Getting the itch to try again for "One Rifle" the rule them all

North Idaho hunting, Moose, Elk, Deer, Black Bear, with the possible encounter while hunting of a Grizzly

The rifle I bought before moving up here in 2002 was the Marlin GG in 45-70 which is a capable thumper in the dark timber out to 150 yards if I push it but really 50-100 is more likely.. Loaded with 405gr Oregon Trail, Chrono says 1450fps

Last year I settled on a Model 70 XTR Magnum Sporter in 338 WM the deal was great,, and it only needed a scope, already had a Brake and was Bedded in a Factory Laminate stock.. Loaded with 210gr Barnes TTSX, Chrono says 2900

So I have the close up fast handling thumper, and a rifle that can reach out and hit hard if I want

What I am now thinking is the "ONE" that can do it more in the middle

So here is the thought and the itch

Buy a 30-06, 22" barrel in good shape, send it out to JES and have it re-bored to a 35 Whelen, add a brake, and a 2x7 or 3x9 scope
Load it up with 225gr TSX Barnes should be around 2600 fps
This should be a fast handling hard hitting rifle that I can comfortably reach out to 400ish yards, more than enough for most anything I might hunt up here

Anyone using a 35 Whelen that loves it or hates it ...

Seems like the 06 would handle all that business pre-rebore. But just to be stir the pot, why not a 9.3x62?

A d a Whelen does not need a brake but a little more barrel length makes for a steadier hand when shooting at something further away I find.

Buy the 30-06 reload the shells with suitable powder for 2600-2700fps with 200 grain Nosler partitions add an 2.5x8 Vari x lll go past go save 200 dollars forget all that ideological baggage your carrying and kill sh*t. Don't need no fugging brakes or non toxic bullets just kiss principle and keep the extra money instead of piss*ng it away on crap you don't need. You did ask. Mb

The .35 Whelen has been my choice for more than 30 yrs. now, accurate and flexible when it comes to bullet choice. I built mind on a pre'64 Winchester M/70, I had it rebored by Randall Redman and scoped it with a Leupold Var-XII 2-7x. My bullet of choice after testing most available at the time of rebore is a Sierra Game King 225gr. over IMR 4064. Recently I have been shooting Hornady Inter-lok 200gr. RN over IMR 3031 a Ken Waters Pet Load which is extremely accurate in my rifle and produces excellent results on whitetails. Off season I shoot a lot of cast bullet and pistol bullet loads, most are propelled by Unique. A final note is that because there have been reports here on the 'Fire of problems with JES rebores, I would choose another to do the rebore work.

Do you have first hand knowledge of problems with JES rebores? I have heard far more positive stories than negative.

Eh.... 99.9% of JES reports here are great. There was one guy a few months ago who was unhappy, but he did everything *but* contact JES about it and ruined things for himself. With JES you aren't going to get a bore that looks like Rigby just turned it out. But 99/100 it'll shoot well if it wasn't junk before.

Not a fan of brake on 338 Win Mag. Have shot 338 Win Mag for years and find the recoil complaint slightly overblown. You can load the 338 Win Mag with 160-200 gr loads from 3,100 fps-2,900 fps and mimic .30 magnums in trajectory. 210, 225, 230, 250 and 275 grain bullets take you anywhere you need to go. While the Whelen is darn good, it doesn’t come close to the 338 Win Mag in field versatility. A 338 Win Mag 250 grain load at 2,650 fps, which is about 100 fps shy of book load maximum is easy to shoot and a full 150 fps-200 fps faster than the Whelen or 338-06 (another fine cartridge in its own right). The 338 Win Mag’s existence is predicated on dropping large NA game at long distances and taking deer size game with bullet weights delivering .30 magnum trajectories. Bullet wise the .35s don’t carry the BC or SD the .33s do. Can’t see a Whelen being more of a one gun than the 338 Win Mag. Only one man’s opinion.

I dont have a 35 Whelan but theres no doubt it does fine tossing heavy bullets. Just my opinion but i believe the 35 is superior to all the 6.5, 270, and 30 cal types when cast bullets are used. At 35 cal we reach a diameter and weight where cast can be used even on larger game. The little efficient 358 Winchester is outstanding in this reguard too. Thats the advantage of the 35s, heavy bullets and in particular heavy cast bullets.

Your covered pretty well with that 338 win mag and up close using the 45-70. Maybe look into a smaller bore like 30-06, or maybe a 270 win?

