8mm vs 35 Whelen

[300grJHP]

Is there any noticeable difference in killing power between hot-loaded 8mmJS and 35 whelen on 150 lb deer?

thank you,
300

[nomosendero]

Everyone, experienced or not are free to ask questions, with good intent of course. This is what I consider an entry level question & I see you have a few posts, welcome to GBO.

To answer your question, no difference. There would be more difference in changing bullets within the cartridges mentioned than a diff. of the cartridges. And sometimes there is a "noticeable difference" as you call it in shooting different Whitetails with the exact same load, even when shot in the exact same place & same velocity at impact. The point is mute though, the 2 rounds mentioned have much more power than
the mimimal required regardless.

[yooper77]

Both are great, I like my 338-06 A-Square, used last year with 200 grain Nosler/Winchester Combined Technology Ballistic Tip bullets with IMR-4320 powder, Remington 30-06 Springfield brass with WLR primers.  I shot a large Whitetail doe and she just roll over at the double lung/upper heart shot

yooper77

[wsjones]

It would surely depend on what you're shooting with it, but for 150# whitetail deer, probably no appreciable difference.  I have both calibers but have only shot 1 deer with the Whelen and none at all with either 8x57.  But I was impressed with a medium sized northern PA buck's reaction to the Whelen.  Quartering shot at 55 yards with 225 Nosler BT knocked him back on his haunches, literally.

For other, bigger animals, maybe, but I've not the experience with them to do anything except quote ballistics from manuals and magazines, which you can read for yourself.  For deer at reasonable ranges you're into 'how dead is dead' territory - just pick the rifle/cartridge combo that appeals most to you.  -WSJ

[Drilling Man]

  I've shot moose with both, the 350 Rem. Mag. (same balistics as the Whelen) and also the 8x57...  I'd say for deer both are MORE than needed.  But, i think on the biggest big game animals, with both loaded with premium bullets, the Whelen will come out on top.

  DM

[crash87]

Is there any noticeable difference in killing power between hot-loaded 8mmJS and 35 whelen on 150 lb deer?

thank you,
300

Or the 338-06, or the 9.3X62 mauser or the ________? Absolutely NONE 
                                               CRASH87

[mauser98us]

I say buy both, then compare. When your done,buy a 9.3 x57 mauser. One can never have too many medium bores.

[RaySendero]

Is there any noticeable difference in killing power between hot-loaded 8mmJS and 35 whelen on 150 lb deer?

thank you,
300

I'd rephrase the question to:

What would you hunt with a 35 Whelen that you would not hunt with an 8mm Mauser?


My experence is that even though there IS a difference between cartridge performance, It's questionable whether you'll find it until gets big enough to see!  For me that's about a 20% difference in velocity or a 40% difference in bullet weight.  Now, throw in the variable of all the different types of bullets available, even outside my 20/40 rule-of-thumb, it can be hard to find a difference on game.

[mannyrock]

  You are WAY over gunned with both calibers on a 150 pound deer.  Your problem is going to be, particularly with the Whelen, that the rounds will blow through the deer at ranges of 100 yards or less.

   The 8mm rounds, as factory loaded in the U.S., meaning that they are weaker than European loadings, would be more than enough.

Mannyrock

[Drilling Man]

Is there any noticeable difference in killing power between hot-loaded 8mmJS and 35 whelen on 150 lb deer?

thank you,
300

I'd rephrase the question to:

What would you hunt with a 35 Whelen that you would not hunt with an 8mm Mauser?


My experence is that even though there IS a difference between cartridge performance, It's questionable whether you'll find it until gets big enough to see!  For me that's about a 20% difference in velocity or a 40% difference in bullet weight.  Now, throw in the variable of all the different types of bullets available, even outside my 20/40 rule-of-thumb, it can be hard to find a difference on game.

  Brown/grizzly bear, or similar dangerous game...  And, "yes" i've used both cartridges extensively.

  DM

[Halwg]

A 35 Whelen is way too much gun for our small whitetails here in WV.  I'd drop back to a 35 Remington, and save the Whelen for elk & moose.

[rickt300]

My 8MM mauser loadings are the 185 gr. Remington PSPCL seated on top of a surplus Hungarian "heavy ball" round after having pulled the 196 gr. bullet. It is plenty for deer and huge hogs. My Whelen gets a 200 gr. Remington corelokt RN or Hornady Spire point, pushed to near 2500 fps. Plenty for deer and hogs. Can I tell any difference in performance; no but I like it anyway. In fact I have used the heavy ball FMJBT on hogs and find it effective also as it tumbles quickly in hog meat. I do shoot for bone with it.

[Sweetwater]

What you are asking is a lot like "is there any difference between 3/4ton trucks in hauling around my 4-wheeler." They are all "more than enough".

[kombi1976]

I have found that 8mm and 30-06 both punch through large goats and they are thin skinned, about the same size as deer with shorter legs.
I'd say the 8mm is not on par with the Whelen but the difference is probably academic in most situations.
The 9.3x62 however, mostly because of it's intended applications, does have an edge on the Whelen.
In North America though, well, 6 of one, 1/2 dozen of the other.
At the end of the day with the same bullets weights and similar velocity the 8mm has more penetration but the Whelen more stopping power due to meplat.