Bob Nelson convinced me - 35 Whelen

[CoElkHunter]

You won’t find any Whelen users switching to 338 mag but you will find plenty of 338 mag users looking for something softer shooting. Big holes coming and going lead to copious but much shorter blood trails.

All Whelen users are looking for the “holy grail” .338 WM, but few have found it. They are content with what they have in the .35 Whelen. Choose wisely grasshopper!

 

[CoElkHunter]

I’m probably going to get Bob riled up with this comment but if you hand load the 338 WM as aggressively as he does the 35 Whelen with 225 or 250 grain bullets the 338 WM will be ballistically superior. It’s simply a matter of powder capacity and the 338 case holds more. Comparing factory loads of a 338 WM to hot 35 Whelen loads is just not an apples to apples comparison. The whelen is a good caliber but it’s just a necked up 30.06. It seems to have taken on mystical characteristics in this and a few other threads on AH. If you want something to fill a gap between the 338 WM and 375 Ruger you’ll need something bigger than a 35 Whelen. But if you are looking for a new, effective caliber with less recoil than a 338 WM by all means get one. We all could use a new gun/caliber in the gun safe.

Ask Bob about his favorite loads in the .243 Winchester. See if that riles him up?

 

[Ray B]

My only question about the 35 Whelen is: What can it do that the 358 Norma Magnum can't, except produce less recoil?

 

[CoElkHunter]

My only question about the 35 Whelen is: What can it do that the 358 Norma Magnum can't, except produce less recoil?

Good question. Where's Townsend Nelson?

 

[HuntingGold]

Geez.... Someone's pissin on my parade. Hurts me deep.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I can tell you, that I’m not a big fan of the .25-06. I had one bad deer hunting adventure with one I owned a little over 30 years ago. My shot placement was perfect, but the bullet failed, and in turn wounded the poor deer. Someone else had to go back into the area, and using a .270, got it.
That’s why I hunt with a 6.5x55, a 7x57, a .30-06, or in the near future a .35 Whelen.
Those of us who know, the .358 cal rifles, are outstanding game getters! The .35 Whelen deserves every accolade it gets. It’s a classic cartridge that hits way harder than it’s paper ballistics.
It’s eager to please.
The velocities it gets is amazing, to say the least!
Plus, it’ll whop the big critters here in North America with authority.
It’s not the flattest shooting, but within practical hunting distances, it’s plenty flat enough.
Now, if you use a premium bullet, like the Barnes 200 gr TTSX, or the Nosler 225 gr Accubond, traveling along at 2800-2900 fps,
you’re going to be golden on what you aim at, and put those pills in the vital areas.
It wouldn’t surprise me that after you pull the trigger, and readjust, and rack another round in the chamber, that you see a dust cloud rising up from where the animal you shot flopped down, dead before it hit the ground.
Now, what’s not to like about that?



Hawk

@hawkeyesatx
Why rack another round, if you do your part there's no need. My back wildebeest was quatrtering away at about 180 yards. At the shot the PH said don't worry about putting another round in the chamber. I just smiled and said I wasn't going to.
Bob

 

[sambarhunter]

I always feed a fresh one in,dead animals have a habit of getting up at times.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m probably going to get Bob riled up with this comment but if you hand load the 338 WM as aggressively as he does the 35 Whelen with 225 or 250 grain bullets the 338 WM will be ballistically superior. It’s simply a matter of powder capacity and the 338 case holds more. Comparing factory loads of a 338 WM to hot 35 Whelen loads is just not an apples to apples comparison. The whelen is a good caliber but it’s just a necked up 30.06. It seems to have taken on mystical characteristics in this and a few other threads on AH. If you want something to fill a gap between the 338 WM and 375 Ruger you’ll need something bigger than a 35 Whelen. But if you are looking for a new, effective caliber with less recoil than a 338 WM by all means get one. We all could use a new gun/caliber in the gun safe.

@Lee M
The 338 is a good caliber but the factory loads for the Whelen have a always been anemic. We are not hot roding it in any way shape or form. We are using load data from reputable companies and carefully working up loads to reach their full potential SAFELY.
All this is done in a standard cartridge without smoke and mirrors.
If you long throated the 338 win mag used a magnum length action and stoke it up you can get horribly near the 340 Weatherby but is all the hassle and expense worth it.

Both the 338 and the Whelen are outstanding cartridges that at sensible shooting ranges out to a max of 350 to 400 yards no game will ever tell the difference.
It takes a lot to rule me up so don't worry about what you say to me.

