I just got back from another trip into that Fir and Spruce jungle in MT known as the "BOB".
Called in another 5X5 bull and up eneded him with one shot from my .35 Whelen @ 55 yards.
That 250 grain Nosler@ 2,525 fps sure does put out their lights.

Rich Elliott

Way to go Rich... love "The Bob."

Nice! I love the Whelen for Elk. Big disgussion in another thread (again) about its worth vs other chamberings and very little mention of specific applications. How one can determine superiority without a criteria is a bit of a mystery to me.

I will be taking mine next week, it has become my favorite Elk rifle hands down but I want to give some accubonds from an 06 a try this year, so the Whelen will be my back-up popper.

We dont have Elk,But my 35 Whelen works
great on Maine Black Bear,Moose and Deer.
Always go, With what you know works.
People get too caught up on the latest and
greatest Super Caliber.
"Dont let it out,that the 35 Whelen works this
well.Or everyone will want one........

In a day and age when everybody thinks a bullet has be going 3000 fps (or better) to be useful, it is nice to see some others out there who like cartridges like the Whelen that just plain get it done. I hope to someday point mine at an elk. Congratulations on a great hunt.

Good job Rich! Long live the 35 Whelen.

A little Whelen story. The first critter I thumped with my old tang Ruger 35 Whelen was a big bull nilgai near the King Ranch. A lucky running shot (never saw one standing still!) at 150 yards that just rolled it stone dead. The 250 gr Partition at 2500 fps centered the shoulder and passed through. The ranch hand was so impressed he offered me $5 for a loaded round for his collection. I swapped him for a few shots of tequila instead. My younger days, tequila at 8 AM, brrrr... He told stories of the many lost bulls shot by the big 300's. I suspect poor shooting and poorer bullet selection was the real issue. I have since taken elk, hogs and deer with similar authority. I am convinced the Whelen is the equal of the 338 Win Mag out to 250 yards or so.

The only problem with the .35 Whelen is that the bullet is about .020 too large in diameter. Other than that it's perfect.

Too large in diameter??? Nah, it's too small by 0.008 of an inch!

-Bob F.

9.3x62 was born before the .35W and will live long after the Whelie is dead.I have to accept that others accept compromise . Its coffin is ready,problem is, everytime we go to bag it,its loyal band of followers starts barking and showing its teeth,not allowing us near the carcus!

Just took a poll of my deerstalking club, on calibers used, regardless of action type.
#1, 30-06 (68). #2, 270 Win (36). #3, 35 Whelen (35). #4, 300 Win Mag (30) #5, 358 Win (12). #6 338 Win Mag (11). #7, 375 H&H (10). #8, 308 (8). #9, 9.3x62 (2) #10, 458 Win Mag (1).
The 35 Whelen does O.K, 3rd to two of the most popular sporting rounds ever!
Woodjack, you will be dissapointed to learn that, as for the 9.3x62, sorry, both of them are mine! One Tikka, one Blaser. Then again, so is one of the 35 Whelen 760's.
Got a gunsmith locally who will rechamber a 760/7600 to 9.3x62 plus do the work to get them to feed reliably from the mags, for about $280.
Thinking I might get my 270 Win rechambered, now that the groups have opened up (after 5000+ rds) to over MOA.
Anyone else tried it? Any comments? Do it, Yes/No?

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium Carborundum.

Sambar,
How come not one of you has a 7x57? I find that a disgrace! I expect that you will correct that?
Yes do the .35 to .366 conversion

Nope, don't have to. I have a 7x57R in my Blaser 95BBF, I just don't use it when I am chasing Sambar. That's what the 9.3's are for.
the 7x57R gets used mostly on Hog deer, and Fallow deer, never by choice on Sambar. Although it already has one Sambar to its credit, that was a VERY careful head shot. These critters are just to big and hard to stop to take chances with.
I'll take the Whelen or 9.3 any day.
Besides, it was only the top ten, if I listed everything everyone used, we would be here all day!

