Well we have killed 2 Buffalo in Kansas with the Whelen and the results were spectacular.

Buffalo #1, about 1200 pounds, range 88 yds, bullet was a 250 Nosler Partition, @2600fps.
At the shot, you heard the thwap of impact, and then to our surprise, a zing as the bullet skipped across the plains. Buff was down in 5-8 seconds.

Buffalo#2, about 12-1300 pounds, range about 60yds, bullet 225 Nosler Ballistic Tip,@2700fps.
At the shot the thwap of the bullet, and then a very dead Buffalo. Blood and chunks of lung lying on th ground, no recovered bullet, which is no surprise, buff dropped right now.

I shot an elk with the 225 Ballistic tip at about 200 yds, and recovered that bullet. It weighed 206 grains, so we wanted to see how it would work an a bigger critter. All I can say is spectacular!! What a cartridge!!


Jerry

gotta love it!

I think the Whelen is a great all around NA cartridge period! Not just for the heavies. Load it down with the 200gr's and its fine deer medicine as well. Now I said all around, there are always going to be better cartridges for particular applications, like the 400 yard antelope shot in windy Wyoming lol. I have a 35 Brown Whelen 1903 barrel just sitting here waiting for me to find another good action to throw it on.

Milehigh:

I have been on the Wyoming antelope hunts. The only people who get excited about antelope are those folks who have never eaten any of their meat, muy malo!! I will never again shoot an antelope, unles he has horns over 17". If you aren't a boob, lol, you can get within a couple hundred yards of any antelope, so all of a sudden the Whelen fits that picture also.

I am suprised the 9.3 boys aren't chimming in on this post, they usualy have a statistic to prove they have the best cartridge. The fact is, if you need more than a Whelen, you better shoot a 375 H&H or larger.

Regards

Jerry

I'm one of those 9.3 boys yet I'll admit that if anyone need something larger than a 35 whelen they need to to .416 or larger!!

quote:

...Buffalo#2, about 12-1300 pounds, range about 60yds, bullet 225 Nosler Ballistic Tip,@2700fps.
At the shot the thwap of the bullet, and then a very dead Buffalo. Blood and chunks of lung lying on th ground, no recovered bullet, which is no surprise, buff dropped right now.

I guess one could load .358win-200gn monometal, about same MV, and do about the same thing...,for less recoil,...
that would make it more perfect than the Whelen.
...Then I guess .376styer-250gn monometal about same MV, would be a fair step-up, and still light n' compact.....and of course a .416ruger if yA REALLY NEED IT!

No doubt that the .35 Whelen is a great all-around NA cartridge that can take anything including the big brownies. I also believe that the .338-06 is just as good. As usual, use the right bullets and you will be more than fine.

That being said, the 9.3x62 is just as good as the 2 mentioned above, but it has one advantage the others don't: it can used in those parts of Africa where the other 2 can not.

The bottom line: it's all good. Use what you like and have fun doing it.

mmaggi...if you can afford to go to africa, you can afford the real deal......a 375H&H.

Yes, the 35 Whelen and 338-06 are great cartridges...thats why I have both. They speak with authority.

Trax

Just for the record, and to show I am not a prejudiced pig, there was a 358 Win on the last hunt, in fact a classic pre 64 Model 88, at about as close to 100% as possible. I wasn't there to observe its preformance however, the shooter relayed his story to me, and since you brought it up, I'll relay it to you,LOL! He was shooting factory Winchester 200 Silver Tips, his shot was about 75 yards, he placed the bullet behind the shoulder and the buff, after a few steps dropped feet up. The bullet also passed thru. Excellent performance, however the 7 fellows who shot buffs, all with different cartridges, thought the Whelen was the best performer.I guess if you like the 308 vs 30-06 arguments, you can try to make the same case for the 358 vs 35 Whelen, or any of the other cartridges based on the 51mm case vs the 63mm case. While performance with the 51mm and light bullets, is close to the 63,with the heavier bullets it gets left in the dust. Especially if you load each cartridge to equal pressures.

Jerry

This 35 Whelen you speak of sounds like it may be almost as good a round as the 9.3X62.

Debating .35 Whelen v/s 9.3X62 would make no more sense than .270 Win. V/s .280 Rem.

