Author Topic: Would you sell .300 WM for a .35 Whelen? (Read 10297 times)

S.B. · « **Reply #120 on:** December 23, 2008, 08:00:36 AM »

What's all this discussion, I prefer a rifle in both of these calibers??? My wife's the only one, in my house, that thinks I don't need another gun.
Steve

nomosendero · « **Reply #121 on:** December 23, 2008, 09:21:20 AM »

Quote from: Ron Byers on December 23, 2008, 05:08:36 AM

But I will never try to do everything with the 35W that I do with the 300, because it can't. nomosendero

For me the real question is will you try to use a 300 Win Mag to do everything a 35 Whelen can do?

I happen to agree with you, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. The Whelen is generally found in short barreled rifles intended for use in the northern boreal forest. The 300 Win Mag doesn't really shine unless it's barrel is 26 inches long or longer if you use a screw on muzzle brake. One is best when carried by a man in tight quarters and the other is made to be carried by a horse over miles and miles of the great wide open west.

Two different rifles, two different applications. Isn't it great that we don't have to chose between the two.

My last quote answers that really. The 35W is handier in some applications. However I can use the 300WM in all of those cases if I needed to, but I CANNOT use the Whelen in all situations that I use the 300, that simple.

nomosendero · « **Reply #122 on:** December 23, 2008, 09:23:22 AM »

Quote from: S.B. on December 23, 2008, 08:00:36 AM

What's all this discussion, I prefer a rifle in both of these calibers??? My wife's the only one, in my house, that thinks I don't need another gun.
Steve

Exactly, I agree & they aren't comparable anyway.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #123 on:** December 23, 2008, 09:49:29 AM »

The only situation I can think of where you can't use the Whelen is a shot longer than 345 yards. Actually even then you could use the Whelen if you were a really good shot and had no choice. I am not doubting that you are a really good shot and you would always have the choice of moving closer.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #124 on:** December 23, 2008, 10:04:07 AM »

Oh, I thought I might answer the question raised in the first post. Would I sell a .300 WM for a .35 Whelen? Well, if I only had one .300 WM I wouldn't sell it. I would sell something else to buy the Whelen. If I had two .300 WM I would sell one of them in a heart beat to buy a .35 Whelen.

By the same token if I had two 30-06 rifles I wouldn't hesitate to rebarrel one in .35 Whelen. I wouldn't rebarrel my only 30-06 to secure a .35 Whelen.

If you ask whether I would sell a 300 WM to buy a 30-06 I can only tell you that earlier this year I chose a 30-06 over a .300 WM. Being a traditionalist I think the 30-06 is still the baseline for any hunter's battery. I probably wouldn't sell a .300 WM to buy a 30-06. I would just buy the 30-06. Neither would I sell a 30-06 to buy a .300 WM.

nomosendero · « **Reply #125 on:** December 23, 2008, 10:50:23 AM »

Quote from: Ron Byers on December 23, 2008, 09:49:29 AM

The only situation I can think of where you can't use the Whelen is a shot longer than 345 yards. Actually even then you could use the Whelen if you were a really good shot and had no choice. I am not doubting that you are a really good shot and you would always have the choice of moving closer.

It's not that the Whelen can't be shot further than 345 yds, but with the wind drift that the less than optimum 35 cal bullets have & the serious drop in velocity which translates to poor bullet performance & energy for some animals, it's
not a long range round, it's not a matter of just hitting something. By the same token a 458 is not a varmit round either, it's just a matter of common sense application.

And yes, sometimes you can't get closer.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #126 on:** December 23, 2008, 11:01:59 AM »

Quote from: Ron Byers on December 23, 2008, 05:08:36 AM

But I will never try to do everything with the 35W that I do with the 300, because it can't. nomosendero

For me the real question is will you try to use a 300 Win Mag to do everything a 35 Whelen can do?

Yes!

I would NOT want to live on the difference between a .300WM with 180-220g TSX or Trophy Bonded or North Fork bullets and a .35 Whelen with any bullet.

Quote

I happen to agree with you, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. The Whelen is generally found in short barreled rifles intended for use in the northern boreal forest. The 300 Win Mag doesn't really shine unless it's barrel is 26 inches long or longer if you use a screw on muzzle brake. One is best when carried by a man in tight quarters and the other is made to be carried by a horse over miles and miles of the great wide open west.

My .300 WM shines just fine with a 24” barrel – and I won’t own a rifle with a brake. Never owned a horse and don’t see much difference between my 22” and 24” rifle barrels...

Quote

Two different rifles, two different applications. Isn't it great that we don't have to chose between the two.

Yes!

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #127 on:** December 23, 2008, 11:04:57 AM »

Quote from: Ron Byers on December 23, 2008, 05:08:36 AM

...
I happen to agree with you, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges.
...

But given the title of this thread, it would be really ridiculous not to compare them...

nomosendero · « **Reply #128 on:** December 23, 2008, 12:33:57 PM »

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on December 23, 2008, 11:01:59 AM

Quote from: Ron Byers on December 23, 2008, 05:08:36 AM
But I will never try to do everything with the 35W that I do with the 300, because it can't. nomosendero

For me the real question is will you try to use a 300 Win Mag to do everything a 35 Whelen can do?

Yes!

I would NOT want to live on the difference between a .300WM with 180-220g TSX or Trophy Bonded or North Fork bullets and a .35 Whelen with any bullet.

Quote
I happen to agree with you, comparing the two is like comparing apples and oranges. The Whelen is generally found in short barreled rifles intended for use in the northern boreal forest. The 300 Win Mag doesn't really shine unless it's barrel is 26 inches long or longer if you use a screw on muzzle brake. One is best when carried by a man in tight quarters and the other is made to be carried by a horse over miles and miles of the great wide open west.