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium carborundum

It will be a 277 to 366 conversion, it's my 270 Win that has started to loose its edge in the accuracy dept. Although, 1.2 MOA isn't bad for a forty year old pumpgun!

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium Carborundum

Sambar,
I assume your in Victoria ??? Any idea what the breakdown of cartridges was if you take mode of hunting (hounds/stalkers/both) into account? Real surprise for me was the 358Win.
Cheers...
Con

Nah, not really Con, One guy has 3x 358s, two BLRs and one Sako. The 358 is very popular in the BLR/MLRs
No real idea on the break down of the cartridges, although some doggers use elephant guns on the running shots, most seem to have 270 or 30-06. It seems to be the stalkers, up on the tops, with the larger, longer reaching cartridges, or elephant guns. (don't know why, the only elephant I have seen in OZ was at the zoo!)
Me, I usually try to find a wallow or rub tree and sit back 80 -100m or so and wait. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
I like the 9.3 as it has plenty of power for the largest stag, and won't smash a small hind to bits, as I kind of like venison. Best of all, it doesn't beat the shit out of me when I squeeze off a shot.
Although I do prefer Fallow venison, which is where the 270 and 7x57R come in. And they are both legal if it happens to be a Sambar that steps into view.

Cheers, Dave.
Non Illegitium Carborundum

Rich,

Congrats on your "Bob" bull! The .35 Whelen's not going to be buried, it's too good of a round, regardless of when it came out.

Hey Woodjack:
Whats all this hub bub about the 9.3X62? A 250 grain bullet traveling at 2450 fps, according to Hodgdon, is very below average. I know, you guys all want to talk about the heavy bullets, but that dosen't wash either, because if more than 250 grains is necessary, get out the 375.

No, I don't own a 7X57, matter of fact I don't own any euro designations. I figure a 270 does a real nice job, if not the 30-06 will.

Jerry

As good as the 35 Whelan and the 9.3x62 are, I don't see a very bright future for either, the Whelan has struggled to survive for many years and keeps hanging on by the skin of its teeth, but its moribound in the end...the 35 has never been popular in the Americas...unfortunate but a fact of life...As much as I love the 9.3x62, that replaced my old Whelan, the .338 Win. just about sounded the death nil for both of them and I suppose rightfully so...

Ray A. said,

quote:

As much as I love the 9.3x62, that replaced my old Whelan, the .338 Win. just about sounded the death nil for both of them and I suppose rightfully so...

Ray. Why should that be rightfully so? I think it was Jack O'Connor that once said, "All a man needs in North America is a .22 Long Rifle, 30-06 and a 12 gauge shotgun for most of the hunting he would do, but it would be awfully boring." or something to that effect.
I guess we could just remove the 30-06 and substitute the .388 Win. Mag., but then again, wouldn't that be awfully boring.
Seriously though, if all the was ever needed was a .22, 30-06, and 12 gauge shotgun, the gun companies would have folded years ago. Not a pretty thought.
I like my .35 Whelen, even if I haven't shot anything with it yet. The "yet" being relevant to drawing a damn tag to hunt something with it. I also like my new .338 Win. Mag. that I picked up at a gun show. I did luck out and draw a deer tag this year, first one in three years, but I kind of hesitate on using the .35 or .338 on those puny deer in the area I drew. I think I'd prefer my 7x57, but we'll just have to see what the fancy strikes me at the time when I go. At least I am getting to go.
Paul B.

There's something about 33 cal. I know, its just ugly.

Jerry

congrats, on your bull.

I think the 338-06, 35 whelen, and 9.3x62 are all very good cartridges.

I personally like the 338-06. Shoot what you have, like what you shoot, and the most important thing, HIT what you shoot at with whatever cartridge you prefer to use.

"Whats all this hub bub about the 9.3X62? A 250 grain bullet traveling at 2450 fps, according to Hodgdon, is very below average. I know, you guys all want to talk about the heavy bullets, but that dosen't wash either, because if more than 250 grains is necessary, get out the 375."

I agree, I can't imagine using a 250 grain bullet out my 338-06 for anything except big bear and possibly a Cape Buffalo, if it was legal. And then I would feel more comfortable with a 375.

