I know a half dozen guys that shoot the .35 Whelen and 225 grain Accubond's at well over 2,700 fps and they have amassed a pretty impressive stack of moose and caribou gut piles over the last several years. Most are one shot kills and that includes caribou at close to 500 yards. One of them is a real shooter and the local range has a iron ram at 800 yards. He has a video on his phone of him and his tricked out Rem. 700 with a Lilja barrel calling and hitting the nose on that ram with his .35 Whelen.
So in the hands of a real shooter with the right bullet the .35 Whelen is suitable for big bear up close and antlered veggie crunchers at 500 or more yards.
At my age I am not going to give up my custom Mod. 70 in .338 Win. I have used for 25 years, but if I was starting over I would probably have a light weight .35 Whelen or 338-06 made up.
