Bob Nelson 35Whelen
AH ambassador
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2018
- Messages
- 10,648
- Reaction score
- 26,092
- Location
- Wyong new south Wales Australia
- Media
- 130
- Member of
- SSAA
- Hunted
- Australia
@Art Lambart IIBefore I give my answer I'll have to review what it takes to be the best all-around deer cartridge.
All of the cartridges listed or mentioned in this thread will meet items 1 thru 5 but its items 6 that separates the champ from the contenders. The small, lightweight, fast-moving rounds regularly produce DRT results at 200-300 yards but fail to produce the same DRT results. The 6.5s thru 300WM are all great rounds and have put countless deer in the freezer but they also struggle with item 6. So is their a mythical cartridge that meets all six of my items, why yes there is, it's my favorite cartridge of all time the 35 Whelen
- Accurate out to 300 yards
- Easy to shoot
- Handloading is not required
- Good selection of bullet types and weights
- Fast handling
- from 0-300 yards the deer travels no more than 10 yards after being shot in the chest (90% of the time)
I was wondering when the Whelen would get a mention. Loaded with 225grain accubonds and woodleigh projectiles at 2900 fps it would be great but I find my 25 Epps Newton improved usually gives dry every time.
I'm also surprised the 257 weatherby didn't get a look in.
Bob