Well, far be it from me to clog up Rich's thread with a medium bore argument !

While I think the 338 WM makes best sense in NA of all the medium's I will say there is just something about toting a 35 Whelen in "The Bob" that just "fits"...

Well now, we've covered everything from .338's to 9.3 X 62's which leaves the .35 Whelen in just about the middle. What I like about mine is it's 22 inch barrel and 8 lb weight. Just right for a saddle scabbard and doesn't hang up on every tree limb you crawl under. It's a carbon copy of the .30-06 I've hunted with for years but throws that heavy Nosler Bullet for lots of extra knock down. Yep, as Brad said, it just 'fits" in the BOB.

Rich Elliott

Sambar,
So... the 35Whelen may move up the ranks amongst those that stalk only? The 358Win is quietly chugging away I think. I've had a rifle built and the 358 reamer was one of the 'smiths most popular. He reckoned he's building maybe half a dozen bolt-rifles a year with the odd M88. It would be interesting to see sales-wise what would happen if the Rem7600 was chambered for both Whelen and Winchester and a 250gr factory load offered for both. Wouldn't surprise me if the 358Win outsold the Whelen.
Cheers...
Con

Rich, sure wish you'd post a pick of that Fir Pig... I never get tired of looking at elk!

Con, it would suprise me, if you have the long action of the pump anyway, you may as well use the Whelen. The 358 is a short action round. Now it they were to start putting out short, light boltguns for it? That would be another story altogther. I'd line up for one, If I didn't already have a 350 Rem Mag Custom Shop Model 7 KS.

Cheers, Dave
Non Illegitium Carborunsum

Congradulations on the elk. I love the old 35 Whelen and hope somehow it manages to stay alive. I don't see much hope for it but I will always have at least one in the safe. They just are great timber rifles and although the 338 will do everything the whelen will the oposite is true as well the whelen will do everything the 338 will except for a minimal amount of reach.

To hell with the rifle simply good job on the elk in the bob. Hope it was a good hunt. The BOB is a special place that few are willing to go as you actually have to hoof it in (walk or ride). Good job and well done.

John

Guys

Dont sound the death nell yet for the Whelen(by the way there is no A in Whelen) Remington is producing its 700 CDL in the cartridge as well as the model 7400. As long as there are wildcatters there will always be Whelens and .358 winchesters also!

One of my wholesalers, Crice in Pa. had a special run of 7600's with a maple stock in 35 Whelen. Just threw the flyer away today as a matter of fact. So if you're looking for one, there will be some floating around.

What I cannot understand is, why did Remington and Ruger go with the 1 in 16" twist for the .35 Whelen?

As long as the .358 Win. was also mentioned, as Winchester designed it with a 1 in 12" twist, why in hell did Ruger go with a 1 in 16" twist one their runs of the M77 in .358?

Nothing like handicapping two really good cartridges with a ridiculously slow twist.

I have three rifles chambered to the Whelen and five rifles chambered to the .358 Winchester. The Remington and Ruger have that 1 in 16" twist and don't shoot 250 gr. bullets all that well. The two Rugers I have in .358 shoot 200 bullets OK, but poorly with 250 gr. bullets. The Kodiak Mauser also has a 1 in 16" twist. I guess they figured that if Winchester had dropped the 250 gr. Silvertip, then there was no reason to use the faster twist. Who knows? However, my first model Browning BLR and Savage 99 both have the 1 in 12" twist and are very accurate with all bullet weights.

I also have a neat custom Mauser .35 Whelen I bought at an estate sale that just happened to fit me like a glove. It has a 1 in 14" twist and will out shoot the Remington and Ruger by a small margin with the heavier bullets.

FWIW, I don't consider the .35 Whelen just a brush gun. Sighted in to be about three inches high at 100 yards, the 250 gr. Hornady spire point will be only about eight inches load at 300 yards. The 250 gr. Speer Hot-core will drop about nine inches at 300 yards. Doesn't sound like a short range brush gun to me. I used the data for 2500 FPS. Probably, some people can reach 2600 FPS which would be even better, but a load at 2500 FPS works for me in my rifles.
Paul B.

quote:

What I cannot understand is, why did Remington and Ruger go with the 1 in 16" twist for the .35 Whelen?