Ive been a long time 308 win and 338 cal user but recently aquired a 30-06 and a 270win. No need for any muzzlebrake and easy shooting

Got a 7600 35 Whelen. Great rifle very accurate.

I have a 35 whelen and I am very fond of it and shoot it a bit but have never killed game with it. I would not put a muzzle brake on it. I also have a 338-06 that does a great job on deer and the one elk I have killed with it.

I love both of those cartridges but if I already had a 338 win mag I would do like "Rossimp" said above and down load it a little for the times I new I would be hunting where extreme long range is not needed, say out to 300 - 350 yards. By getting the load down to about 338-06 velocity you will have a fairly flat shooting load that will go to 350 yards just find and you get to use a rifle you are familiar with in the process. You may find a load that would group well enough to your magnum load to use the same zero or a least group with the same windage to the point you would just need two drop charts and could carry the two loads with you on a hunt to cover all bases.

With all that said if you must have a new gun just get a 30-06.

I've used a Whelen & always liked them. But lately when I think of one, I lean towards a 338-06.

I varies at times, but usually better bullet selections for the 338. Plus, it could share bullets you have for the 338 mag if ya had too.

Then.... the easy button would be a 30-06 & not want for much.

The multiple 338 calibers were my first choice, in fact I was really after a 338 Fed when I bought the 338 WM I figured that would be a perfect caliber for up here..
Things don't always go as planned when a deal presents itself, plus I had Reloading supplies left over from my first 338 WM so that was a push

Not at all interested in a 30-06, sold two after we moved here, nothing wrong with it at all, in fact it might be the best all around caliber ever made
Just leaning toward bigger bullets over the last decade, the 06 would be easy as I have reloading stuff for it and hundreds of cases

I already own a 308 W and a 300 WM both set up to reach way out there..

I like brakes, I know many don't but that doesn't change my mind,, I like them, I like to enjoy shooting the rifle, especially at the bench

I have only heard good about JES, but like any craftsman there is bound to be somebody that ain't happy I will try and find the thread or if somebody has a link to it that would be great

Thanks for the info on the 35 Whelen from those that own them

No real reason, the only thing that makes a little sense is that I have hundreds of 30-06 cases that I can if needed blow out to shoot with

But really very little difference between the two

You don't seem to be really looking for a one gun rifle. Seems to be more of a case of wanting a 35 Whelen, and I'm good with that. If you want to do a rebore, JES did a Tikka T3 from -06 to Whelen for me that I was very happy with.

I can accept the 30-06 one gun argument, it makes sense. However, if it were me, I would gladly take a Whelen or the .338. I've used my Whelen more in the last twelve years than all other cartridges combined. This came about because in Mississippi you can use the Whelen during primitive firearms season. I, along with a lot of Miss. hunters, have found it performs so well that we just use it most of the time.

With all that being said, if I were only going to have one rifle it would be my .338 WM.

I have to agree if I were pressed to drop all but one hunting rifle in North America the 338 WM would be the one I would hold onto

You are probably right I just want a 35 Whelen because it is itching at my brain, just like the 338 appeals to me over a 308 hole the 358 appeals to me over the 338 hole

gssixgun, I'd go with the 35 Whelen. I much prefer it to my 338 Win Mag and if it kills with any less authority, I've never seen it. Skip the muzzle brake though. Worst thing I ever did was have Barnes Bullets' gunsmith put one on my 338 WM. It tamed the recoil, but the extra noise was miserable!!!

I too owned a .338 WM for many years but made the switch to a .35 Whelen as I got older. I find the Whelen's recoil to be very manageable, more of a push than a violent kick like the .338 WM.

I've owned a model 700 classic in 35 whelen for many years. I've taken one doe with it, and my dad has used it on two deer and a Javelina. The deer dropped in their tracks, and the Javelina had a very large hole through it. Growing up I used a 30-06 for many hunting trips, but when I had the chance at a whelen I jumped on it and am ever so glad I did. Using published handload data I can propel a 200gr Barnes TTSX at a chronied speed of 2891fps from a 22" barrel for flat shooting medicine, or I can hurl a 250gr Hornady round nose at 2530fps again using published data for a raw power load. This caliber has considerably more power than the standard 30cal version. I've also pounded steel targets with both rifles at 200 yds on an afternoon shooting excursion, and the difference is almost shocking. If I were to face an angry bear at close range the 35 whelen would definitely be my choice.

