What is the optimal range for a .35 whelen? What kind of velocities should be expected?
.35 whelen
- Thread starter palmawannabe
- Start date
Can only go on what I've heard, read, and what I've seen from a similar cartridge, the .358 Win, in the hands of a good hunting buddy.
My buddy nailed well over a dozen elk, as well as black bear and deer with his .358 Win, a Browning BLR. Took them cleanly from hide-scorching range to a bit over 200 yards over the years, rarely with a second shot. Believe he used the Speer 250 grainer for a while, then switched to a 225 grainer - sorry I don't know the make of that one. Either way, he made a lot of great one-shot kills on a variety of big game at realistic distances.
The .35 Whelen churns up a bit more velocity than the compact .358 Winchester, so I'd expect it to have a solid 250 yard effective range, or perhaps 300 yards from a good rifle, with a good shooter. As far as game, I'd carry it for anything in North America, loaded with premium bullets.
My old '06 is about due for a new barrel, and it's a tossup between the .35 Whelen and the .338-06... Whelen has the advantage of factory ammo being relatively easy to obtain. The .338-06 has the advantage of a higher sectional density for the same bullet weights.
Sorry, no direct experience, but I sure have looked at this cartridge as a suitable candidate for a general purpose elk, bear and deer rifle.
Regards, Guy
My buddy nailed well over a dozen elk, as well as black bear and deer with his .358 Win, a Browning BLR. Took them cleanly from hide-scorching range to a bit over 200 yards over the years, rarely with a second shot. Believe he used the Speer 250 grainer for a while, then switched to a 225 grainer - sorry I don't know the make of that one. Either way, he made a lot of great one-shot kills on a variety of big game at realistic distances.
The .35 Whelen churns up a bit more velocity than the compact .358 Winchester, so I'd expect it to have a solid 250 yard effective range, or perhaps 300 yards from a good rifle, with a good shooter. As far as game, I'd carry it for anything in North America, loaded with premium bullets.
My old '06 is about due for a new barrel, and it's a tossup between the .35 Whelen and the .338-06... Whelen has the advantage of factory ammo being relatively easy to obtain. The .338-06 has the advantage of a higher sectional density for the same bullet weights.
Sorry, no direct experience, but I sure have looked at this cartridge as a suitable candidate for a general purpose elk, bear and deer rifle.
Regards, Guy
My Remington 700 in 35 Whelen is a shooter. My Elk loads are 250gr Speer SP at 2678 fps. According to my load data, I was good out to 400 yds with a 200yds zero. I will admit, pushing the the 5 Whelen that hard came at a recoil price. I had competitive 300WM and 35 Whelen Elk loads, off benchrest the 300WM won small group vs Offhand where the 35 Whelen was clear winner. I opted for the 35 Whelen and actually sold the 300WM to finance the other gear required for the hunt.
My Remington 700 is sub-MOA capable from the factory. Only Changes, bedded action and TriggerTech Primary trigger.
My Remington 700 is sub-MOA capable from the factory. Only Changes, bedded action and TriggerTech Primary trigger.
I've loaded for 3 Remington 35 Whelens, 2,650 to 2,700 FPS with 250 grain projectiles is possible. Accuracy was good with all 3 rifles, minute of angle at 100 yards, 1 struggled until it had some stock work but it ended well. True 300 yard elk rifle in my opinion, with good sight mechanism and shot placement.
Barnes 180 TTSX 2900+ fps 300+ yards no problem at all. Sub MOA fairly easy.
I've hunted with the 35 Whelen , bagged many moose and black bear with it.
With the old Barnes 250gn FXB at ~2680 ft/s with Varget, with 0.358" of bullet in the neck it still had a 0.130" jump to the lands. 3 shot groups 1.5" at 100y.
Shortest shot was 50 feet, longest 425 yards on a moose, the 250 FXB dropped 24" at that distance, backbone hold, bullet landed in the heart.
With the old Barnes 250gn FXB at ~2680 ft/s with Varget, with 0.358" of bullet in the neck it still had a 0.130" jump to the lands. 3 shot groups 1.5" at 100y.
Shortest shot was 50 feet, longest 425 yards on a moose, the 250 FXB dropped 24" at that distance, backbone hold, bullet landed in the heart.
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