35 Whelen vs 338-06

[rjm158]

It should be obvious to anyone reading these forums that the 35 Whelen is a very popular round among members. To a lesser extent the 338-06 is well thought of also.

For those who own or have used both, is there any advantage(s) of one or the other in terms of on-game performance, ease of reloading, etc.?

Ron

 

[DrMike]

The loading is essentially identical for the two rounds. The .338 has a better bullet selection, though there are some very fine bullets available for the 35 calibre today. Either works very well on most game in North America. While neither of these would be my first choice on an Alaskan brown bear, they would work quite well to dissuade a prowling bruin. Either is a great round that will serve the owner well.

 

[JD338]

They are pretty much the same but....

338 has better and more robust bullets offering a little better trajectory and penetration.
358 offers slightly more frontal area and slightly highrt velocity due to the bore ratio.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Can't say much more than Mike and Jim said. They are both excellent rounds and both have alot of great bullets to use in them. Even having a 35 Whelen I would like a 338-06 to. Excellent cartridges to me. You can't make a bad choice. Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

From talking to Scott and Jim (both load for the Whelen) it sounds like both are easy to load for. I build my loads off 30-06 Nosler brass that has held up well, but I don't push mine as hard as some might.
My 338-06 liked the 210 grain Partition out of the gate, and only recently have I started to work on loads for the 200 grain AB. I am planning on working up loads with the 225 grain Partition as soon as I can find some seconds.
You can't go wrong with either caliber, but we all know deep down those Whelens are jealous :mrgreen:

 

[BK]

For those who own or have used both, is there any advantage(s) of one or the other in terms of on-game performance, ease of reloading, etc.?

Which is better, a .270 or a .280?

Bad example. I actually like the .338-06. :twisted:

 

[Scott Spencer]

I have a 338-06 and love it so far. I haven't had a chance to wring it out yet, or harvest anything with it yet, but I plan to really get in some shooting in the next month or so. I did speak with Phil Shoemaker about the 338-06 and Hornady 250gr RN as a brown/grizz bullet and rifle. His response to me was that is was a more than sufficient combo and the Hornady 250gr RN bullet was an excellent bullet that was under the radar for a lot of hunters/shooters.

 

[257 Ackley]

For those who own or have used both, is there any advantage(s) of one or the other in terms of on-game performance, ease of reloading, etc.?

Which is better, a .270 or a .280?

Bad example. I actually like the .338-06. :twisted:

I studied both caliber's ballistics pretty close before I made a decision. Both are good, I just liked the the .338-06 ballistics a little better. There was a little better selection of bullets in the 33 caliber than the 35 back when I had this built (93').

 

[SJB358]

I would feel pretty comfortable with the Whelen and 250gr PT's at 2600 for about anything here on our continent. Just a great shooting combo, and really performs well for me on paper. I am thinking they will be even more impressive on game. This year should be a good test for the rifle/load. Haven't carried the Whelen nearly enough. Need to get it bloodied again.

The 338-06 with the same 250's should be able to run into the 2500's pretty easily and still keep about the same trajectory. They are both very impressive and some of the most efficient cartridges for big game I have found. The Whelen really rivals my 338WM out to 400. That is really about my limit for really big animals anyhow, so they tie in my book. Scotty

 

[257 Ackley]

I would feel pretty comfortable with the Whelen and 250gr PT's at 2600 for about anything here on our continent. Just a great shooting combo, and really performs well for me on paper. I am thinking they will be even more impressive on game. This year should be a good test for the rifle/load. Haven't carried the Whelen nearly enough. Need to get it bloodied again.

The 338-06 with the same 250's should be able to run into the 2500's pretty easily and still keep about the same trajectory. They are both very impressive and some of the most efficient cartridges for big game I have found. The Whelen really rivals my 338WM out to 400. That is really about my limit for really big animals anyhow, so they tie in my book. Scotty

I think the limit in effective bullet weight for the 338-06 is 225 grains. Anything over that you should be shooting the Whelen. If the hunting application calls for a heavier bullet with more frontal area for most of your hunting, buy the Whelen. I never had mine made with the idea of big bears. Moose and elk were my main targets for the caliber.

 

[Mighty Peace]

Never thought of the 35 Whelan when I built my 338-06 AI. Just wanted the 338 caliber to shoot 225gr Accubonds. Shoots both 225 AB's and TTSX's just fine :wink: :mrgreen:

I built mine to shoot the heavier bullets....if I wanted lighter, I'd just load up 200gr AB's in my 300WM

 

[Elkman]

Owned both, loaded both no difference that I could see. A little better selection in .338 caliber and I think the ballistics are a little better in the 338/06, but I think both are pretty equal. I own only a Whelen now but like both calibers.

 

[taylorce1]

I have both and will keep both rifles, that said I like the .338-06 a little better. There are just some great bullets out there for the .338 that is a little lacking in th .358 bore. I really like the selection of A-bonds in the .338 but I only get one choice in the .35's and PT's are a little better offering two choices. That is the largest draw back to the Whelen IMO, but I doubt you'll find anything you can't kill with a 225-250 grain bullet, so maybe you don't need as many options.

 

[SJB358]

I have both and will keep both rifles, that said I like the .338-06 a little better. There are just some great bullets out there for the .338 that is a little lacking in th .358 bore. I really like the selection of A-bonds in the .338 but I only get one choice in the .35's and PT's are a little better offering two choices. That is the largest draw back to the Whelen IMO, but I doubt you'll find anything you can't kill with a 225-250 grain bullet, so maybe you don't need as many options.

That is kinda where I am at. It is nice to have a selection, but honestly, with the 250gr PT I have a load I can hunt anything with and never need more. I may mess around with the 225gr AB someday, but really the 35 Whelen with a good load of RL15 is pretty serious medicine and very capable of what I want it to do.

It shoots plenty flat out to 350 and would work at 400 which would be the limit of my shooting with it anyhow. I know the bullets will work well out to the rifles max range. I imagine the 225gr PT in the 338-06 would be just about the same outcome.

These are a few 250's I have pulled out of wood, dirt and whatever else. Hard to beat them I think. Scotty

 

[orchemo]

If I had not just purchased a couple 35 caliber rifles....

Any 338-06 lovers.....

There is a person on Northwest Firearms selling a Savage action with a A&B barrel cut to 20 inches in 338-06. Has a nice Bell & Carlson stock. I only saw the ad and know nothing else about it, but looks nice.

Cheers and save me from buying it.

Orchemo

 

[SJB358]

If I had not just purchased a couple 35 caliber rifles....

Any 338-06 lovers.....

There is a person on Northwest Firearms selling a Savage action with a A&B barrel cut to 20 inches in 338-06. Has a nice Bell & Carlson stock. I only saw the ad and know nothing else about it, but looks nice.

Cheers and save me from buying it.

Orchemo

No saving you here! If you like it and it suits your needs, you should get it! Scotty :twisted: