.35 Whelen All Around Rifle?

[lgm270]

Thinking of simplifying my life and having a .35 Whelen made on a  Win M70 CRF action with a 23" barrel.

I would use this for mule deer, elk and possibly African plains game.  I see people getting 2,700 fps with the 225 Grain Barnes TSX and 2,800 with the 200 grain TSX. It strikes me that with those two bullet weights I could handle just about anything.  Very powerful but still as flat shooting as the 30-06/180 grain load.  Brass is easily made from .30-06 and it's a simple, reliable non-nonsense kind of rifle.   Instead of using a .270 for deer, a 338 for elk etc., I would just use the .35 Whelen for everything. Frankly, having one cal would simplify a lot of things for me, having reached that stage of life where I am more in tune with fewer rather than more things to store, load for and deal  with.

For fun, I can shoot .357 pistol bullets for plinkers and there are also good cast designs for this round.



There are many 35 cal shooters on here who have a lot of experience with this round and I would enjoy hearing your points of view.   This round strikes me as a practical, simple, reliable solution to any practical hunting  situation I will have.

[Dixie Dude]

I have one, but not enough experience yet.  You can also use .357 mag bullets in a light load for plinking or varmits. 

[Mckie Hollow]

Check out Whelen Brown's website @ 35 Cal.com

[john keyes]

I don't have one, but I think they are very cool and would hammer the daylights out of anything pretty much. 

[red alder ranch]

My brother just bought one this winter, but we haven't used it on anything yet. I was planning on building my Mauser action into one, but found that I could get a way better deal on a high quality barrel by going with 9.3x62 instead. If you're serious about Africa, I've been told that the .35 Whelen isn't considered a legal DG rifle in many places, while the 9.3x62 is. Go figure, they're almost ballistic twins.

I think the Whelen would make a very good all around rifle, and maybe I'll end up with one someday after all.

[bigswede]

The whelen is a very good all around cartridge.  I hunted with one exclusively for several years.  I should have never let that rifle go.  I shot 225 gr Sierras, every elk and deer just dropped in there tracks.  I would highly suggest this for an all around cartridge.

[lgm270]

Enjoyed your response BigSwede.

[mauser98us]

From the proud and biased owner of a 35 Whelan AI.  If I had to get rid of all my rifles except one, I would opt for my Whelan. From Pronghorns to Elk. It's that good. Get one

[lgm270]

From the proud and biased owner of a 35 Whelan AI.  If I had to get rid of all my rifles except one, I would opt for my Whelan. From Pronghorns to Elk. It's that good. Get one

Wow!  Why can't you say what you REALLY  think? 

[mauser98us]

Cause I'm the shy and retiring type!

[bigswede]

Yeah, the Whelen is that good.  The one I used to own I traded off to my father-in-law, he had the barrel cut down to 18 1/2" and put a scout scope on it.  I believe he still gets right around 2500 fps with a 250 gr Hornady.  I myself have a rem 700 in a 30-06 lying around just waiting to be neutered, I am having trouble deciding between a Whelen and a 338-06.  Man what a tough decision

[Coyote Hunter]

A .338-06 would get my vote.

I'll probably simplify one of these days.  The 7mm RM will likely be the last to go.

[rickt300]

I like my Whelen. It is easy to load down for the small stuff, a great timber round and can be loaded plenty fast enough for shooting at ranges most of us would call long. Fun loads with cast bullets are also easy to make. But my one gun battery would still be a 30-06. It retains all the above features. My 7MM RM isn't as easy to build light cast loads with though as an all around big game rifle it will work just fine but if I wanted to live with one rifle it would have to do more than just be a good large game hunting tool.

[drdougrx]

A hour ago I came from the range and a buddy just bought, on a whim, a Rem750 Woodsmaster in 35whalen....I shot it and, except for the trigger...I was impressed all around...and we all know what that means!!!!

[Flemc1]

Yeah, the Whelen is that good.  The one I used to own I traded off to my father-in-law, he had the barrel cut down to 18 1/2" and put a scout scope on it.  I believe he still gets right around 2500 fps with a 250 gr Hornady.  I myself have a rem 700 in a 30-06 lying around just waiting to be neutered, I am having trouble deciding between a Whelen and a 338-06.  Man what a tough decision

And you want it .................but you cant have it

[lgm270]

I like my Whelen. It is easy to load down for the small stuff, a great timber round and can be loaded plenty fast enough for shooting at ranges most of us would call long. Fun loads with cast bullets are also easy to make. But my one gun battery would still be a 30-06. It retains all the above features. My 7MM RM isn't as easy to build light cast loads with though as an all around big game rifle it will work just fine but if I wanted to live with one rifle it would have to do more than just be a good large game hunting tool.

A great point. YOu can load it down to a .35 Remington and load it up almost to .338 levels. I like the idea of such flexibility and the idea that I"m not straining for every last fps of velocity.  Getting older I guess, but with a 225 grain bullet at 2,700, it's +2 at 100 on the time at 200, and -8.5" at 300.  Just like the 30-06/180 grain load at 2,700 fps.  I make very few long shots anyway and everyone who's used the Whelen says it kills deer like Thor's Hammer. No tracking!

