Need hard hitting elk caliber. Help?

[Northslope Nimrod]

Background: I currently have a 30-06. Love it. I also have two 30-30's. Although light for elk. I do carry them at times if shots will be less than 200 yards with Leverrevolution ammo. I hunt in thick pines in the Uintahs. Most shots are under 100 yards, but there is an occassional 350 yard shot. I've been thinking that the .35 Whelan has the ballistics I need.

Thus, .35 Whelan or someing else. Here are my requirements:

1. Hard hitting with plenty of penetration as well. (.35 Rem. may lack penetration I want...and it lacks distance) I feel that a .35 caliber bullet will give me better whallups at close ranges than my '06.
2. Don't want two fatalities. I want my shoulder intact.
3. Don't want expensive bullets. (I already reload for .'06)
4. Don't want super rare ammo. I still want to be able to walk into local store to buy ammo.
5. Lethal for elk out to 350 yards.

ALSO, recommend a rifle in .35 Whelan that won't break the bank.

 

[one-shot-one]

$0.02

i'll say it first, because i know someone will.
the .338 winchester is considered THE elk rifle and would be my choice just ahead of the .35 whelen you are considering. the .338 should not be to much more to reload and might be a tad easier to find over the counter ammo for in a pinch.

 

[Harve Curry]

Your 30-06 is a good elk rifle. If you have doubts use a Barnes bullet or other
well made bullet and they really do open up increasing the wound size alot.
This way you can shoot one rifle, have more money to shoot, and be more accustomed to it.

 

[H&Hhunter]

It sounds to me as though the best choice for your requirements is a .338 Win mag.

It fully meets each and every parameter that you've set forth.

Another that would very nicely match your wish list is the .375H&H or the new .375 Ruger.

If you've got you're heart set on the .35 Wehlen I believe that Remington is or at least was producing the M-700 in a .35 Whelen not to long ago.

As far as a hard hitting 350 yard elk rifle goes the .30-06 fits the bill almost perfectly as well.

Instead of spending the money on a new rifle you could stock up on 180gr Barnes TSX bullets then practice shooting your 06 out to 400 yards. You'd be time and money ahead.

 

[DogBonz]

Use your '06

Load up with Hornandy "light magnum", and you are all set. Ballistics are about half way between 30-06 and 300 Win mag OTC loads.

If you want a big boomer, as mentioned, go with the 338. Surerior ballistica than the 35's, more factory ammo, and more loading componets. Not to mention better SD's and BC's.

 

[Northslope Nimrod]

I've heard the .338's have painfull recoil. Aren't the bullets expensive too.

I've also viewed it as a long range gun. MOST of my shots are under 100 yards. It is only the occassional shot that is very long.

 

[Liberty1776]

30-06 will work great. Spend extra money on premium bullets and practice. If you just gotta have a new gotta have...then my choice would be the 300 Win Mag over the 35 Whelan. I have both, and as you mentioned 350 yds or so, my choice is the 300 WM. My Whelan is for moose. Cause I like the bigger, heavier bullet, that's why... but your 30-06 will do the job with no fuss.

 

[Picknlittle]

I'll vote for the Whelen in part cause I have one and in part because of the ballistic similarities to the 06. If you are comfortable with the 06 but want more "shake n' bake in the mix consider this.

30-06
165 gr. @ 2700 fps. w/ 100 yd = 0, 300 yd = -14.9", 500 yd = -61.4"
Ft/lbs - Mz = 2672, 300 yd = 1636, 500 yd = 1146

35 Whelen
225 gr. @ 2700 fps w/ 100 yd =0, 300 yd = -14.9", 500 yd = 61.2"
Ft/lbs - Mz = 3643, 300 yd = 2231, 500 yd = 1562

250 gr. @ 2600 fps w/ 100 yd = 0, 300 yd = 16.3, 500 yd = -66.3
ft/lbs - Mz = 3754, 300 yd = 2315, 500 yd = 1633

I'd think the recoil of the wehlen would be substantially less than the .338 win. mag. My whelen weighs just over 10 lbs. A 2oo gr round @ 2800 fps feels pretty much like a 180 gr 30-06 round at about 2700.

My point is that if you are comfortable with shooting the 06, the whelen is a very natural move because you don't have to learn another gun.

 

['Card]

Like everybody else in the thread, I think your .30-06 would do the trick - but like you, I'm also kind of a sucker for the .35 Whelen cartridge.

Remington makes several different versions of their Model 700 in .35 Whelen. Personally, I'm more of a semi-auto fan, and ever since I heard Remington was chambering one version of their Model 750 (replacement for the venerable 7400) in .35 Whelen I've been wanting one really bad.

 

[H&Hhunter]

I've heard the .338's have painfull recoil. Aren't the bullets expensive too.

I've also viewed it as a long range gun.

NorthSloope,

The answers to your questions.

1. .338 does not have a violent recoil. I find it very mild to shoot.

2. Please define "expensive" if you are a reloader or want to buy ammo thye are about the same as what you'd pay for .35 Whelen stuff.

3. The .338 is no more a "long Range" round than is an .30-06 in fact it has very simular balistics to the 06. It's got more stuff when it gets there but hold over is almost identical.

It sounds to me as though you really want a .35 Whelen and by golly there is nothing wrong with that. You should get one. It's a great round.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

My "heavy" rifle is Bigfoot Wallace, a custom '03 Springfield in .35 Brown-Whelen. This rifle drives a 225 grain Nosler Partition Jacket to an honest 2,800 fps. The Nosler PJ at that velocity is enough for anything on this continent.

However, as Townsend Whelen was wont to say, "The .30-06 is never a mistake."

