Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .35 Whelen..........

I purchased a rem 7600 in cal 35 whelen as soon as I found one advertised,
I had a 1917 endfeild, bolt action in 35 whelen for 45 years,
both have frequently been my back-up rifle on elk hunts,
every time Ive loaned out the 7600 the guys want to buy it from me,
over about the last 25 years 4 members of my hunt club purchased one., after trying mine,
it would be more if they were not so hard to find.
the browning BLR in 358 win is also a strong favorite,
and yeah, the 250 speer bullets work great
we use, 44 grains of imr 4064 under that 250 speer in a 358 win
we use, 53 grains of imr 4895 under that 250 speer in a 35 whelen
btw theres only about a 200 fps difference in velocity with the 250 speers,
between the two rifle calibers, and both are very effective on elk

yep the 35 WHELEN is a great cartridge i just need to find one in a Remington 700 , Ruger 77 or Ruger #1 thats in good shape and a decent price someday ! great stories and replies on this post. Pete53

If you want the higher end velocities just have a good smith ream it out to the Ackley Improved. You can either run 250s at 2550 or so with less pressure than the standard OR you can run the 250 at 2750 with higher pressure, up to you! Myself, I only knew what "pressure signs" to look for with a standard rifle cartridge when I began with the 35 Whelen Ackley. I just went up until I saw "flat primers and ejector marks on the case head then backed off to best accuracy. I hunted with those loads over 20yrs. When I had a friend input all the right data in quickLoads, I was running right at 72K pressure! Now, I always used new, fireformed brass, seldom shot a hunting load case more than twice. Never had an issue, but "for me" I felt it was time to move on to a "standardized" round, the 338WM, for a Medium. I could have backed down my WAI loads, but hey, been there, done that, liked the way it killed "at those higher pressures. I have been legally blind in my non shooting eye since 2002, so I just didn't want to take a chance on any "fluke chances" of hurting my good eye, ha. I like to load to the "potential" of any case design, not load them down. If I want less, I get a smaller round. To each his own. I will add that these new powders are marvelous, and really, a 24" standard Whelen can reach some great speeds with safe pressures. By that, I mean load it to .270 Winchester pressure levels. Probably all the stomp ( or flat shooting with the 180-200gr) one can hold onto in a light rifle! Its a good round, no doubt about it.

Personally, I don't get the extra velocity in the Whelen. It does just what it does at 2400 fps with a 250 grain bullet.

Absolutely correct! Accept the Whelen for what it is, and that is one damn fine cartridge. You don't need more, and if you think you do, get 338 WinMag or a 375.

I agree that the Whelen is seriously effective on game without pushing for extra velocity. I have 30 years experience with 3 Whelens that have made me a believer.
The factory stuff from Remington has always chrono'ed slow, but I have never heard anyone claim anything but success with the old fashioned Corelokts.
I took several dozen whitetails, in my early years, with 200 gr Hornadys over 55 gr of 3031. C&C's perform pretty well at Whelen velocities.
Having said all that, My current go to load uses 250 gr Partitions over Varget. Accuracy has been excellent with RL15, 4064, well just about every appropriate powder I've trialed.
The looney in me recently loaded up some of Speers hotter recommendations. Accuracy continues to be a delight with the Power Pro 2000MR, particularly at 200 yards with my CDL. Shoulder problems have cropped up, so I haven't been able to chrono them. I'll get that solved some day soon.
Also trialed a batch of Horn 250 gr RN over 8208. Also accurate, particularly out of the Rem 750. Never shot any big game with a RN bullet, so this combo might just do it.
I suspect lots of folks are underestimating the full capabilities of a Whelen. It ranges out there better that you might expects.
A 250 gr bullet flying through the air is a seriously deadly missile, even more so if it happens to be a Partition. Nothing I wouldn't hunt in North America, with my Whelen, and be confident that it will get the job done.

One of the late forum members over on AR, crazyhorseconsulting, had a rebarreled Ruger 77 with a 26 inch Shaw tube he used exclusively with 225 TSXs. I used it once on a hog hunt and it was a meat hammer.

I bought this last December. Had it sighted in with about 10 rounds. It shoots real nice with 200gr Hornady Superformance in a 1" group at 100 yards. Hopefully I'll be able to kill something with it this fall.

Where do you wanna go? Maybe I'll go with you!

Haa, I've got my secret spot. We could always invade Joe's woods though, but it's pretty thick. He hardly hunts it anyway.

What a beauty!

My .35 Whelen is not picky at all.....it will cut holes all day long! It will cut holes with whatever you feed it! The most accurate rifle that I have ever fired

I don't load my own. I've used only Barnes 200 grain ttsx, rem code lokt 250 grain and 310 grain double tap weldcore. All shoot well enough to put in the vitals at reasonable ranges. I think at would kill anything walking anywhere put in the right spot.

Rem 7600 1/16 twist