Experience with 35 Whelen ?

[BigGoonTuna]

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.

[zwickeyman]

     Sage advice BigGoonTuna,

   I hear his name all the time regarding rebores

   I decided to use my dads old Rem 721  30-06  but I am going to rebarrel with a 1-13 twist with long throat. The first bullets Im trying are 2 from Hammer Bullets. The 245gr Shock Hammer and the 254gr Hammer Hunter. Im a Partition guy and would love some 225gr or 250gr Partitions but cant find any

   My only decision left is refinishing the old stock or putting on a new one. I like lighter rifles but cant put a carbon stock on this rifle, doesnt seem right. So maybe a new Claro Walnut.

Thanks Dave

 

[Angry Perch]

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.

[GWP]

Pinto's still exists. The daughter took over. They are in Renton now.
She had a great selection of reloading supplies the last time I was in there. It would be worth giving them a call.
Not always the cheapest, but if you need something, it may be worth it to you.

Pinto's 425-227-9280

[jrebel]

It appears the 35 Whelen is making a real come back.  All my reloading forums have more post about the 35 whelen than I can ever remember in years post.  Will be curious to see what you come up with and how you like it.  Knowing I'm a Hammer fan....I bet a 200 grain hammer would easily be pushed at 2800 fps out of a 24" barrel giving it great terminal ballistics w/in 300 yards.  If you really wanted to get crazy, you could push the 140 grain hammer at 3200 ish fps. which is just nuts.

Have fun with the build and can't wait to see pics.   

[BigGoonTuna]

Pinto's still exists. The daughter took over. They are in Renton now.
She had a great selection of reloading supplies the last time I was in there. It would be worth giving them a call.
Not always the cheapest, but if you need something, it may be worth it to you.

Pinto's 425-227-9280

yep, I was saying that the Sierra bullets had disappeared, not pinto’s 

They’re my favorite gun shop, it’s probably a good thing for me they’re a pain to get to because one of their guys seems to have the exact same taste in rifles that I do(big bores, single shots, and rare and unusual old stuff), I always seem to end up buying something every time I set foot in the place.

[zwickeyman]

It appears the 35 Whelen is making a real come back.  All my reloading forums have more post about the 35 whelen than I can ever remember in years post.  Will be curious to see what you come up with and how you like it.  Knowing I'm a Hammer fan....I bet a 200 grain hammer would easily be pushed at 2800 fps out of a 24" barrel giving it great terminal ballistics w/in 300 yards.  If you really wanted to get crazy, you could push the 140 grain hammer at 3200 ish fps. which is just nuts.

Have fun with the build and can't wait to see pics.   

I have some hammers coming Monday for it bit at the other end of the dweight spectrum.  Some 254 and 245 grain

You were right on the hammers. Shot some great groups with my 300wm and 338wm today. 1/4" and smoking fast

[jrebel]

It appears the 35 Whelen is making a real come back.  All my reloading forums have more post about the 35 whelen than I can ever remember in years post.  Will be curious to see what you come up with and how you like it.  Knowing I'm a Hammer fan....I bet a 200 grain hammer would easily be pushed at 2800 fps out of a 24" barrel giving it great terminal ballistics w/in 300 yards.  If you really wanted to get crazy, you could push the 140 grain hammer at 3200 ish fps. which is just nuts.

Have fun with the build and can't wait to see pics.   

I have some hammers coming Monday for it bit at the other end of the dweight spectrum.  Some 254 and 245 grain

You were right on the hammers. Shot some great groups with my 300wm and 338wm today. 1/4" and smoking fast

Super easy to load for, accurate and terminal performance is awesome.  Can't wait to see your success photos.   

[wadu1]

Pinto's still exists. The daughter took over. They are in Renton now.
She had a great selection of reloading supplies the last time I was in there. It would be worth giving them a call.
Not always the cheapest, but if you need something, it may be worth it to you.

Pinto's 425-227-9280

yep, I was saying that the Sierra bullets had disappeared, not pinto’s 

They’re my favorite gun shop, it’s probably a good thing for me they’re a pain to get to because one of their guys seems to have the exact same taste in rifles that I do(big bores, single shots, and rare and unusual old stuff), I always seem to end up buying something every time I set foot in the place.

Mine as well, been shopping with them since the dad had the shop in Kent. 

[zwickeyman]

Build in process

Model 721 Receiver from dads 30-06
24" barrel with break
Claro Walnut stock AAA Fancy that I am going to finish myself
New hinged magwell
Leupold Backcountry rings
VX 5 3-15x44


Already have scope, rings, bullets and powder ready to go

[Shadrach71]

You will love the 35 Whelen it hits hard!!! Mine is a semi custom built on a 700 action with 22" tube, it loves slinging 225 TBBC and 225 PT and has always put down any critter (elk, deer, bear) with authority and the farthest track job was 50 feet!!! 🍻

[jrebel]

Anxiously awaiting the completion and review of this rifle.  I have my dad’s 30-06 and could see doing the same one day. 

[zwickeyman]

Its Ironic that the thread got pulled back up today. Thursday the gunsmith called and the stock was rough shaped , all inlets were done and stock was bedded. So I picked it up yesterday and starting sanding the stock. I should have been less impatient and I missed a couple of spots I could have done better. Here is a pic after sanding and 3 coats of Danish Oil. Now Ill put 20 coats of Tung Oil and get it put together

[okie john]

    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

[Rigby416]

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.