Guys

I see rifles designated as 35 Whelen, and others designated as 35 Whelen Improved.

Could be the world's dumbest question, but are these calibers the same? Different?

Thanks

the caliber is the same....the improved cartridges have less body taper and usually a sharper shoulder in an effort to improve the powder capacity.

Occasionally performance is improved markedly.....usually a tiny bit and occasionally the improvment isn't measurable.

A 35 Whelen cartridge can be fired in the Improved chamber, but not conversely.

Not enough difference between them to go with the "improved" IMO.

You'll get a little better case life but the only reason I would go with the improved version is to compensate for a bush gun i.e. 20" barrel. Just too much pain in the ass IMO. Been there and done that.

If you are interested in an improved .35 caliber chambering, look at the .358 Norma or STA. You will find them in the Nosler or Barnes reloading manuals. Good luck and good shooting.

I know of two gunwriters who have stated that if they had to do it over again, they would stay with the standard .35 Whelen over the improved version. None gave any real detail regarding that decision, but that's good enough for me.
Anyway, the factory Whelen ammo isn't loaded up to it's proper level as Remington wants to use the round in their pump and semiauto firearms. Besides, there are a lot of old 1903 Springfields and not a few 1895 Winchesters that were converted to the Whelen. We wouldn't want to blow one up, now would we?
Seems to me, they made that same screwup with the .280 Remington. Guess they just didn't learn from the first mistake. Pump guns and most semiautos and hot loaded ammo just don't mix.
Paul B.

Danke bei to all! Will go with the 35 Whelen. Looks like a fun caliber!