My lust for a whelen knows no shame yesterday I bought a Remington CDL. I just couldn't help myself The wood is pretty nice, I liked the 24" barrel and out of the box it only weighs 6.91 pounds. When I added scope, rings and bases, sling.... the "all up" hunting weight is only 8.75 pounds! Now if it will only shoot, I may learn to like this rifle. Even if it is a Remington.

I dont want to rain on your parade, enjoy that Whelen by all means. But the place where I found mine lacking is that I still find myself lusting for a 338-06 AND a 9.3X62.

I figured that the Whelen would have cured that but not so. The good news is its not the gun that is the problem, its the gun nut.

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
My lust for a whelen knows no shame yesterday I bought ..........

Mark, If you bought that rifle yesterday why haven't you shot it yet????????? roger

Because I couldn't find a box of ammo in town

But the Fedex truck dropped off a box of dies, brass and bullets Saturday afternoon What to guess where I'll be this afternoon?

Getting a new gun is so much fun. It has little downside. One can put it aside or use it every day. They don't take up much room or cost a lot.

Now with the internet we can show and tell about the gun too.

I handled a sweet Berreta SXS in a shop the other day. It's a light and tight 20 ga for $950 and that dealer will take it back if you don't like it. The only thing that put me off was the high gloss stock. They are selling similar new ones for thousands now.

Even a close call on a new gun is a thrill.

Two days later. What happened? roger

Excellent! Hope it works out for you and you're as satisfied as those here with the Weheln. -WSJ

Yes there is nothing like getting a new rifle !!

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Two days later. What happened? roger

&%$*#$ WORK! Thats what happened. Anyway I did make it to the range Sunday afternoon. So Far, so good 225gr TSXs at 2500fps +/- and about 1 1/4" groups at 100 yards. 225gr Nosler B.Tips at 2350fps (max load in the nosler manual with IMR4350) with most groups around an inch

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
...most groups around an inch

Hey Mark, Good for you. How is the trigger on the new CDL - heavy?

quote:

Originally posted by Hot Core:

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
...most groups around an inch

Hey Mark, Good for you. How is the trigger on the new CDL - heavy?

Yep. I plan to take it by the gunsmiths ASAP and get it set to 3.5 pounds or so.

BTW my wife is pretty recoil shy and doesn't like shooting anything bigger than her 270win. But I loaded some of the 225gr Noslers down to 2200fps and talked her into shooting 5 of them. Now she wants a Whelen and I swear if mine was left handed she'd take it away from me. So the plan is to let her shoot mine, with reduced loads, each time we go to the range until we get her up to 2400fps or so. Then if she still feels like she can handle it, rebarrel her a left handed action.

Congrats Mark, I love my older Remington in 35 Whelen. I have had good luck with IMR4064 and 225 grainers, max load is 57grs with no pressures problems and great accuracy (sub moa).Have fun and enjoy.
Craven

I just happen to have some 4064, I'll give it a try.

Yep 4064 and 4320 have worked well for me also.

My gun LOVES the 225 Nosler Ballistic tips behind 55grain of 4064. I have them seated way out (OAL is 3.460) because my Remington has a LONG throat.

quote:

Originally posted by mark65x55:
BTW my wife is pretty recoil shy and doesn't like shooting anything bigger than her 270win. But I loaded some of the 225gr Noslers down to 2200fps and talked her into shooting 5 of them. Now she wants a Whelen and I swear if mine was left handed she'd take it away from me. So the plan is to let her shoot mine, with reduced loads, each time we go to the range until we get her up to 2400fps or so. Then if she still feels like she can handle it, rebarrel her a left handed action.

Hey Mark, Excellent plan.

Depending on what you plan on hunting with it in Bama(hogs and deer?), you can even step the bullet weight down a bit more. Especially for practice and plinking around at the coyotes and crows.

At one time Remington made a 150gr 35cal PSP that they sold in bulk. I've not seen any in a very long time, but they are amazingly accurate in my 350RemMag and have to jump 0.264" to reach the Lands. Just check the shelves in the Gun Shops.

Next up is the 180gr Speer Hot-Cor. Still short overall, but kills deer extremely well when placed into the lungs and headed toward an off-side shoulder. Throttled down to 35Rem levels, they work perfectly going into a shoulder and recoil would be almost non-existant for her. They may have to jump to reach the Lands a bit too, but it just depends on the rifle.

Then comes the 200gr Hornady SP(#3510) which is my favorite Deer, Hog and Bear bullet. It is a bit tough, so it is best to make sure it enters a shoulder going in. Then it simply performs to perfection. And they are plenty accurate for a Standard Grade bullet.

Lots of good options for her with well proven bullets. Give her my best.

Hot Core,

We plan to go back to Africa in 06 and she wants a kudu. Yeah, her 270 will work but a whelen should work better. Plus we hope to go after bear and elk someday. If she gets a whelen then we'll each have a .270win and a 35whelen, we should be well armed for 95% of the hunts we hope to do.

Mark, you'll find that powder makers publish hotter data than bullet makers. When you decide to go fast, check out Alliant's online data for the Whelen using RL-15 and 250-gr. bullets.


Okie John

Mark,

I might also suggest trying some IMR 4895 behind that Sierra 225. It is a tack driver in my Whelen. I chronied it at just shy of 2650 fps out of a 24" bbl.

Just a thought.

Looks like that new, expensive rifle would go real well in a Tuffpak gun case!
I am taking a pump 35 W to Africa in Sept.....in a Tuffpak of course.

quote:

Originally posted by Harry:
Looks like that new, expensive rifle would go real well in a Tuffpak gun case!
I am taking a pump 35 W to Africa in Sept.....in a Tuffpak of course.

Harry you're something else So what are you feeding that whelen?

Congrats on the Whelen! I have one of the Rem 700 Classics in it. Well, used to anyway, it's now a Whackley. For yours you might try RL-15 or Varget. Those two powders with 225gr Partitions or 225gr Barnes X's have given me the best accuracy and velocities in the original chambering. Check for length of throat in yours, it seems most of the ones I've heard of were very long throated, which makes having the mag length 700 action a good thing. You can seat bullets very long, way over max COAL.
Good luck and welcome to Club Whelen.
Mark

okie john got it right!

Rich Elliott

i like the idea of the pump whelen in africa harry...i want to bring mine...but it is a 30-06...plainsgame for me. for my in the thick stuff its my 45-70 stainless guide gun with hammerheads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeahawww come and get me!

Mark,

Get some NorthFork 250's. All from very dead african game.