On the more enjoyable side of things I've had much fun with the whelen loaded with 13.0grs of bluedot and 158gr cast semi wad cutters. I understand this is very close to "The Load" as it has been affectionately called. This load clocks 1450fps and is an absolute hoot to shoot. My niece took this rifle and a box of 50 shells so loaded and burned them so fast it made my head spin. The big grin on her face was worth all the trouble loading them. It's been called a reloaders dream caliber for very good reason. Get an accurate whelen and you'll have almost never ending combinations to try

For me, that's the deciding point for the 9.3x62 vs. 35 Whelen argument.

Plinking with the Whelen pistol bullet loads is a blast.

gssixgun,
1) I agree with the others - it sounds like you just want a 35 Whelen (because based on your battery you certainly don't need one.) And that is 100% fine. A 35 Whelen AI was the second custom rifle I ever built and I have had mine for 30 years and love it.
2) I have two JES rebores, both 1903 Springfields. One is a 338-06 and the other a 9.3x62. The 9.3 drives nails - the 338-06 has been problematic. I'm interested in why you are choosing the rebore as your primary option instead of looking for a rifle that is already a 35 Whelen. If it were me and I wanted a 35 Whelen, I would begin by looking for a good 35 Whelen.
3) Brakes - I've never owned one but I don't care one way or the other. If you like them, get one, as the loads I mention below will flat get your attention if you have an un-braked 7.5 pound rifle...like mine.
4) The 225 TSX at 2600 FPS - you are selling the Whelen WAY short. The 250 Nosler Partition will easily do 2650 to 2700 with PP 2000-MR or CFE-223. The 225 TSX will easily do 2800FPS with 2000-MR. The 200 TTSX will approach 3000 FPS at about max pressure with PP Varmint. I killed a nice bull in 2019 with the 225 TSX and recovered it under the off-side skin (my only ever recovered X bullet) after it broke both shoulders and dropped the bull on the spot. It weighed exactly 225.0 grains - doesn't get much better than that.

Enjoy your search and your hunting!
Rex

If you have the itch, get it. Life’s too short! I buy rifles every year that will do the same but always seem to be reaching for the Whelen. A lot has to be said for the rifle it’s chambered in as well. Good luck with your decision

I bought my 700 Classic used a year after it came out. Seems the previous owner didn’t like the recoil with 250 gr loads. I traded a lousy shooting .338 WM for it. It never liked 200 gr Remington loads but settled down to bughole accuracy after about 50 rounds down the bore. The sweet spot for it has been Federal 225 gr TBBC and 225 gr Partition hand loads. It kills things junkyard dead. I haven’t used it much the past 10 years but it’s going elk and bear hunting this year. My .30-06 gets the least amount of play time it seems. Happy Trails

Wam, you still able to get the tbbc? My second whelen loved em too, it was a bdl I bought 25 years ago or so

my bother had jes redo his 308 into 358 win it just flat shoots good, also had him fix a feeding problem and it wasn't even his work, only charged me for return shipping! i stand by him and his work!

Jud,
I sort of quit hunting much with it around 2009 when the Weatherby Bug bit me. I must have shot it a bunch because I have a ton of nickel plated Fed cases. I still have a few boxes of Federal blue/gold box TBBC stuck back in the safe. I have been loading Partitions over CFE223 lately. Federal still shows them in the catalog but if you click on them it indicates discontinued. My 700 is in a beater pos BDL stock that I bought from a guy in Wenatchee years ago. Grip cap missing, epoxy bedded, deep gouges, Limbsaver pad, Leupold 3-9x40 gloss duplex converted to CDS. Metal still looks good, bottom metal pretty beat. Shoots very well, kills even better. 😎

Correction: 2 boxes red box Fed Premium and a partial box in my hunting kit. Mice (or rat) has been feeding a 7600.... going under double lock now.

I have a beautifully restocked 1903 Springfield with Redfield receiver sight I keep the slide in trapdoor buttplate and a Jaeger QD side mount - was an '06 since I bought the original gun for $85 bucks in '76 until I went down the road to Krieger for a 22" .35 Whelen barrel. Good accuracy out to 400 yds. Recoil very tolerable in a very carryable package. Kills elk - My goal is an alaskan bear.

I was in the same boat with the 338wm, & I totally agree.

35Whelen & or 9.3x62

I am a huge booster of the 35 Whelen.

In NA I have taken Elk & Moose with it.

In Africa, I have taken Leopard, Kafue Lechwe, Sable, Sitatunga, Warthog, Chobe Bushbuck, Lichtenstein Hartebeest, and Oribi with the 35 Whelen.