 

[sixgunner455]

When I saw the title to the thread, my response was ".30'06 or .308 or .270. Next question?"

I've seen every one of those drop an elk at ranges from spitting distance to 300+ yards. They don't kill your shoulder, are common, and they work.

That said, get what you want. If you are fascinated by the .35 Whelen, then get it. There's nothing wrong with getting another gun, if it fits your budget.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

When I saw the title to the thread, my response was ".30'06 or .308 or .270. Next question?"

I've seen every one of those drop an elk at ranges from spitting distance to 300+ yards. They don't kill your shoulder, are common, and they work.

That said, get what you want. If you are fascinated by the .35 Whelen, then get it. There's nothing wrong with getting another gun, if it fits your budget.

Amen!

One good reason for hunting with a particular rifle is because you want to. There's something about hunting with my .35 B-W (and with my pre-'64 Winchester Model 70) that satisfies me more than hunting with an ordinary, plastic-stocked, right-off-Wal-Mart-shelf rifle would.

 

['Card]

There's something about hunting with my .35 B-W (and with my pre-'64 Winchester Model 70) that satisfies me more than hunting with an ordinary, plastic-stocked, right-off-Wal-Mart-shelf rifle would.

Truer words were never spoken.

For me it's a Remington Model 81 in .300 Savage. Beat up, iron sights, butt-ugly, you name it - but there's just something about that old gun that makes it much more satisfying when I kill a buck with it.

 

[mcwjr13]

Have you considered any of the WSM cartridges I just bought a .300 wsm for a sheep hunt and was pleasantly suprised.

recoil is relative to the weight of the gun and caliber my ruger mark II .300 win mag kicked harder than my .338 browning a bolt just my .02

 

[KHawk]

I'll vote in the 30-06 line. It has taken more N. American game (Large and medium) in the last 100 years than any other calibur. Read that somewhere. Probably in a gun magazine.

 

[IV Troop]

I am from Idaho. Elk hunting is an every year thing. I have killed a dozen with a 270 without any problems. The 30-06 with a good bullet is plenty powerfull enough for any elk or moose for that matter that walks in North America.

spend the money you would spend on a new gun on practice from field shooting positions and you will be confident, well armed and better prepared to make a clean kill.

 

[GCW5]

I've used a .270 Win on elk quite a bit, using 150 gr Nosler Partations, all droped in their tracks. I also felt that I might need a little more umph some day.

I had wanted a .35 Whelen, but couldn't find one (that I could afford). I went insted with a CZ 550 rifle in 9.3 X 62 Mauser, I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With 63 gr of RL 15 under a 250 gr Balistic Tip, I get 2650FPS and dead stops. Pretty much what a .338 will do with less noise and 30/06 recoil. I've killed elk out to 330 steps with it with no problem.

One of my son's has a .270WSM that is also a very good rifle on elk. He killed a big cow @ 420 steps with a factory Winchester 140 gr Fail Safe. Recoil is about like a 30/06, but defenatly much loader report.

Good Luck!

 

[Vern Humphrey]

At last, a man who knows the difference between a "step" and a "pace."

A pace is two steps -- start off on the left foot and count every time the right heel strikes the ground. An average pace is five feet. I've read many an article where the author claims to have shot his prize whatever at "300 long paces." That would be over 500 yards!!

 

[only1asterisk]

If you want more bullet than the 30-06 (nothing wrong with that) then the 35 Whelen is a great way to go. I like the 9.3x62 with 250 grain Accubond in that role.

David

 

[LHB1]

1. .338 Mag (approx twice the recoil of .30-06 if I remember correctly)
2. .338/06 (handloads, less power and recoil than .338 Mag but still deadly)
3. .35 Whelen ("may" be available in factory ammo. Similar recoil to .338/06)

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[CB900F]

Northslope;

I've hunted with the .30-06 for decades. A few years ago I got a .338 Winchester magnum also. My .30-06 load uses a 150 gr bullet at 2950 fps. My .338 load uses a 225 gr bullet at 2875 fps. The .338 has some more recoil than the .30-06; it's moving a 75 grain heavier bullet 75 fps slower. The difference is not all that great, shocking, or shoulder damaging.

I got the .338 as an elk, moose, bear gun, and just 'cause I wanted it anyway. My .30-06 can kill all three also, though with different loads than the above. I like standardizing on one load per gun. Gives me an excuse to get more guns, don'tcha know !

Barnes bullets: A good way to separate money from your wallet. Put a standard Sierra, Speer, Hornady, where it's supposed to go & watch the results. Accuracy trumps magic bullet every time. If you can't get the shot you want, hunt better, don't make the animal pay with a days long death for your impatience.

900F

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

consider a .300 or .325 WSM

 

[Steel Talon]

>>>1. Hard hitting with plenty of penetration as well. (.35 Rem. may lack penetration I want...and it lacks distance) I feel that a .35 caliber bullet will give me better whallups at close ranges than my '06.
2. Don't want two fatalities. I want my shoulder intact.
3. Don't want expensive bullets. (I already reload for .'06)
4. Don't want super rare ammo. I still want to be able to walk into local store to buy ammo.
5. Lethal for elk out to 350 yards.<<<

Hello Northslope...

Based on your requuirements. I would use the .300 Win Mag.

Fits everything you require and since you allready load for the -06 it would be a no brainer for me..

Peace
Steel Talon

 

[koja48]

For what you want, your 06 is all you need. Upgrade to a better bullet if you're doubtful. Dad harvested many, many elk with his 06. In my intemperate youth, I "had to have" a 300WinMag; still own it, but now use Dad's 06 & have for the last 20 years. The 300 killed at 1 end, wounded at the other imho . . .