35 Whelen or 300 Win??

[Doug Hamilton]

Wanted to get the groups thoughts. I am considering taking either my 35 Whelen or 300 Win mag to Namibia in August. I shoot both equally well. Both are Winchester Model 70s.

I would be using it on PG, to include zebra, roan, blue wildebeest, red heartabeast, etc….

I shoot factory loaded ammo. 200 grain TBBCs in the 300 Win and 225 grain TBBCs in the 35 Whelen. The 300 Win has a distance advantage for sure the 35 Whelen has a bit more authority/wallop for closer in shots. 300 Win ammo would certainly be easier to find over there if mine doesn’t show up.

I know there isn’t a wrong answer but I am going back and forth on which one to take and I need to decide pretty soon so I can get my paperwork in order and practice with the one I am taking. What say the AH collective braintrust?

I don't have a .35 Whelen so I'm not an expert .What I can say is that I took my .300 Win with 200 grain AccuBonds on my last safari. Everything died within two steps of where the bullet struck. One was a huge old waterbuck bull that turned and took a step before rolling into a dry river bed. The smallest was an impala ewe at about 300 yards that the property manager asked me to take for "camp meat." She was at about 300 yards and took no steps. I've also taken a moose, a black bear and two mule deer with the same rifle. If I go back to Africa there is no question that the .300 Win Mag is going with me.

 

[Just a dude in BC]

@Just a dude in BC
The 9.3X62 only edges out the Whelen because it's DG legal.
I don't edge it out in power the are pretty even.
The Whelen can be loaded with 275-280gn to equal the 9.3 or with a 310 soft or solid to 2,455fps to edge out the 9.3.
For all practical purposes they are identical in power and killing ability. It's just ones legal and the other only legal in some areas.
Bob

I know you love the 35w, but it does not edge out the 9.3 unless you apples to orange it in terms of barrel length and reloads vs factory. The 5-8% more case capacity, and the slightly wider bore help the 9.3 edge out the 35w when things like pressure and barrel length are the same. I just have a sneaking suspicion you run your 35w a little bit hot

Though I cant say to much, as one of my 9.3x74r (with a 22" pipe) runs 2550fps with 285's. It is a ruger no.1, so I can play with pressure, but it is hell on animals, my shoulder, and brass.

 

[CBH Australia]

Legal / Not legal, TKO, or sufficient energy, Really does it matter if it’s endorsed by Bob?

 

[Gilgalad]

due to the extreme differences in ballistic coefficient, the 300 Win mag is carrying about an additional 900 ftlbs energy at 300yds.

In real world though, I don't think there is an animal you would hunt with one that you would not hunt with the other.

Nothing at all wrong with the Whelen. Used to have one in a Rem 7600. Great shooter. I would look more at the 225gr range though for better down range performance....even though a 200gr Hornady spitzer will do everything you need it to.

 

[Fatback]

Wanted to update this thread with some updated info. I went and shot both my 35 Whelen and 300 Win Mag again today and moved out to some further distances. At 100 yards it was a dead heat with these rifles. However, as I got out to 200 and 250 yards the 35 Whelen’s groups opened up quite a bit more than the 300 Win’s did.

Looks like I’ll be taking the 300 win mag and shooting 200 grain TBBCs loaded by Federal. I’ve used this combo to great effect in Africa on previous safaris, up to Eland. It was a different rifle but same caliber and ammo combo. Also, given there might be some opportunities at some 300 yard shots, I am comfortable with the 300 Win.

So it will be my left handed Winchester Model 70s in 404Jeffery and a 300 Win Mag as my 2025 safari battery. Pretty classic pairing of rifles/cartridges. Now to get the practice in before August.

 

[jbirdwell]

I somewhat had to make the same decision. I was already taking my 375 H&H and was trying to decide between my 300 Wby or the 35 Whelen. Either would have worked just fine for what I did but I can say I really enjoyed the authority the 35 has.

 

[Deepfork]

There are lots of pretty good factory loads out there for the 300WM. That is not the case for the .35 Whelen. You have to load your own to get anywhere near the potential of the cartridge. My favorite load for the Whelen is a 245gr Hammer "Stone Hammer", my last batch is averaging 2808 fps. I also shoot and reload the .300WM, my load is a 199gr Hammer "Stone Hammer" at 3015 fps.

My .35 Whelen load generates significantly more energy out of the barrel. Even at 300 yards the .35 Whelen load still has a slight energy advantage over the 300WM and only drops one inch more.

If I had to shoot factory loads I would go with the .300WM. With my hand loads the 35 Whelen is the easy winner.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Wanted to update this thread with some updated info. I went and shot both my 35 Whelen and 300 Win Mag again today and moved out to some further distances. At 100 yards it was a dead heat with these rifles. However, as I got out to 200 and 250 yards the 35 Whelen’s groups opened up quite a bit more than the 300 Win’s did.

Looks like I’ll be taking the 300 win mag and shooting 200 grain TBBCs loaded by Federal. I’ve used this combo to great effect in Africa on previous safaris, up to Eland. It was a different rifle but same caliber and ammo combo. Also, given there might be some opportunities at some 300 yard shots, I am comfortable with the 300 Win.

So it will be my left handed Winchester Model 70s in 404Jeffery and a 300 Win Mag as my 2025 safari battery. Pretty classic pairing of rifles/cartridges. Now to get the practice in before August.

@Fatback
Something wrong somewhere.
My Whelen groups are still good enough at 300 yards to regularly hit a. 6" gong or @600 mil/ pint pop bottle at 400 with boring monotony if'n I do my part.
Bob

 

[Fatback]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen, not sure what was going on. The Whelen’s groups weren’t terrible, just noticeably bigger than the 300 Win’s. I may have to learn to hand load to get the best out of my Whelen

 

[BeeMaa]

I could definitely take my 375H&H but I’ve taken that rifle before and it did excatly what I wanted it to do. I have thought about taking it again this year but I’ve got big plans for it in 2027 so that is why I am leaning towards one of the other ones.