It's a great cartridge. I own many rifles in this cartridge, but my two favorite are my Dakota Classic Deluxe (for Africa) and my Ruger SS/Syn Hawkeye (for NA). Both rifles have 1:12 twist barrels, so I can shoot 225-310 gr. bullets with no problems.

My wife shoots 225 gr. TBBCs in hers and has taken a couple of Elk with her Ruger Hawkeye. I shoot 250 NP and 280 gr. SAF in mine. We reserve this cartridge for Elk & Moose in NA and use smaller rounds for Deer & Pronghorns. In Africa, I have simply used it for my light rifle along with my 404 Jeffery for my big bore.

The 35 Whelen is a joy to shoot being very mild in recoil. I also use a 338 WM for both rolls above, but I seem to have gravitated to the 35 Whelen lately, probably due to several reasons like: less recoil, same killing power, shorter & smaller contour barrels, lighter rifle, bigger hole in game.

The Colonel gave the hunting world a wonderful gift a century ago.

Having said all of the above, I have never used my 9.3x62 in NA, but have used it in Africa. It is the equal of the Whelen, or slightly better, due to a larger caliber and easy to find ammo in Africa which is definitely not the case for the Whelen. Bullet weights are almost identical.

I had two .35 Whelen rifles at one time. I fell on a little bit of hard times back in 2012 and again in 2015, and sold both Whelen rifles a M700 and 1903 custom. I offered up one of my .338-06 rifles but you Campfire members were only interested in my Whelen rifles. I had hoped to be able to keep the 1903 custom, but it didn't work out.

While I loved my Whelen rifles to be honest I think the bullets we have today allow smaller rifles to overcome any advantages the Whelen had. I don't think it makes the Whelen less useful, especially for those who rarely hunt and shoot over 400 yards. I'm not saying the Whelen isn't capable of going farther distances either, just that it starts losing out to other smaller cartridges as the range gets longer.

I'll own another Whelen someday, but right now I still have a .338-06 to play with.

I have never seen a box of 9.3x62 in the boonies of the US

And if we're talking the boonies, you probably won't see 35 Whelen either...

I recently purchased a 1885 Highwall in 30-06 and sent it to JES Rebore to rebore to 35 Whelen. I went with a 5 groove in a 10 twist.
Can't say enough good about the rebore, shoots under 1/2 MOA for 3 with 180 grain or 225 grain the only weights that I've tried thus far

I’m having a 1-10 Krieger out on an older Ruger tanger 35 Whelen right now. Can’t wait to get it home.

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I am enjoying mine

Oh I’m thinking I will JWP... Never seen extra twist hurt a thing. My 1-10 9.3 shoots amazing as well.

Agree💯, that's why I went with a 10 twist.
I believe faster twist also improves terminal performance as well

Same here, we’re running on the same track there. I’ve seen enough difference between 8 twist 30 calibers and 10 twist 30 calibers using the same Bullets to like the extra RPMs.

My 375 is a 10 is well and would’ve gone 8 or 9 if JES could’ve done it.

I feel you should get whatever your heart desires, life is short.
The 35 Whelen is a fantastic choice. I have a 7600 and a Springfield 03a3. Absolutely love both. Great bullet choices at decent velocity that take game cleanly. Good luck and have fun!
Thanks, Tom

I like the Whelen a lot....I have had half a dozen over the years, M77's and No.1's... it is a good cartridge, but if I was doing one rifle for your purposes, it would be a .30 cal Mag... probably a .300 WSM... it will do everything the Whelen will do, and some things it won't.

Regarding .35 Whelen ammo availability, I used to put one box of ammo in my hunting box and another stashed behind the truck seat figuring I wouldn’t lose both on trips to Montana, Colorado, etc. I knew full well that I’d never find any if I lost it. I did see some at The Fort in Big Timber once.

.35 Wheelen Rifle Questions

A faster twist causes the bullet to spin tighter around its center line increasing BC

Good choice. I used a .35 Whelen as my " bigger than deer" rifle for many years. Shot a truckload of elk and moose and caribou with it. The only reason I don't use it much any more is that I'be discovered the 9.3x62 and 9.3x74R and they have taken over for that duty. But they're almost peas in a pod for difference.

what loads are you shooting in your 7600

what loads are you shooting in your 7600

what loads are you shooting in your 7600

I’m not Fotis, but my 7600 loves 4064 and 225g Game Kings at 2725fps. It is my “woods” whitetail thumper. It it shoots into 1.25”. I’ve never messed with different seating depths because it shoots well enough:). If I were chasing elk in the timber, I’d shoot 225g partitions or accubonds.

