Is .35 Whelen For Me?

[BBDartCA]

Have a chance to get a Remington 7600 in 35 Whelen for a deal. And I have a South African trip pending next spring. Not going after anything huge or dangerous - focusing on a trophy warthog. Could bump into something bigger of course. Guides say my 30-06 should be perfect for the job ... but something hotter could be a benefit. Shots typically are not long (<200yards).

So, just where does the 35 Whelen sit in the cartridge mix? What game is it going to be better equipped to handle than an '06?

 

[KodiakBeer]

I shoot a .350 Rem Mag which ballistically speaking, is a near twin. 180 grain loads are great for deer and caribou. 250 grain loads are plenty for moose and the biggest bears. If you reload, Woodleigh even makes 300 grain slugs for the .35 Whelen or .350.

 

[Robert]

I really wanted a 35 Whelen for the longest time but after talking to a very experienced big/ dangerous game hunter I know and trust I have settled on a 375H&H. The 375 bullets have better sectional density and can generally speaking there are more choices available. 375 can be loaded from 35 Whelen levels all the way up to 375H&H full house loads. Just my thoughts are the subject, YMMV.

 

[303tom]

Here is how I look at it, the .35-06/.35 Whelen is just a .30-06 on steroids, all you have is a bigger bullet.

 

[Maverick223]

The .35Whelen is an excellent cartridge, one of my favorites, and would likely do the job well with proper load/bullet selection. However, I have to agree with Gus here, even some of the African plains game are reasonably large quarry, I think a .375H&H is tailor made for the task...because, well, it is. Additionally, finding ammunition (if yours is lost, or you just need a few additional cartridges) for that .35Whelen will probably be next to impossible, whereas .375H&H is as prevalent there as the '06 is here stateside. Personally, if given the choice of only an '06 or .35Whelen (explicitly for the task described) I'd opt for the former (because you can get ammo for the .30-06Spd. if things go awry) and just take care to use a heavy for caliber well-constructed RN projectile like a 200-240gr. Swift A-Frame, Woodleigh Weldcore, or Hornady Interlock.

 

[Agent1209]

I don't know if the Whelen is right for you but it is the perfect deer rifle for me! It hits hard but is not that bad to shoot, leaves a nice blood trail (if they move, most of the time they are DRT). Testing has been done and the 35 Whelen AI was the most efficient cartridge there is, followed by the 35 Whelen. ( energy per grains of powder) It's not for everybody but I sing its praises. I have many hunting rifles but my favorite is my Whelen!

 

[Maverick223]

Testing has been done and the 35 Whelen AI was the most efficient cartridge there is, followed by the 35 Whelen. ( energy per grains of powder)

Somehow I doubt that. A short straight or tapered case like the .22LR, .30Carbine, .45-70Govt., various pistol cartridges, et al should do much better in that respect. In general the worse the trajectory, the better the efficiency...the .45ACP or .22Short is likely about as good as it gets.

 

[roklok]

The .35 Whelen is my favorite cartridge for big game hunting. I have killed 8 different species of big game with my .35 Whelen, including moose, grizzly, and muskox. However, if I were to travel to Africa, I believe it would stay at home and my 30-06 and .375 H&H would go, for the very reason already mentioned. I believe it would be difficult to find .35 Whelen ammunition in Africa.

I have a .375, but consider the .35 Whelen to be perfectly adequate for ANY North American game, so the .375 sits at home, patiently waiting for the day I decide to hunt Africa.

 

[BBDartCA]

Thanks guys. These are good nuggets of info. Great point about ammo availability. I've lost ammo on trips before. You would be SOL finding 35's in South Africa!! I'll just handload with 180 and 200g in the '06. Guide has a big-arse backup gun anyway.

 

[Dr T]

On the other hand, you may want to pickup the 700 Remington 35 Whelen if it is one of the early ones as a collection item ;-).

Just remember that the most important thing is to put the bullet where it is supposed to go. Recoil wise, the 225 gr. bullet is about as much as I can use comfortably. The 250 gr bullet recoil is getting up into the 375 H&H class.

 

[Agent1209]

Somehow I doubt that. A short straight or tapered case like the .22LR, .30Carbine, .4

The article was in Rifle Shooter magazine and did not address pistol cartridges, they were looking for the most efficient rifle cartridge!