I didn’t follow up on this post.

What are the plans for the 375H&H in 2027?

 

[Bush Buck]

@Bob Nelson 35Whelen, not sure what was going on. The Whelen’s groups weren’t terrible, just noticeably bigger than the 300 Win’s. I may have to learn to hand load to get the best out of my Whelen

I suspect that the ballistic coefficient of the 300 bullet is much higher than the 35 bullet. This will make an accuracy difference at extended range in anything but calm conditions. The 300 barrel may also stabilize its bullet better than the 35. Regardless, I believe the 300 will almost always beat the 35 in long range competition.

I think the question is - does the accuracy difference matter at the ranges you'll be hunting?
I had tremendous success in Namibian thornbush with a 375 H&H that shot 3" at 200 yards - my longest shot was 185 yards.

I'm just responding to your comment. I'm sure the 300 will be terrific for your hunt - especially if you're more confident with it.

Bush Buck

 

[Fatback]

I didn’t follow up on this post.

What are the plans for the 375H&H in 2027?

I plan on using my 375 H&H on a lion hunt in Zimbabwe in 2027.

 

[Ku-winda]

Well, @Fatback sounds like you already have your two rifle battery down pat, and as you indicated, there really was no wrong answer for the choice between those two calibers. That said, I would probably go a different route. Simplicity is sometimes the best approach in my opinion and I would probably be inclined to take the max amount of ammo for the 404J and just carry a single rifle. I know you are quite proficient with that one and there is something comforting about walking in a DG area with a rifle you are comfortable with and one that can dispatch any animal the continent has to offer. Besides, the plains game you mentioned can be tough at times and the Jeffery is not overkill. I wouldn't hesitate to take any PG with mine out to 300 yards (and have taken cow elk a bit further). I know that isn't near as fun, but neither of the two choices can be used (legally) as a DG back-up if required, but I get wanting to take and use rifles you like. Good luck and look forward to your hunt report!

 

[KIH]

I don't reload for long guns. But i have learned that flat tail bullets is precise from the barrel and out to 200 meters/yards. But Boat tail bullets is't fully stabel before 200/250 meter/yards.

 

[Forrest Halley]

I know you love the 35w, but it does not edge out the 9.3 unless you apples to orange it in terms of barrel length and reloads vs factory. The 5-8% more case capacity, and the slightly wider bore help the 9.3 edge out the 35w when things like pressure and barrel length are the same. I just have a sneaking suspicion you run your 35w a little bit hot

Though I cant say to much, as one of my 9.3x74r (with a 22" pipe) runs 2550fps with 285's. It is a ruger no.1, so I can play with pressure, but it is hell on animals, my shoulder, and brass.

Yeah Bob runs Bubba's pissin' hot handloads. I have a .375 H&H No. 1 so I can turn up the volume as well. It's incredible with hot loaded 300's or 285's. No Whelen or Win Mag can touch it, but really who cares? As long as we keep juicing up the darling cartridges and holding back the opposition there is no winner. Just a bunch of hot air. No better than the gun writers BS'ing a hundred miles a minute to sell new shells.

 

[DocHolliday]

The Whelen. Absolutely loved that cartridge last time I was in Namibia. Perfect for heavy PG (and the little stuff too). I used 250 gr AFrames @ 2450 fps.

 

[mgstucson]

I respect your choices, and like you said, among the calibers mentioned, you can't really make a wrong choice FOR THE EXPECTED PURPOSE.

1. As a practical measure, I like the suggestion of shooting everything with the 404, but where's the fun in that. Me personally, I would carry a 458 for DG and 400 Whelen or 416 Ruger for PG. I know how to use rifles and scopes well enough to hit any big game at any range out to 400 yards with either caliber. I also understand the idea of using many different rifles in Africa, from the "create a memory" aspect. I have 4 sons, and would love to go to Africa with all of them, carrying 10 different calibers, and getting at least 1 head of game with each rifle. (At present I would have to spend money I could leave for the grandkid's education to make that happen, so it will probably remain ONLY a dream, but a nice one.)

2. When in DG country, I like to carry something DG capable, just in case, ALL THE TIME. While I would carry neither the 300WM nor 35Whelen for DG, (nor 375 H&H, although I know many do), all my DG calibers would start with at least a 4. HOWEVER, if I had to defend myself with a PG rifle against DG, especially African DG, I would MUCH rather have a 35 Whelen in my hand, over a 300 WM.

While hunting PG I would have a 300gr .358 first and maybe second in the mag of the 35 Whelen. For PG close up, the 300gr will still work fine and POI would be fine out to 100yds. If you have PG at long distance, it is easy enough to cycle to lighter rounds in the mag. In a surprise charge from DG at short range while hunting for PG, I would much rather have a 300gr .358 than ANYTHING the 300WM will deliver. I know there is a PH there, and that is his job, but from what I understand, "sh-stuff" still happens in Africa, just like everywhere else.

I case you are curious, NO, I DON'T wear a belt and suspenders at the same time, but I have a warm, accepting place in my heart for people who do.

 

[Rule 303]

Pardon me if I am covering territory already covered as I have not read all the reply's.

Either should do but I lean to the 35 Whelen. With 225 grain bullets it is easily a 300mt rifle, if you practice to 400 mts it can do that as well. I use to use my first Whelen on 500 mt gongs. 250 grain bullets, for me, would certainly be a 300mt rifle and that's it.