Looking at two different 35 Whelen rifles. One is a Remingtin 700 CDL w/ 24" barrel. Other is a Ruger M77 w/ 22" barrel. Price very close to the same. Which would you choose and why?

Both are great rifles, the CDL will shoot good, I'm sure the Ruger will too. That cartridge is easy to make shoot well so it really comes down to the one that appeals to you. If it were me I would probably go Ruger assuming its a crf MKII or Hawkeye. Which feels best to you? The CDL's looked nice and shot very well. That 24" barrel eeks out a tad more speed usually. Action type matter to you? Can't go wrong here in my opinion.

It is a MK II. I think they both feel good. The Rem has a thicker butt pad.

Recoil will be more with the MKII, unless you make some changes like removing the hockey puck Ruger uses and getting a Pachmyer decellerator added.

I like both but it is hard to beat the 35 Whelen CDL's, they all seem to shoot great. The CDL stock has better ergonomics, at least for me.

I chose this one. Hawkeye with satin (glossy) finish, 24 inch barrel.
I got one of these last spring. Shoots like a dream! .....and no tinkering required.

Still a few left.



http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=513402068

I called Scott at Grice Guns and had him hand select one for me.
Got a beauty, I'm sure he'll do the same for you.

The Ruger is the nicer looking rifle of the two IMO, I agree with the suggestion to replace the Ruger recoil pad with a Pahmyer Decelerator.

gunswizard - "replace the Ruger recoil pad with a Pahmyer Decelerator." Amen to that...why is it that Ruger uses these "bricks" in place of real recoil pads? Can it just be the cost? Surely,they qualify for a volume discount. Homesteader

Dunno why Ruger fell down on the job when it came to recoil pads. I know replacing the pad on my 77/44 made a world of difference when shooting from the bench doing load development and sight-in.

Ruger because it's a Ruger, and not a a Remington.

I've owned only one Remington 700, I'm not a fan of the "tube action".

I have not used either of the specific rifles, but I have a Remington 700 Classic in 35 Whelen (22 inch barrel) and really like it. The gun is easy to load for and standard deviations are very low. I like that this gun has iron sights that could be used if the scope got damaged. I did add a LimbSaver pad.

I’ve had good experiences with Rugers in other calibers except for a .338 with the boat paddle synthetic stock, which did not fit and was unpleasant to shoot. I also have had a few 700s and like them. If you can shoulder both, I would pick the one that fits best with a scope (or imaginary scope) on it.

I'd rock either one, I had a Remington for awhile in .35 Whelen and liked that rifle. I still have a 1903 in the Whelen, the Remmy went down the road in trade for my daughter's .300 Savage M700 Classic she uses to hammer anything in her sights.

See how they handle, & pick one.

I got the CDL, 'cause people 'round here raved about the cartridge, and several places were footballing out the Whelens at ridiculous prices a few years back. Even with the 24" barrel, it handles like a dream: after all, there's a .358 caliber hole down the middle of that barrel. If I'm not mistaken, it weighs the same as my 700 MR (given empty magazines... ).

I've used it to easily take some hogs & a moose. It's really more cartridge than I need, but it just shoots too well for me to part with it.

Let us know which you choose.

FC

If you are a handloader try using bullets weighing less than 250gr. or cast bullets or for that matter I shoot .357 pistol bullets. Though for game I would go with a Hornady XTP bullet, they're designed to expand reliably over a range of velocities. Bullets from 180,200-225gr. weights produce less recoil than 250gr. and are adequate for all but the largest game. 225gr. Sierra and Noslers have worked well for me though I have only taken whitetails with them though I would not hesitate to use them on elk or moose.

Rem 700

I would choose based on the age of the rifles. Seems to me the older Remington 700's shot better than the Ruger 77's for the most part. IMO the roles have flipped now though, with Ruger making some real improvements and Remington going downhill in quality.

If they are new rifles I'd get the Ruger, if they are old I'd get the Remington.

For me, I would go with the CDL. The ergonomics of the CDL in the whelen seem about perfect to me. Nothing against the Ruger but the 35 whelen in a CDL just seemed to be "right."