350 Wells. Anyone have one?

[PanhandlinPat]

A local gun store had a Brno Zkk 602 chambered in 350 Wells for years. Whoever barreled it did a fantastic job, even milled an integral under lug into the barrel and left a nice base for a rear sight if one chose to add one. The stock looks like a modified factory job - not near as nice but functional. Some bedding compound showing that needs cleaned up. I traded for it yesterday.

Curious if anyone is familiar with the cartridge or has experience with it! I know it’s a necked down 378 weatherby. I figured I’d buy it for the action, but after closer inspection of the metal work I think I might leave it as is. Will be an absolute hammer on everything in North America!

Also if anyone has a lead on some dies let me know. I contacted CH4D and am waiting on a response.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

A local gun store had a Brno Zkk 602 chambered in 350 Wells for years. Whoever barreled it did a fantastic job, even milled an integral under lug into the barrel and left a nice base for a rear sight if one chose to add one. The stock looks like a modified factory job - not near as nice but functional. Some bedding compound showing that needs cleaned up. I traded for it yesterday.

Curious if anyone is familiar with the cartridge or has experience with it! I know it’s a necked down 378 weatherby. I figured I’d buy it for the action, but after closer inspection of the metal work I think I might leave it as is. Will be an absolute hammer on everything in North America!

Also if anyone has a lead on some dies let me know. I contacted CH4D and am waiting on a response.

@PanhandlinPat
This is what our Australian gun writer Nick Harvey said about it

Makes the 35 Whelen look sad but holly snapping duck shit Batman you would know about it when you touched old Betsy off.
Imagine a 310gn at 2,900 fps, all I can say is you can pull the trigger on that one Geraldine.

 

[PanhandlinPat]

@PanhandlinPat
This is what our Australian gun writer Nick Harvey said about it
View attachment 681017
Makes the 35 Whelen look sad but holly snapping duck shit Batman you would know about it when you touched old Betsy off.
Imagine a 310gn at 2,900 fps, all I can say is you can pull the trigger on that one Geraldine.

Thanks @Bob Nelson 35Whelen. I think I read that article several years back when I initially thought about buying the rifle. I’ll probably try some big cutting edge bullets in it, I know they make some specialty bullets in 35 caliber. Rifle has a 12 twist barrel, and was either cleaned very well or was never fired. Figured I’d use 338-378 load data, if those figures are all I can handle then I won’t work up any more.

I’ll try to get some pictures uploaded. I took some when I brought it home but they didn’t turn out good.

 

[Rule 303]

Well that has them moving 100 t0 200 fps faster than the 358/338RUM. I use AR2209 (H4350), depending on the bullet weight 86 to 94 grains.

Enjoy using it. Oh, with the 225 grain bullets my RUM shoots as flat or flatter than a 7mm Rem Mag, your 350 Wells will beat this.

 

[PanhandlinPat]

 

[PanhandlinPat]

Well that has them moving 100 t0 200 fps faster than the 358/338RUM. I use AR2209 (H4350), depending on the bullet weight 86 to 94 grains.

Enjoy using it. Oh, with the 225 grain bullets my RUM shoots as flat or flatter than a 7mm Rem Mag, your 350 Wells will beat this.

I have some 200 grain Barnes and other assorted 35 cal bullets for my whelen and 35 Remington. I’ve considered the 225 grain AccuBond but am afraid it will be too soft. Would be a hell of a conversation piece on a group pronghorn hunt though! The 200 grain ttsx would be a laser beam as well.

 

[Rule 303]

I have some 200 grain Barnes and other assorted 35 cal bullets for my whelen and 35 Remington. I’ve considered the 225 grain AccuBond but am afraid it will be too soft. Would be a hell of a conversation piece on a group pronghorn hunt though! The 200 grain ttsx would be a laser beam as well.

The Accubond should be alright on Pronghorn but nothing of heavier build unless it is a long shot. For bigger game any of the Woodleigh PP should do. I taken Springbok, Zebra and Giraffe with 225grain monometals with my 358/338RUM. Zebra was about 250mts and the Giraffe was 30mts. On the Giraffe the mono lost its petals. The Woodleigh 275grain PP would have excelled on the Giraffe.

I am going back to Namibia later this year and plan on using the 358RUM and Woodleigh 225PP on plains game. I will have some 275grain PP in case I get a chance at Giraffe or Wildebeest.

I like the timber on your 350Wells.

 

[PanhandlinPat]

The Accubond should be alright on Pronghorn but nothing of heavier build unless it is a long shot. For bigger game any of the Woodleigh PP should do. I taken Springbok, Zebra and Giraffe with 225grain monometals with my 358/338RUM. Zebra was about 250mts and the Giraffe was 30mts. On the Giraffe the mono lost its petals. The Woodleigh 275grain PP would have excelled on the Giraffe.

I am going back to Namibia later this year and plan on using the 358RUM and Woodleigh 225PP on plains game. I will have some 275grain PP in case I get a chance at Giraffe or Wildebeest.

I like the timber on your 350Wells.

That information is invaluable, I appreciate it. For bigger stuff I’ll probably try the 275 grain cutting edge Maximus. They’re available and surprisingly affordable. I looked at woodleigh but I believe they’re still hard to get here.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have some 200 grain Barnes and other assorted 35 cal bullets for my whelen and 35 Remington. I’ve considered the 225 grain AccuBond but am afraid it will be too soft. Would be a hell of a conversation piece on a group pronghorn hunt though! The 200 grain ttsx would be a laser beam as well.

