How many people have a 35 whelen?

[EfRed]

@jwp475
I shouldn't matter if you have a single shot or a 20 round mag. We should be trying to make that first shot count and do the job. If you need a lot more shots you haven't done the job properly.
Bob

True Bob, but the minute you say that your next bear will be the one that takes two to the brain and your guide's rifle-ful of 458 before, hopefully, dropping dead at your feet!

 

[EfRed]

My Whelan was bequeathed to me by my Uncle Allie, on his passing. It looked like a common sporterized Springfield and I couldn't wait to turn it into a 25-06 as I was in my twenties. It came with RCBS dies, 500 bullets and 200 formed cases. P.O. Ackley had bored out the military 30-06 barrel and made it a 35 Whelan AI. It had a light trigger, and that Springfield action was not only smooth, it also holds five cartridges in the magazine, plus one in the chamber. Thus 1,500 grains of bullets get fired before reloading is needed.
By the end of that summer I had learned to shoot this weapon very fast and accurately and knew it would always be a 35 Whelan. It has taken 5 different species of North American game and has never required more than one shot. I have used 250 Speer spitzers for years and know there are better bullets available now, but the Speers have done everything I have ever asked them to do.

I asked Wayne York at Oregunsmithing to re-bore my Dad's .30-06 Springfield to 35 Whelen. Turns out the machine he uses came out of P.O. Ackley's shop. I have actually touched it..

 

[EfRed]

I've used a number of different calibers on hogs as well. Including 6.5 x 55. 35 Remington, 270, 30-06 & 35 Whelen. IMHO magnums are useful when long distances are likely to be encountered. One lever gun that I own is a Winchester Model 71, (348 caliber) built in 1936. One day I'd like to give that a try on a nice hog.

I bought a new Browning-made 71. I worked the action 1000 times and now have a smooth and easy lever. Another great old cartridge/gun combo.... my Father had a Winchester in 1941, killed a big muley south of Prairie City in Oregon that year... 198 pounds of packaged meat. He loved the rifle, a lever man at heart, but it was stolen just as he was enlisting, never got around to replacing it. That's why I bought the Browning...

 

[EfRed]

@CBH Australia and @Forrest Halley
You is both wrong. The AI is a good cartridge but by the time you fire form it, get dies da da da. The extra velocity just isn't worth the playing around.
I will stick with my standard Whelen, load it properly and have fun.
As you both know I'm basically a lazy big bastard. Reloading for two wildcats is enough I don't need a 3rd
Bob

One of the reasons for the 35 Whelen, a tool good for nearly every job, you only need one...

 

[hoytcanon]

One of the reasons for the 35 Whelen, a tool good for nearly every job, you only need one...

Wow... you really went to town on this thread... lol.
I find it easy to wax poetic about .35 cal rifles... not sure why, over all other caliber options. I just have so much experience with uber-effective game dispatching with various .35 cal cartridges, and I have messed around with most of them... on lots of game. I have converted a few of the .308 crowd to drink the .35 Kool-Aid... once they realized that the recoil would not kill them as all of the online and gun rag "experts" told them it would, they were ecstatic to puff their chests and head back to their respective deer camps, beaming with pride, to show the .243 shooters how to properly out down game. The habit generally sticks, while the others come and go on whim.

 

[Muskox]

I don't currently own one.

I had a Ruger M77 tang safety and a Remington 700 classic.

Both of them were original rifles in that caliber, but bought 2nd or 8th hand and both had their stocks replaced by Bell and Carlsons.

One of my 6 moves overseas they were sold, as I have never been allowed to ship rifles to my duty stations.

I think they are handy. When I was about 30 my father and I hunted bison on the Elk Refuge in Jackson and he shot a cow with it. Worked perfectly as one might imagine. I have not killed anything with one.

The .358 isn't necessarily crippled by bullet selection over 9.3 and 338, but there are quite a few less options.

250 Accubond would do 99% of what I would want to do. I think there is a 250 Swift and maybe a 280 Swift you had to hunt buffalo or brown bears with it.

