[Beladran]

I have a few questions that i have been wanting to ask for a year now.

why is it that everyone wants the 35 whelen for primative weapon season???
if all you are shooting is less than 300 yards why are you punishing yourself with this bullet?
If you like pain/bragging rights why not shoot a 350 rigby? or maybe a 400 nitro???

 

[jbpmidas]

Based on the .30-06 which is my favorite round. When I get around to it, I'll be loading my own and loading thm down.

 

[Beladran]

but why the 35 cal? the 375-06 has way less recoil and can handle a wider range of bullets?

 

[Xd357]

It's not susposed to be that bad than say a 30.06 shooting the heavier bullets. I sighted in a buddy's 45/70 in the light handi rifle. That rifle kicked bad. My dads .444 is nice but I wanted something that shoots a little flater. Plus if I can load down to 180gr it'll will get better.

 

[Beladran]

i handled a little handi rifle in 35whelen at the local pawn shop and as soon as i felt how light it was my teeth started to rattle..

 

[righttoown]

i handled a little handi rifle in 35whelen at the local pawn shop and as soon as i felt how light it was my teeth started to rattle..

I would not trust a handi rifle in a 35 Whelen.

 

[possum398]

Why not use it? If i was only shooting 100yds I would shoot a 35 remington or even an .444. In several places I hunt, I do get a chance to shoot at 300yds. Some places I do not. My 35 whelen does not kick that hard. Now I do not shoot a light handi rifle. Mine is a TC encore prohunter with a SS TC heavy contour barrel.
Yesterday I shot 20 rounds of 35 whelen and 20 round of 25-06. Can I tell this morning that I shot them, yes but not anymore than shooting my other rifles.

 

[Beladran]

what im asking is why you chose it... was it because you heard people talking about it? did you research it as being the best round to fit your needs? I promise 5 years ago 90% of the people in MS didnt know what a 35 whelen was nor ever shot one. First time i ever shot one/heard of one was in a european double rifle.. I was told back then it was designed to run with the H&H magnums.
lets see if you had
A. 35 whelen
B. 35 remington
C. 350 remington magnum
D. 356 winchester
E. 358 winchester
F. 358 norma mag

which one would you pick to hunt deer with up to 300 yards and why? NO "i like this one because its cool" or "joe blow said it was the bomb.com"

 

[captain-03]

Guns are as diverse as the people who shoot them!! Why own a 500 S&W? The last time I checked, ain't no grizzles around here. Because I can and because I want it has always a good enough reason for me!! It does not have to be practical or even have a purpose - it just has to be what I want!! :lol:

 

[possum398]

I spent many hours on ammoguide.com comparing many rounds. I was hunting for the right round on there when it was 38 or larger.
Then they changed it to .35 or larger. Did some more research on websites like
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/RS_35whelen_200804/index.html

http://35whelen.blogspot.com/

35cal.com

www.chuckhawks.com/35_caliber_family.htm

www.chuckhawks.com/35Whelen.htm

www.cybertorpedo.com/.../35_whelen_zimbabwe_01.htm

Just to name a few.

Yes there are more capable rounds that fit our "primative" weapon regulations. But to what expense? Hard to find ammo and brass. Not to mention expensive.

The 35 remington is a good round, but in many places I hunt I shoot over 150yds.

Did not care for the 350 mag for the belted brass. Yes I know a lot of rounds are belted, I just did not want to spend too much time playing with reloading a round I would shoot a few weeks out of the year.

356 I did not even look at.

The 358 Norma is a sure mag round, but expensive ammo and brass.

The 35 whelen and 358 winchester were the two I was torn between. I could get brass easy from each by forming parent cases, 308 and 30-06. THe 35 whelen did have a little more power than the 358. I was used to the 30-06 parent cases(.270, 25-06, etc) so that is what I decided on.

 

[Beladran]

thats the type reply i was looking for possum :thumbup: I just wanna know what the rational behind it is, if its just word of mouth of if thought has been put behind it. I think Bullet on here has a 358win that shoots one hole groups at 100yards.

capt there may not be any grizzly around here but we do have black bear ale:

 

[Xd357]

To be honest I bought it b/c of availability. I just knew it was a better pick than the 45/70,.444. Didn't really give it much thought to using 06 brass till I read it some where. But that's a plus.

I'd agree with the statement that a few years ago very few knew about it till they lowered the size to .35.

 

[possum398]

I hope to get to that 1 hole 100yds, just need to do more load data and do something with my trigger. It is way too heavy.

 

[msredneck]

I'm having a Savage Bolt '06 re-chambered to 35 Whelen


I must confess...I liked it cause it was big, bad and cool and will make me see stars when I pull the trigger...Necked up '06 that shoots bullets that will kill anything in North America...

what can I say...I get off on recoil.... LOL!...."aint skeered"

You can even get it loaded with a 310 grain bullet for dangerous game.

It was the poor man's Big Game cartridge back in the 30's....

Couple folks at work at em and loved em...in bolt actions....

There's a great article on 35 Whelen in Ken Waters' book Pet Loads if you want other reasons...but in the end...

Y not?...

I'll get around to getting some of those others sooner or later....just give me time...I need em all

 

[SJ]

Why own a 500 S&W? The last time I checked, ain't no grizzles around here. :lol:

Just shows you how effective the 500 S&W was on the grizzlies we used to have around here. :rotflmao:

 

[btr568]

Beladran....
Like Possum,I, to did a lot of reseach before buying,at many of the same websites...
The main reason I settled for the Whelan was availbilty,H&R doesn't make a 358 Winchester at this time(what I REALLY wanted),nor do they make a 375 Winchester either.The only way I could have got these is by buying a Encore.Which I wasn't interested in REALLY doing.Or a Build on a H&R,that would have cost a small fortune.
The recoil isn't any worse than a 30-06( I have two)a Savage and a Marlin.I like the round enough that I'm seriously looking into a rebarrel to the Whelan on one of the actions,most likely the Savage,the Marlin is just a plain flat out tack driver,so I am little leery of messy with it(might never get it to shot the same if it's fooled with).
As far as it killing Grizzlies,it can,but then agin in a pinch so can a 30-06,I have a cousin that lives in Alaska,he's killed 2 with a 06".
As far as performace, why waste that amount of powder in a long case for 444 or 45-70,when the Whelan is a way better round in killing power.
I, too really don't need to shot 300 or 400 yards to deer hunt,but I do like calibers,that if I need to, I can.Example 30-06,308,7mm08,these can and will reach out and touch em' if need be,lol

 

[Beladran]

nor do they make a 375 Winchester either.

that right there is the most under rated round i know of

 

[jbpmidas]

I almost bought a Winchester Big Bore in .375, but I went back a day too late!

 

[skip425]

Years ago I read Elmer Keith's book " Hell I was there" I believe that's where
I first learned of this 35 wildcat as for why I chose the caliber: Because of it's performance and because I had a good supply
of 30-06 brass and a 45/70 kicks too.

 

[jbpmidas]

Shot a friend's H&R .35 Whelen the other day. To me, the recoil is about the same as my H&R .45-70.