[bigswede]

Yeah, the Whelen is that good.  The one I used to own I traded off to my father-in-law, he had the barrel cut down to 18 1/2" and put a scout scope on it.  I believe he still gets right around 2500 fps with a 250 gr Hornady.  I myself have a rem 700 in a 30-06 lying around just waiting to be neutered, I am having trouble deciding between a Whelen and a 338-06.  Man what a tough decision

And you want it .................but you cant have it

I never new you were a TREKKY.

[kombi1976]

My brother just bought one this winter, but we haven't used it on anything yet. I was planning on building my Mauser action into one, but found that I could get a way better deal on a high quality barrel by going with 9.3x62 instead. If you're serious about Africa, I've been told that the .35 Whelen isn't considered a legal DG rifle in many places, while the 9.3x62 is. Go figure, they're almost ballistic twins.

I think the Whelen would make a very good all around rifle, and maybe I'll end up with one someday after all.

I bought a 9.3x62 instead of a 7x64 Brenneke when I got my Tikka T3 and I haven't looked back.
And yes, the Whelen doesn't have the same rating in Africa.
The 9.3 is 8 thou bigger in calibre and has a shorter neck so despite the fact it's 1mm shorter in length it has more powder space.
But there are 2 other factors more important than that.
Firstly it was specifically designed for use on African big game and dangerous game and has a long history of effective use there.
The Whelen was designed for American big game.
But more importantly 9.3 cal ammo is usually loaded with 286gr bonded core SPs or Solids while Whelen ammo is not.
There are even 320gr SPs and Solids available in 9.3x62.
So if you aspire to hunt internationally a Whelen is not the best choice.
But if you're in Nth America I'm sure it would be quite suitable and in the Rem 7600 it's a popular choice for sambar deer hunters here in Australia.
For the record I'd sell every other rifle before I sold my 9.3x62......well, maybe not my Ruger No1 450/400 NE 3".
I fight to the death to keep both of them.

[Birddog 1]

Ha lgm270 I dont know where you are getting your loading data but a 35 Whelen with a 220 gr bullet only goes 23 to 2500 with a compressed max load where as a 338-06 is about 24 to 2600 fps with a 225 gr bullet this is out of my Speer #13 manual. Hornady balistics chart has a 338-06 200 gr bullet, 2753fps 1.9+ at 100yds 0 at 200 and -8.1@300 -23.7@400 and a wind drift of 3"@10mph @200yds. 

Nim

[Sweetwater]

Ha lgm270 I dont know where you are getting your loading data but a 35 Whelen with a 220 gr bullet only goes 23 to 2500 with a compressed max load where as a 338-06 is about 24 to 2600 fps with a 225 gr bullet this is out of my Speer #13 manual. Hornady balistics chart has a 338-06 200 gr bullet, 2753fps 1.9+ at 100yds 0 at 200 and -8.1@300 -23.7@400 and a wind drift of 3"@10mph @200yds.  

Nim

I'd be more than a little cautious about quoting one manual and stating that as the capability of a given rifle. My Speer #12 does not agree with your Speer#13.  Neither does my Chrony. Hodgdon (2005) shows the 35Whelen at 2807fps with a 200gr Sierra for another improper comparison with the Hornady listing above for the 338-06. Too many differences in where and how this data was compiled to use different sources. Almost regardless of what the manuals state; the cases are equal capacity, bullets are equal weight, given that the larger caliber will have a higher expansion ratio, the larger caliber will also have higher velocity at equal pressure, or an equal velocity at a lower pressure. Now through in different barrel lengths and different bearing surfaces and it still comes back to the major difference is on paper, in favor of the 35Whelen.

Regards,
Sweetwater

[lgm270]

Ha lgm270 I dont know where you are getting your loading data but a 35 Whelen with a 220 gr bullet only goes 23 to 2500 with a compressed max load where as a 338-06 is about 24 to 2600 fps with a 225 gr bullet this is out of my Speer #13 manual. Hornady balistics chart has a 338-06 200 gr bullet, 2753fps 1.9+ at 100yds 0 at 200 and -8.1@300 -23.7@400 and a wind drift of 3"@10mph @200yds. 

Nim

Double tapp ammo claims 2700 for 225 Grain Accubond.  Other individuals make similar claims.

http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_46&products_id=192

Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claw 225 gr. at 2,600.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=660965

Nosler custom premium ammo reports 2,800 with 225 Grain

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=332070

[Birddog 1]

I stand corrected    Nim

[yooper77]

I like the 338-06 A-Square here are my bullet lineup.

From left to right from the picture are:

Loaded: 300 grain round nose, Speer 275 grain semi-pointed

Bullets: 225 grain Nosler Accubond, 225 grain Nosler Partition, 225 grain Hornday Interlock, 225 grain Speer Boat Tail, 210 grain Nosler Partition, 180 grain Nosler Accubond

Loaded: 210 grain Nosler Partition, 200 grain Nosler/Winchester combined technology Ballistic Silver Tip, and 180 grain Nosler Accubond.

yooper77

[lgm270]

I stand corrected    Nim

Hi Nim.  I don't know if you're corrected or not.  These are manufacturer's numbers and sometimes they fudge them.   You're right to be skeptical and to question data that is inconsistent with your own background and reading.

