How many people have a 35 whelen?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Back in 2008 when I lived in Juneau, AK, I planned a Caribou hunt above the Arctic Circle for the next year. I used that as an excuse to be different and found a NIB 1988 Remington Model 700 Classic 35 Whelen on Gun Broker. Got it, replaced the stock with an all weather black McMillian one, quick release Talley rings, and put a Zeiss conquest 3.5-10x44 on it because it was wide open tundra. Handloaded some Nosler 225 Gr. Partitions and sighted it in for 200 yards. Brown bears were known to be in the area, so I wanted some insurance. Ended up taking quite a few Caribou that trip, one over 200 yards. I have since replaced the Zeiss with a 2.5x8 Leupold and still hunt with it at times in Alabama with that Alaskan load I cooked up. While everyone in camp had their 300 win Mags and 338s, I thought I was the cool guy with a 35 Whelen.

View attachment 441464

@LT Backstrap
Have you tried Hogdons CFE223 in your Whelen, turns it into an entirely different beast.
Sends 225gn ot the barrel at close to 2,900fps and 250s to 2,700fps.
Bob

 

[Deleted member 74105]

@LT Backstrap
Have you tried Hogdons CFE223 in your Whelen, turns it into an entirely different beast.
Sends 225gn ot the barrel at close to 2,900fps and 250s to 2,700fps.
Bob

The load I cooked up over 13 plus years ago was using 58.4 grains of RL 15 pushing the 225 Gr. Nosler Partition at around 2750 fps. The rifle really liked that load, so I've stuck with it. If I can find any of the CFE223, I would give it a try, but powder is so damn hard to find theses days. Off topic, but found some fresh Ramshot Hunter, but only in a 8 pound container, but I jumped on it. Never used it before, but having great results with it with the .280, 7x57 and 7mm 08.

 

[Deleted member 74105]

You most definitely were the cool guy in camp!!! Those 300 win mag guys don’t know what they are missing. In my experience you lose less meat to the blood shot pile with a Whelen. Congratulations on a nice find.

Many thanks, the rifle is something special. Spending a week in the Alaska bush was a great memory. All shots were complete pass throughs.

 

[Shootist43]

LT Backstrap, I have several 300 Win. Mags, why, because they were available. However, I own several 35 Whelen(s) as well. One is a worked over 03 Springfield the other a 1988 Remington. I too found it NIB. My youngest son "claims" it though. I've used 225 Gr. Barnes and 250 Gr. Partitions. Both to good effect. Do you still have the Whelen?

 

[Deleted member 74105]

LT Backstrap, I have several 300 Win. Mags, why, because they were available. However, I own several 35 Whelen(s) as well. One is a worked over 03 Springfield the other a 1988 Remington. I too found it NIB. My youngest son "claims" it though. I've used 225 Gr. Barnes and 250 Gr. Partitions. Both to good effect. Do you still have the Whelen?

I still have it, never parting with that one. Also acquired a 300 Win Mag after that hunt, so I'm not snubbing them. It's a fine Weatherby Mark V, the only Weatherby I own, it was a AK Pawn Shop rescue. I used it last year with 180 Gr. Partitions on three hogs with devastating results for them. I like to rotate rifles on the hogs.

 

[Shootist43]

I've used a number of different calibers on hogs as well. Including 6.5 x 55. 35 Remington, 270, 30-06 & 35 Whelen. IMHO magnums are useful when long distances are likely to be encountered. One lever gun that I own is a Winchester Model 71, (348 caliber) built in 1936. One day I'd like to give that a try on a nice hog.

 

[Deleted member 74105]

I've used a number of different calibers on hogs as well. Including 6.5 x 55. 35 Remington, 270, 30-06 & 35 Whelen. IMHO magnums are useful when long distances are likely to be encountered. One lever gun that I own is a Winchester Model 71, (348 caliber) built in 1936. One day I'd like to give that a try on a nice hog.

That Model 71 would be perfect for hogs. The levers are perfect for hogs for fast follow up shots when you stumble into a mess of them. I've managed to take out three in quick succession one time with a Marlin lever action in .41 Magnum.

 

[MS 9x56]

I have used 308 44 magnum, 358 win, 35 whelen9x56, 9.3x62, 30 remington, 30-06 all on hogs. They all got the job done but the 35’s are definitely more emphatic about it.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have used 308 44 magnum, 358 win, 35 whelen9x56, 9.3x62, 30 remington, 30-06 all on hogs. They all got the job done but the 35’s are definitely more emphatic about it.

@MS 9x56
I have used 22lr, 25s,303, 308, 35 Whelen, 444 marlin and 12 gauge with buckshot and solids. All worked to great effect.
The 22lr was on smaller pigs with shots just behind the ear. Not ideal but it did the job.

 

[Deleted member 74105]

@MS 9x56
I have used 22lr, 25s,303, 308, 35 Whelen, 444 marlin and 12 gauge with buckshot and solids. All worked to great effect.
The 22lr was on smaller pigs with shots just behind the ear. Not ideal but it did the job.

The 444 Marlin is a thumper on them.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The 444 Marlin is a thumper on them.

@LT Backstrap
A 265gn FTX at 2,400 fps puts some serious hurt on them and sambar deer.
Bob

 

[EfRed]

So with respect to the 300 win and Whelen, you are telling me you can get a 180 grain bullet to go faster out of a cartridge that holds 72.6 grains then you can get from a cartridge that holds 93.6?

How is that possible? Please let me know.

Again, I’m not saying any cartridge is superior, better, classier, etc. Like many things each of us chooses what we like. But we can’t ignore the capacity differences here and have an honest, logical discussion.

