I was really interested in one in 35 Whelen just seemed like it would knock the piss out of you as well as the 45-70.
Dan
it will get your attention, I bought mine for our mississippi primitive weapons season where any exposed hammer break action of 35 cal. or better is considered a muzzleloader. much less fussy than the 58 zouave smokepole I own.
but its so light and kills with such authority that it pretty much stays in the truck with me full time now for regular season deer,and hog and whatever else needs shooting.
I did work up a light load of 44gr H4895 and 200gr ftx bullets around 2100fps that kill deer and hogs fine out to 200 yards+ that doesnt kick so hard and so far nothing Ive hit with it has gotten up.
the 225' tsx's at 2550 are basically truck stoppers. theres nothing else around here that needs that kind of killing power, tho I hope to get an elk with it one day If can ever get back west.
if I didnt have the 35 caliber requirement I would have gone to a 7-08 for pretty much the same purposes.
Ive got maybe 400 in it and the nikon scope, sling, dies and such, not a bad deal for a nice looking good preforming weapon that meets my requirements and is easy to carry all day.
it stays in the scabbard behind the seat with a handful of ammo and I dont worry about it rusting or scarring the stock.