[Boxhead]

I have been using the 35 Whelen, 9.3x62 and 338-06 for many years. In general they are three of the same. I have killed a fair amount of game with all three including the big African antelopes, elk, moose, nilgai and black bear. You cannot go wrong any. The Whelen is a real thumper without question. These critters fell to my old Ruger Whelen with the 225 gr TSX at 2700 fps loaded with a maximum charge of RL15 just as the Barnes manual advised. The moose dropped at the shot and the elk made a turn and one leep before falling. The bullet shown was recovered from the moose after passing through both shoulders. Recall that the good ol' '06 is a proven killer launching 180's at 2700 fps. 

[WyoStillhunter]

Boxhead kinda nailed it.

I have a Rem. 700 Classic in 35 Whelen with Weaver K2.5x.  I have taken whitetail, antelope, mule deer, elk, and one mountain lion with it.

If you do not handload: the Federal 225 gr. Trophy Bonded Bearclaw will do it all.  Or the Remington 200 gr. SP for lighter game and 250 gr. SP for elk/moose.

If you handload:  either 225 gr. TBBC or 225 Nosler PT will do it all.  Pistol bullets can be used for practice ammo if you wish.  The 225 gr. Speer FN works well as a general purpose bullet where extended range is not an issue.

[M1Garandfather]

I live in N.W. Ontario , Canada , and have used the 35 Whelen a fair bit here for deer and moose hunting... I was amazed when I started using the Whelen instead of the 30-06. The big 35 with almost the same paper ballistics as the 30-06 is the hands down winner... That larger diameter bullet is the key - it imparts the energy much more efficiently... You have to see the difference to really get the picture of how different these two cartiidges behave...I started using the factory Rem 200 gr SP bullet for hunting as it was the only ammo available here , and that ballistic SD inferior bullet just floored moose like nobodies business.. One in the tracks kill , and one moose I shot was standing in timber 60 yds away, I shot through a six inch Poplar treee (which I did not see actulally) and rolled the moose over - dead.... One moose I shot with a Hornady 250 gr RN bullet , a handload at 2400 fps I hit in the front of the chest as it faced me 160 yds away. The bullet was found in the rump (rump roast that was), a perfect mushroom...That was an instant kill by the way , the moose collapsed straight down with it's legs folded under it - we had to push it over to clean it!...The Wheln kills game all out of proportion to what you think it would with it's '06 sized case , hunters are really missing out on a great calibre for N.A. hunting , it should have a much larger following - but the magnum craze simply pushed it aside promoting velocity as the be-all-and-end-all.... A heavy bullet of large diameter at moderate velocity is a sure proven performer on big game , the bullet behave as they were intended too - more reliably than ultra high velocity projectiles... The biggest problem I see now with hunters is that they choose a super premium bullet for deer sized game when they don't need it... The smaller thin skinned game shot with these high tech bullets simply pass through , and allow the game to run off to die far away where the hunter can't locate them... The Remington Core-Lokt and Hornady Interlock bullet are good bullets for most N.A. hunting..I really like the Hornady SST bullet to for longer range shooting... Of course tho , when you factor in the big bears , thats where the premium bullets really show their worth..
These are just my thoughts and opinions - based on limited experience , but it sure worked for me... So I would sum things up by saying the 35 Whelen would be fine for all lower 48 hunting...And  for Canada and Alaska , the great 9.3x62 Mauser with it's 286 gr bullet would be just about the perfect calibre!...... God Bless and good hunting..... Bob

[kombi1976]

At least for US shooters the 35 Whelen has alot to offer.
Brass and projectiles are inexpensive and there's a wide range.
I'm not familiar with how many factory rifles are being made in 35 Whelen at present it's easy enough to get an A&B barrel and spin it onto a rifle in 30-06.
And although 9.3x62 is currently being chambered by CZ, Tikka, Sako and a number of prestige European rifles it won't be quite as flexible or accessable for shooters in the USA and Australia until someone makes a bullet like Norma's 232gr Vulkan & Oryx that is more affordable.
I use the 270gr Speer SMP in my 9.3x62 and it's a great pill but a lighter bullet would be useful on medium game.

[mauser98us]

That 270 is dandy in my 9.3  x 57

[Sourdough]

I am seeing more and more .35 Whelens being brought up to Alaska to use for everything from Caribou to Brown Bears.  When I ask the hunters about their Whelens, they laugh and call it the "Old man's magnum").  I have two, a Mauser action (the wife commendeered this one) and an H&R.  Both have taken several Caribou, Moose, Black Bear, and one Grizzly with the Mauser.

As for loading, I like the 225 gr Nosler Partition, and use it for everything.

I also download with 180 gr pistol bullets and use them to train kids.