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

NO--it was definitely cold, maybe 8 degrees. It was out of a T/C contender that I was kinda just breakin' in. All other ammo worked fine. I have close to 100 rifles here right now, sold 100 more, and am quite familiar with what goes on. Primers were indented. Had this happen 1 other time Black Hills also this summer, different lot #---2MG

2MG, I've been sitting around real campfires for many years for a reason. Spent a ton of money just going and coming. We all love the outdoors or we wouldn't be around this Campfire, (well most of us), some are here for lack of something to do. My hunting guns have shrunk to a Ruger 77 Compac in 308 and a Remington mod 7 in 7mm08. Both do everything I need done in the lower 48. My calibers range from 22 short, (Rem 141), to 338 Win, Ruger 77 SS. When Ruger came out with the stainless steel rifles I started off with five and wound up with many from 223 - 338. Hunting and fishing has been my life along with several other outdoor sports. I prefer the Colorado Rockys to all others. -- no

My gunsmith showed me a round the last time I visted him. It came out of a BRAND NEW box of big green ammo (this was about 10 years ago, but he kept the box for show and tell). The box was supposed to have twenty 270 rounds in it.

If you look at the headstamps they all say 270, but a single "270" labeled case had a 30 caliber bullet in it. He thought it looked a little off, and sure enough.

Good thing he has a good eye, or else he might not have any eyes.

Of course mistakes can happen anywhere, but that is darn scary.

NO--we have one thing in common, I've killed more stuff with the 7-08 than I can remember. A highly under-rated cartridge, IMHO. I also have a Rem 141(35 Rem) that I think is one of the best woods rifles ever made. My brother lives in Morrison, Co. and I plan on hunting some Elk or Mulies there in the near furure---2MG

That coulda been down right ugly for sure. He's lucky it wasn't---2MG

not really a problem as the 30 cal bullet would of prevented the cartridge from chambering far enough to shoot it. biggest problem it most likley would of jammed the rifle. ending a hunt....

Perhaps. I have seen people FORCE rounds into chambers that shouldn't go there, if the wrong idiot had it I am sure he would have made it go BANG.

2MG, I made a mistake on the model number for the 22 short, first mistake I ever made. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I also have a Rem 141 in 35 Rem, I keep it in the automobile trunk at all times just in case I need it. I had the barrel cut off even with the magazine tube making it feel like a BB gun.

Someone help me out here, I've got a mental block and can't recall the model number for the Rem 22 short, built just like the Browning 22LR semi-auto. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> -- no

NO---Rem 141 in 22 short didn't sound right, I just didn't want to say anything. I know of the rifle you're thinkin' of, it''ll come to me in a minute...---2MG

Perhaps you are thinking of a model 411 or 121?

need one,
Is it a Model 41A ? They made those in 22 short.
Bart

Now that I think of it, the models 411 and 41A were both bolt actions, I think. The 121 was a pump---2MG

Model 12A was also a slide action. Hell, I don't know, I'm a Winchester guy---2MG

how about the Rem. 241, in 22lr or 22short, which replaced the Rem. 24 available only in 22short?

Sycamore

Boy, this this get OT in a hurry. I understand not finding any .35 Whelen ammo. The few times I do find it, it's that 200 gr. bullet when I'm looking for 250s. Half the dealers in town say the 250s have been discontinued, but when I E-mailed Remington, they said they were not. The other half of the dealers just say they don't want to bother special ordering it. Well, I have enough to last a while and I handload, so the hell with the dealers. Anyway, Remington .35 Whelen factory ammo isn't loaded up tp it's full potential anyway.
Paul B

Hunting with factory ammo is like eating farmed fish.

If it made sense and was practical, it would be a lousy hobby.

Need One -- this thread is a pretty good example of your continued interest in denigrating those who think differently from you. It's a pretty good example of the hubris that sets in when you've done something for a long time...you begin to believe that YOUR way is the ONLY way, and put the knock on people who don't see it or do it your way.

That being said...what you describe is very practical, and is pretty much the way I started out in this game 30-some years ago. Over time I've learned one or two things, one of which is that, for me, practical isn't all that much fun.

While factory ammo is tremendously improved since I started reloading, and offeres a much greater variety of cartridge and bullet choices...it's still...factory ammo.

To each their own...each choice is equally valid. One is neither smarter nor "better" than the other.

And, back to the start of this thread...the reason there wasn't any .35 Whelen ammo is probably because all the fans of the best big game cartridge in existence bought it all before you got there... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Happy hunting...

I have never seen anything for the 35 whelen in a store other than the 200 grain load. I allmost never buy factory ammo unless it is a caliber that it is cheaper to buy remans that to load myself. Sometimes I buy it for a new rifle just for the donor brass. tom

Handguns and 45-70 I load for and 30-30 on occaision. Buy ALL my hunting ammo as I usually get it where I am going to hunt.

Anyone that thinks buying factory ammo is cheaper than reloading must not have any Weatherby's in the house. I have paid anywhere from $85.00 to $95.00 for 20 rounds of 30-378 ammo and premium factory ammo isn't cheap for my .338 or .375 H&H either. I don't have any worries at the range now with the rockchucker at home.

I will never trust factory ammo enough to hunt with it.

Don't care how much it costs or who made it.

For some reason I expected it to be popular in the stores but I guess most 35 Whelen shooters are handloaders.
If more people knew about the 225 gr Ballistic Tip they would let their other rifles sit around unused. I am getting 2681 fps and tremendous accuracy from mine. In about three more weeks I can blow the cobwebs out of the barrel. Have a great time this season!
GWN

GWN, I think Capras has some. DougD

225 BT shoots lights out in mine also, but I was less then impressed with in on a smallish deer. If that bullet expended you couldn't prove it by me. Still it was only 1 deer.

Muledeer, I have many fond memories sitting at the bench loading ammo and listening to the radio. Started out with a Lymon 310 tong tool. I think everyone should handload for awhile but factory ammo has come a long way just like our calibers. It takes time to reload and most of us don't have that kind of time anymore especially those with family. Back when I was reloading in the Four Corners Area of NM we had prairie dog towns by the mile and the 222 Rem was king along with the 243 Win. You can say reloading is a kind of therapy for those with the time or need. We are talking "hunting ammo" not specialized varmint or target. Heck me with four presses and many dollars in accessories, all bitches are just preaching to the choir. -- no