35 Whelen. Anybody use this round? Pros and Cons?

[Douglas]

35 Whelen. Anybody use this round? Pros and Cons?

[PAShooter]

I am re-posting due to problems with this site.
The 35 Whelen is a fine cartridge. It will handle any big game in N. America. I particularly like the 250 grn bullet. People report great results with little meat damage(proper bullet). My nephew just bought one used, Rem 700, and he is very happy with it. I would have one if I didn't already own a 9.3x62. Cons? Few, store bought ammo is a little pricey.

[WA Mtnhunter]

The .35 Whelen has been my number one choice for a big game rifle since 1989 when I traded a Winchester M70 XTR .338 Win Mag and got a like new 1988 Remington M700 Classic. The .35W has put the brakes on many mule deer and elk and I only had to track one more than a few steps and that one was due to a poor high shoulder hit. It has more than enough power to take the largest game at sane ranges under 350 yards or so without the recoil of a .338 Win Mag (which isn't all that brutal with the right stock & weight). My favorite loads are factory 225 gr Federal Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and Nosler 225 gr Accubonds. I stay away from the 200 gr Remington loads since my rifle does not shoot them particularly well. I handload a 225 gr Nosler Accubond to 2,700 fps, but most of my game has been taken with 225 gr TBBCs. The only con is ammo availability at the discount stores, although Nosler, Federal, Remington, and Hornady have loads available. If you want to sample recoil on one, shoot some 200 or 220 grain bullets through a .30-06 if you have access to one. Recoil is not savage, but no cupcake either.

[Happy Myles]

WashintonMountainHunter is the most knowledgeable user of the 35 Welen. I have killed a couple of elk with it and found it a good killer. Easy to Handload and not temperamental in any fashion. Within shorter ranges does everything a 338 will do in my experience. Mine is very accurate.

[Douglas]

Thanks for the input.I have always been intrigued by the 35 Whelan. I recently acquired a 325wsm that I cannot even get brass for, so I am researching a replacement for it.

[WA Mtnhunter]

Happy Myles, How was SCI?

Cheers

[Happy Myles]

WAM,
This was the Dallas Safari Club shindig, not SCI. It was quite an affair, almost as large as SCI. All the big players were there, exhibitors were not booked up or worn out as it is always the first convention of the year. I finalized my hunts for the year,all my serious business done. If I make Tito SCI, all I have to do is socialize and wander nine miles around the convention floor

[Happy Myles]

Meant to write "It to SCI"

[Amflyer]

Douglas:

Are you located close to a Scheel's All Sports? I noticed that they had four bags of new Winchester brass for the 325 the other day in my local in Lincoln, NE. They will pull difficult-to-find items from stores across the area and ship to your local, if you ask.

Best,

[WA Mtnhunter]

Happy Myles,
Yes, I meant to write DSC instead of SCI. I knew better but had a brain cramp anyway. My only out of state hunts this year looks like the trek back to the old place near Craig, Colorado and maybe a trip to Alabama to a friend's lease. Del in KS is coming along to CO, so we will see if he behaves himself better than last time! (Chuckle)

What's the downside of socializing and wandering around the convention hall?

best,
WAM

[Happy Myles]

No downside except sore feet, which gives you a chance to sit down and gossip

[Happy Myles]

You can always tell first timers to these shows by checking out what kind of shoes they are wearing.

[Del in KS]

Happy don't listen to anything WAM says.
BTW bought a youth .22 for the boys.
I know you got the forest Sitatunga what are you after now? bigfoot maybe? I know you have 2 or 3 of everything else.

[WA Mtnhunter]

Happy Myles,
Last time I hunted with Del in KS, I killed an elk and he even gutted it while I was scouting the route to drag it down the hill. I have not even fired at one since :-(

He has got to be my rabbit's foot this time around! LOL!

[DakotaMan]

Although I don't own one, I've always wanted one and WAM and Happy keep me salivating. It is perhaps overkill for deer but I really like the .35 caliber in heavy brush. I've shot several deer with a .35 Rem in really thick brush and have actually penetrated 3 inch trees and several saplings on the way to deer. The .35 Whelen would be outstanding in those conditions. It is an outstanding choice for black timber hunting elk sized game. Lots of whollup in a cartridge that won't dislocate your shoulder.