Just curiously....can anyone remember of a criticism of a rifle for too fast a twist? Remington certainly remembers the .244 fiasco.... wouldn't you think that if the decision is mde on what twist rate to produce one would want to error on the side of faster rather than slower? I don't understand these things either.....

Paul B,
Could you elaborate a little on the comment about the 1:16" Remington/Rugers not shooting 250gr bullets "all that well". Ever tried the heavier 300gr to 310gr projectiles in your Whelens? Just wondering.

I'm also totally miffed by the decision to use 1:16" barrels on the 358Win/35Whelen. I had a little drama getting an Australian barrel maker to make anything faster as the assumption is that if it works for Remington it must be right, so 1:16" are standard. Nearly everything I've read listed 1:12" barrels on the original Whelens and 358Wins, so where 1:16" came from I have no idea. When time allows, a friend and I are going to play with the 310gr Woodleigh in his 1:16" 35Whelen and my 1:14" 358Win. Interested to see if they're stable at extended distances (200 - 300m).
Cheers...
Con

Has anyone found a resonably priced source of 225 gr TBBC's? My classic loves the Federal Loading and the only price I could get for the TBBC bullets was about the same price as factory loads!

I don't have as much experience as most of the posters on this thread, but I do love this rifle and cartridge. Its nothing fancy with the old Leupold 4X, but its terribly consistant in accuracy, points well, handles well in the woods! Also, I love seeing those big holes in the paper!

My Rem. 700 always gives subminute groups with 250 Gr, Nosler PArtitions. I've shot several that measured 5/8" center to center. It's 16" twist...I've checked. As for be classfied as a short range only propostion, I too sight in 3" high a 100 yards. In 2002 I shot my Shiras Moose @ 280 (lazered) yards . As he faced me I held partway up his nose. Every time I shot he spun around. I hit him 4 times all in the same frontal area. Moose never seem to know when they are dead.

Rich Elliott

I think Remington probably was set up to crank out 1 in 16 tubes from many years of making the old .35 Remington cartridge , and was simply too cheap to retool for a more suitable twist when they came out with the 350 mag and later the Whelen......

Con,
I have shot 275grain Hornandy RN 300 grain Barnes Origionals RN in my Rem 700 CDL (1:16) and in my Springfield with a Shilen barrel (1:14). The Springfield shoots the heavier bullets more accurately then the Rem. Its just a two rifle sample, so not overly conclusive. 250 grain Speers shoot well in both rifles.

Westernmassman,I have not found any TBBC's yet at all. And was told by Speer they would be out shortly (about 4 months ago). May I recommend 225 grain Barnes TSX? They have performed to perfection on everything I have tried it on.

BigBullet

The Whelen originated in the early 1920s and was a wildcat for decades until Remington debastardized it. I suspect that if the factories had adopted it in 1923 or 1922 when Howe and Whelen developed it at Frankford Arsenal we might have waited until after WWII for Winchester to bring out the .375 H&H. And if Ben Comfort had not won the 1935 Wimbledon with a Griffin & Howe .300 H&H, we would not have seen ANY belted cartridge here for a long time.

Well done Rich. I'd like to see some photos also.

As to the whelen, I loaded 40 rounds for mine last night. In 6 days I'm taking it bison hunting and on the 22nd we leave for musk ox and caribou. I love my whelen! With it and a 270win what else do you need for big game in NA?

SD hunter,
Your quoting some factory balistics on the 9.3x62...Handloads will give you 2550 FPS with a 286 gr. bullet and 2450 FPS with a 320 gr. bullet. all that out of a 06 action...Its a very nice caliber...

They are all nice calibers and all in the same action and weight of rifle...there is no doubt the .338 tops them all as it holds more powder, and the big dog sleeps on the poarch...but which one you choose is up to you and power is not always an issue..I have use all three and I can't complain on any of them.