Author Topic: 35 Whelen or 45/70 for bush work? (Read 2637 times)

hans g./UpS · « **on:** February 23, 2005, 10:36:38 AM »

Any thoughts on a bolt action 35Whelen vs 45/70 lever action [either using handloads] for work in the bush?
Thanks.

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2005, 12:35:13 PM »

There is a really good article in the newest Rifle Magazine by Brian Pearce called "Thg Last of the Sourdoughs." If you get a chance to read that article I think you'll conclude that bigger is better.

Rusty <><

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2005, 01:02:36 PM »

I would have to go with the 45-70.

Woodbutcher · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2005, 01:24:34 PM »

Dear hans g./UpS:

This might start a discussion. 45/70 heavier bullits, 35 Whelen longer range??
Lever vs bolt?? More rifle fit than action choice, maybe? How does the thing feel in your hands?
What animal primarily, or how big? How important is a second shot, ie dangerous game?
Something about a Western style rifle like the Marlin that seems very comfortable. Just feels right!
On the other hand, get em both, and make your final decision the night before you go hunting!

Don Fischer · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2005, 04:13:40 PM »

I'm not much of a 35 cal fan but if I was, a friend of mine, back in the 70's had the perfect setup. It was a Remington 660 magnum in 350 rem mag with a 2 3/4x scope. It was handy, fairly light, shot a big bullet fairly fast and the scope was super fast.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** February 23, 2005, 05:26:42 PM »

How do you define "bush work?" I have seen alders that you could hardly move through and then theres my back yard. Still bushy but tolerable.

I carry a .35 Whelen in 7600 pump. But when the things get hairy, I opt for the 870, slug barrel and Brenneke 3" dangerous game slugs.

When you go between the two action types I think I would pick a BLR in .450.

This type of question is going to have a ton of answers.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 23, 2005, 06:05:43 PM »

I have both and would definately go with the 45/70 GG and heavy loaded 405gr loads over the whelen for under 150 yard work. Not to take anything away from the whelen but you just simply can't beat a 45/0 lever gun in the thick stuff.

Sourdough · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2005, 05:52:20 AM »

For close emergency type work? I'd go with the 45-70!

I am a fan of the .35s. I own two .35 Whelens, and two .350 Rem Mags. The Whelen it seems has half the recoil of the .350s, yet they are ballistic twins. The Whelens are a NEF Handi rifle and a custom Mauser bolt gun. The .350s are a Remington 600 and a Ruger M-77. The Ruger has a lot of recoil, but no one has wanted to shoot the Remington a second time.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 24, 2005, 06:33:59 PM »

The 250gr HOrnady RN @ 2450fps was my go to close range load. Excellent load for bear baiting. From 200 yards and under I much perfer the fast handling and power of the lever 45/70. It is much handier in the brush than the longer bolt gun. For a general comprimize its hard to beat the 35 whelen bolt gun, but for specialized 200 and under the lever gun is king. Here is my "brush" gun.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2005, 07:08:46 PM »

Nice looking rifle! How quick is the scope for getting on target and have you ever thought of a ghost ring sight to lighten the rig up a bit?

I would love a stainless 7600 in .35 Whelen. :cry:

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2005, 03:19:48 PM »

Dave-

If you look a little closer you will see that I have the XS systems ghost ring sight on the rifle. The scout scope is extremely fast, almost faster than the ghost ring sights. I went with the heavy german post reticle, really jumps out at you and easy to see agains brush and dark objects.
Here is a close up of the ghost ring.

and a view thru the scope at my computer screensaver.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2005, 03:48:16 PM »

Between these two I'll take the 405gr Kodiak over the 250 hornady any day for close range work. The 250 hornady is a great bullet for the whelen, but I feel more comfortable with the 45/70.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2005, 04:13:01 PM »

It looks like a pretty well thought out rig. Something needed to survive in the streets of LosAnchorage.

The scope looks great for dangerous game too. If they made a 45/70 in a pump I might build a rig for the occasions that you build yours. I was out on Hich. last August when the pinks were in the back of Double Bay. We were heading up to a higher slope and ran into a stream full of salmon. You could smell dead fish everywhere and the trails around the stream looked like the maid had cleaned them.

We headed the other direction. About 80 yards away a bawling sound started. Could not identify the sound as positively a bear but close enough! Did not have enough gun, only a .308.

S.B. · « **Reply #13 on:** March 26, 2005, 06:15:02 PM »

Quote from: Don Fischer

I'm not much of a 35 cal fan but if I was, a friend of mine, back in the 70's had the perfect setup. It was a Remington 660 magnum in 350 rem mag with a 2 3/4x scope. It was handy, fairly light, shot a big bullet fairly fast and the scope was super fast.

I recently had and sold a Remington 600 in .350 Rem Mag. Scoped is the only way to go with the stock that came on these guns. You can't get down far enough to see the iron sights with the comb on the stock.

usn1954 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2006, 01:13:31 PM »

I love my Remington "Classic Deluxe" in 35 Whelen I bought 2 weeks ago
brand new in a local gun shop. :grin:

usn1954 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2006, 01:37:31 PM »

For my up close and personal, I use a Savage 99 in 375 Win. with see through scope mounts. :grin:

Sourdough · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2006, 02:52:38 AM »

I have one of the original Remington 600s in .350 Rem Mag from back in the 60s. 18" barrel with vented rib. 1.5X5 Redfield scope (came already on the gun when I got it). I feel just as comfortable with it as I do with my 45-70. The .350 Rem Mag is considered the .35 Whelen's ballistic twin. I own two .350s and two .35 Whelens, love them all. Usually carry one while floating.

