Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 358 Win. and The 35 Whelen ???

Looking over some reloading manuals it appears that the 35 Whelen doesn't really offer much more than the 358 Win. Am I missing something here???

Yes, case capacity and the limitations of S/A with long bullets.

Your right. This is most evident the heavier/longer the bullet is. Most of the loads I've seen in my limited loading library show both rounds at <2500fps for 250grn JSP/spitzer and one had to go to the 350rm to get loads => 2500fps. There is one notable exception.

Double Tap offers a 250 Speer spitzer load for the 35 Whelen that is touted at 2600fps in a 24in barrel. I have a box of them but haven't had occation to test them yet. That I know of, no similar load exist for either the 358w or the 350rm. I suspect Double Tap is using a powder from Norma or VV but don't know for sure.

All that being said, with the existing loads available for the 35 Whelen, 358w and the 350rm all will take any game animal in NoAmerica within their range of operation.

The main reason to have more than one of these is to satisfy 35 Cal lust. As I own all three, I know where of I speak.

No game animal will be able to tell the difference in the gun that killed it amongst these three hunters.

Some manuals show the 35 Whelen loaded to the pressure standards of its parent case, the 30/06; the others being more "modern" are loaded to theirs.

The reason I am looking into this is because I currently have 3 Stainless Ruger Hawkeyes..........35 Whelen, 338 federal and 358 Win. I may have send one or two down the road. The 338 Federaland 358 Win. are all completed with accurate handloads. The 35 Whelen I have yet to start working on. I am trying to decide which to keep and which to sell.......if the need aises!

The only rational answer to that is which ever one you want. There will be pretty much zero difference in actually killing game -- any of them will work extremely well. I have the Whelen and .338 Fed, have had a .358 and still have a .356 Win. I've never owned a single belted magnum, nor will I, so the .350 is out of the question for me. But if that's the one you pick it will work just fine.

Dennis

Just a little heads up: Ruger appears to have dropped the Hawkeye in .35 Whelen as it is not longer listed on their web site. That might be one you want to hang on to. Just thought I'd mention it.

-Bob F.

I have both and would not give up either one without a whole bunch of fussing and feuding. But to respond to your question, I would suggest that the Whelen stay in the safe. I can consistently throw a .225 gr. bullet out of my 22� barrel Whelen at over 2700 ft./sec. and this allows me to feel pretty good about some 400 yard shooting. On the other hand, I don�t feel very confident with my.358 Win. much past the 300 yard mark. CP.

I really like the .358 Winchester, but I like the .35 Whelen more. Like others have said, you see the most advantage with the Whelen when using the heavier bullets. Mine does approx 2,700 fps with 225 gr; 2,600 fps with 250 gr; 2,300 with 310 gr.

Keep the 358.

If I had to choose one to dump it would be the 338. Never
much was attracted to it and I am a 358 nut.

Keep the 358 and 35 Whelen and you get to cut down on the numbers of caliber bullets you need to keep on hand, unless of course if you own another 338 of some variety.

I agree with Steelhead. 35 caliber and the 358 & 35 Whelen use the same bullets. You don't have to shoot a 250gr out of the 358. Save those for the Whelen. I have 3 358 Win and 1 350 mag. I use the same bullets, powder and primers. I like the short actions. I've already sold my Whelen. I'm going to build a Model 7 stainless 18 1/2" 1-16 twist 350 rem mag. That ruger 350 rem mag is to heavy for a carry rifle. For me anyways.

Ken

Those two quotes are it in a nutshell.

I use my 358 for closer work to 250yds or a bit more. But my specially loaded 35Whelen can also be used for longer work - out to 400yds on moose - still carrying enough velocity and energy for the job. So there is the 35whelen advantage.