Jerry,
If one so wants a 35wh , then power to them!
But now an Q./
The .358win200gn did what 35whelen225gn did, how do the guys figure the Whelen was a better performer?
A hole through is a whole through, a dead buff a dead buff, is it not?

these days one can do things with a .308win150gn monometal that for many yrs had normally been done with .30/06 180cupcore.

With .358win200s/tip performing as it did, then surely 180-200gn monometals offer even more from the .358win.

quote:

Buffalo#2, about 12-1300 pounds, range about 60yds, bullet 225 Nosler Ballistic Tip,@2700fps.

I would have thought that a 225 gr NB would be way too soft for buffalo, but my buffalo knowledge is extremely limited.
Could the bullet have been used for a quartering towards or away shot?

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
mmaggi...if you can afford to go to africa, you can afford the real deal......a 375H&H.

Yes, the 35 Whelen and 338-06 are great cartridges...thats why I have both. They speak with authority.

Woodrow - great response.

I have a 35 Whelen in a Remington 7600 pump gun. The only complaint I have is that the trajectory is like a rainbow! Good short range gun though. I have a second barrel in .280 for the gun and frankly I use that one most of the time.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:

I have been on the Wyoming antelope hunts. The only people who get excited about antelope are those folks who have never eaten any of their meat, muy malo!!

Regards
Jerry

What's wrong with Antelope meat (I've never had any so, curiosity is kicking in)?

Thanks,
Sid

quote:

Originally posted by Vol717:
I have a 35 Whelen in a Remington 7600 pump gun. The only complaint I have is that the trajectory is like a rainbow! Good short range gun though. I have a second barrel in .280 for the gun and frankly I use that one most of the time.

Just to run the balistics...Nosler data used. 200 yard zero. Mid-weight bullets selected.


.35 Whelen: 225gr. Accubond: 2750 fps w/ 59.0 RL15

100 yrds: +1.72"
200 yrds: +0.0
300 yrds: -8.12"

.280 Rem: 2950fps. 150gr. AB.

100 yrds: +1.33"
200 yrds: +0.0
300 yrds: -6.75"

Sooo. roughly 1.5" difference at 300 yards. Not saying that the .35 Whelen is a flat shooter, but it's hardly a rainbow.

.

Anyone here that can hold inside of 1.5 inches at 300 ??




35 Whelen is a bomb of a cartridge. I love it !



.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:

quote:

Originally posted by Vol717:
I have a 35 Whelen in a Remington 7600 pump gun. The only complaint I have is that the trajectory is like a rainbow! Good short range gun though. I have a second barrel in .280 for the gun and frankly I use that one most of the time.

Just to run the balistics...Nosler data used. 200 yard zero. Mid-weight bullets selected.


.35 Whelen: 225gr. Accubond: 2750 fps w/ 59.0 RL15

100 yrds: +1.72"
200 yrds: +0.0
300 yrds: -8.12"

.280 Rem: 2950fps. 150gr. AB.

100 yrds: +1.33"
200 yrds: +0.0
300 yrds: -6.75"

Sooo. roughly 1.5" difference at 300 yards. Not saying that the .35 Whelen is a flat shooter, but it's hardly a rainbow.

Trax:
And the monometals would offer even "more" from the 63mm case. I see no point. If you like the shorter case more power to you, and all the "lil" guys built on the 308. LOL!!

Karoo: The Ballistic Tip in 35, was built for the Whelen and its velocities. I have shot several 6-800 lbs elk with them and have always been impressed with their performance, recovered bullets weigh more than 200 grains. Of course that is my limited sampling. I can't really say how they would perform going thru bone, as I haven't hit any with the shots I have taken on game. Maybe I, and the others I hunt with are good shots, or just lucky, but I have the utmost confidence in the BT's, for these applications. Like them in 270 as well.

Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by Sid Post:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jerry Eden:

What's wrong with Antelope meat Thanks,
Sid

The same thing that's wrong with Mule deer if you don't kill it, bleed it, Clean it and cool it quick. I've never had bad tasting speed goat but I have had poor tasting and great tasting venison. Diet does play a part, but, again, I've yet to eat a bad tasting piece of antelope. Matter of taste!roger

I'm very happy with my 35 Whelen Imp. and it's performance with the 225 nbt on deer at about 400 yards.

