Bob Nelson 35Whelen
AH ambassador
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2018
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- Wyong new south Wales Australia
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- Hunted
- Australia
Rule 303Bit late but I have reloaded and hunted with Woodleigh's. Re the soft nose, if impact velocity is with-in the recommended velocities they perform well. Push them harder and they expand retain a lot of weight but mushroom quite wide so this effects penetration depth. In my 35Sambar I have shot Sambar Deer and on a couple occasions the impact velocity would have been at least 200fps faster than recommended. They were found under the opposite skin - broke a shoulder on one and ribs + opposite leg. Expanded to little over 2 twice the diameter and retained between 70 & 80% of bullet weight from memory.
They had complaints about the 300grain 375 expanding to readily and not providing sufficient penetration so now have two 300 grainers. The standard and a new one with a thicker jacket for better penetration.
The only Woodleigh's I have used on very large animals are the Hydro's in 416 calibre. Their 410 grain 416 soft point, front shot quartering shot at a Blue Wildebeest just over 100mts, ended up against the skin just in front of the back leg. Yet in a Warthog front on at 40mts no exit.
So limited experience on big game.
I love the Woodleigh. Agree with impact velocity but I don't shoot animals near the muzzle.
I load my 35Whelan with 225 gn PPSN ,65grains cfe223 chronoed muzzle velocity 2,950fps . I shot my black wildebeest at around 170 yards slightly 1/4ing away. Thu and thru shot breaking offside shoulder. He only ran 20yards and piled up.
Hartman zebra same projectile at 100yards broadside smashed both shoulders and bullet found just under the skin on the offside.
Photos attached show recovered woodleigh from zebra and accubond from my kudu. Kudu hit front on ,bullet traveled thru 5 foot of animal but didn't hit any major bones.
Woodleigh gets a big thumbs up from me.
Cheaper here in oz than nosler to.
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