Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Will I be made fun of showing up with Pump rifle

The fix for a 760/7600 trigger is the Timney trigger kit for the 870 Rem. pump. The trigger groups are the same and you can do it yourself. I have done that exact same upgrade to 2 870's and a 760.

Things that you are more likely to be made fun of for:

Loud mouthed braggart
Out of shape
Can't handle your rifle without all kinds of gymnastics, loading, chambering, etc.
Inability to follow your guides instructions
Fumbling with gadgets when you should be shooting
Can't shoot with whatever you show up with

If you can hit a paper plate from field positions out to 250-300 yards in a decent time who cares what kind of rifle it is.

The clients that make me roll my eyes are the ones that show up with a long range rig, tell me how well it shoots, tell me all about their long range exploits and then miss average shots. I think my long range equipped clients have been 100% bad shots.

Didn't know you were an outfitter/guide.

The paper plate target struck my fancy nearly 20 years ago. I use it for handguns, traditional muzzle loader, and my center fire rifles. If I can hit it consistently, I'm confident to whatever range I've practiced. With handguns, that's generally 50 yards, with average rifles, 300, or a bit more. With my .30-30, 200 will do. With my wonderful .25-06, I'm happy at 400 yds. Most shots though have been 300 yds or less.

Guy

For a long time the ultimate elk rifle was a Winchester Mdl 71 348 Win. Herds of elk fell to that rifle, and I still consider it a great choice for elk.

That Remington pump in 35 Whelen is its equal, easily. I think a fast handling rifle like yours in a hard hitting round that reaches to 350 yards has many advantages as an elk rifle.

500 yard on out sniping might be somes' hot button, but for realistic hunting your just fine with that Whelen. I've often considered one for the hunting around Libby MT.

If it shoots well and you wanna upgrade something, maybe you could use a new scope or something. I have seen a bunch of the 7600's shoot just as great as any bolt gun. I love the Whelen a bunch as well and think it is probably one of my best elk rifles.

Good luck, your in for a great hunt if you can keep up with your guide! Post ton's of pictures too! Great to hear of another Whelen shooter.

SLD

My experience has been more 'curiosity' on the part of other hunters or guides. Except for one guide that decided I should use his rifle. I declined so he insisted I shoot my 'pump' on his range 'just to make sure the scope didn't get bumped' which I was happy to do anyway.

He put a little black dot on a piece of cardboard and when I shot he laughed and said "You missed the whole damn cardboard"! So we walked down to the target...all he said was, "Let's go hunt'n" It was just an example of a guy putting down a rifle/caliber with which he had no personal experience. BTW...he now owns one!

Go bag a big one--with your Whelen!

WN

Just make sure it's not a 7mm-08 and nobody will make fun of you.

This post got me thinking how I looked showing up for my first
Elk hunt, I was 15 it was 1994 we went to Idaho, Paradise I believe. I remember everyone showing off there Weatherby Elk
cannons, I never pulled my 1930 something Winchester out till
after we rode the 26 miles up too the camp, as I remember the only elk killed was with it after a man wounded one in the leg
with a Very expensive and much nicer rifle.

It's not a .270 so you are OK.

I've never hunted elk. However, I would not hesitate to take my Remington M760 in 30-06 stuffed with Partitions elk hunting at all. Can't imagine a 35 Whelen being a handicap.

Sounds like an elk slayer to me. bring it! just don't have a cheap tasco or bushnell on it.
If they laugh you should ask if they even know what an 35 whelen is?

This my Remington pump in 35 Whelan. Somebody spent way too much customizing the wood on it and putting new sights on it before I bought it for a not bad price.

I bought it thinking I'd use it for bear but would not hesitate to bring it for elk in the thick stuff.

Very nice! That is some great wood on that rifle!

Nope. There is usually one in our elk camp either a 30-06 or 270Win.. A recently purchased 35 Whelen in a tang Ruger is delivering fantastic 5 shot groups with 200 gr. Hornady InterLocks. This is what I plan on bringing in 72 days.

I couldn't tell you how many deer and elk my dad has killed with his old 270 pump with regular old Remington 130 gr Core-Lokts.

I was surprised at the number of pumps I saw when I hunted elk in eastern Oregon.

Basstards didn't make a vocal sound. Just mooned me.

If they give you too much ribbing you could always "borrow" their rifle bolts one night and then see who's got the better rifle.

A couple of years ago, I brought a 358 Win Ruger bolt (a little brother to your 35 Whelen) on a backpack elk hunt and was politely asked by a hunting buddy why I brought it rather than my 300 Win Mag that I had used in the past. The reason I shared was that the 35 cal is a fine, hard-hitting caliber that is accurate and easy to shoot. Regardless of whether a rifle is a bolt action, pump, or even a single shot if you shoot it well, use it. You can give them a ribbing when you pack your elk into camp.

Where I grew up they were called under /over mounts!!!!!!