My .300 WM shines just fine with a 24” barrel – and I won’t own a rifle with a brake. Never owned a horse and don’t see much difference between my 22” and 24” rifle barrels...

Quote
Two different rifles, two different applications. Isn't it great that we don't have to chose between the two.

Yes!

I wasn't sure what the Horse story was about either. We have used Horses to pack gear & Elk out, but not to carry
rifles or handguns.

A 300WM does very well with a 24" tube as you said. I use a Sendero 26", but it is my preference & has not hampered me on any hunt, so I guess I won't have my Smith cut it to 24", a simple $50.00 job counting the crown should I ever
decide to do so, not going to happen though.

I don't use a brake, didn't know a 300WM needed one.

Coyote Hunter, in other words, yes to all of that.

S.B. · « **Reply #129 on:** December 23, 2008, 03:31:41 PM »

That's it! I'm done listening to this argument over nothing!
Steve

Bart Solo · « **Reply #130 on:** December 23, 2008, 03:51:46 PM »

Quote from: S.B. on December 23, 2008, 03:31:41 PM

That's it! I'm done listening to this argument over nothing!
Steve

Me too.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #131 on:** December 24, 2008, 04:12:43 AM »

Quote from: Ron Byers on December 23, 2008, 10:04:07 AM

...
If you ask whether I would sell a 300 WM to buy a 30-06 I can only tell you that earlier this year I chose a 30-06 over a .300 WM. Being a traditionalist I think the 30-06 is still the baseline for any hunter's battery. I probably wouldn't sell a .300 WM to buy a 30-06. I would just buy the 30-06. Neither would I sell a 30-06 to buy a .300 WM.

When I bought my first .30 bolt gun I had to make the same choice, .300WM or .30-06, and chose the .300 WM. It wasn't even a contest. These days I would the same decision even though there are now three .30-06s in the safe.

Different strokes...

Bart Solo · « **Reply #132 on:** December 24, 2008, 08:19:05 AM »

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on December 24, 2008, 04:12:43 AM

When I bought my first .30 bolt gun I had to make the same choice, .300WM or .30-06, and chose the .300 WM. It wasn't even a contest. These days I would the same decision even though there are now three .30-06s in the safe.

Different strokes...

I guess a young buck like you lives in the future, while an old goat like me lives in the past. You got me, I have to admit, the 300WM will do everything but cook your eggs.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #133 on:** December 24, 2008, 01:14:22 PM »

Quote from: S.B. on December 23, 2008, 03:31:41 PM

That's it! I'm done listening to this argument over nothing!
Steve

I was still waiting for you to provide some premium .35 Whelen loads to compare against...

Bart Solo · « **Reply #134 on:** December 24, 2008, 02:22:20 PM »

As soon as I buy a 35 Whelen I will work them up.

Merry Christmas.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #135 on:** December 27, 2008, 01:25:35 PM »

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on December 23, 2008, 11:01:59 AM

Never owned a horse

You don't know what you missed!

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #136 on:** December 28, 2008, 04:07:34 AM »

Quote from: AtlLaw on December 27, 2008, 01:25:35 PM

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on December 23, 2008, 11:01:59 AM
Never owned a horse

You don't know what you missed!

Vet bills, doctor bills, feed bills, farrier bills, tack costs, trailer costs, fencing costs, various other costs and work, work, work!

AtlLaw · « **Reply #137 on:** December 28, 2008, 05:39:22 AM »

Yup, that's about it!

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #138 on:** December 28, 2008, 07:36:22 AM »

Here is some information and loads on the 35 Whelen.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2346537/page/1#Post2346537

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,100788.0.html

http://www.35cal.com/

I have found more, but have to dig back.

RC

BS · « **Reply #139 on:** December 29, 2008, 02:57:29 PM »

Quote from: corbanzo on November 13, 2008, 03:10:36 PM

I agree with both.... except... together

Spend $150 and drill that barrel to a nice .35-300 win mag.

Sounds great to me also!

Blowtorch53 · « **Reply #140 on:** January 05, 2009, 11:53:50 AM »

No. Keep the .300 Win. Mag. Buy the Whelen too. You can't have too many rifles in great calibers.

Blowtorch

277284 · « **Reply #141 on:** January 08, 2009, 04:53:02 PM »

I got both, the 300wm in a Rem SPS SS, the 35Whelen in a Rem CDL. My CDL is inconsistent in grouping with Rem factory ammo.

kiddekop · « **Reply #142 on:** January 17, 2009, 06:48:34 PM »

Quote from: Dixie Dude on September 16, 2007, 05:37:31 PM

Would you guys sell a Remington 700 BDL in .300 Win Mag for a custom Mauser in .35 Whelen for use out west and Alaska? I do want to get into reloading and I know you can use .30/06 brass to make Whelen. What you you guys think?

I have a Sako Finnsport in 300wm that's sufficient for any & all western game I've used for elk, bison,mule deer & blacktail deer it reaches out & knocks down animals in fact it was the most carried caliber when I hunted in CO up until 1999.I live in the west and have hunted in Idaho(bison),Arizona (elk),Colorado(mule deer bucks, does & elk) & California( mule deer,blacktail deer,bear)Checked Montana,Wyoming Utah,Nebraska, South Dakota,Nevada, Oregon,Washington,Alaska,New Mexico,Texas,Yukon in Canada when on trips because I degreed in wildlife management and was always looking for good hunting areas.