35 Whelen Ruger Hawkeye african

[wyattcm95]

It will be a while before I can start working with my .35 Whelen. I hope it's at least this good, minus the fouling. Whenever I read about the Lipsey's 9.3x62, I cry a bit since I didn't know that happened until recently. I think I'd have happily traded my CZ-550 away for a Ruger.

Kevin Robertson and Don Heath would be very offended that you would swap your 550 off for a Ruger Hawkeye

 

[Captain Munro]

Doctari does not like the Hawkeye African. Too light for caliber in the 416. He did like the Ruger RSM though.

 

[wyattcm95]

Doctari does not like the Hawkeye African. Too light for caliber in the 416. He did like the Ruger RSM though.

Yessir his story about testing out one of the early ones with the 375 Ruger was pretty wild

 

[TXTad]

Kevin Robertson and Don Heath would be very offended that you would swap your 550 off for a Ruger Hawkeye

Mostly I just hate the trigger. I suspect Timney can help me out with that.

 

[Rule 303]

Looking at a number of pics of the stock and action Ruger is using for its 35 Whelen, it appears it's the same equipment they've used on the Lipsey's edition Ruger Hawkeye African in the 9.3mm Mauser that I own. After a couple of trips across the pond with it, I've gathered my likes and my could-be-better notes.

- barrel
The rifle as a whole, and the barrel in particular is a consistent and accurate shooter (I've yet to come across a 9.3mm Mauser that wasn't). But holy smokes, the barrel is a copper fouling machine! Even after more than 500 rounds down the tube (yes, I keep round counts) it continues to foul like crazy. I feed it A-Frames, North Fork Spitzers, and Woodleigh Hydros. As I've said, it's a shooter, so I'm not going to do anything about that.

As I read back what I've just written it may sound to some like it's a problem rifle. It isn't. In fact, it's a great rifle! I'm quite impressed what Ruger has put together for us hunters.

-

Try running a few patches of bore paste through the barrel. Should not change grouping or POI but will stop some of the copper fouling. I have done this on some of my rifle that fouled badly.

 

[colorado]

Im loving this rifle. It shoots the Speer 250gr with CFE223 very well. Had a pad put on. Also swapped the rear sight for NECG Masterpiece and used NECG green fiberoptic out front. The AlaskaArms QD mount is proving great with the little Leupold 1.5-5. I also got their +2 floorplate. I got the sling from NECG. This is the closest I can get to the awesome safari rifles Ive dreamed of my entire life. I plan to use it on hogs here in east Texas once the summer heat breaks. Ive learned much about 35 Whelen from this forum.
Ive been shooting this and a Ruger no1 375 H&H this spring. I have just not fallen for the 375 rifle as I have this one. For the shooting I do, the 35 Whelen is plenty. I have a Ruger no1 450/400 NE 3" that is my other favorite. I appreciate all the shared info Ive encountered in this group.

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Great looking rifle!

 

[Certus]

Goodness that rifle is gorgeous! Americas 9.3x62 and just as capable in all ways.

 

[sestoppelman]

I will have mine home in less than 2 weeks. At the store the trigger was pretty nice, wood is plain, but not as plain as most I have seen.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Im loving this rifle. It shoots the Speer 250gr with CFE223 very well. Had a pad put on. Also swapped the rear sight for NECG Masterpiece and used NECG green fiberoptic out front. The AlaskaArms QD mount is proving great with the little Leupold 1.5-5. I also got their +2 floorplate. I got the sling from NECG. This is the closest I can get to the awesome safari rifles Ive dreamed of my entire life. I plan to use it on hogs here in east Texas once the summer heat breaks. Ive learned much about 35 Whelen from this forum.
Ive been shooting this and a Ruger no1 375 H&H this spring. I have just not fallen for the 375 rifle as I have this one. For the shooting I do, the 35 Whelen is plenty. I have a Ruger no1 450/400 NE 3" that is my other favorite. I appreciate all the shared info Ive encountered in this group.

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@professor
You can't go wrong with a Whelen. For ranges out to 200 yards the 250 gn round nose Hornady or Woodleighs put big hurt on game and dump their energy real quick and penetrate well.
If'n you want to stretch the range out to 490yards or more a nice bonded 225gn at 2,900 fps is excellent. Those what thinks the Whelen is a short range cartridge ain't used it. I shot my impala at close to 300yards and it was one and done. The accubond 225gn didn't ruin the skin at that range either.
You have a beautiful and very versatile rifle.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I just got mine a couple of weeks ago. I won't have much chance to shoot it until the fall. I also plan to work up loads with the 250gr Speer and CFE 223. I may also try W748 and W760.

I really like how you've set yours up. I may have to do something similar.