S.B. · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2006, 03:14:18 AM »

I'm in the process, if I ever get it done, of building a Whelen. I bought an old Springfield Armory '03 receiver{$125} and had it barreled to .35 Whelen($200) had Remengton sights in junk box in the shop but($30 to drill holes in barrel), added a plastic RamLine stock(100), a low safety($20) and a A4 low scope mount bolt($50). Barrel chanel of stock needs inletting to free float, yet. Starting to come together but, I've not shot it yet. My question now, is to have the receiver drilled for a scope mount or leave it for iron sights, '03 receivers aren't getting any cheaper.

S.B. · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2006, 03:28:28 AM »

Thebear_78, did Wild West build your lever gun? The lever looks like one of theirs. Does it have the take down barrel? Good looking gun, all busness.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2006, 09:54:40 PM »

It is a wild west guns lever loop, I have several of thier after market parts. Here is what she looks like now.

S.B. · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2006, 01:34:02 PM »

3/25/06 6:30 P.M. Oh, happy day. My stockmaker just called and said my Springfield Whelen stock is done, ready to be picked up. Now, getting the time to go get it.

yukonjim · « **Reply #21 on:** March 27, 2006, 08:07:17 AM »

If you have a 12 gauge shotgun you might consider Hornady's SST Shotgun Slug ammunition. Reasonaly fast, 300gr, flat shooting, polymer tipped slugs. Here is the link:

http://www.hornady.com/story.php?s=148

You could also get a Remington 870 Pump 7 shot Home Defense 12 gauge which should be ideal for the brush. It is smooth bore so will not be as accurate at long range as a rifled slug barrel but should be adequate for thick brush.

yukonjim

victorcharlie · « **Reply #22 on:** March 27, 2006, 10:21:49 AM »

I think I'd take the .45-70. The Whelen is a might fine round, but for up close and personal with something 6 times my size then my thoughts are that bigger is better!

Blink · « **Reply #23 on:** April 06, 2006, 06:55:00 PM »

Its a tough call for me. I've had a whelen, I have a co-pilot (45/70) and I also recently got a rem 673 in 350 remmag. I love the 35's as well as the 45/70.

My co-pilot just has the ghost rings and my 350 has a 1.5x5 leupy. both are fast for target acquisition.

I'd feel comfortable with either but if I had to choose, I would probably pick the co-pilot, only cuz my wife can shoot it pretty good if she had to.

45north · « **Reply #24 on:** April 30, 2006, 02:30:00 PM »

I tried the marlin 45/70 twice and I won't do it again. Most of alaska game is dangerous or is being followed by something dangerous. So I only use a bolt action for DG. As I get closer to the coast, (denser population of bigger bears) I use my 375 H&H and my 35 whelen or 338 WM for everything else. I would choose the whelen over a lever gun every time no matter the terrain or animal on the menu.

Just an opinion, everyone has one.

45north

Blink · « **Reply #25 on:** April 30, 2006, 03:36:55 PM »

45north, hows conditions your way? still alot of snow? I'll be up there this weekend for a couple weeks for bear hunting.

I've been hunting out of Tok and on the taylor for a while now and the way it sounds we will be in some snow. Pretty late break-up if I understand it right.

45north · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2006, 05:08:10 PM »

We have received about 8 or 9 inches in the last 3 days but it is melting fast. I heard chicken got a foot of fresh snow. If you can you might bring both an ATV and a snogo. You never know what will work better up on the taylor this time of the year.

Good luck

45north

Blink · « **Reply #27 on:** April 30, 2006, 06:24:13 PM »

Thanks 45north, Usually we have a cabin we use along the tanana during the spring hunt but this year a couple of my friends (locals) are talking about going up on the taylor for griz. It'll be fun no matter what way we go. I could care less, I wont be in anchorage :-D

45north · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2006, 07:56:17 AM »

Is that like the worst hour spent fishing or hunting is better than the best hour at work or in traffic. The other day it was padamoniam here in Tok 3 cars were backed up at the intersection stop sign. All at the same time, (could been a disasta) but all is well for now. The terrurists are on the way though, in thier 45 ft. coachman and winabego assalt vehicles.

good hunting

45north

S.B. · « **Reply #29 on:** July 22, 2006, 05:41:53 PM »

Quote from: Sourdough on February 24, 2005, 05:52:20 AM

For close emergency type work? I'd go with the 45-70!

I am a fan of the .35s. I own two .35 Whelens, and two .350 Rem Mags. The Whelen it seems has half the recoil of the .350s, yet they are ballistic twins. The Whelens are a NEF Handi rifle and a custom Mauser bolt gun. The .350s are a Remington 600 and a Ruger M-77. The Ruger has a lot of recoil, but no one has wanted to shoot the Remington a second time.

I think you need to consider the weight of each rifle? I've owned both(a Remingto 600 in .350 Rem. mag and a springfield in .35 Whelen) and believe me the weight is a BIG factor.