I would like to know how many there are on here. Since I bought one (no game taken yet)I've really gotten partial to the caliber and the rifle I've got it in. Remington 700 CDL w/XCR take off stock(don't want to mess up that nice wood stock in colorado) 2.5-8X36 VXIII shooting 225 gr triple shocks over 60gr. RE-15 under an inch consistently. Tell alittle about your rifles and how you have it setup. Should make a really good big game rifle.

Be careful of that 60 gro of Rel 15, it seems a bit hot.

I have used the 35 W in Africa, and it does a great job, ( I used the old X bullets before TSX). TSX should shoot even better.

Mine is about the same as yours, Rem. CDL, Leupold 3.5-10x40, 225gr TSX at 260fps. See my photos.

I had one of the Remington 700 classics the year they brought them out. I put a Bausch and Lomb 1.5x6 on it. I was using IMR 4350 under 225gr Sierras. Either it shot very well or it's easier to get 35 caliber holes to look close together. For some reason though, it beat the hell out of me, especially my cheek. I've got a 416 Rem Mag with about the same stock and it didn't crack me near as bad. I also had a custom built on a P17 action with a 24" barrel. It showed a distinct preference for 225 gr Nosler BTs. It didn't belt me anywhere near what the 700 classic did. I always have and probably always will like this catridge.

Remington 700ks, Leupold varxiii 1.75x6, sierra 225 with rl15. do not use these bellets on anything other than deer & HOGS..THEY ARE INSTANT DEATH ON BOTH BUT DO NOT penetrate the off side.

I too like the caliber although at present I have no completed rifle in that chambering. I am however in the process of correcting that.

Jim Dubell has my action and is in the process of fitting the barrel, customising the bottom metal, installing a new safety, reworking the trigger, installing Talley rings and mounts, and a few other things. Chic Worthing (Customstox) already has the wood. Roger Kehr (Scrollcutter) did up a nice bolt knob for me too.

Does my 350 rem mag count

I had a 35 whelen ackley that I liked but had re-chambered to a 350 rigby due to a poor chambering the first go around.

I like the 35 whelen performance, but wanted a slightly lighter rifle, and rugers 350 rem mag fit the bill.

I'm currently running 59 gr of varget under a 225 Sierra, and plan to work up loads with 225 TSX.

To me a good 225 @ 2700 fps is sufficient for all NA game, and flat enough for 300 yd shots, and still going fast enough to push out even further if one lazers and dials in the scope.

Mine is the tang safety 22" Ruger RS 1980's edition topped with 3.5X10X50 AO. Shoots Nosler Custom into than MOA in 250 gr partition.

I have three. A Ruger RS tang safety, a Remington 700 Classic and a custom built on an Oberndorf action.
Paul B.

quote:

For some reason though, it beat the hell out of me, especially my cheek.

I had the exact same experience. Ruined me on the Whelen forever. Even though it's a heck of a cartridge. I can't bring myself to buy another rifle in that chambering.

Turned me over to the 338-06, and the rest is history.

I also have the tang safety 22" bbl. Ruger 77RS. It was stocked by Mark Bansner with a Hi Tech Specialties stock in granite color. All metal was done in Metalife hard chrome by Ron Mohovsky, which is as weatherproof as it gets and looks like a matte finish brushed stainless. It is topped by a matte black Leupold 2x7 heavy duplex and shoots factory Federal 225gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws into a ragged hole. It weighs 7 lbs. loaded, handles well and looks great.

Woody

It won't beat you if it is stocked properly. I happen to have a 338-06 and a 30-06 in the Weatherby Ultra-Lightweight which weigh even less than my 35 Whelen but are also stocked well so are no problem to shoot. How the stock fits you is a big factor in percieved recoil. It's also no secret that a fiberglass or fg/graphite stock absorbs some of the recoil through a flexing motion so all of it is not transferred to the shoulder as is the case for the wood stocks.

I have been interested in the 35 Whelen for a number of years, but I have yet to buy one. It seems like a great black bear/elk gun. The ballistic charts dont speak too highly of this round, but what do you 35 Whelen owners say as far as long range capabilities of the Whelen. Out to 400 yds? Also would you compare the recoil to a 375?

quote:

Originally posted by Col K:
For some reason though, it beat the hell out of me, especially my cheek.