I have one in a 700 Classic. It is accurate. It has been my primary hunting rifle for years.
I have killed a pile of deer with it. It thumps deer and doesn't bruise up the meat like some of the faster lighter bullets. They do recoil more than a 30-06. More than some people like.

I had a whelen but wanted something stainless, lighter and different so I sold it and bought a Kimber montana. Sent it out to JES and he cut it down to 21 inches and punched it out to 338-06. 5 pounds 13 oz scoped with a leupold 2.5-8 it’s a dream to carry and hits hard. Far more accurate than it should be but I won’t complain

I built mine pretty light, lotta hammer in a nice package...

If it came down to having one gun. I’d keep my crack barrel encore in 35 wheeler.

It does everything i need to do. I’ve killed a pile of deer with it.

I shoot the vor-tx 180ttsx loaded ammo. It’s magical.

I had a Whelen built on a Weatherby Vanguard action. The '06 barrel was junk from the start so I just had a custom built on the action. 25" shilen barrel #4 contour, B&C stock, trigger job. Weighed 10 1/2 lbs with scope, ammo and sling. Killed a few animals with it. In a fit of foolishness I sold it after 18 years. Wish now I had it back. That gun really liked 60gr of RL15 under a 225 Nosler Ballistic Tip. Chrono said the ave was right at 2800fps. The gun also liked the Federal 225 TBBC and the chrono read right around 2690fps for an average. Both of those were under an inch at 100yd with the Ballistic Tips consistent at 5/8" three shot groups. Yea, wish I hadn't of sold that darn thing.

If you want a 35 Whelen, get one! I like the 35 Win, bet a 35 Whelen bolt gun would be great!

I have a 700 Classic 35 Whelen that I bought new in 1988. Mine has taken 18 WT bucks and a 250 lb Black Bear. I ran the 225 gr PT since 1990 but switched to the 250 gr PT last year when I blew off the cob webs and hunted with it. The 250 gr PT is running 2581 fps with RL15, sub MOA accuracy and an absolute hammer on deer.

JD338

I don't think the 220gr Speer Flat Point gets enough respect in the Whelen. I nice dose of IMR 4064 under that pill makes a fine whitetail load in my Remington 700 Classic.

Mine is similar. 7.5 pounds all up:

Under 200 yards the Whelen does not compare to any 300 mag. It just kills faster and better. Frontal area matters. Past 200 yards there probably isn't much difference.

2700 FPS should be very easy with any 225gr bullet, even with the older powders.

I've had good luck with several JES rebores he's done for me and I've bought several JES rebores that other people have had done and they were all great.

I like the Ackley 40deg design on either the Whelan or 338/06. Feed just as well, never stretch, load mild load hot. I didn't "need it", I just enjoyed the whole nostalgia/messing with it thing, ha. My last factory Whelan was Mod 750 Carbine, It shot wonderfully so, just had wood so beautiful I never took it to the mountains, ha. sold it. My last Mod 700 classic ( that I used for 20ys as a WAI) got converted/rebarreled tot he 358 Norma Mag. Stomper of a round! Had to sell it. Now, my "one rifle" has morphed into "2", a Kimber 8400 300WSM and a new Kimber Hunter .270, ha. Go for it pard! enjoy yourself!

I concur with that question. I am biased as I have a 9.3x62 but not a 35 Whalen. Love the 9.3.

I built a 35 whelen last year. I bought a used SS rem 700 action and ordered a SS remage barrel from mcgowen. Dropped it in a McMillan stock and added a timney trigger. I put a vortex lh razor 1.5-8x32 on it. I load 225gn partitions using rl15. I put it together all by myself and it didn't blow up in my face. I am quite happy with it. I considered building a 350 rem mag but even reloading, they are pricey to shoot.

I know a half dozen guys that shoot the .35 Whelen and 225 grain Accubond's at well over 2,700 fps and they have amassed a pretty impressive stack of moose and caribou gut piles over the last several years. Most are one shot kills and that includes caribou at close to 500 yards. One of them is a real shooter and the local range has a iron ram at 800 yards. He has a video on his phone of him and his tricked out Rem. 700 with a Lilja barrel calling and hitting the nose on that ram with his .35 Whelen.

So in the hands of a real shooter with the right bullet the .35 Whelen is suitable for big bear up close and antlered veggie crunchers at 500 or more yards.

At my age I am not going to give up my custom Mod. 70 in .338 Win. I have used for 25 years, but if I was starting over I would probably have a light weight .35 Whelen or 338-06 made up.