I am torn between the 358 Norma and the 35 Whelen for a future build. I have a magnum bolt face M70 push feed action that isn't a very good shooter in 300 Winchester. It would be a simple swap. Purchasing a 35 Whelen is probably just as easy and cheap.

 

[EfRed]

Wow... you really went to town on this thread... lol.
I find it easy to wax poetic about .35 cal rifles... not sure why, over all other caliber options. I just have so much experience with uber-effective game dispatching with various .35 cal cartridges, and I have messed around with most of them... on lots of game. I have converted a few of the .308 crowd to drink the .35 Kool-Aid... once they realized that the recoil would not kill them as all of the online and gun rag "experts" told them it would, they were ecstatic to puff their chests and head back to their respective deer camps, beaming with pride, to show the .243 shooters how to properly out down game. The habit generally sticks, while the others come and go on whim.

Merry Christmas!

 

[hoytcanon]

Merry Christmas!

You too... and all AH folk.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wow... you really went to town on this thread... lol.
I find it easy to wax poetic about .35 cal rifles... not sure why, over all other caliber options. I just have so much experience with uber-effective game dispatching with various .35 cal cartridges, and I have messed around with most of them... on lots of game. I have converted a few of the .308 crowd to drink the .35 Kool-Aid... once they realized that the recoil would not kill them as all of the online and gun rag "experts" told them it would, they were ecstatic to puff their chests and head back to their respective deer camps, beaming with pride, to show the .243 shooters how to properly out down game. The habit generally sticks, while the others come and go on whim.

@hoytcanon
There ain't much a good ( sorry there's no such thing as a bad) 35 won't do.
Even in days of yore people extolled the virtues of the 350 Rigby on plains game and even in a pinch in pachyderms ( you know them big grey things). So in the right hand a 35 is fine for near EVERYTHING.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I don't currently own one.

I had a Ruger M77 tang safety and a Remington 700 classic.

Both of them were original rifles in that caliber, but bought 2nd or 8th hand and both had their stocks replaced by Bell and Carlsons.

One of my 6 moves overseas they were sold, as I have never been allowed to ship rifles to my duty stations.

I think they are handy. When I was about 30 my father and I hunted bison on the Elk Refuge in Jackson and he shot a cow with it. Worked perfectly as one might imagine. I have not killed anything with one.

The .358 isn't necessarily crippled by bullet selection over 9.3 and 338, but there are quite a few less options.

250 Accubond would do 99% of what I would want to do. I think there is a 250 Swift and maybe a 280 Swift you had to hunt buffalo or brown bears with it.

I am torn between the 358 Norma and the 35 Whelen for a future build. I have a magnum bolt face M70 push feed action that isn't a very good shooter in 300 Winchester. It would be a simple swap. Purchasing a 35 Whelen is probably just as easy and cheap.

@Muskox
Whilst the normal is good and brass can be made easily from 338 wm I would go the Whelen and load it to its potential.
No flies in a 225 TTSX at 2900 fps or a 310 at 2,455 fps. Both with less recoil than the Norma.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I love mine! Hoping to use it in Africa this year. It shoots 3 ammo combos well but I think the Nosler Accubond in 225 grain is best for all around hunting!

@Paul Shirek
What load are you using for your accubonds.
I used noslers load of 61gn of varget/2208 and got 2,800+ fps.
Then worked up to 69 gn of CFE 223 and was getting over 2,900 fps.
Both these loads were safe in my rifle BUT should be worked up to from 4 grains lower as they are MAX LOADS.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Merry Christmas Bob to you and the Mrs.

@MS 9x56
Same to you my friend.
Try some nice 225 gn Woodleigh rnsp.
Bob

 

[MedRiver]

@Muskox
Whilst the normal is good and brass can be made easily from 338 wm I would go the Whelen and load it to its potential.
No flies in a 225 TTSX at 2900 fps or a 310 at 2,455 fps. Both with less recoil than the Norma.
Bob

I own both an Whelen and a Norma and like both. I run the 225 Sierra in the Whelen or a 250 Speer. I plan to try the 200 TTSX next ran at Mach-freaking-bananas. Should be a nice do-all point and click big game cartridge at normal ranges.