Oh and for all the ones who don't like Antelope, as long as you don't gut shoot them or break the bladder while cleaning them, just drop them my way, I know how to cook them.

quote:

Originally posted by Remington720:
Debating .35 Whelen v/s 9.3X62 would make no more sense than .270 Win. V/s .280 Rem.

As much sense as two bald men fighting over a comb.



Barstooler

Not to get any farther off topic than it already is, but my wife and I enjoy pronghorn meat and have fed it to lots of folks and they all liked it.

It all boils down to the basics,. how it was handled after being killed and the manner it was cooked.

I actually prefer pronghorn to deer.

My pronghorn was quite tasty as well. But I have a hunting partner who is far more experienced with speed goats then me. He said more then a few times, he has had some bad cuts of meat from them. Odd thing, one steak can be great, the other one cooked the same way, at the same time, from the same animal, might taste horrible.

Besides, deer and antelope I usually turn into flavored meat products like jerky or sausage anyways. Only like to eat elk in steak version.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Trax:
...And the monometals would offer even "more" from the 63mm case. .....
Jerry

True. However, you have not explained how or why 35wh was found to be a better performer, when .358w(& lighter bullets) also put holes all the way through Buffalo...

Just for the record, the Nosler ballistic Tips in .358 and .338 calibers have a much heavier/thicker jacket than the .308 and below bullets. Thats why they perform much better than most people would believe. Nosler knew these would be used on larger/tougher game animals. BTW, they also made the NBT in .375 for a short while too.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodrow S:
mmaggi...if you can afford to go to africa, you can afford the real deal......a 375H&H.

Yes, the 35 Whelen and 338-06 are great cartridges...thats why I have both. They speak with authority.

Woodrow:

I have a .35 Whelen, two 9.3X62s, and a .375 H&H. They are all superb cartridges.

Here is my take on this. If you want a cartridge for North America that will shoot bullets from 200 to 250 grains, the Whelen is the best pick. Out of the 22 inch barrel of my Reminton Classic, I can get 2600 fps with a 225 TSX bullet. I think the Whelen comes very close to the .338 Winchester in performance. However, if you want a cartridge that will shoot bullets from 250 grains on up to 320 grains, then the 9.3 is the better choice. I can get over 2400 fps with a 286 grain Woodleigh and over 2500 with a 250 grain TSX in my 9.3. In that regard, I think it is more comparable with to the .375 and thus, more suitable for your African adventure. In fact, I have come to prefer it to my .375. Just my two cents.

Dave

This is a great thread!

338-06,35 whelen,or 9.3x62?

All great rounds.

I suspect there is no wrong choice in choosing one or more of the three.
All capable game getters.
All easy to shoot and reload.
Versatile for a wide range of shooter and target.

My gun safe contains
a .338-06 on a persian mauser action.
a .35 whelen on an 03A3 action.
I want to have a 9.3x62, but which action to build on?

What action is the "classic" 9.3x62 built on? Mauser?

quote:

Originally posted by 45otto:
What action is the "classic" 9.3x62 built on? Mauser?

Yes.... Mauser. The full name of the cartridge is 9.3x62 Mauser.

45, this is a great thread, thank all you guys for your contributions, making this interesting. All these cartridges are great, I happen to have a 35 Whelen and a 375 H&H, so that kind of fills all the voids for me. I can see where a guy might want a 9.3X62 for Africa, if he hates the belts, as I do even though I have an H&H.

Trax, the guys on the hunt felt, after observing 7 buffs shot, that the Whelen hit um harder, knocked um down faster, and generally put um on the ground faster,than the other cartridges which were used, including the 358, no knock on the 358 though. Obviously several of my hunting companions use it.

After listining to you guys, I am going to try antelope again. Maybe I just got a stinker or something. I shot him in the heart, took some pics and had him gutted with in about 10 minutes, had the hide off in less than a half hour. And not to much longer before he was cut up and on ice, along with 4 others. Reminds me of my first elk hunt, I shot a 6X6 that went 920 lbs. Perfect heart spine shot, gutted right away skined quickly and hung all night in 33 degree weather. Next morning off to the meat locker, you couldn't eat it, and we all like game. Took it to a Viejo in South Phoenix and he made tamales with it only way you could eat it. Yet all the other elk I have taken have been delicious.

