...So I have been looking at primarily 338-06 or 35 whelen, or leaving it as an 06. I ran the numbers, and on paper there does not seem to be much difference between the 3 at 350 yards.
For the 06 using 180 grain accubonds and figuring 2850 fps muzzle velocity, 350 yard vel is 2252/2027 lbs energy.
For the 338-06 using 225 grain accubond figuring mv of 2685, 350 yard vel is 2144/2296 lbs energy
For the whelen using 225 accubond figuring mv of 2650, 350 yard vel is 1984/1966 lbs energy.
Do these numbers look like they are reasonable?
I own all these calibers and I think the first two are reasonable, but the 35 Whelen is being sold way short. The 225 NAB will do 2700 with Varget but the real secret in the Whelen is PP 2000-MR. That powder will safely give you 2800+ with the 225. Speer recently published data for the Whelen with 2000-MR, getting 2700' with the 250 HotCor, and Sierra got 2900' with the 225 SGK. These are published numbers. I have worked towards them but stopped about 50 FPS short of both those numbers because it was all I needed with nicely low pressure. I'm sneaking up on 3000' right now with the 200TTSX and Varmint - still doing the range work, but will post when complete. My rifle is an AI with a long throat, but the numbers above are published by Speer and Sierra for the basic Whelen.
Everything respondents have written about the 30-06 is valid. It's a great round as is and ought to serve you well. So is the 338-06, which will give you a nice 2700 FPS with 2000-MR and the225 AB or Partition. I have a 24" barreled 338-06 and am about to have a 19" carbine rebored to that caliber. I just wanted to give you the best case data to use to compare the Whelen to them both - you won't go wrong with any of them, and you'll have a bunch of fun at the range if you pick something besides that boring old 30-06. But "boring" has a lot of virtue...
Cheers,
Rex