 

[Elkins45]

IMO the question should be more about the gun than the cartridge. I built a 35 Whelen on a Marlin bolt rifle and think a lot of it, but I don't think I would want to go on an expensive trip armed with a slide action rifle in any caliber. A pump gun doesn't have the ability to chamber rounds that are just a tiny bit off spec like a bolt gun does.

 

[Agent1209]

"I put my money on the 7mm-08, the .284 Winchester, or the .308 Win., with the thought in the back of my mind that, just possibly, the wonderful little .250 Savage would beat them all. Boy was I astonished when the numbers started rolling in - suprised on several counts in fact - and I suspect you will be too.

To keep you from holding your breath any longer, the winner is the .35 Whelen. This venerable cartridge (a long time wildcat designed way back in 1930 in honor of Col. Townsend Whelen and finally legitimized in 1995 [note - error of fact - should read 1988] by Remington) delivers more kinetic energy and a higher L [Wooter's lethality index] factor per grain of powder burned than any other cartridge.

In Ackley's improved version it is even better, becoming the only cartridge on the list capable of generating more than 50 ft-lbs of energy and a L factor exceeding 5.00 at 200 yards for each grain of powder loaded.

What's more as a group, the .35s are all highly efficient, beating virtually every cartridge of smaller caliber. Even the obscure .358 Norma Magnum is the most efficient of the belted-magnum cartridges [note - by the author's own data the 350 Remington Magnum bests the 358 Norma]. This wonderful efficiency of the .35 calibers is especially remarkable when one considers that most all of these rounds are verging on obsolescence today. Take a look at the list of .35-caliber cartridges; do you or any of your friends shoot one? Luckily they are not entirely gone. In fact Remington reintroduced the splendid .350 Remington Magnum a couple of years ago in the model 600 carbine series."

 

[35 Whelen]

Funny how the negative comments about the Whelen are from people who don't own one. To state that the 35 Whelen is just a 30-06 on steroids is absurd. Would a 30-06 run this bullet:



...from the arse all the way up to the shoulder of a bull like this:



..and come out looking like this?:




Not a chance.

The fact that ammo can be lost is a very valid point, comparing the 30-06 to the 35 Whelen is not.

35W

 

[Curator]

Absolutely! The .35 Whelen can push a 250 grain slug to 2400fps or a 300 grain bullet to 2100fps if loaded right and your rifling has the 1 in 14" twist. Great penetration and a big entrance and exit hole besides. In my opinion it can't be beat on big Mule deer, Elk, Moose or Bear with anything you'd care to shoot more than once. I've had several with my current one (Ackley Imp.) built on a Springfield '03 action and a Douglas 1 in 14 twist.

 

[Dr T]

Of course, if you wanted a rifle in the same class with good availability in Africa, you could go with a 9.3x62.

 

[35 Whelen]

Of course, if you wanted a rifle in the same class with good availability in Africa, you could go with a 9.3x62.

Now THAT is a very valid point. My Dad has a couple of these and they are quite powerful; right on par with the Whelen. And it's my understanding that they're very popular in Africa.

35W

 

[sKunkT]

If you want a hunter's gun, buy it.

 

[jmr40]

!! I'll just handload with 180 and 200g in the '06.

I think this is a good idea. I've owned 35 Whelen and 338-06 in the past. Like them both, but I kept the 338-06. I felt it offered a little flatter trajectory while still giving enough punch for anything I'll ever hunt. I think that both the 35 and 33 offer a slight advantage over the 30-06 on larger game, but don't think it is enough of a difference to be able to step up to another class of animals. Basically I wouldn't hunt anything with either the 35 Whelen or 338-06 that I wouldn't hunt with a 30-06.

The larger diameter, heavier bullets would offer a little more penetration and might leave you with a shorter, easier to follow blood trail, but dead is dead. With good quality bullets such as the proven Nosler Partition or Barnes TSX bullets in 180-200 grain loadings in your 30-06 I doubt if you'll notice much difference.

 

[Maverick223]

The article was in Rifle Shooter magazine and did not address pistol cartridges, they were looking for the most efficient rifle cartridge!

The .22Short/Long/LR, .30Carbine, and .45-70Govt. that I mentioned are all rifle cartridges, and all are much more efficient than the .35Whelen. Don't get me wrong I like the cartridge, and it is reasonably efficient, particularly for maintaining decent trajectory, but lets not make it out to be something that it isn't. The study that you site omitted dozens of cartridges (some of them quite popular ones like the .45-70Govt.) that would handily best the .35Whelen WRT efficiency.

