Can I Handload .35 Whelen In A Small Workshop?

Setting Up Your Workshop

Before attempting to handload .35 Whelen, ensure your workshop has a clean, stable, and well-ventilated environment. This rifle caliber requires a minimum of 15,000 psi, so a press capable of handling high pressures is essential. A 50-ton press is a good starting point, but a 70-ton or 100-ton press is recommended for safety and reliability.

Choosing the Right Equipment

Select a cartridge dies designed specifically for .35 Wheland a powder measure accurate to +/- 0.1 grains. A ballistic scale and a reloading manual are also necessary to ensure accurate loads. For the .35 Whelen, a minimum of 100 grains of H1000 or a similar powder is required to achieve the necessary velocity. Be prepared to invest in a set of high-quality micrometers and calipers to accurately measure and inspect your handloads.

Loading the .35 Whelen

When loading the .35 Whelen, start with a base load of 100 grains of H1000 and experiment with different bullet weights and seating depths to achieve the desired performance. For elk hunting, a 200-grain bullet at 2,700-2,800 fps is a good starting point. Be sure to follow proper safety procedures and start with a small batch of handloads to test their performance before loading a larger quantity.