338WinMag vs 35Whelen-opinions?

[hans g./UpS]

Thniking of getting an existing bolt action '06 rebarreled to 35Whelen [24"]
vs getting a 338WinMag[also 24"].
Opinions?
Thanks.

[Lawdog]

Thniking of getting an existing bolt action '06 rebarreled to 35Whelen [24"]
vs getting a 338WinMag[also 24"].
Opinions?
Thanks.

The .35 Whelen is an excellent cartridge.  Great history.  Doesn't have the power of the .338 Win. Mag. but do you need/want that much power?  What do you plan on using it on?  Of course the best option would be get both and re-move the worry about which to get.  Lawdog
 

[Thebear_78]

I had a older winchester model 70 30/06 rebarreled by ER Shaw  for a birthday gift for my father this year.  They did a really good job.  I redid an older stock and was able to put it together fairly cheap.  I would heartily recomend them.

As to the 338 vs 35 whelen.....  its a trade off, I've never shot at game at ranges that they whelen wouldn't work just as well but the 338 does have an advantage in trajectory and thump.  I don't think that an animal could really tell the difference though.  I can easily get 2650fps with most 225gr bullets out of the whelen, a little more with the barns TSX.  I was only get 150fps more out of my 338 WM.  The federal premium trophy bonded load is a great load for the whelen for big game if you don't reload, and there are several good loads for the 338 out there.  In all practicality either one will work just fine.

Here is the rifle I had made for my dad.

[hunting1]

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I have a Remington 7600 Gamemaster in 30-06 and wanted to rebarrel for the 35 Whelan. What does something like that cost? In Alaska do you feel under gunned in bear country?

[Thebear_78]

A good 225-250gr bullet at 2400-2650fps is perfectly adequate for 99% of all bear hunting.  I might want something a little heavier for back up work but probably wouldn't need the extra power. I could feel pretty comfortable with just having the whelen in alaska.  I carry a 9.3x62 because I think it has a slight edge over the whelen with heavy bullets.  I'm still really fond of the whelen though, I think its a better all around caliber.

[Robert]

I like my Whelen from E.R.Shaw.  It definately does the job.  240 yds for my Elk this year....straight through the heart.  It will do anything the 338 Mag will do....possibly the 338 is a little flatter shooting out past 300 yds.....

[Echo4Lima]

.35 Whelen, .350 RemMag?

[hans g./UpS]

Zero interest in 350RemingtonMag-proprietary cartridge-and brass;ditto Weatherby offerings.
If someone made a left hand stainless,claw fed 375H&H,that would be my first choice.No one does.

[Lawdog]

Zero interest in 350RemingtonMag-proprietary cartridge-and brass;ditto Weatherby offerings.
If someone made a left hand stainless,claw fed 375H&H,that would be my first choice.No one does.

Check out the Winchester Model 70 Classic, Custom Extreme Weather (Left Hand Models),  Item Number: 535917261, Caliber:.375 H&H at
http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodinfo/catalog/detail.asp?cat_id=535&type_id=917&cat=013C for your left handed .375 H&H.  Lawdog
 

[grendel]

You can pump up the 35 Whelen a little more and get even closer to (or equal to 338WM) ballistics by going to the 35 Brown Whelen.  Push the shoulder forward and remove some of the body taper.  Mine averaged 2600 + small change from a 20.5" barrel (don't ask, I was young and stupid) with 250g Spitzer bullets.  Add in the fact that a standard Mauser action (Mark X) carries more cartridges then a Magnum action and I was happy.
 
Grendel

[hans g./UpS]

I can't spring the $$ for the Winchester Custom Shop,besides: their stock is too short[I need 14.5"l.o.p.].
Perhaps a Montana Rifleman l/h magnum stainless barreled action and l/h synthetic stock,at such point that I get sufficient funds.
I do like 30/06,308Win and 30/30 variants-can always find parent brass.

[freddogs]

I had E. R. Shaw barrel my mauser action. They will also blue it for you. Cost wasn't that high. I did the stock work myself. My 35 whelan shoots well and has plenty of power. I use 250 grain spitzer bullets. I think my total cost was around $500, not more than $750. I added a timney trigger and a different safety. I lapped the lugs, had a turned down bolt handle added and had action trued before rebarrelling.

[crow_feather]

If the two cartridges are compared side by side with no other considerations, the 338 would be considered the better as it is the more powerful of the two and it has a better selection of bullets.  

However, it never gets that easy.  There is so much more to consider.

C F

[358Win]

Hi All:

   This makes the 2nd time in the last week someone has claimed that the 338 has a better selection of bullets.  The 35 Whelen can shoot varmints with the 110, 125, and 140 grain pistol  bullets.  Deer can be shot with 150,  or 180 grain, or 200.  Elk and Moose can be shoot with either 200, 225 or 250.  I actually prefer the 200 on Deer and the 250 on the bigger stuff.  In case you're going to be in grizzly or polar beer contron Swift makes a 280 and Woodleigh makes a 310.  I think if you take a closer look the next time your at one of the bigger places like Sportsmans Warehouse of Cabela's you'll find almost twice as many offerings in 35 than you will in 338.

   While I could spend a lot of time making a case for my next supposition.  I'm really going to try hard to let you all do that research for yourselfs.

Rule #1  The best penetration on game animals with all most all calibers and all bullet weights comes when the impact velocity is between 2,400 fps and 2,150 fps.  Note that this rule doesn't apply to varminting.

   If rule #1 is followed you have an exit wound most of the time.  A good exit wound is the best way I know to make the big game go down fast.

Rule #2  The other factor in making game go down fast is the diameter of the permanent wound channel, or bore diameter.

   Given my rules:  The 35 Whelen  wins in almost every situation.  And does so with less recoil and muszzle blast

   Try this little experiment.  Take the velocity of a 250 grain Whelen bullet at 300 yards and the velocity of a 250 gran 338 Win Mag bullet at 300 yards  and figure out how many grains of powder were burned per foot-pound of energy.  Very enlighening to say the least.

[Don Fischer]

I don't use cartridges that big anymore but I'd do a 338-06. According to my mannuals it gives a bit better velocity with the 200 and 250 gr bullet's and you can also use a 225gr and 275 gr bullet in it.