I have two loads worked up for my .35 Whelen.

One with the Nosler 225 gr. Ballistic Tip and the other for the Barnes 225 gr. X bullet. I've never killed a whitetail with a BT, but have two elk with the X and they performed flawlessly.

What do YOU think, which should I use this weekend?

When you put either thru his lungs, watch how quickly he drops.

For deer? Ballistic tips for a big hole.

I shot one last year with a 250 grn hornady. Flattened him severly. You could eat right up to the hole. Very little collateral damage.

Do you mean 225 grain Ballistic Tip? Iam not aware of a 200 grain version. Lou

I have taken several whitetails with a Whelen. As both are good projectiles, hunt the more accurate bullet. I have had a number of occasions to be impressed by the pure effectiveness (thumping power?) of 35 cal bullets out of the Whelen. It will be a rare situation where you will recover your bullet! Have a good hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
Do you mean 225 grain Ballistic Tip? Iam not aware of a 200 grain version. Lou

I stand corrected, and will EDIT accordingly. THANKS.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:

For deer? Ballistic tips for a big hole.

Sounds like the 165gr. Sierra BTHP (#2140) that I used in my old .308 Win.---I took 26 deer with that combo! That thing will make FIST sized holes in the ribcage (if you hit a rib on the way in), even out of a little ole .308 Win.

Daniel, I think I'll try the BTs.

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
For deer? Ballistic tips for a big hole.

Of course I could hunt with either of my two .416 Rigbys. Now THAT would make a B-I-G hole in a deer.

heh, i make it a practice to never point BTs at something living.

barnes.. or 225 sierra gamekings

jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
heh, i make it a practice to never point BTs at something living.

barnes.. or 225 sierra gamekings

jeffe

Well, now I'm back to where I started . Two Gentlemen that I have great respect for, offering conflicting info.

Believe it or not, the X bullets seem to actually feed better in my VZ-24. Explain that one!

The bal tips pencil & the sierra's explode. I have killed several deer with the sierra & they bang flop buy don't exit the deer, If that's a problem for you move to a 250 hornady.

Tom,

My buddy who borrowed my 350/225 sierra did not mind it did not exit, he did like the 'bang-flop' on the spot reaction on the big buck he killed a week ago.

Made a believer out of me, not that I doubted it. Of course I seen a NICE buck shot with a 243-dad bragged on the fusion 95gr his son shot, but the deer ran 150 yds. I am sure it would have made someone sick to have lost that nice racked buck. Personally I would have likely neck shot that deer. As I read recently, most/many 243 deer shot die, and if you don't chase them, not far from the shot. I would hate to have to trail one late evening as I had to with my buddy, or his friend who had one run with an '06. It seems more common to put deer down quickly despite the shot with medium bores from what I am hearing. Although I do agree a 260 and 7/08 are often great for deer and kill quickly, the 33's and 35's just seem to have an extra insurance coverage tacked on, I guess about 100 grains extra, and more frontal area, which adds to momentum that Elmer Keith liked.

Although so commonly used, the '06 has likely killed as much game as 30/30, but the the lesser used Whelen and similar rounds (338/06, 350RM, 358Win) seem to kill with as much if not greater authority according to all reports I see.

Perhaps the 338 Federal will turn the tide a little more towards more weight/caliber vs more speed with lighter bullets. It is going to be interesting to see how many deer hunters, etc will be happy to have used it.