Is this a medium to long range heavy rifle, to be used to take large game that requires a high energy terminal ballistic performance,,,,,or is it a Quail gun ?? If you are talking Elk, Moose, Bear, you should have adequate time to shoot or you are doing something wrong, if you are snap shooting at deer in thick woods (which I don't recommend) you have the wrong weapon. Cutting down a 22 to 16.5 is fine in a cartridge that has the capability of loading with faster powder , where power and bullet velocity is not that important. A 35 Rem for example, also works fine in a pistol . The reason for a Whelan and not a 35 Rem is that you need the extra velocity for range and knock down power. I think of the Whelan as a 200 to 350 yard rifle for heavy game. If I were going shorter I would use a 444 or 45/70. Why choose a long cartridge and then deliberately diminish its capabilities by chopping the barrel ?? Or trying to compensate by jacking pressure and muzzle blast to reclaim some of the lost velocity ??
