It's $3K at Cabelas.

1. It's easer to find .35Whelen and .375H&H ammo. The bright spot is 18.5g PP/PPU loads at Graf & Sons at 19.99/box of 20.
2. "Spoon bolt handle" + German-style set triggers scare Americans.
3. It's an "Oldie" so it's probably rather long in the tooth by now.

ANIB, or 'awful nice, if you're blind'
Sorry, I couldn't resist this one.

sweet !!

Very cool. Who made it?

It's made by Wolf, but there was a whole pack of them in Thuringen. My guess would be either Julius Wolf/Zella-Mehlis or Albert Wilhelm Wolf/Suhl.

Paolo,

I find the 35 Whelen to be a ridiculous caliber. It was invented 20 or more years after the 9.3 x 62, fits in the same action, holds 10% less powder, and shoots a smaller, less effective bullet. It is merely the reinvention of the wheel in inferior form. However, since it was invented in the U.S., it has a lot of loyal American following which disregards the logical superiority of the 9.3 x 62 over the 35 Whelen.

But perhaps logic prevails in the long run, because at this time the 9.3 x 62 is becoming more popular in the U.S., while the 35 Whelen is in the doldrums.

quote:

It is merely the reinvention of the wheel in inferior form. However, since it was invented in the U.S., it has a lot of loyal American following which disregards the logical superiority of the 9.3 x 62 over the 35 Whelen.

500grains,

That is not quite fair to the Whelen. The Whelen was developed in 1922 to give Americans the option of a larger, close to 375 H&H performance in a standard length action. 9.3 caliber bullets were hard to come by then, and only got worse over the next 25 years. Between the great depression and WWII importing rifle bullets was a collectors/rich mans game. It has been speculated a lot whether Col Whelen, was aware or cared about the 9.3x62 when he developed the 35. What is certain that necking up 30-06 brass to a 35 caliber was a simple operation, 35 caliber bullets were readily available, and it all fit in recycled Mauser and Springfield actions. And the combo worked well in Canada and Alaska.

I am not a big 35 caliber fan, my mind registers 338, the 9.3, then 375 Caliber and I only really like a couple of odd ball 35 calibers. But my predjudices are just that and the 35 Whelen is a excellent cartridge which was developed to put a big game cartridge in North American hunters hands without breaking the bank. You also must remeember that where the Whelen earned its reputation was in very remote parts of Alaska and Canada, before WWII and up till the late 50's. Gettting supplies was much different than it is today, there was no air freight service, Even the postal service was spotty or a many miles to the office, and the Alaskan highway wasn't built yet, hence everything was shipped into Alaska and moved inland and Whitehorse, northern BC and the Yukon were even worse to get supplies into. Rafts, and river barges, and yes the introduction of the Dehavilland Beaver.

When I was a small boy I was raised in Alaska, and I remember one of my grandfathers brothers or uncles who was really one of the old sodbusters so to speak. This was early 1960's and he had lived most of his adult life in Alaska, and was almost 70 then. My father showed him the first "magnum" cartridge he ever saw, a 300 Weatherby. He really had only a few guns 4-5 come to mind. One which he used a lot was a 30-40 Kraig, and his 35 Whelen was his "Bear Gun". Another rifle he used routinely was was an old lever action Winchester, it has been a lot of years but he used it as his "pot" gun and I think it was chambered in a 25-20. I do remember going on many walks and hunts with him and he carried that ol Winchester a lot.

When examining the 35 Whelen, you should remember the politics and the logistics of the day. Within those constraints it did what it was designed to do, and did it well. I grant and conceed I think the 9.3x62 is a better cartridge, but bullet construction has a lot to do with the 9.3 advantages. I also don't think for North American use that there is enough difference between between the two cartridges that a moose or a caribou could tell the difference.

Whelen did not develope the 35 which bears his name. J. Howe did. Whelen was his mentor and very close friend and was given the honor of the name.
Whelen did design, analyze and write about/or collect information on rifle design, function and did write one of the best early books ever on hunting rifles.
The Hunting Rifle, 1940 stackpole books.
Frank

The .35 Whelen is an americanized copy of the older European 9x63 M/88. It was quite famous in its time, due to the writings of Alexander Florstedt.