Jerry

quote:

Originally posted by Vol717:
I have a 35 Whelen in a Remington 7600 pump gun. The only complaint I have is that the trajectory is like a rainbow! Good short range gun though. I have a second barrel in .280 for the gun and frankly I use that one most of the time.

If you're using factory Remington 250 gr. Core Lokts, I would agree. If you load your own using 225 gr. bullets, it's a whole different cartridge. I also have the Whelen in a 7600.

quote:

Trax, the guys on the hunt felt, after observing 7 buffs shot, that the Whelen hit um harder, knocked um down faster, and generally put um on the ground faster,than the other cartridges which were used, including the 358, no knock on the 358 though. Obviously several of my hunting companions use it.
Jerry

Jerry, Interesting what the guys say they "felt".
Seeing 200gn.358win can go about same Mv as 225gn35wh,and that both .358cal bullets passed through Buff, I wonder what made these guys feel buff died quicker directly due to the Whelen? (lol) ..oh well, I guess you can only pass on what they told you, thanks for the reply. -trx.

Trax:

Here's some numbers which may equate as to why the guys thought the Whelen put um down harder.
The 200 grain 358 @2700 delivers 3238foot pounds of energy at the muzzel and 2716 @100yds.

My 225 ballistic tips are traveling @2775fps, so I used 2800 fps as the data line. At the muzzel it produces 3916 foot pounds and at 100yds, 3263. Thats a difference of 547 foot pounds, about the same as a 357 mag at the muzzel.

Jerry

Lot of people over here use the 35 Whelen for Sambar hunting never heard a single bad remark about them.Beleive me that is unusual i dont think i can recall another round that some one hasnt bad mouthed or cussed.&7 shots 6 sambar last hound season for our 2 whelen users,and 3 for 3 while stalking thats effective.

quote:

Originally posted by sambar02:
Lot of people over here use the 35 Whelen for Sambar hunting never heard a single bad remark about them.Beleive me that is unusual i dont think i can recall another round that some one hasnt bad mouthed or cussed.&7 shots 6 sambar last hound season for our 2 whelen users,and 3 for 3 while stalking thats effective.

sambar02...What bullet and wt. do you all use for Sambar?

Antelope venison is much easier to ruin with improper care.

If feeding on alfala fields, winter wheat etc, not run to death before being shot, properly cared for in the field, cooled and aged. It will absolutely blow away deer on the dinner table.

Whelen debate, I think the 338-06 is better choice. I know a Father/Daughter combo that used 180gr BT's out of a 338-06 and knocked over a couple of buffalo no problem. In fact, the Dad couldn't understand why I prefer 200/210gr bullets out of my 338-06's.

As far the the whole 375 H&H thing, I personally chose the 9.3x64 Brenneke. Belts, I don't need no stinkin belts. In a standard length action to boot. On paper the Brenneke passes the 375 H&H and both are right around 100 years old. I guess I'll take German engineering over English snobbery any day.

Feeling a little mischievous tonight.

Low wall
most blokes i know use the 250 corelock factory load,probably because it was the only one avaliable localy.lol Luke did pop one using a 310 grn handload that came with th rifle when we bought it

There is someone I know downunder sambar country way, that lurks the hills with a .35/375dakota..

Sd hunter, this is what I said about the antelope I shot.[quote]After listining to you guys, I am going to try antelope again. Maybe I just got a stinker or something. I shot him in the heart, took some pics and had him gutted with in about 10 minutes, had the hide off in less than a half hour. And not to much longer before he was cut up and on ice, along with 4 others. quote] After reading your post, I guess a sage brush antelope, would be kinda like a pine tree deer. I shot this particular antelope near Rawlins Wyoming, not many farm fields around there.

Jerry

How long did he stay on ice before processing/freezing? I like to age my pronghorn about 5 days.

It sounds like you did everything right, sometimes you just get a bad critter.

I have had that experience, with elk, deer, antelope, and moose. They just weren't as good as they should have been with the care given in the field.