Experience with 35 Whelen ?

[Dan-o]

Do you guys recommend a 22" or 24" barrel ?

I have a 21” and a 22”. Personally I would rather have a 24” barrel

Thats where Im leaning if I go with a build. Would like to keep the weight down but not sure what size barrel I can get away with. Thanks for the input

It's easier to turn a 24" barrel into a 22"  barrel than to go the other way.     
I'd start at 24", and I bet I'd never end up cutting it down.

[zwickeyman]

    I thinking of having a semi custom built in 35 Whelen for *censored*s & giggles. I know there is a few die hard Elk hunters on here shooting this caliber. Its going to be a cheap build with a Howa action and custom barrel. Would love some advice on bullets, hand loads and barrel length.

    Im a big Partition fan, so Ill probably start there but any suggestions are appreciated


    I dont need it as I already have a 20" barreled 338 WM and a 300WM but thats never stopped me from getting a new rifle before

    Thanks in advance gents

There are two ways of looking at the 35 Whelen. The first was common up until about 20 years ago: a 250-grain bullet at 2,350 fps for heavy game in relatively close cover, with 275- and 300-grain bullets at 30-30 velocities. This version of the Whelen weighed about nine pounds in a 1903 Springfield or 98 Mauser. Load data was kept mild to avoid blowing up older rifles or rifles that had been converted by gunsmiths of questionable talent. This version was—and still is—a heavy hitter that kicked about like a 12-gauge pump with duck loads.

The second view of the 35 Whelen came after Remington made it a factory item in the late 80s. It took 15 or 20 years, but people started loading the Whelen like a twin of the 338 Winchester Magnum. Most manufacturers still build the 35 Whelen like it’s a 30-06, so they’re often lighter than a traditional Whelen by a pound or more. This version reaches out a long way and it hits hard, but it kicks like a mule in a lighter rifle.

There’s a good read on this version at https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.35+Whelen.html

Others have stated that the 225 is a good bullet weight. I agree, but these bullets have about the same BC as a 150-grain .308” flat-base spitzer. Wind drift gets bad beyond about 300 yards and it’s worse with lighter bullets.

Several states now allow the 35 Whelen for deer, manufacturers are building single-shot rifles for it, and Speer data (https://www.speer.com/reloading/rifle-data.html) lets you load the Whelen to modern pressures.

Post-COVID, the main issue with the 35 Whelen is getting bullets. 200s are still common, 225s less so, and you should grab any 250s you can find. Most bullets are either all-copper or standard cup-and-core. Old standbys like the Nosler Partition are pretty much extinct.

Most factory rifles have a 1:16 twist. People bitched about this for decades, insisting only 1:14 and 1:12 would stabilize 250-grain bullets. (FWIW, Jim Cloward once built me a 35 Whelen with a 1:10 twist.) That was probably important back when people still used the 275- and 300-grain bullets that are almost impossible to find now. I got sub-MOA accuracy with bullets up to 250 grains in several 35 Whelen rifles with 1:16 barrels, so I quit worrying about it.

Any powder that works well in the 308 is a good choice in the Whelen.

Let me know if you have any other questions.


Okie John

Great info Okie John  Ill most likely be in that 225gr to 250gr area and push it pretty hard

[zwickeyman]

Mine is a first year production Rem 700 classic.  It likes 250 grain Speer Hot Cores and shoots sub minute of angle.  I've taken 2 deer and a bear with it.  Truely the Hammer of Thor.  One sot each & DRT.

Rigby416    This wont be my main rifle and I am more of a bow hunter but I definitely need to hunt with it and see what it can do

[zwickeyman]

Do you guys recommend a 22" or 24" barrel ?

I have a 21” and a 22”. Personally I would rather have a 24” barrel

Thats where Im leaning if I go with a build. Would like to keep the weight down but not sure what size barrel I can get away with. Thanks for the input

It's easier to turn a 24" barrel into a 22"  barrel than to go the other way.     
I'd start at 24", and I bet I'd never end up cutting it down.

Dan-0    I ended up comprimizing and going with a 23" barrell

[high_hunter]

If you've already got a donor, consider sending it down to JES in Oregon for a rebore.  Way cheaper than having it rebarreled and they shoot well.  I had a Savage 99 in .300 with a pitted out bore turned into a .358 Win, and the turnaround was only about 2 weeks.

The only thing against .35s is bullet selection and availability.  Ever since 2020 the only game in town seems to be Hornady and Barnes.  I have heard great things about the 225gr partition but I've never put eyes on a box, and it doesn't look like Nosler has produced any in years.  Same with the 225gr Sierra gameking, but at least I was able to snag a couple boxes at Pinto's before they disappeared.

 
I had JES rebore a Ruger No.3 from .223 to .35 Whelen. He did a great job.

Great learning about JES in this thread and hearing good feedback  Reached out over the weekend about doing similar to OP or a .338-06.

Following along. 

[zwickeyman]

Finally got my 35 Whelen AI in my hands. Took a while mostly because I did the stock. Still needs 15 or 20 more coats of oil

Used my dads Remington 700 receiver as a donor. 23" barrel, Timney trigger and topped with a Leica Amplus 6 2.5-15X50. Weighs in right at 8 1/2#. Feels so good, Scott at SS Guns here in Victor did a great job

[high_hunter]

Looks great.