Carcano

quote:

I find the 35 Whelen to be a ridiculous caliber. It was invented 20 or more years after the 9.3 x 62,

Euro-trash. Kinda like soccer, just not American.

quote:

Whelen did not develope the 35 which bears his name. J. Howe did. Whelen was his mentor and very close friend and was given the honor of the name.

I am not trying to hijack this thread, but I think that is a contensious point. I have articles that concur with above and at least one, from Ken Waters series that is in disagrement. Reference Pet Loads Volume II, page 420. Briefly:

"(2) the wildcat 400 Whelen came first, and in the old but still interesting pages of a 1923 issue of The American Rifleman, Colonel Whelen refered to it as "the first cartridge I ever designed" and in the same article stated that "Mr. James V. Howe undertook this work of making of dies, reameers, chambering tools, and in chambering the rifles, all in accordance with my design " Colonel Whelen was the commander of Frankfort Arsenal at the time and Howe worked at the same, as a tool and die maker.

I really think it was a collaborative effort, as without Howe the 35 Whelen, might be nothing more than notes in the Ol' Colonel note books.

Anyone here have access to the 1923 copy of the American Riflleman? I guess that would shead some light on this.

The 9,3x62 + Brenneke Torped Ideal is a good "Afrique" combination. For the American Nimrod the 9,3x62 would be even better with 16,25g "silver bullet" by Jean-Claude Sauvestre (aka FIP bullet).
I would say that Sako 9,3x66 is the "2nd wheel"! The boss at Via Pietro Beretta 18 must have cracked the whip, no?

The .35 Whelen, much like the .280 Rem and the .358 WCF have way better European counter parts! The 9,3 x62 is accurate and reliable on tough game. I agree with 500 the .35 Whelen is crap

Aleko

500 grs.
I thought you were more than generous in your post towards the Whelen...

On the more serious side, that gun would be good investment over time, probably better than stocks and bonds or gold...

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
500 grs.
I thought you were more than generous in your post towards the Whelen...

Thanks! Wanna hear my spiel on the 338-06?

500 grains,

quote:

Thanks! Wanna hear my spiel on the 338-06?

No, I like the 338-06, its an American version of the .333 bullets and brass are easy to come by. Too bad that Winchester or Remington doesn't start at least building ammo for it.

All I can say to you 35 Whelen fanciers...tough crowd.

Back to the original topic.

That particular rifle is overpriced for not having the scope mounting hardware, which could easily run $500 to $1000. They need to cut the price by at least half if they really want to sell it as is. I figure it is on consignment and the owner set the price.

I dislike the whelen for some reason....it just has never held appeal for me, but the 9.3x62 does. Different horses for courses I suppose.

500 Grains is my hero!

The 9x63 is a German cartridge older than the Whelan.

I own a Whelan and I love it but not as much as I like the 9.3x62!

Damn, guess I better sell my 35 Whelen.I didn't realize what a difference .008" made. Thanks for the enlightment. I have MUCH to learn from you all.

500 grains...

why your disdain for the 338-06...

if you compare it to the 338 win mag the win mag will edge out on terminal balistics but people like me like the other diferences like more down below and less recoil ect but if you compare it to the parent 30-06 it does better on large game probably the main reason why most would get one.

to each his own...

there is more than 1,000 ways to skin a cat.

Ditto what KurtC said. These guns sell for too much when missing the scope hardware.

Ketchikan,

I beleive the difference is in the 50-70 grains of bullet difference and not the .008 of diameter.

WOW. Didn't realize that the 9.3x62 worked so well with 350's to 380's.

I guess the 270 Northfork or the 310 Woodleigh's don't count. Thanks.

you get 'em ketchikan!

The saga of William J. Jeffery .404 Mauser at Bohmans was certainly a surprise to me. This good classic safari veteran finally sold for 1,300# plus premium.
I don't think a vintage Ajack scope would help this Cabelas "Lobo" a lot.

quote:

Originally posted by Ketchikan:Euro-trash. Kinda like soccer, just not American.

I`ve allways wondered how a choice of rifle or caliber can become an agression towards another continent?

