@BFaucett
The 310gn 35 Whelen bullet is the same sd as the 350gn 375 and can be put out of the barrel at 2,455fps so similar power levels
Bob
I've got a .35 Whelen but I don't push it that hard. I like to use it as a substitute / stand-in for the
.350 Rigby Magnum (225 gr, 2625 fps - Kynoch/ICI 1936 catalog). I find the Sierra 225 gr SBT or a Nosler at around 2600 - 2650 fps to be a nice, pleasant load in my .35 Whelen. If I want more "horsepower" than that, then I'll use my .338 Win Mag, 9.3x62, or .375 H&H Mag.
BTW, the
Griffin & Howe 1930 catalog listed ammo for the .35 Whelen with a 275 gr bullet at 2250 fps.
I thought you might find what Griffin & Howe has to say about the .35 Whelen to be of interest (if you haven't seen it before):
Ballistics, Application and Performance
"Based on the legendary 30-06 cartridge case the 35 Whelen packs a lot of performance into a standard length cartridge. The Whelen replicates the performance of the legendary 350 Rigby. The Rigby round was used throughout Africa for both plains and dangerous game, it was a fantastic medium bore cartridge with a great reputation among professional hunters and sportsman alike. As such, it goes without saying that the 35 Whelen is a potent cartridge capable of tackling large, tough game animals with aplomb. At the same time the cartridge is also wonderfully versatile, being as fitting for whitetail deer as it is for Brown Bear.
Capable of launching a 280 grain Swift A frame at 2400 FPS with nearly 3600 ft-lbs of energy it approaches 375 H&H in performance. This is potent medicine for all but the very largest and most dangerous of game animals. On the opposite end of the spectrum Barns offers a factory 180 grain load at 2900 fps. This combination allows for shots to be effectively taken at extended distances. With the establishment of a two hundred yard zero this load impacts only 8.5 inches low at 300 yards. With good ballistic data and a ballistic turret such as those available on the Swarovski scopes impacts are quite easy out to the 500 yard mark.
Beyond application and ballistics this cartridge has something no small-bore magnum can match, bore diameter. There is no replacement for displacement and this cartridge exemplifies that saying. The hydrostatic shock created by .358 bullet impacting at 2600 fps is quite literally stunning. This cartridge has a very real reputation for dropping medium game right where they stand."
source link:
https://griffinhowe.com/custom-products/35-whelen/
Limited Edition .35 Whelen Rifle
100 Year Anniversary Rifle, in Honor of Colonel Townsend Whelen
"A prolific writer on guns and hunting, as well as an avid hunter and outdoorsman, Colonel Townsend Whelen became aware of a cabinet-maker called
Seymour Griffin, who in the wake of WW1 had begun re-stocking military Springfield 1903s to convert them into beautiful sporting rifles. As the commander of the Frankford Arsenal machine shop, Whelen was also working with a machinist by the name of
James Howe on creating a new cartridge; a .30-06 necked up to a 35 caliber that became known as the .35 Whelen.
Inspired to introduce the two due to their complimentary talents of woodwork and metalwork, Whelen encouraged Seymour Griffin and James Howe to go into business together and found their own custom gunsmithing shop, while he became an advisor to the company.
In honor of the man who started it all, and to celebrate the company’s 100 year anniversary, Griffin & Howe is launching a limited edition run of .35 Whelen rifles; 10 with wooden stocks and 10 with synthetic stocks. Two of these will be built left-handed."
source link:
https://griffinhowe.com/custom-products/35-whelen/
My .35 Whelen:
Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .35 Whelen
And my .338 Win Mag:
Ruger M77 Mk II in .338 Win Mag customized by Todd Johnson (deceased) of Lone Star Armory in Pearland, Texas.
Cheers!! Bob F.
www.gunsinternational.com
