Since I started this thread, the 35 Whelen has become another favorite - alongside my 375 H&H.
I've taken 6 mature hogs with it. I've used both 180 and 200 grain ttsx and both worked well but the 180s killed a little faster.
What amazes me about the Whelen is the power relative to the recoil in a light, handy rifle (typical 30-06 size and weight).
I find it fun to shoot at the range with Barnes ammo and hand loaded equivalents.
If I was shooting 250 at 2700 fps I am sure that most of that fun would be gone!
On the other hand, 2700 fps using 250 ttsx is very tolerable and very effective in my 375 H&H which is built to handle more recoil.
Of course, if you built a heavier Whelen with a good recoil pad and a magnum contour barrel things would be different - the rifle matters too.
Bush Buck