The Norma gets a 250 PT/Speer or a 225 TSX.

My Whelen is lighter/handier. My Norma shoots straighter and hits easier farther.

FWIW, I have considered selling the Norma but don’t think I will ever be without at least one .35 Whelen.

 

[DocHolliday]

I see it raised a bit about I wonder how many people own and use the 35 whelen.
How bout we find out as well as what is your favourite load and why you like the whelen.
Every one knows I'm a Whelen lunatic and get a lot of pleasure loading for it. I'm still working on loads for the 275 and 310 grainers but will get there
Bob

Custom Ruger #1 here. Great caliber!

 

[dgr416]

I had a rem 700 classic 35 whelen for a while .I missed a giant buck because of that stupid safety .I sold it to a guy in texas.I got some 35 whelen ammo in a estate buy not long ago just didnt want anothef caliber to reload .Then what did I do bought a 358 win sav 99 on a wim but its going to go too .I am trying to just stick with .338 caliber and .416 makes life easier .I just could have bought my friends 35-284:win win 88 in Alaska but didnt want a wildcat .I did the 35 whelen thing in 1988 didnt get the bug again .There are no long range bullets for it like 338 has .

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have one, a re-bored Weatherby Custom Safari (old one with the fancy checkering and quarter-bridge). A delight.

@EfRed
It doesn't exist without a photo
Bob

 

[Tbitty]

I had a rem 700 classic 35 whelen for a while .I missed a giant buck because of that stupid safety .I sold it to a guy in texas.I got some 35 whelen ammo in a estate buy not long ago just didnt want anothef caliber to reload .Then what did I do bought a 358 win sav 99 on a wim but its going to go too .I am trying to just stick with .338 caliber and .416 makes life easier .I just could have bought my friends 35-284:win win 88 in Alaska but didnt want a wildcat .I did the 35 whelen thing in 1988 didnt get the bug again .There are no long range bullets for it like 338 has .

What issue did you have with the 700 safety? Maybe it's just me, but one big reason Im not a fan of the Winchester 70's is because of their safety style... I much prefer the 700 style.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Completely agree, 250 HotCor. But I have a part of a box of Remington 250 CoreLokt at 2400. Very pleasant to shoot and a deadly round. Some might call it pedestrian. Some might call the 35 Whelen pedestrian. I don't mind walking.

@EfRed
Might be pedestrian but works.
Why not let the Whelen have its head like the thorough bred it should be.
Let it run the recoil is still very manageable. A bit more than a kittens caress but won't belt the shit out of you like the useless 338.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

All true. But 2400 to 2700 250 gr bullet is good enough for damn near anything. Unless you shoot at 500 yards. In which case, sneak in a little closer.... a 35 Whelen is a lovely companion, a 375 Weatherby, impressive though it is, never will be... Remember anything that's gonna get you must close through several hundred yards of effective 35 Whelen range!

@EfRed
If'n y'all want to reach out get a 225gn accubond motoring at 2,900 fps. That will reach out past 400 and be flatter than a 398 with a 150.
Just saying.
If'n y'all want to get up close and personal and smash bones and flesh a 310 will do the job.
From near to far a Whelen is where you are.

Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I had a rem 700 classic 35 whelen for a while .I missed a giant buck because of that stupid safety .I sold it to a guy in texas.I got some 35 whelen ammo in a estate buy not long ago just didnt want anothef caliber to reload .Then what did I do bought a 358 win sav 99 on a wim but its going to go too .I am trying to just stick with .338 caliber and .416 makes life easier .I just could have bought my friends 35-284:win win 88 in Alaska but didnt want a wildcat .I did the 35 whelen thing in 1988 didnt get the bug again .There are no long range bullets for it like 338 has .

@dgr416
Should have sold the 338 and kept the 35s.
Bob