I recently purchased a RMEF 26" 35 Whelen rifle. The barrel seems muzzle heavy and slow to point. Would cutting two inches off help this any? I don't want to go any shorter than 24" since that would defeat any advantage it has over a std 22" barrel. Your thoughts?
Thoughts? I think its always dumb to chop a barrel for looks.
But thats not what you're asking about exactly ......
That 26in Whelen barrel is a real treasure! Truly.
You can load 225-250 grain (or lighter) bullets, and maximize performance from your ammo-reloads, whether loading std Whelens or improving them! (along with the barrel, some folks do).
Two Three FOUR things I'd consider before '
damaging' that rare barrel;
Do as Tim suggested and 'balance' your gun by adding weight to the stock (I've shot the Whelen, and would want an 8-8 1/2# gun! Rather than a lighter weight gun).
2, Offer that puppy (for sale or trade) to someone who really needs it (
the cartridge, for things like elk, moose, living in Alaska, Canada, etc.).
3, Buy a 22inch Whelen (before cutting that one) if you decide you really need shorter barrel in that
VERY EXCELLENT CARTRIDGE! The Whelen was a poor man's magnum during the Great Depression (if a .375H&H on expensive actions were unaffordable back then, and the .338 was years away). The Whelen is a killing machine! And I've always thought 22in was too short! Esp whenever I see that choice listed in a Handi or on the Barrel Accessory list ......
4th and lastly, when considering CARTRIDGE EFFICIENCY, anything shorter than 22inches in .35 caliber should maybe be in .358Win or .35Rem?
Both of those rounds also have their place hunting and killing game,
but the Whelen (like the .338/06 and 9.3mmX62) is at its best in a rig like you have Dinney, providedyou keep it that way. 
ADDED: Read Shootall's post. Often I tout that I'm from the Western States, altho I grew up in northwest Florida. Don't state that that often. If I was still in the South or thick woods and swamps, could see a real need for short barreled rifles in the 18 and 20inch lengths. And a 21-26inch shotgun - whether in a deer stand or over a covey of bobwhites is indeed handy and fast. Some rounds like Dinny's .35 Whelen are excellent for the western species like elk, moose of all varieties (the Shiras to the Yukon size!), and even bears. But so far in the Rockies we haven't been innudated [yet] with the pandemic of wild boar spreading further and further westward every year! Altho the 'killer bees' are eventually supposed tp spread into parts of Oregon and southern Washington and parts of Utah, etc. If you keep your Whelen Dinny, what size bullets do you expect to shoot in it? What will you hunt with it?