I'm hoping to move to near Abilene, TX in the next year or so where I also hope to try it on some hogs.

@TXTad
Tried 748 in my Whelen with 250gn Speers. It didn't like it. Even with minimum loads I had smoke coming out of the action. Only fired two shots. Never again. Found cfe223 in Australia and have used it ever since
Just my experience.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The NECG rear sight is an epic upgrade over the factory Ruger. Ive fallen for the scopes are better attitude, but a great set of sights really makes a rifle more interesting. I dont have great eye sight, but the sights really help me. Steel plates at 100yds are easy. I think Ruger decided their average customer would scope the rifles, so they never upgraded their rear sight.

@professor
6" steel plates are a doddle at 300 with my Whelen and 225s. Hit with monotonous regularity.
The beauty of the Whelen is no matter what you throw down the barrel mine all hit in a bit over an inch at 100 with 10 different bullet styles and weights
Bob

Shot near the bull was a 310gn Woodleigh at 2,455 fps.
The rest were shot holding on the bull. Weights 200 to 275 grains.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

24" for the Whelen. Ive heard that the barrel is heavier on the 35 than 9.3? Have not seen one to compare.

@professor
If it is the same outside diameter it will be heavier as there is .008thou more steel in the bore compared to the 9.3.
Probably half an ounce
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Mostly I just hate the trigger. I suspect Timney can help me out with that.

@TXTad
Or a good gunsmith that knows his way around triggers.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Goodness that rifle is gorgeous! Americas 9.3x62 and just as capable in all ways.

@Certus
The Whelen will do everything the 9.3x62 will just ain't legal for DG which is a crying shame. I would have no issues on any buffalo with a 35 loaded with 310gn Woodleigh rnsp and steel core flat meplat solids to follow at 2,400 fps.
Bob

 

[Rule 303]

Bob, both my Whelens have been the same. The only bullets they would/wont through to same POI are Barnes. Some other monometals group well and same POI.

I hope we get some CFE223 in Aust as I want to use it in my Whelen.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob, both my Whelens have been the same. The only bullets they would/wont through to same POI are Barnes. Some other monometals group well and same POI.

I hope we get some CFE223 in Aust as I want to use it in my Whelen.

@Rule 303
Unless they start importing it again we won't get any. Fortunately I found out they were going to stop importing it so shopped around and ended up with a lifetime supply. Read twenty bottles.
Bob

 

[tdbru]

Don't give up hope. I talked to a clerk at a local gun shop 5 months ago about this one. Got a call last week. one came in. I figured I'd never hear from the shop. I was surprised to hear from them. Evidently Ruger is doing them in small batches and sending them out as they get the batch done.

looks like all the photos that everyone else is showing. plain but straight walnut.

as far as the trigger goes, mine averaged 4lbs 11.3oz. according to the Lyman trigger pull tool. A bit high for my likes. a quick purchase from erniethegunsmith.com sent me an reduced power LC6 trigger spring. A doodle to install. 3lb 12oz afterwards. much more to my liking. I am expecting the trigger to smooth up a little with use, though it's not too gritty out of the box.

while I had the action out of the stock, I looked the stock over. the inside is not as nicely finished as the outside, which is no surprise, but some of the areas looked almost like raw wood. I applied some reduced tung oil on the inside and the end grain sections just soaked it up like a sponge. Letting that dry. Will do a few coats on the inside to help make sure the stock is better able to withstand the wet. Did one coat on the checkering too.

Also looked down the tube. Like almost every maker these days, it appears after the proof load(s) they just sack them and ship them. Got the barrel clean. Yep, just as advertised, 5 groove, 1-12" twist. Barrel is a little rough looking, as you can see light reamer crosshatch in the grooves, but we shall see later how it shoots.

Bluing is nice. Blued bolt handle is a nice touch. Thinking about calling NECG like professor did but go with orange rather than green on the front sight. Haven't pulled that trigger yet.

waiting on a #3 front ring to come from NC. I like to get the scope as low to the bore axis as I can. Ruger plays it safe and sends Highs with the rifle. It's ok as I can touch up the stock interior while I wait for the #3 ring to show up.

Again, don't give up. talk to your local gun shop and get your name in the hat. You might be surprised like I was.

best to you all,
-tdbru

 

[sestoppelman]

Half dozen on Gunbroker right now.

 

[southern_fowler]

Half dozen on Gunbroker right now.

I saw that, but I’m waiting on the hornet.

 

[AZDAVE]

I have one of the first release of the 9.3x62 and it isn't a big copper fouler. Similar to most other factory rifles in that regard but so far it has been easy to get my handloads to shoot well. and most factory loads as well.

The 35 Whelen looks to be a nice rifle.