Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles which 35 cal to get.

35-06

If you really want to step up there's always the 358 Norma or 358 STA. But in reality, the Whelen is all you'll ever need.

I’m partial to the Whelen myself, having 2, however the 358 Win makes more sense. I also own a 35 Rem which also has a lot going for it. Since you’re a hand loader I would say pick a action type you like and get either a 35 Rem or 358 Win chambered in it. Those XTP’s get kinda fragile above 2000fps. Speer 180 or 220 HotCors are good hunting bullets in either. 200 gr Remington RN CoreLokts are great if you can find them too. Sounds like a fun project. Good luck and have fun! Tom

I have been shooting both the Whelen and Win for years and currently own both. I really like my pre-64 M70 358 Win though.

35 Whelen.

Good question! 30 some years ago I owned one, hunting one Pennsylvania deer season with it and couldn’t wait to get rid of it. It didn’t shoot all that well but the real problem was that you couldn’t carry the damn thing on a cold day without your hands turning to ice, even through gloves. I’d never own one again.

Speaking of 35’s, I thought the only 35 caliber rifle was a 350 legend? :-) Watched a video recently of a guy getting one custom built, paid over $2500 for and I’m asking myself, Why??? Whatever I guess, to each there own.

I would go with the .35 Whelen. I have had one for over 21 years now. Great cartridge.

I have four rifles in .358 Win. and three in the .35 Whelen. My choice considering where I hunt, I go with the Whelen. I do like shooting cast bullets in the .358 though.
I remember an elk hunt up in Washington state quite a few years back. Hunted next to the Olympic National Forest and that was some thick country hunting. Sitting on a stand I was thinking that something like a .358 Win. with 250 gr. bullets loaded to the hilt would have been some kind of perfect. After the hunt I was at work and saw a Ruger 77 in .358 Win. for sale. I called the shop the next day as it was brand new in the box. I gave him my name and I'd be there within the hour. About six months later a guy I sometimes bout and traded guns with had another. Said he didn't like the kick so I got into that one fairly cheap. Then later on I fell into a BLR and a Savage 99, both in .358. Never shot any of them on game. Same with the first two Whelens I bought. Third was the charm and it's taken six elk for me so far, all one shot kills or hit so hard they couldn't get up to run off. Impressed me no end. Never have shot pistol bullets in any of them but do run cast 200 gr. bullets for fun on paper.
Paul B.

I would do 35 whelen unless I ever wanted to push 280+ grain bullets.

It pretty much comes down to what rifle or action strikes your fancy, and go from there. Find one you like and have JES re-educate it to the correct bore and chamber: .35 rem, .358, or the Whelen.

35 Whelen.

Couple of years ago I took a Shiras Moose in CO with my Whelen and 280 gr. SAF.

With a 1/12 twist, you can shoot the 280 & 310 gr. bullets, and enough powder to scoot them along.

I own a Dakota Classic Deluxe and a Ruger Hawkeye, both in 35 Whelen and both are 1/12 twist.

I hunt Elk with the same rifles using either 225 gr. TBBC, or 250 gr. NP.

I have taken the Dakota Whelen to Africa and taken a bunch of PG with it also.

It’s all good!

A whelen can shoot further than a couple of hundred yards. I was doing some deer drives with some people and one of them crippled a doe. She ended up stopping out in a field. I estimated her at 300 yards. laid down rested on a rice levee aimed a Foot over her shoulders and squeezed. She tipped over dead. 325 or so steps bullet went straight through the middle of both shoulders.

My 35 Remington pretty much satisfies my 35 wants/needs. I've got others that suffice should I need more.

Sweet! Just plain Sweet!

Agreed. I’d take the optics off and use it for my tracking/ stalking rifle. Couldn’t get much better.

Thanks gentlemen.... It'll definitely be the last to go (heck, I may even take it with me).

I'd toss out a vote for a .350 mag. It can be loaded down and can do more than most .35 options. I've found it to be accurate and have used it from whitetail deer to bison.