Col K,
YES! I have no idea why but a mate's 35Whelen (Rem700 BDL) is horrible! He's shot my Remington Safari Classic 375H&H and finds it more comfortable. He's now so fazed by the rifle that he's looking at getting into a 358Win. We've temporarily restocked it with a B&C stock I have and despite being "nicer" he's still not 100% happy.
Cheers...
Con

My whelen is a custom mauser I did on the cheap, an adams and bennet barrel and a corlits stock. Shoots great. I have a VX2 2X7 on it.
I don't think your load with 60 bgrains of RL-5 and a 125 grain bullet is to high. I just rechecked the aliant web page and they show 59.5 grains with a 250 grain Hornady Round nose and only 48500 cup.
My load is 60 grains RL-15 and a 250 grain speer hot core, gets me right to 2600, I think that will do for 300 yards just fine...tj3006

Sounds like the Rem. classics in the whelen recoil might be a little rough. The CDL i have does kick but that Limbsaver pad is awesome. I seriously doubt I could shoot as comfortably without it. I'm not getting any pressure signs with the 60gr. load and it's been really hot here in east texas (98-100 degrees). What kind of POI change should I expect when I get to colorado(the reason for the XCR stock or part of the reason anyway)? I really think a stock change and a recoil pad(limbsaver or decelerator)could solve those recoil blues for the classic owners. The SPS and XCR stocks are pretty cheap at cabela's and the one I put on fit really well. The recoil is the same as with the cdl stock but it ain't near as purty! Mark6.5X55 checked your pics. out, man I'm jealous. The muskoxe and caribou are real nice,what other game have you taken with your whelen?

Thanks. So far, bison in South Dakota, Kudu and impala in Namibia, plus the muskox and caribou. I LOVE my whelen!!! I've got both it and a 375 and I like the whelen much better, will most likely sale the 375 but the whelen is staying.

I was going to buy the M 700 CDL in this caliber but I found a 1903 Springfield with prettier wood for about $100 less so I picked it up. I haven't hunted anything yet and I haven't developed any loads for the rifle yet because I'm shooting Remington 200gn factory ammo that I stumbled across for $9.99 a box. Picked up six boxes from Dick's after they bought out Galyans in Colorado Springs. The rifle shoots great with my VXIII 1.75-6.

The only complaint is the rifle kicks like a mule and I can only put about 12 rounds down range from the bench before I develop a flinch. The barrel has almost #1 contour and only has a small 1/2" recoil pad on it and I just tops the scales at 8.5 lbs. Who ever built this rifle shaved every ounce of weight from it they could and still keep a wood stock. I'm thinking I need a better pad on it I just can't bring myself to put a brake on it.

I'm taking it as back up to my 338-06 on my elk hunt this year. I have two elk tags and a black bear so there is a pretty good chance I will bloody both rifles since I haven't used them to hunt with yet and I've had them almost two years. Didn't do so well last year with the Draw, only got muzzle loader tags.

I have several Remington 700 Classics. Maybe those stocks fit me well but I cannot tell any difference between my .30-06 w/ 180 grains Nosler handloads and my .35 Whelen w/ 250 grain Noslers as far as recoil is concerned. The -06 clocks @ 2,750 fps and the Whelen @ 2,525 fps so they are both to be considered maximum loads. I did go to a Decelerator pad on my .375 H&H. A definite difference there! I'll not comment on the .458 Lott.
Rich Elliott

Rich,

Actually a 458 Lott is a good gun for training one about recoil. The medium bores pale in comparison!

I always use a past mag recoil shield when shooting the medium and large bores off the bench, it totally eliminates flinching for me.

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Jones:
My whelen is a custom mauser I did on the cheap, an adams and bennet barrel and a corlits stock. Shoots great. I have a VX2 2X7 on it.
I don't think your load with 60 bgrains of RL-5 and a 125 grain bullet is to high. I just rechecked the aliant web page and they show 59.5 grains with a 250 grain Hornady Round nose and only 48500 cup.
My load is 60 grains RL-15 and a 250 grain speer hot core, gets me right to 2600, I think that will do for 300 yards just fine...tj3006

TJ,
I'm working on the same combo of A&B barrel and Corelight stock with a VZ-24. What kind of bedding did you do to get the corelight to work?