I built a 35 Whelen on a Marlin bolt rifle and think a lot of it, but I don't think I would want to go on an expensive trip armed with a slide action rifle in any caliber. A pump gun doesn't have the ability to chamber rounds that are just a tiny bit off spec like a bolt gun does.

I agree, in sweltering heat and high humidity the pump could fail due to inherent design problems (little strength for extraction). IMO that's another mark against the platform mentioned.

Of course, if you wanted a rifle in the same class with good availability in Africa, you could go with a 9.3x62.

Another good one. Most 9.3mm ammo (including the x62mmMauser, x64mmBrenneke, & x74mmR) has pretty fair availability in Africa, and all would be an excellent choice for plains game.

 

[H&Hhunter]

.from the arse all the way up to the shoulder of a bull like this:

.35,

Most folks haven't the slightest clue what kind of performance a heavy slug, in a solidly built bullet, at moderate velocity will give you in way of penetration. And that is because most folks have no concept of what it is to need that kind of penetration or how to use it. Not a disparaging remark in anyway here, the average American deer hunter simply doesn't have the need or the know how to use these large bore perpetrators in the type of hunting most of them do.

As I've said shot placement takes on a whole new meaning when you can get to the goods from any conceivable angle. I've killed numerous elk with a .375 after they've broke cover and my only shot is a hard quartering away shot. I have the equipment to get the job done. I know If I can slip one anywhere in an elk in a direction that will get to the vitals I'm good to go because my 270 gr TSX will penetrate any elk alive from butt hole to nostril and do minimum meat damage in the process, that's the beauty of a heavy moderate velocity slug. That is where the 7MM 140 gr crowd or the .270 130 gr crowd are completely up the creek, you wouldn't dare take that shot with high velocity light for caliber bullet.

Now give me a .30-06 with premium 200 or 220 gr bullets and you are getting pretty close to .35 Whelen territory as far as penetration.

The various 9.3's are interesting but I see no reason why I'd use one over a .375H&H as the H&H has better range and velocity capabilities and is DG legal; anywhere in the world where the 9.3 isn't legal in some countries.

Simply stated if you are going to go through all the trouble of gearing up for a 9.3 you might as well go the tiny extra step up to a .375H&H and have all of your bases covered.

Having killed piles of plains game in Africa I can state without hesitation that the .35 Whelen with good premium bullets will accomplish the job nicely. It "might" be on the light side for Eland but is doable and it's under what you want for giraffe bull no doubt. Outside of that go get them!

 

[Maverick223]

Simply stated if you are going to go through all the trouble of gearing up for a 9.3 you might as well go the tiny extra step up to a .375H&H and have all of your bases covered.

The 9.3x62mmMauser and 9.3x64mmBrenneke both fit in a long action, whereas the .375H&H requires a magnum length action, making it a bit more costly. If budget isn't a factor, I too prefer the .375H&H...easily one of my favorite rifles.

 

[H&Hhunter]

And if action length is a concern go with the .375 Ruger same capabilities as an H&H on a standard length action. However here is a dirty little secret. Your CZ's in 9.3 are built on a full length action with a spacer in the magazine well to make up for the extra length. So you really aren't gaining anything with that rifle. In a Mauser build you are getting the real deal for action length.

 

[KodiakBeer]

The story of the .350 Rem Mag is essentially the story of Remington going to all the big bear guides in coastal Alaska and asking them what the perfect cartridge and rifle was to root wounded 1200 pound bears out of the brush after some client blew his shot.
The consensus was that they wanted a .35 Whelen in a carbine. Remington answered the call with a short fat case that would fit in a short action and duplicate .35 Whelen ballistics; the Model 600 rifle and the .350 Rem Mag.

If the .35 Whelen was that highly regarded by professionals for 1200 pound grizzlies (and it still is), then it will do for all but the largest African game.

The 35's really are a logical bridge between the 30.06 and the .375.

 

[303tom]

Funny how the negative comments about the Whelen are from people who don't own one. To state that the 35 Whelen is just a 30-06 on steroids is absurd. Would a 30-06 run this bullet:



...from the arse all the way up to the shoulder of a bull like this:



..and come out looking like this?:




Not a chance.

The fact that ammo can be lost is a very valid point, comparing the 30-06 to the 35 Whelen is not.

35W

But the .35 Whelen is a 06, .35-06 that is..........