Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Not one F*$#!ing box of 35 Whelen?

I went to the new Cabelas in Rogers, Minnesota today. Even though I have over one hundred nice nickel plated cases loaded up ready to go, I thought I would look at the selection of 35 Whelen ammo. I figured they would have both sizes of R/P and the Federal Premium load. Wrong! They had zero!
Thats right zero 35 Whelen ammo. I'm afraid, so very. very, afraid. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />
GWN

Odd, I know of 2 stores in my area (NW Florida) that have 35 Whelen ammo on the shelf. Damn Yankees................

Factory ammo is for chicks anyways!

You're a handloader! Why do you give a *#&~+>$ @?&#? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Seriously, for all of the online villification one sees concerning WalMart, the one near us stocks a pretty nice variety of rifle ammo prior to our firearms deer season.

Bound to have forgotten some, but their selection of "oddball" greenbox Remmy or W-W ammo never fails to impress me here: 7x57; 257 Robts; 32 Special; 8x57; 45-70; 6mm Rem; 35 Whelen; 444 Marlin; 35 Rem; 300 Savage; 303 Limey and probably some I missed.

Even spotted a coupla boxes of 250 Savage behind the counter once, that a customer had asked them to get in for him. The Wally clerk said that customer had inquired at a local shop about the ammo, owner said "can't get it no more"...meant he didn't want to bother, I suppose.

Considering that many large retail chains seem to focus on what they sell the most of when stocking such things, that they bother to offer such ammo impresses me a bit.

Lucky fer me, the old goat down the road also has a good variety of such stuff, so I buy what little "oddball" factory ammo I use, from him.

Some years ago I found a 35 Rem. M336SC in his used gun rack and rescued it from the potential of it being D/T'd. Picked up several boxes of 200gr Core-Lokts to go with it, for slightly less than Wally wanted for the same ammo.

I've had Remington drop several rounds over the years so when I bought the Whelen dealers were selling the ammo at gun shows super cheap. I picked up a case fast. As for reloading, who needs it in hunting ammo. -- no

Had that debate a time or two, on hunting ammo. I picked up a set of dies for the 35 Rem. long ago, still haven't cracked them open, but they're there if I ever do need to roll some up.

So far the Marlin carbine shoots the 200gr Core-Lokts into nice little groups from the bench, and is two for two on baldheaded whitetails, one at nearly 90 yards.

It ain't a round or rifle that will see extensive use like varminters do, so why get all het up about handloads when the factory stuff works just fine for the intended use?

If you want to find factory ammo, get a 338 win mag.

I'm a huge fan of the 35 bores, especially the whelen, but when I built mine, factory ammo was never a consideration, or ever fired through the rifle.

If factory ammo is a consideration, you're best sticking with the most popular chamberings, and in the medium bores, there are only two, 338 win mag and 375 H&H.

What Leadslinger said <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

I can't even imagine using factory ammunition for hunting, when I can use superior, hand-crafted ammunition that bears my personal touch.

Well what about when you are following a wounded bear into puckerbrush cover??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> Aren't you afraid you will have dud??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> Even if you have never had one before aren't you afraid your stars will all line up for you to become bear scat? Nahhhhhhhhhhhh! Just funnin' ya! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That fear is one reason I handload <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. I'd rather trust myself than some technician I don't know using equipment I didn't set up with components I didn't select.

But that's just me... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />...

Do you hunt with factory loads??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Superior handloads don't kill any deader than off the shelf ammo which has been tested at length all over the world at much expense. Granted you can milk a little more out of different rifles but why from a hunting rifle. I have a filing cabinet full of dies, bullets, three presses set up on a bench and a new progressive Dillon with all the bells and whistles setting in the front room. Reloading is great fun if you have the time, shoot targets or varmits at great distances and just enjoy piddling with bullets and powder. As you get older your rifle will loose weight, get smaller, and factory ammo will again do it's job. When you have a multitude of firearms trying to keep what rifle shoots which reload best is just too much. -- no

It's hard to belive that a large store like Cabelas wouldn't have any 35 Whelen on hand. as they may not have any 250/3000 on hand when I need them! Anyway, I handload for better flexability, ie, 75 grainers for varmits and 115-120s for big stuff.

Question, when was the last time you had a missfire, malifunction, with properly cared for factory ammunition?

Reload ammo has it's place among varmit, target, competition shooters but a hunting rifle? With todays prices for componets and shipping and you shoot much the savings is moot. As for accuracy the animals vital area is large compared to a 1" x-ring and usually you are shooting offhand at guessed distances. Now if you are in a stand shooting great distances with your one favorite rifle! -- no

Unless you manufacture your own brass, bullets, primer compound and primers, you're still trusting technicians, just taking on a few more of the steps yourself. Like Sitka, though, I'm just funnin' ya as well. I'd certainly take my handloads anyplace I'd take factory ammo.

Anyway, I've seen factory Whelen on the shelves at Sportsmans Warehouse. I also see it at some mom and pop sporting goods stores around here, if I blow the dust off the labels so I can read the large print.

Last winter I had 3 rounds out of a box of 50 Black Hills 223 not go off. Luckily it was after my coyote hunt. I know it is rare, but there you go. There is a certain amount of satisfaction in killing things with home rolled ammo, if you ask me---2MG

Hell, why even hunt. You can buy all your meat at a grocery store................

Cut it out, Steelie <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yep, just like fishing it's cheaper to buy inspected fish and meat out of the store. By the time you figure cost of equipment, license, processing, storage it's much cheaper. A bass boat starts about $18,000 and goes up into the $30,000 range. A 4X4 hunting truck starts above $25,000. A guided pack in hunt starts about $3,000 with license on top of that.

Yes I would say it's cheaper to buy at the store. Course I have been hunting and fishing longer than you are old. Fished my first Texas State Tournament in 56-57 and began hunting alone in 1937. Haven't missed many toys in all that time. I'm selling out what would you like to buy? -- no

Ever heard anyone say "It's not the kill, but the thrill of the chase"? Money's money, who cares. What better to spend it on than time alone with nature, it's priceless IMHO----2MG

Usually when we talk of factory ammo we are discussing the big ammo Winchester, Remington, Weatherby, some of the newbys are still cutting corners. For instance did you check the primer for indent? Some primers are hard. Was the ambenient temperature cold? Have you checked the firing pin spring? If it was cold what kind of lubrication was in the rifle? Major ammo companies cannot afford mistakes if they stay in business. -- no