[Dan-o]

Sure does!!!!

That's a really beauty. 

I hope you get decades of enjoyment from it.

[Rat44]

That's a beaut.
Hope it shoots as good as it looks.

[EnglishSetter]

If you've already got a donor, consider sending it down to JES in Oregon for a rebore.  Way cheaper than having it rebarreled and they shoot well.  I had a Savage 99 in .300 with a pitted out bore turned into a .358 Win, and the turnaround was only about 2 weeks.

The only thing against .35s is bullet selection and availability.  Ever since 2020 the only game in town seems to be Hornady and Barnes.  I have heard great things about the 225gr partition but I've never put eyes on a box, and it doesn't look like Nosler has produced any in years.  Same with the 225gr Sierra gameking, but at least I was able to snag a couple boxes at Pinto's before they disappeared.

 
I had JES rebore a Ruger No.3 from .223 to .35 Whelen. He did a great job.

Great learning about JES in this thread and hearing good feedback  Reached out over the weekend about doing similar to OP or a .338-06.

Following along.

I just had my late father's pre-64 .264 WM with a shot out barrel rebored by JES to .338 WM.  Have a 3x15 VX5 sitting here, Warne mounts/rings coming Friday.  Bought a couple boxes of Hornady 225 SST's at the gun show. 

No beauty queen with 50 years of hunting and another 10 in the safe, but looking forward to see how it shoots in the next week or so.

[zwickeyman]

If you've already got a donor, consider sending it down to JES in Oregon for a rebore.  Way cheaper than having it rebarreled and they shoot well.  I had a Savage 99 in .300 with a pitted out bore turned into a .358 Win, and the turnaround was only about 2 weeks.

The only thing against .35s is bullet selection and availability.  Ever since 2020 the only game in town seems to be Hornady and Barnes.  I have heard great things about the 225gr partition but I've never put eyes on a box, and it doesn't look like Nosler has produced any in years.  Same with the 225gr Sierra gameking, but at least I was able to snag a couple boxes at Pinto's before they disappeared.

 
I had JES rebore a Ruger No.3 from .223 to .35 Whelen. He did a great job.

Great learning about JES in this thread and hearing good feedback  Reached out over the weekend about doing similar to OP or a .338-06.

Following along.

I just had my late father's pre-64 .264 WM with a shot out barrel rebored by JES to .338 WM.  Have a 3x15 VX5 sitting here, Warne mounts/rings coming Friday.  Bought a couple boxes of Hornady 225 SST's at the gun show. 

No beauty queen with 50 years of hunting and another 10 in the safe, but looking forward to see how it shoots in the next week or so.

Good to hear you received the VX5

Hope it shoots lights out for you

[teanawayslayer]

Finally got my 35 Whelen AI in my hands. Took a while mostly because I did the stock. Still needs 15 or 20 more coats of oil

Used my dads Remington 700 receiver as a donor. 23" barrel, Timney trigger and topped with a Leica Amplus 6 2.5-15X50. Weighs in right at 8 1/2#. Feels so good, Scott at SS Guns here in Victor did a great job

Beautiful!

[EnglishSetter]

If you've already got a donor, consider sending it down to JES in Oregon for a rebore.  Way cheaper than having it rebarreled and they shoot well.  I had a Savage 99 in .300 with a pitted out bore turned into a .358 Win, and the turnaround was only about 2 weeks.

The only thing against .35s is bullet selection and availability.  Ever since 2020 the only game in town seems to be Hornady and Barnes.  I have heard great things about the 225gr partition but I've never put eyes on a box, and it doesn't look like Nosler has produced any in years.  Same with the 225gr Sierra gameking, but at least I was able to snag a couple boxes at Pinto's before they disappeared.

 
I had JES rebore a Ruger No.3 from .223 to .35 Whelen. He did a great job.

Great learning about JES in this thread and hearing good feedback  Reached out over the weekend about doing similar to OP or a .338-06.

Following along.

I just had my late father's pre-64 .264 WM with a shot out barrel rebored by JES to .338 WM.  Have a 3x15 VX5 sitting here, Warne mounts/rings coming Friday.  Bought a couple boxes of Hornady 225 SST's at the gun show. 

No beauty queen with 50 years of hunting and another 10 in the safe, but looking forward to see how it shoots in the next week or so.

Good to hear you received the VX5

Hope it shoots lights out for you

Thx.  Yeh, it arrived unscathed and on time.  I'm pondering that other scope. 

Hopefully it shoots "good enuf".  Not a lot of meat at the muzzle, but met JES's criteria.

[zwickeyman]

Finally got my 35 Whelen AI in my hands. Took a while mostly because I did the stock. Still needs 15 or 20 more coats of oil

Used my dads Remington 700 receiver as a donor. 23" barrel, Timney trigger and topped with a Leica Amplus 6 2.5-15X50. Weighs in right at 8 1/2#. Feels so good, Scott at SS Guns here in Victor did a great job

Beautiful!

Thanks Heath    With 254 gr Hammer bullets should be a thumper

[Angry Perch]

Man that is a good looking rifle.