Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Let's Talk 35 Whelen, Who Loves Them?

Roundoak, what barrel length are you getting 2480fps out of? Was that on a really hot day?

I was wondering the same thing about barrel length

My friends and I have used the Whelen on animals as small as southern deer to eastern moose. My experience with it is that the bullets are what matter most. I've loaded 200gr. Hornady SP at 2700 fps for deer and hogs, Barnes 225gr. TSX for bear and the original Barnes 250gr X for moose. All have worked fine on the game intended. None have moved more than 20 yards from where they were hit.

I never said that a Whelen won't effectively kill deer, I just said that it is not the best choice. I've used the aforementioned Hornady and found it devastating on shots through the slats, but have recovered too many of them from deer to trust them on tough angles or larger animals so I've given up on them in my .35 caliber rifles. I should be clear, I've killed more than a dozen bucks with a Whelen and recognize that it kills deer dead. In my opinion and experience there are still much better cartridges with which to hunt and murder whitetail deer.

I've no problem getting 2550ish from several different 250 grain bullets in the Whelen and where I live it's a rare day that gets over 55 degrees.....

My present Whelen has a 24 inch tube.

24" bbl. This particular load was chronographed at 65 deg.

Interesting. I guess my barrel is lowering velocity more than I thought - 21" with 1/12" twist. I have tried 4064, 4320, and RL15 and have trouble getting much above 2400 fps. The load I settled on is a 250 partition at 2385 fps (63F, 170' dens alt) with 53.5 gr of IMR 4064. Max load was within 25 fps and that charge was reached with both the OCW and ladder methods and proved to be very accurate. I would very gladly give up some accuracy to get another 80+ fps.

Just about every manual I have lists 55.0 gr of 4064 as max. I got 2,400 fps (Horny Spire) and 2,415 fps (NPT) in yesterday's workup session. 56.0 gr yielded 2,470 fps with the Horny from a 22" tube. I'll probably give 56.5 a "shot". Still like Varget better tho . . .

I've used various powders in the Whelen and never found anything not to love about RL-15, though before RL-15 was available I shot W748 and there's not much to complain about with it either. Various rifles have taken different charges, but 2750 fps has never shown any problems in rifles I've shot with 225 grain bullets or 2500+ with 250s.

I could make do with IMR 4320 or Varget.

Well I couldn't help myself. Just came across a new in box Remington 700 Classic in 35 Whelen for $700. Couldn't pass it up. I've owned a couple Classics on different calibers and they were always solid shooters.

A traditional take on a Whelen...


Peep sight in case the scope goes gunnysack on me.

Beautiful rifle Utah.

Break......

I think I've heard it all now. If your longest tracking job came from a Whelen etc. I think the bullet or shot was the issue, not the caliber.

STS: I predict you will love the Classic Whelen. One of my favorites as it's light, accurate, balances well in hand, and packs a punch. Hopefully mine will get its exercise this fall in Maine's Moose Season.

Friend asked me to find him a 7600/.35 Whelen back in the mid 1990s. Found a mint used one that had a Williams receiver sight on it for short money. Pulled the receiver sight off, put on a Weaver base and Leupold 1.75-6 scope and 20 deer and a moose later he is still a happy camper. Only bullet he has used is the 225 Nosler Petition. Last year he killed a beautiful Pa. 8 point that was in the 170# area.

I would probably be a Whelen fan also but prefer short action bolt guns...so I use the .350 RM.... Puts out the same juice in a much smaller package.

Bob

I have had excellent results in my Whelen with 54gr. IMR4064 both accuracy wise and performance on deer using 225gr Sierra or Nosler bullets. I have a pound of RL-15 and I am going to work up a load for it since it seems to be a highly regarded choice in the Whelen.

What's not to love?

It's big and it's an excellent round (although it will not do really long range) it's powerful and accurate and will kick the crap out of you.

Plus it's old-school.

Only if you're a effete left wing phaggot like you..

I just picked up a NIB Ruger 77 All Weather in 35 Whelen for an upcoming moose hunt in New Foundland. Ammo of choice is Barnes Vor Tex 180 grain Barnes TTSX. I'll keep you posted on how it shoots!

I really hate you. That is the rifle I had been holding out for I just never can find one. Where did you snag?