Why didn't the 35 Whelen become more in dem

[old06]

It wasn't long ago that Remington came out with one of the best (IMHO) rounds more in the line of what is pratical than all the extra long mag's or the short mags that take up so much press and forum space . So what say you ?

[Daveinthebush]

There are many reason that one can come up with here.  Personally I own 2, a 7600 and a H&R.

Gun writers have a lot to do with it.  The .35 is a little less than the .338 and a little more than the 06.  That said, 35's have always been one of those calibers that American hunters seem to ignore.  Eastern deer hunters don't need the power so it leaves that crowd out.  Many Eastern hunters would be more than happy with the .358 Winchester, one of the most overlooker deer cartridges and one of the most capable.
The trajectory of the Whelen (not Whelan, as I found my H&R listed) is a  little too much of a rainbow for serious mule deer hunters and elk hunters already have the .338.

So where do you use the .35?  Even Alaska has its favorites: 06, .338 & .375.

Well the handloader knows the potential of the round.  I can load .357 pistol bullets or 150-300 grain bullets.  The round is slightly underloaded in its factory configuration and when Remington first started out they
offered a 200 grain spire point and a 250 round nose. What was needed to appease the elk hunters was the 225 spitzer or the 250.

Recoil is about the same as the 06 up to the 225's.  The 250 and 300 are going to get your attention but in a hunting situation one rarely remembers the gun recoiling.  Your mind is on other things. The recoil is more of a push than the sharp butt of the .338.

Properly loaded with a good 225 grain bullet the round really shines.  The affects of the bullet on game is devestating as other will attest too. I have never recoverd one from a caribou.  The one moose I hit, the bullet was destroyed or lost when we processed the animal in the river.

I love the round, it is just a "slightly less than everything else round".  Other yardsticks were created to measure cartridges by before it was factorized.  Writers went oh humm.....

Got any for sale? :grin:

[Robert]

I am presently waiting for my Whelen/Ackley rebarrel on a 1917 Enfeild.  Should arrive by Christmas from E.R.Shaw. I was considering the 338/06 also, but I really like my 356 Winchester and the fact I can load hot pistol rounds for varmints, so I decided to stick with 35 cal.

[targshooter]

In the 1960s, as a kid growing up, I remember reading the print of many gun scribes regarding the merits of the .35 Whelen. Seems like after they determined who the originator was in their articles, the next thing they did was list the cartridge's virtues and lament that it was a not a factory chambering. They all treated it fairly when Remington started offering it, but it seems that general shooting public interest faded quickly, as did the shooting public's interest in the .358 Winchester earlier. Seems like the .35 caliber does not gain much economic interest among the general shooting population  in the US. I remember some once a year shooters who purchased .358 Winchester being discouraged by its recoil and trading for the .308 or .30-06 in a similar rifle. Thus, I believe that the majority of the gun purchasers who do not reload and who are interested in readily available and lower recoiling cartridges have been the death knell for such cartridges as the .35 Whelen. Those that need bigger seem to go for the .338 Mag and .375H&H, cartridges available in almost any store carrying ammo. Try to find .35 Whelen. Too bad, I would love to get a Remington 7400 in .35 Whelen.

[old06]

None for sale here got a 7600 in 35 whelen but it's staying put. There is a 7400 in 35 whelen on gunbroker. Shure wish there was more of them out there 700.00 a little steep for us working stiff's. Dave said it all I think it a great round and can handle most all hunting situations with the proper construction of bullets.

[Daveinthebush]

There is a 7400 in .35 W out there for sale on the auction sites.  There are aslo several  7600's avialable since Remington made a new unannounced run of them.  I am not sure how many were made but if I did not have one I would be grabbing one.   :roll:

[Bandito]

Can't the .30-06 be bored to .35 Whelen? I don't see a problem with it. Maybe someone more experienced in gunsmithing can give us an idea. Bandito    

[Daveinthebush]

Yes it can, Gander Mountain will convert a 760 for less than $200.

[Bandito]

Should be able to get a used '06 7400 and the rebore for $500 to $600. Just have to watch for a used gun. Good luck either way you go about it.  Bandito

[freddogs]

The 35 whelan is real nice. I guess most people have never tried one. Maybe it would have been more popular if it was called a 35 blank blank MAGNUM.

[Bandito]

The 35 is the worst caliber in the world. You can load pistol bullets slow for small game. Load pistol bullets (180 gr hp) fast for varmint. 150 gr sp for whitetail deer. 250 to 300 gr for the big stuff, even the solids are available. I think it is the worst caliber in the US. Send all your 35 cal. rifles to my address. I will even pay the freight on every other rifle. Then I will scrap them for you at no charge ..... after I wear out their barrels!!!!   :-D     :eek:  :wink: Bandito

[turfman]

Daveinthebush.

