Sorry If This Is A Dumb Question About 35 Whelen

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob you just made my day sir, I just put a 50% deposit on her today. She'll be here in a couple of weeks!!! Will definitely put her to use for crocodile, eland, sable and perhaps leopard in a 26 hunt. Thank you sir!

@Obi Wan Kenobi
Now all you need is a few pounds of CFE223 and some good projectiles
For the game you mention I would use a good 250gn like the Woodleighs PPSP, or a Swift A frame. Loaded to 2,700fps this will give you over 4,000fpe of muzzle energy.
Another good bullet is the 250gn Hornady Round nose soft points. You will have to search to find them tho. They expand readily yet hold together to punch a golf ball size holes out the other side of an oryx bull

If you want to reach way out then the 225gn accubonds or the 225gn Woodleigh PPSP started at 2,850- 2,950 fps will do the job and still leave you with over 2,000fpe at 400yards.

If'n y'all want to take on giraffe or dare I say it (buffalo if you were allowed) or something like a big bear ( Elmer Keith shot his world record brown bear with a Whelen and 275gn projectiles) then I would step up to the 270gn Woodleigh PPSP, 280gn A frame or the big 310 grain Woodleigh RNSP or solid.
The 310s can be loaded to 2,400fps safely giving you the same results as the old ORIGINAL 375 H&H with 300s and no one complained about them .
I have NO experience with the Barnes 225gn TTSX but other in this forum swear by them. I would say loaded to 2,800-2900fos they would be devastating.

Then in the off season you could load up some 158gn cast or jacketed pistol bullets with some unique shotgun powder and have a great small game/ plinking round.
As you can see the whei is very very versatile so have fun and enjoy the journey.

Someone said it's just a step above the 243 and great for shooting birds off power lines. Don't listen to them. Just shoot the power pole, pole and lines come down, bird gets electrocuted and cooked at the same time. Chop up downed pole for firewood and eat bird. Easy solution warmth for the winter and a meal to go with it. With a 243 you just blow said bird to bits and gain nothing.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

There are a LOT of dead bears that were shot with the 30-06, the 35 Whelens parent, but does that qualify it as "enough"? There's a reason a lot of Alaskan guides carry 375H&H and larger rifles and that there are minimum cartridge requirements for several countries in Africa for dangerous game. Does that mean the 35 Whelen is inadequate? Certainly not, but if Big Bears or DG is on the menu, I'd consider something bigger.

@Ray B
That good ol boy Elmer Keith shot his world record brown bear with a Whelen and 275 gn projectiles.
Loaded with the CORRECT projectiles and used by a person that knows how to SHOOT and is willing to pass up IFFY shots then the Whelen is more than capable for big game even some of the varieties that can bite you or stomp you into a red mushy puddle, but that just my opinion.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

This is a paid for announcement by Bob' Whelen' Nelson. ;-)

I think it's fair to say that Bob is a fan.

Personally, I always have room for another 'beautiful' rifle in my safe!

@ftrovato
Ain't nought wrong with a not so beautiful Whelen either. Mine built in a Savage 110, not the prettiest but man it shoots well.
Better to have a not so pretty or even what some call ugly Whelen than have NO Whelen.
Bob

 

[Flbt]

@Obi Wan Kenobi
Now all you need is a few pounds of CFE223 and some good projectiles
For the game you mention I would use a good 250gn like the Woodleighs PPSP, or a Swift A frame. Loaded to 2,700fps this will give you over 4,000fpe of muzzle energy.
Another good bullet is the 250gn Hornady Round nose soft points. You will have to search to find them tho. They expand readily yet hold together to punch a golf ball size holes out the other side of an oryx bull

If you want to reach way out then the 225gn accubonds or the 225gn Woodleigh PPSP started at 2,850- 2,950 fps will do the job and still leave you with over 2,000fpe at 400yards.