Mine is a custom stainless Ruger77 MKII with a 22" Bevan King barrel 1:14 twist in a Hogue stock and a VXII 3-9X40 matte scope. I shoots 225gr TSX at 2680-2700fps with 55gr of RL15 at 1 moa and under. I had it built this year and haven't taken anything with it yet but it's going on my moose hunt this year.

Here's mine- Mod. 70 Winchester, 24" premium Douglas barrel w/ 1 in 12 twist, Pachmeyer recoil pad, Burris Blk Diamond 6x scope, 2 1/4 lb. trigger pull. The load... 250g Hornady RN, 58.1g BLC-2, WLR primer, Rem. brass. C.O.L. 3.270". Shoots in the 4's at 100 yds. My cast bullet load... Western bullet Company 250g flat point gas check Lee aloxed, 59g H4831 powder, CCIBR2 primer, Rem. brass, C.O.L. 3.265". Shoots in the 6's and will plow thru an elk from end to end.

I picked up a Ruger a few years ago in a Bell and Carlson stock. I have since put it into a Boyds laminated Nutmeg stock and put a Vari-X II, 1-4 power on it. It will shoot the Speer 250 grain hotcores into 1 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards all day long. I am absolutely amazed at it's accuracy. Hopefully I can take a bear with it soon.

I'm I the only show off? Let's see some pictures of all those fine Whelen.

My Whelen is a Rem 700 Classic. I have it topped with a Leupold VXI 2-7. For whatever reason, I had the notion that that the Whelen was going to be so-so in the accuracy department. Boy was I wrong... 225gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and 200gr Hornady Spire Points with heavy doses of RL-15 will routinely group under 1". 250 gr Speer softpoints hover just over 1 MOA. My 700 Classic has a looooong throat, but will still shoot the stubby 200gr Hornadies lights out seated no where near the rifling. The only modification I made was to adjust the trigger to my liking. Lots of thump in an accurate, light weight rig...what's not to like...

-Lou

quote:

Originally posted by BCSteve:
I'm I the only show off? Let's see some pictures of all those fine Whelen.

Here is mine. See the details HERE.

Nice, that's what I'm talking about

Ok darn ya !
I am about to go to a gun show, I was thinking of making a deal on a 7X57 Brno
but now ya got me thinking of a restocked FN 30,06 I saw there, I could get it for 350.00 I think and build another Whelen. I,ll get my cheapo version out and take a picture.
...tj3006

My Whelen was put up on a Ruger Mark ll with a 22" 1 in 12†twist Lilja stainless barrel. CP.

[/IMG] here is my 1st whelen ...tj3006

[IMG]http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m17/tj3006/th_whelen2.jpg"> [/IMG]

Any body know what I am doing wrong !
...tj3006

Mine is one of the Tang Safety Model 77's, but I never did like the 22 inch barrel. I had it replaced with a 26 inch barrel, and topped it with a K6 Weaver with Dual-X reticle. Minus a sling and empty, this gun weighs in at 8lbs.8oz.

I have used it on Whitetails, Elk, Caribou, and Feral Hog. My wife shot her first elk with it and had no trouble with the recoil, and my son-in-law killed his first deer ever with it.

I even used it in Colorado on a Pronghorn, because the wind was blowing the bullets out of Lora's 257 Robts. off target. The wind didn't have the same effect on those heavier 358 slugs. I have gone to using the 225 grain "X" bullets and am really pleased with their performance on game. Haven't tried the "TSX" yet, but don't forsee any let down in performance.

Out of all of the guns and calibers I own, my "Go To" rifles are the Whelen and my 375 H&H, and the winner is usually which ever one is closer to me when I reach in the cabinet.

My own personal stance is that the Whelen is not the gun for everyone or every situation, but I will go gladly go out overgunned anyday, than to ever go out undergunned.

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Jones:
Any body know what I am doing wrong !
...tj3006

Here you go! Nice one!

thanks elcabalaro ! DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DID IT BUT THANKS !
I PICKED UP A JC HIGGENS FN AT THE SHOW AND IT MIGHT BECOME A WHELEN...TJ3006

Nice one TJ. Is that a B&C stock?

quote:

Originally posted by Thomas Jones:
thanks elcabalaro ! DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DID IT BUT THANKS !

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you!!

Well I don't need to know that bad !
the stock is a core light. Came with the adams and bennet barrel I think the combo was about 160.00 at midway...tj3006

How does that AB barrel shoot?

Jim