[DB.Caughlin]

What is the best brand and lenght .35 Whelen barrell would be best suited for my Encore, hunting white tail deer where most of my shots are 250yds or less but every now and then out to 325yds? Opinions, facts, or personal preferences welcome.

 

[Beladran]

I am a fan of SSK industries but your gonna pay a little more for them. matchgrademachine.com is good. bullberry.com is good eabco.com also..
go with 24-26inch and get a muzzle break. clam shell or fish gill style

 

[dhollis51]

I had a MGM 24" heavy contour barrel and had so much trouble with the actuall barrel I sent it back they fixed it sent it ack to me it still wasnt fixed I sent whole gun to them they fixed it and I shot two rounds through it and I sold it. It was not the headspacing issue either. There customer service red Shelsie was great but when I talker to Kerry he was rude and very unprofessional. I know they have a great name but they will never get another cent out of me.

 

[dhollis51]

Also my buddy got one the same time and he cant get his to group worth a dang. Talking 1.5" at 100 yards is the best he has gotten with two different brands of ammo.

 

[Beladran]

35whelen is overated.... just my two cents if you want a 200 yard deer rifle for primative weapon season. check out a 375winchester SUPER easy on recoil and kills them with authority! If you like wildcats try a 375jdj better range than the winchester. 358 winchester is a necked up 308win

 

[DB.Caughlin]

Beladran, thanks for the info but I really have my mind made up on the .35 Whelen and I have plenty of other long guns that are quite capable of exceeding the 35 just want to try it for sh!^$ and grins pretty much.

 

[jbpmidas]

Unless you want to go to one of the Magnums, .35 Whelen is the best for your requirements. You said you wanted to reach 325 on occasion. .35 Whelen will do that!

 

[cwink]

I had the 35 Whelen from the TC Custom shop.. It shot pretty well and laid the smack down on the only deer I shot with it.. I started having some misfire problems with it, but a new spring seemed to solve the problem.. After the misfires, I really couldn't trust it though.. Always afraid it would rear its ugly head on that once in a lifetime buck.. I switched to the 358 Win and absolutly love it.. You can load up a 180 grain 358 Win that is comparable to a 308 and will out shoot the 35 Whelen..

Here are some ballistics from CPCARTRIDGE

358 Win..
http://www.cpcartridge.com/358win-B.htm

35 Whelen

http://www.cpcartridge.com/35whelen-B.htm

 

[DEADEYE 1]

I was looking at either the MatchGrade Machine barrels or the Bergara. A guy wanted my Pro Hunter more than I did so I sold it before I had a chance to buy one. A friend has a Begarra barrel that is accurate.

 

[Xd357]

I don't have a tc but I've got a cva in .35 whelen with a Bergara barrel on it shoots good to.

 

[dhollis51]

Oh yea, if you do go with MGM tell them you want thr gunshow pricing it is $50-75 cheaper than online or calling in.

 

[judgedelta]

I've got a plain T/C pro hunter stainless (fluted, of course) 26" barrel that'll put five in one ragged hole at a hundred yards, using two bags. that's with 225 gr. ballistic tips. Barrel came from Van's (full retail, of course). Good luck...

 

[bmhorton3]

Bergara makes a barrel for tc now so if your a fan of those barrels you can get it in a .35 whelen new this year. And also found that the REM 250 grain core loks shot a better group than the 200 grain in that an the hornady in my gun

 

[SJ]

My buddy bought a 35 whelen for his encore this last deer season and after we zero'd his scope it shot sub moa @ 100 with 200gr factory ammo and it bang flopped both deer he shot with it. Doe @ 110yds and a buck @ 180yds. His has done so good I am buying one for my Pro Hunter.

 

[Xd357]

You'll love it SJ.

 

[grasshopper]

35 Whelan barrel for my Encore

I've crossed this bridge twice now. I have a MGM barrel in 35 Remington. The same problems with most 35 Whelans. Head space. Soft seated the bullets to the lands to fire form the cases. This worked great. Rifle shoots very well in a G2 frame.

Second barrel was a 358 Winchester. (.308 necked up to 35) To date not one misfire with new or once-fired cases. Accurate too, sub-moa @ 100 yards. I found the barrel at Mid-Way right after Smith & Wesson shut down Fox Ridge.

 

[cwink]

I've crossed this bridge twice now. I have a MGM barrel in 35 Remington. The same problems with most 35 Whelans. Head space. Soft seated the bullets to the lands to fire form the cases. This worked great. Rifle shoots very well in a G2 frame.

Second barrel was a 358 Winchester. (.308 necked up to 35) To date not one misfire with new or once-fired cases. Accurate too, sub-moa @ 100 yards. I found the barrel at Mid-Way right after Smith & Wesson shut down Fox Ridge.

I did the same thing you did.. Bought that 358 Win just as fast as I could.. Love it..