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35 Whelen for Elk

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https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3221043/m/6311052822

16 January 2017, 21:37
LRx
35 Whelen for Elk
As chronicled elsewhere on this site, I built this No. 1 in SDH's custom stockmaking seminar a few years ago, for the specific purpose of close to moderate range elk hunting.

Since completing the build, for one reason or another I always seemed to have a different rifle in my hands when my chance at an elk presented itself. Not this year! Although she's not a mature bodied bull, I'm very pleased with the results of this caliber! "Modesty with muscle" indeed! I'm a huge fan of the 35 Whelen!


16 January 2017, 22:18
Buglemintoday
Great photo

load? distance?

I love seeing elk photos (and #1's!) tu2


"Let me start off with two words: Made in America"
16 January 2017, 22:41
Jmbrown
Nice! That's a beautiful rifle too. I think it's time to start a Customs Afield 2016 thread in the custom rifle section to show off some pics of the custom rifles we all use and enjoy.
16 January 2017, 23:49
Biebs
Judging by that stock, you were a great student. Nice piece!
16 January 2017, 23:52
Atkinson
Great caliber, and its a great killer, kills out of proportion to its ballistics or so it seems...Shot one quit a bit, but eventually went to the .338 Win. for no other reason than I do have a tendency to try and use all calibers at least a little bit on game..Its part of the fun IMO..


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
17 January 2017, 05:50
surefire7
wow! Elk, 35 Whelen, and a gorgeous No. 1.

A trifecta!!

Life is good...
17 January 2017, 07:04
Johral
Fantastic work on that stock!
17 January 2017, 07:36
LRx
quote:
Originally posted by Buglemintoday:
Great photo

load? distance?

I love seeing elk photos (and #1's!) tu2


Thanks Buglem! My rifle loves 55.0 grs of H4895 pushing a 250 gr Partition. I'm sighted a few inches high at 100 yards, which puts me down about 8" at 300, plenty flat for elk!

I took this cow as she stood quartering-to at about 220 yards. The bullet entered the chest just inside the near shoulder, she ran about 40 yards and went head-over-teakettle. Gotta love the Whelen! Cool

And Biebs, thank you for the compliment but I can assure you, any success I had in creating this rifle has much more to do with Steve's patience as an instructor than any inherent skill on my part!
17 January 2017, 08:36
Wstrnhuntr
quote:
Originally posted by surefire7:
wow! Elk, 35 Whelen, and a gorgeous No. 1.

A trifecta!!

Life is good...



Well said.. tu2



AK-47
The only Communist Idea that Liberals don't like.
17 January 2017, 09:45
Cougarz
Beautiful rifle! The .35 Whelen is certainly one of the best calibers for the job too.


Roger
___________________________
I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along.

*we band of 45-70ers*
17 January 2017, 22:39
swampshooter
Congratulations! On both the rifle and the elk. Cow elk is my favorite game meat. I live 90% on game meat due to my ticker. I already have one stint, don't need any more. I would post a picture of my cow elk for this years meat supply but photo bucket takes more computer savvy than I have. I could text it to someone if they want to see it or post it though. I took mine at 200 yds. (guessed) with my silenced 7 mag. Bang flop, high lung shot that also got into the bottom of the spine.


velocity is like a new car, always losing value.
BC is like diamonds, holding value forever.
17 January 2017, 23:06
mart
Three caribou so far to my 35 Whelen. All with 250 grain Partitions and 56 grains of IMR 4320. Great combination.

Spectacular rifle by the way.


"...I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprize, and independance to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks." Thomas Jefferson
18 January 2017, 05:57
LHeym500
Now that is a beautiful Ruger No1. The elk makes it even better. Congratulations.
19 January 2017, 05:49
LRx
quote:
Originally posted by LHeym500:
Now that is a beautiful Ruger No1. The elk makes it even better. Congratulations.


Thanks for the compliments, guys. Getting skunked on elk (happens way more frequently than not) is a lot more palatable when I can pass the time admiring a nice rifle!
19 January 2017, 09:18
lefty315
Beautiful rifle! i think the .35 Whelen and a 250 grain bullet were made for each other. Anymore photos of the rifle?
19 January 2017, 23:04
elk hunter
Nice rifle! Makes me want to do something with my #1 in 243 that doesn't shoot very good.

The Whelen works just ask my wife. She thought she needed something bigger than her 7 x 57 so at her request I built her a Whelen about six years ago and she carries it as her "big gun" for elk. So far she's freezer trained three bulls with it the last one, taken in 2015, was a 6 x 6, dead within 25 yards from a 250 Hornady.

Again nice rifle, I'm jealous.
20 January 2017, 00:27
Colin Masters
I remember you showing this rifle when I joined ar. Love it! IMHO one of the best ruger no.1 stocks I have ever seen. Just needs a red recoil pad!
26 January 2017, 05:40
LRx
quote:
Originally posted by lefty315: Anymore photos of the rifle?


Oh if you insist... Wink



26 January 2017, 06:34
Johral
That truly is a beauty.
27 January 2017, 03:06
surestrike
And a man who knows how to mount a scope too! As low to the bore as possible.