I guess when comes about as close to perfection with rifle and load, one should just lay back and relax.
Seriously, I'd been wanting a .35 Whelen for a very long time and then in the space of about three or four months I had three of them.
First was a Ruger M77 then a Remington M700 Classic and last somebody's idea of how a proper classic custon rifle should look. He hit the X ring on that idea.
All three rifles like Paco Kelly's 250 gr. bullet load with 53.0 gr. H335. It's reasonably mild in my rifles and at 2550 FPS with the 250 gr. Hornady SP and RN and with the Speer Hot Core and easily minute of deer or better.
I did find a better load though but have not shot it in the M77 or M700.Why? When starting load work up for the Barnes 225 gr. TSX pressure rose too fast in the M700. The Ruger's chamber has IMO a bit of a headspace issue so it lays dormant in the back of the safe. The custom Mauser however is sub-MOA with 60.4 gr. of RE15 and the Barnes bullet. The largest group so far is .80" and that was my fault
Half inch groups are common with this rifle. Velocity 2710 FPS.Nirvana!
Just my not very humble opinion but I think for an all around do everything in a .35 Whelen, a 225 gr. bullet would be the go to period. My preference is with the TSX but a Partition, Accubond whatever your preference would be the way to go. Six dead elk with that load, all one shot kills or stopped so hard escape was impossible. Two went down so fast the the guide and I lost sight if them. One shot nearly lengthwise still has an exit wound.
I have 225 gr. Nosler Partitions and Accubonds and have not even tried to work up a load with them, at least not in the Mauser. Maybe I'll try them in the M700 and reserve the Ruger as a cast bullet fun gun.
Paul B.