Meanderings on the 35 Whelen

[truck driver]

Not sure if this is the proper forum for this but I ran into this while researching load info for the Whelen and thought maybe some of you would like to read what Paco Kelly had to say about his life long association with the old girl.

35cal.com/35whelen.htm

 

[DrMike]

http://35cal.com/35whelen.htm

Paco Kelly has written extensively about 35 calibre cartridges over the years. Generally good stuff; always worth a read.

 

[sask boy]

Thank you DrMike that was a a interesting read. The 35 Whelen is one versatile calibre.

Blessings,
Dan

 

[Elkman]

A great read from"one who has been there".

 

[Anonymous]

You dang enablers.... now I want a Whelen.

 

[DrMike]

You dang enablers.... now I want a Whelen.

Well, of course you want a Whelen. It is a hammer on all you'd ever hunt in Alaska! :grin:

 

[truck driver]

Thanks for fixing the link DrMike.
hodgeman, anyone who hunts should at least own one 35 Whelen. Get one of the new Patriots in 35 Whelen and never look back.

 

[JD338]

Roger,

Good read, thanks for posting.

JD338

 

[NYDAN]

Are there any lever or pump action rifles made today that are chambered for the 35 Whelen?

 

[BK]

Remington has made pumps in the Whelen recently. I don't recall if they are currently.

I'm not aware of a lever in the Whelen, but a converted BLR would be all kinds of kewl...

 

[BK]

Man, I'd love to have an M70 Sporter .35 Whelen!

 

[truck driver]

That was my project I had planed till wvchev3 sold me his M700. Still have the donor which is not for sale.

 

[truck driver]

Are there any lever or pump action rifles made today that are chambered for the 35 Whelen?

Here's two links to two 760 pumps.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Remingto ... 658804.uts
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Veiwit ... =415788988

 

[PJGunner]

I read that article by Paco Kelly about 5 or 6 years ago and it was what got me interested in the Whelen.
I even got some of those 150 gr. bullets for the .350 Rem. Mag. that he mentioned. Abouut the time that article came out, or at least when I came across it, the demand for the Lyman #3589/358009 was quite high with molds going for some big bucks on Ebay. Lyman had the attitude that they weren't going to make that mold any more and gave the excuse that the cherry no longer existed. One day I was at an LGS I usually do not go to and behind the glass case is a bunch of molds. I ask the guy behind the counter if I could look at them to see if there was anything I could use. He told me to go behind the counter and help myself. I ended up buy 5 of the 7 molds that were there include a #3589. :shock: I got it for $25.00. I've since had a custom mold that matches it, but has a slight flat on the nose that might make it more efficient. The other molds are a 200 gr. hollow point and 250 gr. round nose in .35 caliber. 8)
The only Kelly load I've used is his 53.0 gr. H335/250 gr. bullet. I shot the 250 gr. Speer Hot Core, and 250 gr. Hornady round nose and spire points. Accuracy was not bad and velocity was 2525 to 2550 FPS depending on the bullet. I think it's a pretty good load.
I've reserved my custom Mauser for the 225 gr. bullets it likes so well and my Remington M700 Classic for the 250 gr. bullets. The Ruger M77 is reserved for the cast bullet loads.
Paul B.

 

[truck driver]

Paul B., do you paper patch or just use gas checks for your cast bullets?

 

[Guy Miner]

PJ, for info, your 250 gr/2500+ fps loads are really not far at all from my standard 260 gr/2620 fps .375 H&H bear load... Not far at all. I think Scotty and a couple of others here have exceeded my muzzle velocity, using 250's from a Whelen.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for fixing the link DrMike.
hodgeman, anyone who hunts should at least own one 35 Whelen. Get one of the new Patriots in 35 Whelen and never look back.

I keep looking... I think an Outfitter with the irons would be natural with the Whelen, but I notice they dropped it and now chamber the .350 Rem Mag. for some bizarre reason.

I keep thinking and looking. With the Whelen that 180AB could easily hit 3k fps and shoot flat in open country or stoke up some heavies for bears.

I think plinking with 158gr revolver bullets would be pretty cool too!

 

[DrMike]

I like both cartridges, Hodgman. The Whelen has a bit more utility in allowing heavier bullets.

 

[BK]

Thanks for fixing the link DrMike.
hodgeman, anyone who hunts should at least own one 35 Whelen. Get one of the new Patriots in 35 Whelen and never look back.

I keep looking... I think an Outfitter with the irons would be natural with the Whelen, but I notice they dropped it and now chamber the .350 Rem Mag. for some bizarre reason.

I keep thinking and looking. With the Whelen that 180AB could easily hit 3k fps and shoot flat in open country or stoke up some heavies for bears.

I think plinking with 158gr revolver bullets would be pretty cool too!

158 JHPs are fun in my Whelen, and shoot about like the Barnes 275s...

 

[truck driver]

There's a fellow who lives in New Zealand that had a rimed 35 Whelen built on a Martini Enfield action. I'm waiting for his response on how the case was formed.