I posted already in the American Hunting subforum of my recent success taking a 16" Pronghorn and a huge Shiras Moose here in Colorado. I thought since I took them both with AR's definition of medium bores, I'd make a quick post here as well. I took both animals within five days of each other.

I took the bull Moose with my Ruger SS/syn Hawkeye 35 Whelen (1-in-12 twist). I used a 280 gr. SAF. I shot him at 40 yards. He took four steps and fell over dead. Bullet was recovered on the opposite side just under the skin. I hit him on the point of the shoulder (heart shot) broadside. Got 400 lbs. of meat from him.

I took the Antelope with my Ruger SS/syn Hawkeye 280 Rem. I used a Win. Ballistic Silvertip 140 gr. It was a broadside shot @100 yards. I hit him just behind the shoulder (double lung, no heart). Entrance wound was small, but the exit was silver dollar size. He ran 10-20 yards and piled up dead.

I really like these two rounds. I use the 280 on deer/antelope and the 35 Whelen on elk/moose.

I also like my 25-06 on deer/antelope and I will use my 338WM or 338-06 on elk/moose.

End of report...

Great results with two great rifles! I've done the same with both rounds but in the "Ackley" form. No moose, but many big Plains Game with the 35 WAI ( 250x and 200x) nice hog with a 310 Woodleigh, ha. I used the 150NBT on pronghorn in WY and exotics in Texas in the 280AI and the Speer 160HC on elk. ha. What scopes do you have on your rifles? I used a "then available" Leupold 3x9 Compact on the .280AI and a VXIII 1.5x5 on the Whelen AI.

Nice two rifle battery there Jim!

I have fun hunting Pronghorn, using a variety of cartridges, but my main 'go to' rounds for them are my 25-06 and 280 Rem. Mostly the 25-06. My wife and I pulled (5) Antelope tags this year between Colorado & Wyoming. I plan to use my 25-06, 6.5x55, and 275 Rigby as well this year.

To answer your question on scope, on all of these rifles, I have mounted a Leupold 2.5-8. I get most of them for free from my Cabelas points, but I have bought a number of them here on AR or other places when the price was right. There is a mixture of VXIII, VX3, & VX3i. Some have Boone & Crocket reticles and some are just plain Duplexes.

I have gone to this power exclusively for all of my hunting, which is Pronghorn to Cape Buffalo. I only scope my rifles up to 375 caliber. From 40 caliber and up, I shoot open sights.

Good hunting to you this year!

I remember running onto a custom switch barrel set up in 280 and 35 Whelen. I thought at the time, and still do, it would be a perfect gun for NA. If it had been correctly (left) handed it would have truly been perfect.

Mart,

Too bad that switch barrel was wrong handed for you. That 280 Rem./35 Whelen would have been an excellent combination for just about anything in NA.

I saw a 25-06/35 Whelen switch barrel in a Dakota Classic a while back for sale on the net. That would have been sweet as well!

Just-a-hunter was kind enough to post pics of my Moose and Antelope on the 'American Big Game Hunting' subforum if you're interested in seeing them. Thread title is 'Moose & Pronghorn'.

Thank you Todd!

Thanks again Todd!

Both of them are outstanding critters! Look at that moose! No flies on the 35 Whelen HOWEVER you could have absolutely decked that moose with the 280. Just sayn, but everyone needs an excuse for another rifle

smallfry,

Thanks!

You're right. I could have taken him with my 280 Rem. But with an animal over 1,000 lbs., I thought I'd give the honor to my beloved 35 Whelen.

There was a creek and some deep ponds close by, so I was relieved when he took only four steps and died on dry ground. Maybe he would have done the same with the 280 Rem., but I sure liked the insurance of the 35 caliber and the 280 gr. SAF bullet...

My 35 Whelen bull isn't quite as big. He fell to on old Hornady 275 grain RN at about 25 yards. The caribou, a dry cow for the freezer, to a 250 grain Partition at 200 yards.

Hey Mart,

Congrats on your Moose & Caribou! Looks like the meat freezer is stocked for the winter.

I love seeing game and hearing stories about hunts with the 35 Whelen. I love this caliber for Elk, Moose and other large game. You used a 275 gr. and I used a 280 gr. on our Moose. We think alike apparently.

Like your Caribou bullet, I normally use a 250 NP on elk, but I thought at over 1,000 lbs. on the Moose, I'd try the 280 gr. SAF. It was actually a bit more accurate than the NP in my rifle.

Good shooting Sir!

Thank you sir. The moose is from last year. That caribou is actually from 12 years ago.

The 275 grain RN did the job but I'll probably go back to the Partition as my all around, do everything, bullet in the 35 even for moose. I have lots of them.