proof that the round was made. There is good documentation of rounds made in the past. It should have come up on a google search if it ever exsisted.
Can't disagree with most of your comments, Mr. Ratshooter. I have seen it, the .500 Whelan, referred to several times in articles by Russel Annabel in "Outdoor Life" back in the 50's, 60's. That is why I was/am curious about it. I also have been unable to find anything on it, but there are those references to it. Mr. Terry is hung up on Whelen cartridges associated with Townsend Whelen. I doubt you could find 10 people that don't know that all the Whelen cartridges were made off an '06 case. A .500 obviously wasn't. This one is also not spelled Whelen; it's Whelan. Mr. Terry apparently doesn't want to hear that nor consider anyone other than Townsend Whelen.
The Newton case is a possibility. It was around in the 20's (1913, I believe) and has (had) a base diameter of .523. Granted, it still would need to be nearly a straight case with a .500 bullet, but feasible.
The Newton case is a possibility. It was around in the 20's (1913, I believe) and has (had) a base diameter of .523. Granted, it still would need to be nearly a straight case with a .500 bullet, but feasible.
ThomasT
Member
Well Mr. Moose i guess the ball is in your court. If you have an old article you can scan in and post it would help also.
I sent an E-Mail the Wolf publishing hoping one of the writers would know if this round existed. This is the answer i received:
"I haven't been able to find anything on the .500 Whelan, anywhere. John Barsness"
Notice he spelled the name correctly. I hope you know who he is also.
Between John Barness and Wil Terry if those two haven't heard of it then i'm sure at at loss as to how to verify its existance.
Let us know if you find something.
I sent an E-Mail the Wolf publishing hoping one of the writers would know if this round existed. This is the answer i received:
"I haven't been able to find anything on the .500 Whelan, anywhere. John Barsness"
Notice he spelled the name correctly. I hope you know who he is also.
Between John Barness and Wil Terry if those two haven't heard of it then i'm sure at at loss as to how to verify its existance.
Let us know if you find something.
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redneck2
Member
With all due respect, if it's not in Cartridges Of The World, and Mr Terry and Mr Barsness have not heard of it, I doubt the existence or at least significance.
Some of the writers in the 60's were trying to keep up with Elmer Keith and others of significant stature. Their writings were sometimes less than factual. There was one writer (forget the name) that made up about 90% of his stuff.
Some of the writers in the 60's were trying to keep up with Elmer Keith and others of significant stature. Their writings were sometimes less than factual. There was one writer (forget the name) that made up about 90% of his stuff.
ADKWOODSMAN
Member
From P.O.Akley book Volume Handbook for shooters and Reloaders
.577/450 Martini-Henry
British Military cartridge and a large number of the Enfield-Martinis were imported...
.505 Barnes Supreme. This cartridge could be made on an Enfield action and fired a 600 gr. bullet It was based on a .460 Weatherby case which would have come later.
I realize these are not on the Mauser action as stated above
Just for information
.577/450 Martini-Henry
British Military cartridge and a large number of the Enfield-Martinis were imported...
.505 Barnes Supreme. This cartridge could be made on an Enfield action and fired a 600 gr. bullet It was based on a .460 Weatherby case which would have come later.
I realize these are not on the Mauser action as stated above
Just for information
Annabel used the name Mauser with regard to the cartridge, but didn't actually say it was a Mauser rifle, though one would get that idea. He was writing about this in the 20's, so of course there weren't .460 WB's, but, there were Rigby cases, and a .460 WB is just a .416 Rigby case with a belt added. Mr. Ratshooter, I have no way to send you a copy, but if you'll read some of Russel Annabel's old stuff, you'll read about it. It is mentioned in several of his Alaska articles that I've read, and I haven't read them all by any means. These were before he left and went to Mexico. This may be a dead end, as Rusty's deader than hell, has been for nearly 40 years. But I'd sure like to know what he was talking about. Barnsness is a pretty knowledgeable guy, so if you know him, maybeso you could discuss it with him in more detail, mentioning the source (Annabel, not me). I don't know the man, or I'd contact him myself.
Vern Humphrey
Member
How about scanning the article and posting it here -- or at least the part where he describes the cartridge?
I guess many of you never read the gunzine articles of the 50s and 60s where there was a new wildcat cartridge touted every month. Most were also never heard of again. PO Ackley was one of the wildcatters and there were a few more.
Vern Humphrey
Member
The question is not "were there lots of wildcatters" but rather "was there a .500 Whelen?"
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