Hawkeye, 35 Whelan

[DrMike]

I was able to take my Hawkeye in 35 Whelan to the range recently. I've not been real excited with this rifle. The checkering had to be redone after I received it. It was "fuzzy," though it did clean up. Moreover, it simply didn't shoot as well as the 358 Hawkeye shoots. I pillar bedded it and dressed the trigger, which marginally improved groups. Then, after a bear hunt earlier this spring, it began to misfire. Turns out that the firing pin was rough. After working with the rifle for several months, I took it to the range yesterday for a shoot.

This is a picture of the rifle from an earlier shoot in April (there is still snow on the ground).

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I did work up a load that shoots very well (0.37 inch @ 2566 fps). It uses Barnes 225 grain TSX and A2520.

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Yesterday, I was working with 250 grain Hornadys, getting reasonable groups and good velocities.

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There may be hope for this rifle yet. Interestingly, I haven't been able to get the 225 grain AB to stabilise in the rifle yet. I had an excellent load in my Remington Classic that used 225 grain AB and W748, but the load doesn't work well in the Hawkeye. Neither have I been able to find a load with the 225 grain PT yet. I'm still working on this.

 

[Scott Spencer]

OUTSTANDING!!! Beautiful rifle too. I really love the wood.

 

[FOTIS]

77's are cool rifles but in my experience you gotta work with them a little.

 

[DrMike]

POP,

These two Hawkeyes were the first two Rugers I have owned. The 358 was exceptionally accurate out of the box, but the Whelan fits with what you are saying. It will shoot, but it has required a bit of attention. It is almost as though the fellows who left the New Haven facility a couple of years ago all migrated to Ruger. The work is almost hit and miss. Moreover, when I phoned Ruger to inquire about securing a new stock, it was almost as though I didn't exist. I never did get satisfaction. I would certainly inspect a Ruger carefully in the future. However, even this rifle will be made to shoot well.

 

[HeathSexton]

Lapping the bolt really helped my 30/06 and 7mm Rugers. It was time consuming but paid off with better accuracy.

http://practicalrifler.6.forumer.com/a/ ... st197.html

 

[SJB358]

Mike, my elk load is a 225gr TSX with 60gr of R15 in Remington Cases. It shoots really well out of my CDL and is a near 338 Mag for under 400 yards. So far the TSX has given excellent results in the field and seems to be very accurate. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

Scotty,

As you can see, the TSX shoots very well in my rifle. I have used TSX in my 7mm RM and in my 300 WSM and never had a failure.

Heath,

Since I have access to some excellent gunsmithing, if accuracy does not meet my expectations, it is likely that I will have the action blueprinted. The lapping article was interesting.

 

[JD338]

I have a M700 Classic 35 Whelen. She shoots the 225 gr PT 58.0 grs IMR4064 just under MOA. The 225 gr AB with RL 15 is well under MOA.

The 35 Whelen is a great caliber, hits hard.

JD338

 

[.405]

I always liked the Whelen.I bought a Remington 700 Classic in .350 Rem Mag
back in '87, so I never got around to buying a Whelen since they are ballistic twins.

 

[DrMike]

JD,

I regret selling my Remington Classic. It shot a variety of loads to one inch, but I wanted the Hawkeye badly enough that I was welling to sell. Well, we live and learn. However, I am convinced that I will get the Hawkeye shooting just as well with some careful attention.

.405,

I like the 350 RM as well. I have a Remington 673 in that chambering. It is not exactly a tack driver, but I am getting there with it.

 

[SJB358]

The Whelen seems to be a very versatile caliber, light bullets for flatter trajectory and 250's for still decent trajectory and hammer and straight penetration. I really like mine, and it shoots very well. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

I have a M700 Classic 35 Whelen. She shoots the 225 gr PT 58.0 grs IMR4064 just under MOA. The 225 gr AB with RL 15 is well under MOA.

The 35 Whelen is a great caliber, hits hard.

JD338

I would buy one of them 1988 vintage Classics in 35 whelen or 350 rem mags in a heartbeat!

 

[.405]

My Rem 700 Classic in .350RM is a shooter.It use to be my favorite woods gun for Whitetails.