For years people have sung the praises of the 338 win mag. It is now worth looking at the Whelen as a similar performance with new powders and similar technologies in bullet. For some unknown reason even my PH said the Whelen seemed to be a more emphatic killer than the 338. Maybe because bullets for the 338 seem to be constructed to be stronger for the mag. Whereas the Whelen still gives outstanding performance with the old cup and core.
Just my thoughts
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Ask Bob about his favorite loads in the .243 Winchester. See if that riles him up?

@CoElkHunter
Mate my favorite load in the 243 is a gallon of gas and a match.
See still not riled up grasshopper.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My only question about the 35 Whelen is: What can it do that the 358 Norma Magnum can't, except produce less recoil?

@Ray B
The Whelen is good
The 358 loaded properly is better
The 358 STW is better again
It's a bit like 30/06 ,300 win mag and 300 ultra mag.
Bob

Good question. Where's Townsend Nelson?

@CoElkHunter
Ah grasshopper my question is what can the 338 do that the Whelen can't .

Why would any one want a 243 is a better question.

Grasshopper if a person holds their breath until they turn blue.
What color would a Smurf go if they held their breath.
One for you to ponder grasshopper.
Bob

 

[CBH Australia]

I just learned I drew an elk tag for this November. I'm looking forward to completing this project and carrying it afield soon.

Of course , nothing else would work anyway.
You would be undergunned with anything but.

 

[Cervus elaphus]

All this talk about the great 35 Whelen and what should I come across at this weekend's gun show.. a nice 700 Classic that doesn't look like it has seen much use.

After a little negotiating, I've joined the @Bob Nelson 35Whelen ranks. As a long time fan of the 25-06 and 30-06, I figured a good "35-06" adds a nice touch. Going to have to find me some components and dies to try a few of the loads referenced in this thread.

You can never have too many ought sixes

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Of course , nothing else would work anyway.
You would be undergunned with anything but.

@CBH
Chris that's cheeky.
Mate the flame is burning bright for the Whelen as you can see. Come into the fold and try the mighty Whelen then you t o w I'll be truly enlightened.
We are gathering momentum.
Bob.

 

[Forrest Halley]

Good question. Where's Townsend Nelson?

That one made me chuckle for a moment sir. Job well done.

Oh good Townsend do regale us with the various .357 Magnum bullets we can also use in your beloved chambering. For us cheap bastards that don't want to deplete our supply of good bullets whilst worshipping the holiest of calibers.

 

[ZG47]

@Lee M If you want to shoot animals way out yonder with a .338 rifle, simply get a .338 Lapua. Graeme Henry built the first .338 Lapua hunting rifle and used it on goats up the Wanganui. That info used to be in COTW but it was eventually removed, probably because he was not a Yank. I read his progress reports in Rod & Rifle but got rid of the pertinent issues long ago.

 

[MS 9x56]

My only question about the 35 Whelen is: What can it do that the 358 Norma Magnum can't, except produce less recoil?

Produce less blood shot meat! Important to meat hunters not so much for trophy hunters. Also less expensive ammunition and rifles. I would add easier to procure ammunition but no ammunition is easy to procure these days. Happy hunting.

 

[7x57Joe]

Would y'all please stop it! I have two .358 Winchester rifles that has served me very well and I don't need the range a .35 Whelen offers but, I'm on the verge of sending my 1903 to Jes for a rebore to .358.

 

[hawkeyesatx]

Would y'all please stop it! I have two .358 Winchester rifles that has served me very well and I don't need the range a .35 Whelen offers but, I'm on the verge of sending my 1903 to Jes for a rebore to .358.
View attachment 408137

I believe that’s what I’m going to do myself, send my barreled action off to JES, and have it rebored to .35 Whelen!


Hawk

 

[MS 9x56]

My only question about the 35 Whelen is: What can it do that the 358 Norma Magnum can't, except produce less recoil?

Produce less blood shot meat! Important to meat hunters not so much for trophy hunters. Also less expensive ammunition and rifles. I would add easier to procure ammunition but no ammunition is easy to procure these days. Happy hunting.

 

[Lee M]

@Ray B
The Whelen is good
The 358 loaded properly is better
The 358 STW is better again
It's a bit like 30/06 ,300 win mag and 300 ultra mag.
Bob

@CoElkHunter
Ah grasshopper my question is what can the 338 do that the Whelen can't .

Why would any one want a 243 is a better question.

Grasshopper if a person holds their breath until they turn blue.
What color would a Smurf go if they held their breath.
One for you to ponder grasshopper.
Bob

It’s not really good, better, best. Just fast, faster, fastest. We all can decide how much horsepower we need.