If'n y'all want to take on giraffe or dare I say it (buffalo if you were allowed) or something like a big bear ( Elmer Keith shot his world record brown bear with a Whelen and 275gn projectiles) then I would step up to the 270gn Woodleigh PPSP, 280gn A frame or the big 310 grain Woodleigh RNSP or solid.
The 310s can be loaded to 2,400fps safely giving you the same results as the old ORIGINAL 375 H&H with 300s and no one complained about them .
I have NO experience with the Barnes 225gn TTSX but other in this forum swear by them. I would say loaded to 2,800-2900fos they would be devastating.

Then in the off season you could load up some 158gn cast or jacketed pistol bullets with some unique shotgun powder and have a great small game/ plinking round.
As you can see the whei is very very versatile so have fun and enjoy the journey.

Someone said it's just a step above the 243 and great for shooting birds off power lines. Don't listen to them. Just shoot the power pole, pole and lines come down, bird gets electrocuted and cooked at the same time. Chop up downed pole for firewood and eat bird. Easy solution warmth for the winter and a meal to go with it. With a 243 you just blow said bird to bits and gain nothing.
Bob

Also think of getting a 358w short action and a little lighter when you want a compact rifle
And maybe a 350 rem mag for the dog leg carbine
And a 350l in case you need to have a light recoil rifle available
Welcome to the wonderful world of 35’s

 

[crossfire3006]

I still covet the Ruger African in the 35 Whelen.....sigh.

Have one as well, and I love it!

 

[TnKen]

35 Whelen kills like a lightning bolt. I have used mine for elk and deer, it is goin with me to Africa next year for plains game. I’m having a custom stock fitted to it now, left hand shooter/right hand action REM 700.

 

[coreydb]

You might want to google Craig Boddington's web site and ask him, or google his name with 35 Whelen and see what pops up. He wrote several articles on the 35 Whelen on African game, as well as other game. As I recall, the caliber is adequate ( it's performance and ballistics parallels the 9.3x62 Mauser).

 

[Doug Hamilton]

@Obi Wan Kenobi
There's no such thing as a dumb question when it comes to the mighty Whelen
Even with factory loads it is more than capable of taking any pg that walks and all game in north America and Alaska

The Whelen is a cartridge that begs to be hand loaded to reach its full potential. Loaded properly it becomes a 400yd plus rifle.
Hand loaded it will give you
Upto 2,900 fps with 225 guns
2,700 fps with 259s
2,500 fps with 279-280 grainers
And 2,400+ fps with 310s

Everything I shot in Namibia was a one shot kill on game from Springbok to a massive zebra stallion and ranges from 120 to 275 yards.

You will never be disappointed with a Whelen and it's NOT just a woods cartridge it's more than capable at longer ranges
Factor rounds are available from Barnes, Federal and Remington as well as double tap and Nosler so you have a good selection of factory rounds
Reloading the Whelen opens up a whole new world and gives a massive increase in power to the point it give the 338 win mag a horrible shake up.
What's not to love about the Whelen.
Bob

I knew we could count on you to handle this question , Bob! Well done!

Doug

 

[sgt_zim]

I just found a beautiful and I mean a beautiful custom 35 Whelen. Ive read up on this round a whole lot. What's your experience with it in Africa?

Is the 35. Whelen enough for brown bears in Alaska. Lets say a 200 yard shot?

Thanks

It's certainly up to it, but you should show a brown the same level of respect you would a cape buffalo - get closer. If you wound it, you're gonna end up with a 10 yard shot in thick alder on an animal that can kill you back, and knows you're coming, lying up in wait.

 

[Deepfork]

I just found a beautiful and I mean a beautiful custom 35 Whelen. Ive read up on this round a whole lot. What's your experience with it in Africa?

Is the 35. Whelen enough for brown bears in Alaska. Lets say a 200 yard shot?

