Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Help me decide - 35 Whelen, 9.3x62 or350 Rem Mag??

I own two 350 Rem Mag’s.
One is a Remington 600 and the other is a 700 Classic. Those 350’s are accurate with several full power 250 grain bullet loads at 1/2 MOA.
I have another Rifle-cartridge which I like a lot. It’s a 375-06 AI.

Of the three you mentioned, maybe a 35 Whelen, just because.

I won’t argue the merits of any of the .358 or .366 cartridges, but the .35 Whelen with Federal 225 gr TBBC has bang-flopped more than a few elk for me. 2,723 fps MV has been about all I have wrung out of a 225 gr Partition with my 22” barreled M700. Very accurate load with CFE 223 using Speer data to start. That was the sweet spot for that rifle and load. I think most any 225 or 250 gr bullet started at 2,600 fps MV will get the job done at any sane range. Happy Trails

35 Whelen if you enjoy America.
9.3 if you enjoy Africa.

In practical terms, the middle ground of both is the same. But the 9.3 can be loaded truly "bigger" if you want, while the Whelen can more easily be loaded "smaller" if you chose.

The Whelen certainly has more of the cool Americana factor. Just read some of the stories by/about Townsend Whelen--it'll make you want one for sure. Stories about Otto Bock, not so much, as I don't know that there are any.

Or you could be practical and just use your existing 338.

Here's what it now looks like, actually stock thought to be an early B&C. I re-did the bedding, painted it. It really likes the 160 TTSX over Varget, 180 NAB and 210 NPT over H-380, all three loads MOA or better. It's wearing a Conquest 3-9x40 with retro fitted elevation turret. I'll get a ballistic tape when I settle on the best load. Here's an example on another rifle, same scope.

I traded a 9.3x62, too nice to use, an AHR full house custom CZ. The 9.3x62 is a great round. I never had a 35 Whelen, but it does sound like a nice round. Those that like it, really like it.

DF

I just got back from JES a Ruger SS Hawkeye that was an 06 but is now a 9.3.
I went with a 1-10 twist as i like to shoot 300+ in the 9.3.

Just today mounted a Meopta 6x42 4a on it.

Weighs 8lbs 3 0z.

I have the Ruger African in this cartridge too but want a SS 22" barrel.


Its going to be my AZ elk rifle shooting 250 ABs @ 2,700.

Between me and my brother, the .350 has accounted for more than a few coastal rosies, a whole pile of bears, and his has taken it's share of African game and a couple muskox. And, you get the cool factor of owning a .350. that would be my vote. BTW, mine are both Ruger m77, he has a couple Remingtons, a couple rugers, a mrc, and a custom win m70. We both prefer the rugers for some reason

Between me and my brother, the .350 has accounted for more than a few coastal rosies, a whole pile of bears, and his has taken it's share of African game and a couple muskox. And, you get the cool factor of owning a .350. that would be my vote. BTW, mine are both Ruger m77, he has a couple Remingtons, a couple rugers, a mrc, and a custom win m70. We both prefer the rugers for some reason

You might think me prejudiced but I had lots of input when I built my 9.3x62 and I feel like it's the best of those three. It'll stretch its legs just a little bit more than the Whelen and it's a Bang Flop killer too, And should you need it you can load up 320 grain bullets and go kill Dumbo if you have a mind to.

After trying a number of the middle sized cartridges, I'm very firmly in favor of buying the one you love.
You'll smile more and hunt with confidence if your'e not second guessing the choice.

Real rifle loonies could also settle on the perfect combination of the two rounds, the 9.3 Barsness-Sisk--the .350 necked up to .36. It gets exactly the same velocities as a modern-pressure in a short action, which is SO important among many these days. Charlie Sisk has the reamer and still builds some, over 15 years after we brought it out....while freely admitting it was yet another redundant wildcat!

The one advantage mine has over either my 9.3x62 or the .35 Whelens I've owned is lighter weight, around 7-1/4 pounds scoped. This came in handy on an Alaskan grizzly hunt that required quite a bit of hiking over tundra, with a 30+ pound pack....

My vote would be 9.3
For no practical reason whatsoever.

Use your 338 winchester and load it to the performance level equal to 35 Whelan. It will save time and money and components are widely available.

No need to reinvent the wheel and put a different name of hubcap on it.

And yes the middlebores are great.

Both are right answers. One could buy either and sell off the 338s and 375s and be well supplied with a med bore w/o the weight and recoil of the magnums.

I've owned and extensively used several 375s as well as 338 Win, 35 Whelen and 358 Win.
A decade ago, I bought a CZ 550 Kevlar Carbine in 9.3x62 and this is the only one
of those I have left. A great round in a moderate weight rifle, Great brass is available.
I started and ended with JB's load with 250 TSX.

I like the looks of the 550 Kevlar Carbine, never handled one.

The 550 series being axed by CZ, that one becomes a keeper.

DF

I wish you guys wouldn't make me get on here and read about .35 Whelens. Now I want one and spent my funny money for the year.

Same here buddy. I bought a 30-06 BDL SS from early 2000’s to send to JES to rebore to 35 Whelen. Setting it in a B&C mountain stock black with grey webbing. Topping it with a VX3 2.5-8 Boone & Crockett in Talley LW. Once together then I’ll decide if I’m gonna chop the 24” pipe.

Not included in the three mentioned but I had a 375-06AI. Was forming cases from 30/06. I didn’t have any 35 Whelen cases.

Actually, today I would neck the 9.3 to .375. Call it the .375x62 or 9.5x62.

No dog in this fight.

But, how about a 358WSM or 9.3WSM on a Kimber 8400 Montana?

This would be my pick!