  Some of the easterners might not need the whelen, but they sure are in the woods. Grice gunshop in Pa has special runs on them and they go like wild fire. Last year the 7600 was around a 600+ production and sold out in less than a month and they are going for it again this year. I just ordered one of the new cdl's in whelen.  I think they told me this run would be around 500 or so. I don't know how many stayed in the state; but I'll bet you a good number of them did.  Alot of guys I hunt with have given up their mags and gone back to more "sensible" calibers. I can't remember not seeing a 35rem in the woods; so it seems to me that they are just upgrading their choices now a days.

Something else; if its a pump; 70% of pa hunters will be interested.

Anyhow: Grice Gun Shop. (814)765-9273

turfman

[Mike103]

I bought both specials from Grices, the 35 Remington carbine and the 35 Whelen rifle. I shot the 35 Remington, picked up two extra mags, installed a sling and am in the process of picking out a scope. I think I am going with a 2X7 compact. While I picked up the 35 Rem in October I did not pick up the 35 Whelen untill last month. Have not shot it or added a sling or scope yet, don't even have any ammo for it. I do not reload so I am going to try a box of each factory loading, the 200 Remington 225 Federal and the 250 Remington when I get it set up. I am thinking of a 3X9 or even a 4X12 on the Whelen. Should be ready in late summer. All tied up with skeet right now. MIKE.

[Raging480]

I saw a 7400 in .35 W on Gunbroker for about $675.  Then a fellow forum member told me about a used one for sale at the local Gander Mountain.  I checked it out, and it looked good.  Matte with walnut stock, $409, and now it is in my safe.  I am planning on putting a Leupold 1.5-5x on it.  I will let you know how it shoots the Rem. 200 grain ammo.
For some reason I was always intrigued by this model, so it must have been fate that one showed up around these parts.

[Sourdough]

Sent three 30-06 actions to Shaw and had them rebarreled to .35 Whelen.  Kept one of the Mausers for myself, gave the others to my Dad and one of my brothers.  They think they have the best whitetail guns availiable.  Sights and rebluing cost more than the rebarreling.  My only regreat is that I did not get the AI.  I also have a Handi in .35 Whelen.  My Dad shot a Bull Moose with it using the 250gr Remington load.  Shot was at 40 yards bullet went through the Moose breaking both shoulders.  Moose dropped instantly, little meat loss.  Love the Whelen, just can't seem to part with the money to get a 7600.  Thought about having my 30-06 760 rebarreled.

[old06]

Sourdough I picked up my 7600 back in 90 there were 4 Whelen's in a gun  store in Minot North Dakota. Two 700 ( classics I think ) and two 7600, they sold  two other 700 they were asking 365 on the 7600 and 410 on the 700 I think he knocked like 35 off either one I bought because they weren't selling . I was getting ready to PCS Minot AFB to Shemya Alaska. I had my travle money in my pocket and could have made a clean sweep EZ. Only if I had that deal to work over again. I picked up one extra clip marked 35 Whelen and 4 boxes of ammo 2 of the 200 and 2 of the 250, that 250 grain bullet that every one complained about was the best load any one could ask for.

[Bretzky308]

Ditto that, daveinthebush said it all.

Banditto, too funny man, too funny.  I'm lovin it.  Keep up the good work.

[Little Magnum]

I have two 35 whelen's a 7600 with a 1.5x5 leupold with QRD mounts and
the a new 700 cdl 2004 limited run that finally came in in October.
My 7600 has a action job and the trigger tweaked to 28 oz, which is too
light, but, before you can think bang it goes bang. Remmington allowed
gun writers to kill the 35 whelen. Those who KNEW loved it, those who knew little to nothing killed it. In my eye's there is no better 200 yard
round then a 35 whelen it thumps animals HARD ! Yes you can shoot father then 200 yards. It a big step up in killing power over the 30-06.
Remmington shouldn't produce a 7600 without a good recoil pad and it should have sling studs.  Factory 250gr shoot the best out of my gun over the 200 and federal 225 trophy B.C  My gun isn't picky it shoot's most
handloads and factory stuff under 2inch and the good loads around a inch.

[Hard Luck]

Most guys are deer hunters and don't need the extra thump also writers have brainwashed deer hunters into thinking they need 400 yd rifles.
  I had a chance to buy one the Rem. 7400's in .35 whelen but didn't. It was a big mistake ! I should have as I bear hunt a lot and it would have been a perfect bait hunting rifle. I now use a BLR81 in .358 win. I also had a Rem 700 classic in.350 mag. but I don't like bolts in fast action situations.