The .35 Whelen Pistol

[Forrest Halley]

Now I know that this sounds ridiculous from the title, but hear me out. What are the load possibilities for this cartridge for extraordinarily light bullets and shorter barrels? I'm curious to know how it would do with .357 magnum bullets turned way up out of say a 10-15" barrel. Could this be made into a thin skinned game annihilator for things like foxes and coyotes without too much issue of a pass through creating problems in the other side? I was considering an Encore barrel for fun as this combined two of my favorite calibers. I'm definitely curious what would happen to a 110gr or 125gr pushed flat out with all that powder behind it. The 130gr FMJ would likely even be a spectacle.

Just for excitement tagging @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

 

[CoElkHunter]

Now I know that this sounds ridiculous from the title, but hear me out. What are the load possibilities for this cartridge for extraordinarily light bullets and shorter barrels? I'm curious to know how it would do with .357 magnum bullets turned way up out of say a 10-15" barrel. Could this be made into a thin skinned game annihilator for things like foxes and coyotes without too much issue of a pass through creating problems in the other side? I was considering an Encore barrel for fun as this combined two of my favorite calibers. I'm definitely curious what would happen to a 110gr or 125gr pushed flat out with all that powder behind it. The 130gr FMJ would likely even be a spectacle.

Just for excitement tagging @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

Do it!

 

[NDWoods]

I somewhat have it bracketed. I have CVA 13" pistols in 6,5 Creedmoor and 50 cal muzzleloader. I have A LOT of fun with both and use them on pigs with great results.

Go for it!

 

[Forrest Halley]

Do it!

I think it would be like the .357 Sig...nificantly over powered, loud and a show stopper.

 

[meigsbucks]

Not a .35 W but a .357 Herrett with a 10” barrel. It was my first Contender barrel. 125gr hp’s would decimate groundhogs and coyotes.
The Whelen should be hell on wheels.

 

[450 Dakota]

I did a 6.5 Creedmoor. Long action would be a lot to maneuver on a pistol IMO. Would be ok in an encore but I would go with a shorter cartridge personally. 358 Win if you want a 35 cal.

 

[JimP]

Not a .35 W but a .357 Herrett with a 10” barrel. It was my first Contender barrel. 125gr hp’s would decimate groundhogs and coyotes.
The Whelen should be hell on wheels.

I also have 357 Herett and have taken mule deer, and elk with it. I've loaded it with 148 gran wad cutters up to 180 gr Spitzer.

I just picked up 100 more 30-30 brass that I need to get started in forming.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

Can it be done, yes
Is it a smart thing to do, no
Some idiot will put a full house load in it and the lawyers will be the only ones to enjoy it
Gumpy

P.S. my opinion is worth exactly what someone paid for it.

 

[JimP]

Can it be done, yes
Is it a smart thing to do, no
Some idiot will put a full house load in it and the lawyers will be the only ones to enjoy it
Gumpy

P.S. my opinion is worth exactly what someone paid for it.

Over the years the Thompson Center Contender has been chambered for just about any cartridge that you can think of.

Take a look at the 375 JDJ which a 444 Marlin case necked down to 375.

There are also 45-70's chambered for the Contender

 

[Zinz]

There are also 45-70's chambered for the Contender

My brother has one… of course it has a big muzzle brake to tame the recoil. He shoots it off sticks from his pop up blind. I told him he should probably carry a small fire extinguisher to put out the brush fires. The muzzle blast is….significant

 

[steve white]

Yes, yes all the above is important, but keep this in mind--it MUST be called the Bob Nelson. If it is short barreled, then the Bob Nelson Saturday Night Special.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Now I know that this sounds ridiculous from the title, but hear me out. What are the load possibilities for this cartridge for extraordinarily light bullets and shorter barrels? I'm curious to know how it would do with .357 magnum bullets turned way up out of say a 10-15" barrel. Could this be made into a thin skinned game annihilator for things like foxes and coyotes without too much issue of a pass through creating problems in the other side? I was considering an Encore barrel for fun as this combined two of my favorite calibers. I'm definitely curious what would happen to a 110gr or 125gr pushed flat out with all that powder behind it. The 130gr FMJ would likely even be a spectacle.

Just for excitement tagging @Bob Nelson 35Whelen

@Forrest Halley
Pushing the 125s or even the 158s much above 2,500 fps would be petty pointless.
They would just blow up on impact and waste powder in a cartridge that size.
To me you would be better off using the 35 REM case.
Light bullets in the Whelen at 2,000 fps would make a great little game load.
You could probably push those little bullets a lot faster ( the 200s can do over 3,000fps) but I doubt they would hold up at those speeds they would probably disintegrate before they got 50yards.
Just but a 22 Hornet barrel encore and have fun.

I think you have been watching captain kangaroo to much and it has affected your logical thinking.
If'n y'all want speed get a 22-250 load it with 36 gn Barnes Varmit grenades at 4,500fps.
Closest thing you will get to a light sabre young Jedi.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Yes, yes all the above is important, but keep this in mind--it MUST be called the Bob Nelson. If it is short barreled, then the Bob Nelson Saturday Night Special.

@steve white
One good thing about that much powder in such a short barrel, if he loaded a pen knife behind the bullet he could shoot it , skin it and cook it with the muzzle flash in one shot.
I can see the news headlines now.
@Forrest Halley found incinerated in a deer blind with a broken wrist. The fire appears to be started by a 35 cal flame thrower. An animal was also found near by with massive wounds and appears to have been cooked shortly before Mr Halley's demise.
We advise hunters not to use flame throwers for hunting
Bob

 

[wildwilderness]

Seems to me a 358 win would make more sense in a pistol with those same lighter bullets

 

[Tundra Tiger]

I had a T/C Contender in .35 Remington. It was fun on caribou.

Like @NDWoods I have a couple of the CVA Scouts. Mine are .243 and 6.5 Grendel. The CVAs have phenomenal triggers. I have a promising load for my Grendel using 156 grain Lapua Megas. Which really doesn't address your Whelen question at all.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Yes, yes all the above is important, but keep this in mind--it MUST be called the Bob Nelson. If it is short barreled, then the Bob Nelson Saturday Night Special.

Or .35 Halley’s Comet @Forrest Halley.