Anyhow... if I lived in america(which I used to)I would go for the 35 whelen simply because ammo is so easier to find!.
The 9.3 mauser is a classic and it`s beginning to find quite a following in the"Good ol`US of A". But if I had a whelen I would never trade it in for a 9,3 the difference is too small. My choice of a standard mediumbore when living overhere would fall for the 9,3 simply because you find better rifles for it!

I agree with Kurt on the pricing, but the engraving is very well done, and I think it would be a good "long term" investment at that price, but I would be hard to deal with on it..I would think $2000 is a good price and $500 of that goes towards the engraving...I did not take into consideration the rings were not with it and it would take $300 to make them..

quote:

I`ve allways wondered how a choice of rifle or caliber can become an agression towards another continent?

Tongue was firmly planted in cheek on the "Euro-Trash" statement.

I just don't see how the 9.3x62 is a Godsend and the 35 Whelen is trash. It just don't add up. Snobs is funny, ain't they?

quote:

1st don't see how the 9.3x62 is a Godsend and the 35 Whelen is trash. It just don't add up. Snobs is funny, ain't they?

The 9,3 is nomore Godsendt than the .35Whelen!That we can agree!

US gunwriters (probably starting with Townsend Whelen) have been trying to breathe life into the 35 Whelen for, what, 70 years?

Maybe it is just my German/Polish/Silesian/Hanseatic blood, but I am aware that the 9.3 x 62 is the coolest caliber of the dozens that I own.

God didn't send the 9.3 x 62 down to earth. He kept one (an original by Otto Bock) to hunt with in heaven. One day God saw Jesus Christ walking around with the very first 9.3 x 62 ever made. He said to Jesus, "who do you think you are, Alf?"



lawndart

And heathens say that the 9.3x62 is "Odin's Magical War Spear."
Seems like a Universal Winner. I own a "special" one.

For less religious work, in the hills of Tennessee rather than Valhala, my .35 Whelen sure smacks wild boar flat into the dirt with one shot.

Odin loaned me his spear for a couple of those pigs. Worked well also.

quote:

Originally posted by jens poulsen:
[ The 9,3 is nomore Godsendt than the .35Whelen!That we can agree!

For whatever reason, I have never had any desire to have or shoot a .35 Whelen. Now, the .338-06 and 9.3x62, well that's a whole nuther ballgame.

If I wasn't so lazy, I'd really like the 9.3x64.

Is the .35 Whelan the bastard son of a .45/70?

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Is the .35 Whelan the bastard son of a .45/70?

I think so

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Is the .35 Whelan the bastard son of a .45/70?

snobs...

do you guys think the 45-70 is for poor hicks from the south ( not a detraction most poor hicks from the south are decent people and poor is better than a snob )

any gun bullet cartridge combo that can go lengthwise through a bear or kill two cape buffs in one shot has my respect. i am sure most of you here are ashamed that the 45-70 is considered a big bore...

nitrox...i wish i had you gun colection but lets play nice, there are other here that have the 45-70, mine is a guide gun, its my favorite and if i had a nitro express double, i am sure it would be my new favorite.

500 Grains,

The AR forum gives the impression that 9.3 X 62s are behind every second bush. But look at the bullets Sierra, Hornady and Speer make for 9.3

And would someone want a homely cartridge like the 9.3 X 62 in a rifle that looks it came from the Wby Custom Shop

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:

quote:

Originally posted by NitroX:
Is the .35 Whelan the bastard son of a .45/70?

snobs...

do you guys think the 45-70 is for poor hicks from the south ( not a detraction most poor hicks from the south are decent people and poor is better than a snob )

any gun bullet cartridge combo that can go lengthwise through a bear or kill two cape buffs in one shot has my respect. i am sure most of you here are ashamed that the 45-70 is considered a big bore...

nitrox...i wish i had you gun colection but lets play nice, there are other here that have the 45-70, mine is a guide gun, its my favorite and if i had a nitro express double, i am sure it would be my new favorite.

Glad you like your marlin, I have one to in the 22"barrel version, great calibre but limited when compared to say the .375 H&H for versatility.....just relax mate take what you read here wit ha grain of salt it's only the bloody internet