CANADA: British Columbia Bear Hunt With New 35 Whelen

[Rick Cox]

So some of you may recall I was having a rifle re-barrelled and the job is done. I found a real nice Winchester Model 70 with fantastic wood in 30-06. I had a local gunsmith (Dave Jennings) re-barrel it in 35 Whelen. After sorting out some reloading issues, I took it hunting.
I passed up on several bear, but with time closing in, I finally pulled the trigger on an average black bear boar. I'll have the hide tanned and use it as a through. The meat will be used both as steaks etc, hamburger and maybe some sausage.

 

[Red Leg]

Congrats!!

Photos? Drama? A tale or two?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

What, no pics?

 

[sierraone]

The odds are against you Rick....we need a pic!

 

[Rick Cox]

I totally messed up this post and can't delete it. Here are some photos

 

[sierraone]

View attachment 350403 View attachment 350404 I totally messed up this post and can't delete it. Here are some photos

Is your M70 a Super Grade or did you have the stock replaced. Whichever it is I love that wood!

 

[Rick Cox]

Here is a better photo of the new gun, M70 re-barreled to 35 Whelen. Thanks to the folks that advised me to go with a 1/12 twist. It seems to work well with everything. I loaded up some 200 grain Barnes TTSX thinking the extra length might work with the twist. It seems to. Got ragged groups with the first loads and went hunting. Mounted a Leica 2.5 to 10 scope on it, real nice. Euro #4 reticle with a dot in the middle . Love it.

Is your M70 a Super Grade or did you have the stock replaced. Whichever it is I love that wood!

Stock. Yeah, it is exceptional. That is why I bought it.

 

[Rick Cox]

Congrats!!

Photos? Drama? A tale or two?

Sorry. Having issues mating my Samsung phone to my old Apple computer.

 

[Rick Cox]

Here is a better photo of the new gun, M70 re-barreled to 35 Whelen. Thanks to the folks that advised me to go with a 1/12 twist. It seems to work well with everything. I loaded up some 200 grain Barnes TTSX thinking the extra length might work with the twist. It seems to. Got ragged groups with the first loads and went hunting. Mounted a Leica 2.5 to 10 scope on it, real nice. Euro #4 reticle with a dot in the middle . Love it.

Stock. Yeah, it is exceptional. That is why I bought it.

 

[Rick Cox]

Thanks to @Bob Nelson 35Whelen and others who weighed in on this project... I've seen a number of bears but no real huge ones. I finally decided to take this guy out of frustration I guess. He squares out at around 5.5'. Must have weighed around 250 to 300 lbs. Maybe later, but the season is getting on and bears are starting to look a little rough. This one is a fighter. You can see the scars on his face, but he had a good bite in the butt and one on his left wrist. Both were healing but bruising was still evident on his wrist.
For you folks interested in this sort of thing, one shot, 100 yds, through lungs and top of heart, went 15 meters, 35 Whelen, with 200 grain Barnes TTSX. Pass through, but interestingly found a 'petal' right at the exit hole.
If you check out the thumbnail photos you will see a hunting camp. No one around. Sign of the times I guess, this is a professional camp. No one to guide. Or maybe it is a tree planters camp. But no French Canadian guys in tye died shirts and capris playing hacky sack, or fit young women with dread locks hanging laundry in the trees wondering when they can discretely shave their legs next, or the real clue: no Tibetan prayer flags.
My bet is hunting camp....

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I totally messed up this post and can't delete it. Here are some photos
View attachment 350403 View attachment 350404 View attachment 350405 View attachment 350406

Mate glad you finally got your Whelen looks good nice bear too.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Thanks to @Bob Nelson 35Whelen and others who weighed in on this project... I've seen a number of bears but no real huge ones. I finally decided to take this guy out of frustration I guess. He squares out at around 5.5'. Must have weighed around 250 to 300 lbs. Maybe later, but the season is getting on and bears are starting to look a little rough. This one is a fighter. You can see the scars on his face, but he had a good bite in the butt and one on his left wrist. Both were healing but bruising was still evident on his wrist.
For you folks interested in this sort of thing, one shot, 100 yds, through lungs and top of heart, went 15 meters, 35 Whelen, with 200 grain Barnes TTSX. Pass through, but interestingly found a 'petal' right at the exit hole.
If you check out the thumbnail photos you will see a hunting camp. No one around. Sign of the times I guess, this is a professional camp. No one to guide. Or maybe it is a tree planters camp. But no French Canadian guys in tye died shirts and capris playing hacky sack, or fit young women with dread locks hanging laundry in the trees wondering when they can discretely shave their legs next, or the real clue: no Tibetan prayer flags.
My bet is hunting camp....

Your welcome Rick.
Have you tried any other projectiles yet mate or CFE223 powder.
I'm glad you are enjoying your 35, they are underrated.
Don't forget to try the Speer 250gn hotcore load.
Keep safe and hunt hard mate
Bob

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Nice rifle in great caliber.

 

[Rick Cox]

Your welcome Rick.
Have you tried any other projectiles yet mate or CFE223 powder.
I'm glad you are enjoying your 35, they are underrated.
Don't forget to try the Speer 250gn hotcore load.
Keep safe and hunt hard mate
Bob

Definitely will be trying those suggestions. I have some Woodleigh 250 PPSP I want to try as well. Thought they might be a bit heavy for black bear... but they sure flare out nice on impact. Used them in Africa with my .375HH to good effect. And yes I do want to experiment with the CFE223.

 

[Rick Cox]

I totally messed up this post and can't delete it. Here are some photos
View attachment 350403 View attachment 350404 View attachment 350405 View attachment 350406

Oh yeah. Check out my camp versus the pros. You know which is which...

 

[CBH Australia]

Nice, nice bear, nice rifle. The glass sounds like it would be nice. I haven’t see a Leica scope but they get a few mentions here.

I would like to hunt bear. I was surprised when I found people eat them. I shoot pests so I don’t do much game meat.

I would be happy to settle for the skin.

 

[Shootist43]

Rick, over time you will come to appreciate your 35 Whelen more and more. The 250 Gn. Hot Cores have been considered good bear "medicine" for many years. My sons and I took three 35 Whelen(s) to Africa and used them with great success. One son used 250 Gn. Nosler Partitions, the other used 225 Gn. Nosler Accubonds and I used 225 Gn. Barnes TSX.

 

[Red Leg]

Oh yeah. Check out my camp versus the pros. You know which is which...

Not being critical, but that truck will carry a bigger tent that would be just as easy to pop up . Not sure I would still be limber enough to get my boots on in that one. Great looking rifle though, and any mature boar is a great hunt. Again, congratulations.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Congratulations on the bear and also the very nice rifle. What part of BC were you hunting?

 

[Rick Cox]

So some of you may recall I was having a rifle re-barrelled and the job is done. I found a real nice Winchester Model 70 with fantastic wood in 30-06. I had a local gunsmith (Dave Jennings) re-barrel it in 35 Whelen. After sorting out some reloading issues, I took it hunting.
I passed up on several bear, but with time closing in, I finally pulled the trigger on an average black bear boar. I'll have the hide tanned and use it as a through. The meat will be used both as steaks etc, hamburger and maybe some sausage.

View attachment 350542

Congratulations on the bear and also the very nice rifle. What part of BC were you hunting?

Hi and thanks. Near Kamloops. If you need more detail, PM me....