35 whelen. notes and thoughts

[MountainWalk]

In response to Campmeat's post in. Regards to the 35"s performance.

First, I've learned a lot about it through reloading. Old hook and bullet magazines painted as a slow poke brush gun. And the Remington factory loads reflect that. But good loading with 225gr bullets can get you 2800fps, give or take a few either way, which is what 180gr '06 slugs do. It seems a wise and efficient use of the case. Looked at this way, if properly loaded,  its not but 200fps or less slower than the 338win mag, but uses less powder, on average 20 some odd grains less. This is common with 200,225, and 250 gr bullets.   I drew a spring bear tag and shot a medium sized bear at 20 paces. Bruins fell and died six feet from where I shot it. Of course, the bullet exited. The shot was aimed for the lungs. High lungs. Chest cavity was a red swimming pool. Bullet was a Sierra. 225. Bullet testing shows that even cup and core slugs hold up rather well.    With max loads, case life averages about six firings.  I've killed bears with many cartridges, but I was very impressed with the 35.  The previous owner used it with no reservations or complaints on quite a few of Alaska's big bears, and I have the same faith and confidence in it. It's good out to 400, great inside of 300 and outstanding inside of 100.

PS~  it delivers groups so regularly consistent that I still haven't been able to find a bullet that drastitout-shoots the others.   Hope someone liked this.

[MountainWalk]

Another interesting thought. The previous owner, when he lived and worked in the AK Bush, loaded the old style Barnes. X bullet upside down! Said it never failed to exit the biggest bear,  fore to aft.  Don't think I'll be trying that one.

[Biggerhammer]

Like the CEB Raptors, loaded standard with the hollow point forward or loaded reverse for a deep penetrating solid.

[257 Wby Mag]

Yep great round!! Whelen was my first custom over 20 years ago, 1917 Enfield built by ol Carl out in Oakville... few years later bought a rem 700 bdl factory New. Shot a few bucks and a couple bear with it, 225 TBB' s. Great elk and bear gun if a guy likes to "hunt"....

[CP]

I’ve taken 2 elk with the .35 Whelen using a Hornady 250RN Interlock – 55g of Reloader 15.  One was a bit over 100 yards the other 425 yards.  Both elk were dead right there but in both cases the bullet “failed” – core separated from the jacket –

So I relegate this bullet to deer only now and intend to use the 225 trophy bonded bear claw on elk next time - 2600 fps in the Federal factory loading.

[grundy53]

Great write up. I have plans to convert a Remington 760 I have into a 35 Whelan. It's currently a 30-06.

[headshot5]

Fantastic round.   Does everything I need for elk.   
 

[MountainWalk]

Would love to try Accubonds, but Sportsmans in silverdale doesn't carry any Nosler in 35.  They are pretty boring,  but the Speer hot cor in 250 shows lots of promise, accuracy wise, and hold up well against many of my" torture"  test.   The Barnses bullets, old an New style shoot great the first two shots then throw fliers.   Powder has exclusively IMR 4064.    Scope is coming back off, and back to the Redfield ring sight, that is until I can afford a suitable replacement. .

[superdown]

I have wanted a 35 whelen for a long time i just can't justify it considering i have use of my fathers BLR in 358 and i have a A-bolt in 325wsm The buffalo bore 225grn load at 2800fps and the hornady superformance load of a 200grn bullet at 2900fps really makes the whelen impressive.It looks like your able to pretty much duplicate those loads by handloading 

[Bwana Bob]

In response to Campmeat's post in. Regards to the 35"s performance.

First, I've learned a lot about it through reloading. Old hook and bullet magazines painted as a slow poke brush gun. And the Remington factory loads reflect that. But good loading with 225gr bullets can get you 2800fps, give or take a few either way, which is what 180gr '06 slugs do. It seems a wise and efficient use of the case. Looked at this way, if properly loaded,  its not but 200fps or less slower than the 338win mag, but uses less powder, on average 20 some odd grains less. This is common with 200,225, and 250 gr bullets.   I drew a spring bear tag and shot a medium sized bear at 20 paces. Bruins fell and died six feet from where I shot it. Of course, the bullet exited. The shot was aimed for the lungs. High lungs. Chest cavity was a red swimming pool. Bullet was a Sierra. 225. Bullet testing shows that even cup and core slugs hold up rather well.    With max loads, case life averages about six firings.  I've killed bears with many cartridges, but I was very impressed with the 35.  The previous owner used it with no reservations or complaints on quite a few of Alaska's big bears, and I have the same faith and confidence in it. It's good out to 400, great inside of 300 and outstanding inside of 100.

PS~  it delivers groups so regularly consistent that I still haven't been able to find a bullet that drastitout-shoots the others.   Hope someone liked this.

Not to HJ this tread and maybe a bit off topic, my views on the 338/06 are similar to the 35 Whelen.

Killed close to 25 head of game with mine since 1992 when I had it built,  including 10 african antelope that were as big or bigger than most elk. It's performance far out strips its paper ballistics.  A great cartridge up to 300 yd with a lot of knock down power. Needlessly big for deer but less needlessly than the 338 mag but with a lot less recoil. Kill most of my game using the old 200gr Barns bullet and now the newer 210gr Barnes TS. Killed a moose with a 210gr nosler partition. All the bullets I used worked well with the 180gr nosler BT opening a bit too fast  but OK for deer.

[CAMPMEAT]

Thanks for the write up and everyone elses responses. I've wanted one for my T/C Encore, but never really heard of any, real stories and  non-magazine articles on the 35. Thanks guys..........

[CP]

I forgot to mention that you can load .357 pistol bullets into .35 Whelen sized brass for plinking/varmint plunking etc.

[MountainWalk]

That you can! Just haven't done so...When I first got the rifle, I just wanted the gun, not so much the caliber. A pre 64 m70. It was a special once in a life time steal.  But now I'm sold, this coming from a dedicated 338wm guy..    BTW, the old gent who sold it to me said it was an' 06 bored to 35, but close inspection shows "270wcf" stamped out, with 35whn next to it.  SN#133736 ,,using that, can anyone give me a ballpark idea of when she was built? Thanks!

[Angry Perch]

Looks like 1950.

[MountainWalk]

Great! Thanks!

[JimmyHoffa]

Yeah, looks like your beast slayer is from 1949-1950. 

[bear hunter]

Great write up. I have plans to convert a Remington 760 I have into a 35 Whelan. It's currently a 30-06.

I love my 760 in 30-06. I have been looking for a factory 760 or 7600 in 35 Whelen for years now. I also wanted a semi auto. I looked up the Remington 7400, but Remington no longer makes. But Remington replaced it with the 750 Brush Master great rifle. Picked it up new for $585.00 years ago. Great round almost had a bear last year with it but missed.