@PanhandlinPat
Personally I wouldn't use any cup and core or bonded bullets in that beast, they just wouldn't handle the impact velocities.
A 200-225gn TTSX at warp speed would be fantastic tho
For big stuff a 225gn Woodleigh hydro would punch lengthwise thru a Sherman tank and still end up in the next zip code.
Bob

 

[Rule 303]

PHP those Cutting Edge bullets sound good. Woodleigh did a run of 358 bullets recently but no 250PP only rounf nose and no 275 or 310 grain bullets.

Bob, Geoff at Woodleigh recons the 225PP from the 358RUM will do on most plains game. If he had of done a run of 250PP I would happily use them. I have absolutely no confidence in the Barnes. At these velocities the petals will be torn off if in close, if further out they may not open if rifle barrel is a slow twist but I believe Panhandlin Pat said the twist was 1:12 so that should not be a worry. I believe it is the Atomic 29 Mono mentals made in Aust. on opening roll back and do not go into separate petals. They would do the job but only come in 220 grain weights in 358. Cameron said he could do a special run of 240 grains if I wanted them.

I'll see how the Woodleigh's go.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

PHP those Cutting Edge bullets sound good. Woodleigh did a run of 358 bullets recently but no 250PP only rounf nose and no 275 or 310 grain bullets.

Bob, Geoff at Woodleigh recons the 225PP from the 358RUM will do on most plains game. If he had of done a run of 250PP I would happily use them. I have absolutely no confidence in the Barnes. At these velocities the petals will be torn off if in close, if further out they may not open if rifle barrel is a slow twist but I believe Panhandlin Pat said the twist was 1:12 so that should not be a worry. I believe it is the Atomic 29 Mono mentals made in Aust. on opening roll back and do not go into separate petals. They would do the job but only come in 220 grain weights in 358. Cameron said he could do a special run of 240 grains if I wanted them.

I'll see how the Woodleigh's go.

@Rule 303
The fastest I have pushed the 225gn PPSP in the Whelen was 2,950 fps. The zebra stallion I shot at 120 yards broad side. Impact velocity was still around 2,700 fps which is still above Geoff's recommend impact velocity. That bullet broke the near shoulder tote the internal organs apart then broke the offside shoulder. The bullet was found resting under the offside skin.
Retained weight was 175gn.
Geoff was happy with that performance at the higher velocity.
Bob

 

[Rule 303]

Bob, I'd be very happy with that as well.

 

[hoytcanon]

Never shot the Wells, but I did build a snappy .358-375 Ruger that put out 225 Accubonds around 3250 fps, although I did back it off to 3140 to coincide with an accuracy node. Thing carries a heavy payload at distance and puts a smacking on big bears and moose. Yours should easily move the 225 AB at North of 3300... when you are getting over 5K ft/lb energy is a speed cartridge, you are gonna feel that "smack."

 

[PanhandlinPat]

Ch tool did notify me that dies are available. Just waiting on a price now. I’m going to add crossbolts to the stock and probably pillars before I shoot it.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Well that has them moving 100 t0 200 fps faster than the 358/338RUM. I use AR2209 (H4350), depending on the bullet weight 86 to 94 grains.

Enjoy using it. Oh, with the 225 grain bullets my RUM shoots as flat or flatter than a 7mm Rem Mag, your 350 Wells will beat this.

For very short range, perhaps. There are no exceptionally high BC .358 Bullets. I have no idea what the utility of driving a flat nosed bullet at 3700 is either. Alas, this is America and it matters not if it all makes sense.

 

[Rule 303]

For very short range, perhaps. There are no exceptionally high BC .358 Bullets. I have no idea what the utility of driving a flat nosed bullet at 3700 is either. Alas, this is America and it matters not if it all makes sense.

Not all 358 cal bullets are flat nosed. The spire point 225 grain bullets out of my 358/338RUM are dropping about 20" at 400yards, and a bit less when I have the rifle sighted so at 100mts the POI is 3" high. Up there with the 7mm Rem Mag for trajectory, at least to 400yard.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Is the .350 Wells one of Frank Well's wildcats? I know he made a .300 and .510 Express and liked using Brno, CZ and Interarms actions for his wildcats.

 

[PanhandlinPat]

Not all 358 cal bullets are flat nosed. The spire point 225 grain bullets out of my 358/338RUM are dropping about 20" at 400yards, and a bit less when I have the rifle sighted so at 100mts the POI is 3" high. Up there with the 7mm Rem Mag for trajectory, at least to 400yard.

Even the 200 grain TTSX shoots flatter than any 308 I’ve seen out of my 21” barreled whelen. Charts show it has plenty of velocity out to 500 yards.

 

[PanhandlinPat]

Is the .350 Wells one of Frank Well's wildcats? I know he made a .300 and .510 Express and liked using Brno, CZ and Interarms actions for his wildcats.

I believe it was Fred wells, but that is correct. There is no makers mark on this rifle, and the caliber was laser engraved onto the barrel.

 

[PerH]

Rhino and Northfork make some good .35 also .