Can't speak to the specific velocities, but at equal pressure, the larger diameter bullet will have a higher muzzle velocity. A larger case volume will allow higher pressures, but nearly all modern rifles loads are held to 62,000 or 65000 psi, so much of the apparent advantage of a larger case volume can't be used within SAAMI limits. That said, many handoaders significantly exceed SAAMI pressure limits. Speer rifle data has the 35 whelen with 250 HotCor just a few fps slower than the 358 Norma Magnum with the same bullet. The case capacity of the 358 Norma is about the same as the 338 Win Mag or 300 Win Mag. (This may be partly due to more modern powder being listed for the 35 Whelen).

 

[EfRed]

I shot a whitetail today with a 35 Whelen and was a little disappointed. The shot was behind the shoulder at about 70 yards. The deer ran for about 150 yards through the woods, across a creek, and into the woods on the other side. The exit wound was truly enormous and left a heavy blood trail but I get much more tidy work from a 375 or 416 and I never have to chase them all over the place. I think it will be for sale pretty soon.

The vagaries of terminal ballistics, including differences in strike point, make it impossible to infer the value of a given cartridge/bullet combination from a single case.

 

[EfRed]

I see it raised a bit about I wonder how many people own and use the 35 whelen.
How bout we find out as well as what is your favourite load and why you like the whelen.
Every one knows I'm a Whelen lunatic and get a lot of pleasure loading for it. I'm still working on loads for the 275 and 310 grainers but will get there
Bob

I have three. One, a sporterized 03/A3 Springfield, one a Ruger #1, one a Hill Country Rifle on a controlled round feed Defiance Rebel action. The last has a Swarovski Z8i 1-8 with selectable illuminated circle-dot reticle. The old Remington 250gr load at 2400 fps is very kind to you, and fairly capable.

 

[NDWoods]

Cool old thread but I will reply now that I have one.

I saw a CVA single shot stainless steel rifle and though it might be a good option for a rifle to leave out at my Dads ranch where I am not comfortable leaving one of my custom rifles in the house that never gets locked. The idea of leaving a rifle there comes from me sometimes riding one of the Harleys out there on a nice day and combining a nice ride with visiting my Dad. Sometimes there is no intention of hunting but a pig is spotted, and sometimes it is planned but I would still like to ride if the weather is nice. I have historically solved for this with a taken down suppressed SBR in 5.56, but would like to have a more standard rifle setup as some of the shots can be several hundred yards.

Looking at the available calibers CVA offers in the rifle, I saw 35 Whelen and I had no knowledge of it at all. Well, after 5 or 6 hours of reading and watching videos, I was hooked and ordered the rifle. I use Barnes bullets exclusively for hunting, so my load of choice is the 200 grain Barnes TTSX. I just did a rough zero last week hoping to catch a pig that was coming in before dark, but he eluded me.

I will report back when I am able to chrono and shoot for groups, and hopefully get some hog field results.

 

[Uxas]

I had one for several years. It was the easiest rifle I ever did load development for, it seemed to shoot everything well. Shooting full house loads with heavy bullets wasn't exactly pleasant.

I took it elk hunting a couple of times and never connected. I've shot a couple deer with it ans it does the job well. The .350 Rem Mag was an attempt to duplicate the Whelen in a short action.

 

[sestoppelman]

Whelen, Whelen, Whelen! I love the old round and been shooting one since the early 80's in one form or another, current one being a Ruger No.1-S with 24" medium barrel.
But here is the thang, it aint no .338 Win mag, nor .358 Norma.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Whelen, Whelen, Whelen! I love the old round and been shooting one since the early 80's in one form or another, current one being a Ruger No.1-S with 24" medium barrel.
But here is the thang, it aint no .338 Win mag, nor .358 Norma.
View attachment 610058

@sestoppelman
May not be a 338 but for all practical purposes there ain't a hill of beans difference.
Ain't no flies on a Whelen with a 250gn at 2,700fos and over 4,000 for with ten grains LESS powder.
Game won't tell the difference it just boils down to personal preference.
338WM common as
35 Whelen not common but has the cool and classy factor.
Owning a Whelen is the only way I can say I've got a bit of class even if'n it is only a small but.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Cool old thread but I will reply now that I have one.

I saw a CVA single shot stainless steel rifle and though it might be a good option for a rifle to leave out at my Dads ranch where I am not comfortable leaving one of my custom rifles in the house that never gets locked. The idea of leaving a rifle there comes from me sometimes riding one of the Harleys out there on a nice day and combining a nice ride with visiting my Dad. Sometimes there is no intention of hunting but a pig is spotted, and sometimes it is planned but I would still like to ride if the weather is nice. I have historically solved for this with a taken down suppressed SBR in 5.56, but would like to have a more standard rifle setup as some of the shots can be several hundred yards.

Looking at the available calibers CVA offers in the rifle, I saw 35 Whelen and I had no knowledge of it at all. Well, after 5 or 6 hours of reading and watching videos, I was hooked and ordered the rifle. I use Barnes bullets exclusively for hunting, so my load of choice is the 200 grain Barnes TTSX. I just did a rough zero last week hoping to catch a pig that was coming in before dark, but he eluded me.

I will report back when I am able to chrono and shoot for groups, and hopefully get some hog field results.

@NDWoods
My mate Greg had the same rifle you just bought but stupidly sold it and has regretted it ever since. It was very accurate and pleasant to shoot even with my full power loads.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

Class, Classic and Venerable are not words that I have seen describe the Whelen.
Perhaps you should be looking for a .375H&H, a true classic.