My Latest Purchase 35 Whelen

I have one I built before learning to machine a sleeve to fit between the scout rail and the barrel in the front, and one I built after learning this.
 
This is probably the ONE commercially available Calibre which l have never tried , for some reason. How does it compare to other calibres ? Most curious , now :)
 
This is the cartridge I stayed with the longest mine is Remington 700 Classic and I used it for many years. Remington about killed the cartridge with their factory leadings. They used.358 bullets designed for 35 Rem and reduced speed to try and keep them together. My 225grn accubonds at 2750 FPS .
Shawn
 
The Coolest thing about owning a 35 Whelen is our secret Hand Shake
 
The Coolest thing about owning a 35 Whelen is our secret Hand Shake

Now that just put me over the hump. ;)

RECOIL Question (hopefully from actual experience):
I need to cut back on "perceived" recoil by about 20% compared to my 338 Win Mag (sans brake), to meet my personal threshold. Will the 35 Whelen get me there?

The 338 WM is ~8.5 pounds unloaded. Ammo is TTSX 185s at 2,900 fps (3,452 ft lbs); and 210s at 2,781 fps (3,606 ft lbs). (My perceived recoil difference - with and without muzzle brake - on the 338 WM is about 20%).

Anticaped 35 Whelen load is a 225 grain (NP or A-Frame) at 2,550 fps, (3,249 ft lbs). This would be a bushveld load, btw. Target weight for the scoped 35W is 8.5 to 9 pounds. A 200 gr TTSX at ~2,750fps is also a possible.

Free recoil tables seem to indicate my target could be met, but I've never fired a 35 Whelen.
 
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I just built a whelen off of a Remington 700 ADL that was a 5th anniversary gift from my wife 30+ years ago. 24” PacNor barrel, 3 # timney trigger and the original stock. I loaded 250grain Speer Hotcor and 225 grain NorthFork SS bullets, both with Varget powder and shot bughole groups with both. I haven’t chronographed these yet, I was just looking for a load that would give me between 2,400 - 2,500 FPS respectively. This is definitely going to be one of my favorite rifles for both deer in heavy brush of TN mountains and Africa gun as well. Recoil is very manageable and I’d say dressed out it weighs probably in 8ish pound range.

So @shootist I think you could easily meet your goals for a whelen
 
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I think my Remington 700 weighed in the 8lb range with the wood stock, as for the recoil about as much as a 30-06
 
IMG_1237.jpg
I'd have to check my load book but I think I'm in the 2600fps range and crazy accurate at 200 meters using 225Gs
 
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Ok I checked my load book and loaded with
57gs of RL15 using 225 Noslers I clocked 2517fps
59Gs of Win 748 using the same bullet I clocked 2510
I never tried to increase the amount of powder as I was real happy with the accuracy, the Win 748 gave me the best groups
 
Now that just put me over the hump. ;)

RECOIL Question (hopefully from actual experience):
I need to cut back on "perceived" recoil by about 20% compared to my 338 Win Mag (sans brake), to meet my personal threshold. Will the 35 Whelen get me there?

The 338 WM is ~8.5 pounds unloaded. Ammo is TTSX 185s at 2,900 fps (3,452 ft lbs); and 210s at 2,781 fps (3,606 ft lbs). (My perceived recoil difference - with and without muzzle brake - on the 338 WM is about 20%).

Anticaped 35 Whelen load is a 225 grain (NP or A-Frame) at 2,550 fps, (3,249 ft lbs). This would be a bushveld load, btw. Target weight for the scoped 35W is 8.5 to 9 pounds. A 200 gr TTSX at ~2,750fps is also a possible.

Free recoil tables seem to indicate my target could be met, but I've never fired a 35 Whelen.
Shootist,
Forget the brake, you’ll blow your ears out! Put a slip on Pachmyer or Limbsaver recoil pad over the factory pad, like I did on my Browning A Bolt .338 WM and keep shooting!
CEH
 
Great. Thanks all for the info on recoil and loads.
And to Rob for this multi year thread.

A build on a new receiver is a possible. Sadly my only Rem700 is a short action.

If I get a favorable response from Montana Rifle Company about availability in their wood stocked American, (sent them an email a couple of days ago), that could be another. They note online that Non Standard Calibers are an option.
 
Shootist,
Forget the brake, you’ll blow your ears out! ...!
CEH

Too late - did that 30 years ago. At age 70, I can't do 338WM recoil.
The purpose of my question was to go to a 35 Whelen (not braked), IF the recoil will be acceptable.
 
Too late - did that 30 years ago. At age 70, I can't do 338WM recoil.
The purpose of my question was to go to a 35 Whelen (not braked), IF the recoil will be acceptable.
Stock design has a lot to do with felt recoil. My first Whelen was a Rem 700 classic and I felt the recoil. My current one is a Rem700, Lothar barrel 1 in 12 twist in a Boyds stock and is a pussy to shoot.

Im interested in what others are running for glass on there 35 Whelan.

I am running an Aimpoint on mine. Quite capable of 300 mt shots with it on pigs.
 
Rule 303,

Which Aimpoint and what is the overall weight with the Boyds stock?

I have a Micro on my closet AR and and older (larger) Aimpoint on another rifle. No problem at close to 200M, but my old eyes appreciate magnification.

Thanks,
Joe
 

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