Thanks

Plenty for big bears as long as you are a hand loader. For some reason and I have heard multiple theories, factory 35 Whelen ammo is loaded well below max pressures. For example Norma has a factory load with the 250gr Oryx listed at 2,400 fps. I don't have any trouble getting 2,700 fps plus with the 250gr Oryx in my loads. My go to load with the 35 Whelen is a 245 gr Hammer "Stone Hammer" at 2,860 fps. That's 4,450 Ft lbs at the muzzle, 3,230 Ft Lbs at 200 yards = dead bear!

 

[Longwalker]

I've shot more large game with my .35 Whelen at home than I have with my 9.3x62 or .375 H&H rifles in Africa. If there's any real difference in effect on similar sized non-dangerous game I can't see it. For Elk, Moose, Bears, etc. the Whelen is my favourite cartridge and the one I have the most experience with. I don't use the common but silly 200 grain "deer" bullets in my .35 Whelen rifles, but stick to good 225 gr. bonded or copper bullets, or better yet 250 grain bullets.

 

[cash_tx]

Now this thread has got me wondering what would happen if you took a 35 Whelen and some of @Bob Nelson 35Whelen's handloads, and shot a 243 Winchester with it. I imagine it would not only erase that cartridge from history; it would probably also cure cancer, end hunger, and bring about world peace.

 

[thriller]

I just found a beautiful and I mean a beautiful custom 35 Whelen. Ive read up on this round a whole lot. What's your experience with it in Africa?

Is the 35. Whelen enough for brown bears in Alaska. Lets say a 200 yard shot?

Thanks

Is this rifle a legend or are we going to get to see it? I admit you have my curiosity on this one

 

[quandary]

I am new here and loving all the 35 Whelen talk. I just repurposed a 300WM with a new barrel to a 35 Whelen. Bartlein carbon 1:12 twist 22". I plan on using it for a bear hunt in Saskatchewan in May and Africa in '27. I only have 50 rounds or so down the barrel. Put together a break-in round 60gr of Varget and 225gr SGKs. Getting MV of 2,750 and .75moa 10shot groups at 100 years with that load and I haven't even started load development! Easily hits steel out to 700 hundred, the furthest I have tried with it. It is a phenomenal cartridge.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I am new here and loving all the 35 Whelen talk. I just repurposed a 300WM with a new barrel to a 35 Whelen. Bartlein carbon 1:12 twist 22". I plan on using it for a bear hunt in Saskatchewan in May and Africa in '27. I only have 50 rounds or so down the barrel. Put together a break-in round 60gr of Varget and 225gr SGKs. Getting MV of 2,750 and .75moa 10shot groups at 100 years with that load and I haven't even started load development! Easily hits steel out to 700 hundred, the furthest I have tried with it. It is a phenomenal cartridge.

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@quandary
Is that range a normal hund years or 100 light years, that's a fer piece of distance.
A max load of 70 gn of CFE 223 will give them that 225gn game kings 2,900 fps and shoot even flatter. You could also work up to a max of 69 gn behind a 225 gn accubond for the same speed.
For some serious hurt try a max load of 65gn of cfe223 behind a 250gn Speer hot core for 2,700fps
Now those loads will give you some serious horse power.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Now this thread has got me wondering what would happen if you took a 35 Whelen and some of @Bob Nelson 35Whelen's handloads, and shot a 243 Winchester with it. I imagine it would not only erase that cartridge from history; it would probably also cure cancer, end hunger, and bring about world peace.

@cash_tx
As well a cure impotence
Make ugly women look good and make the dumb smart. Oh sorry forgot only copious amounts of Bundy rum will do that.
Bob

 

[HuntingGold]

I shot a klippy with mine (a rifle named Bob after our own @Bob Nelson 35Whelen ). That should alleviate all concerns about the Whelens capabilities on any game in the world, including brown bears.

 

[318AE]

I recall an article about the most efficient cartridge - the most muzzle energy for the powder burned. The winner was the 35 Whelen AI, with the 35 Whelen right behind it. It was a function of case capacity to bore etc.

Does that efficiency really matter? I don’t know. It is a great cartridge though. A 350 Rigby Magnum with no tariffs!