35 Whelen VS 444 Marlin.

Which one should I KEEP???

  • Keep the 35 Whelen!

    Votes: 81 52.3%

  • Keep the 444 Marlin!!

    Votes: 21 13.5%

  • KEEP THEM BOTH!!!

    Votes: 53 34.2%
  • Total voters
    155
Any owners of a Woodleigh book? What are the velocities they list with their 310 grain bullet in the 35 whelen?
 
The higher the kinetic energy a moving object has the less it will be deflected when striking another object.
 
True story, I shot at a doe with a 200 grain bullet at around 2300fps, she ran off, as I walk to where she was standing, there was a small saskatoon branch that I could see had been hit by the bullet. I followed the does tracks for perhaps 300 yards before I found her down surrounded by blood, my behind the shoulder shot at maybe 80 yards became a nick the jugular hit that didn't even bleed til she had covered a considerable distance.

So, that small branch had turned a good shot (I assume) into very nearly a miss.
 
MiG25 said:
True story, I shot at a doe with a 200 grain bullet at around 2300fps, she ran off, as I walk to where she was standing, there was a small saskatoon branch that I could see had been hit by the bullet. I followed the does tracks for perhaps 300 yards before I found her down surrounded by blood, my behind the shoulder shot at maybe 80 yards became a nick the jugular hit that didn't even bleed til she had covered a considerable distance.

So, that small branch had turned a good shot (I assume) into very nearly a miss.
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Was it a cast bullet? I has similar experiences agaisnt bears when using pure lead Maxi's. The slightest branch would knock the off course. Jacketed seem to be much more resistant to deflection.
 
I like the bigger wound channel of the .444. There's no need for bullet expansion. A lung shot with the .444 is incredibly devastating, more so than with the .35, but I'll agree the .35 has the range advantage. That's a given.
 
Slamfire said:
2215 fps using Reloder17. 1:14 twist or faster recommended (correct!). Good powder, I get 2500 fps with my custom 350 Remington Magnum which has a 1:12 twist 24" barrel using Reloder17.
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Thanks for your reply; very close to the velocities I am shooting 300 grain round noses from my .338 wm. 35 whelen seems to be a very efficient case.
 
conor_90 said:
Thanks for your reply; very close to the velocities I am shooting 300 grain round noses from my .338 wm. 35 whelen seems to be a very efficient case.
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I recently picked up a .338 WM Ruger Hawkeye (pre-owned and equipped with a muzzle brake:rolleyes:). I can get ~2700 fps MV with 250gr bullets and would like to see how fast it will drive 300gr bullets. I'm guessing around 2500 fps but likely with more powder so not quite as efficient as my custom 350 mag??
 
Slamfire said:
I recently picked up a .338 WM Ruger Hawkeye (pre-owned and equipped with a muzzle brake:rolleyes:). I can get ~2700 fps MV with 250gr bullets and would like to see how fast it will drive 300gr bullets. I'm guessing around 2500 fps but likely with more powder so not quite as efficient as my custom 350 mag??
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I have the same rifle..... best I could get 300 gr to do was 2350 over 66.5 gr h4831......

I went down to 225gr and am getting a hair over 2800 using rl19.....
 
The Woodleigh Bullets Loading Manual lists 2345 fps with their 300gr RN SN bullet using 69.0gr of H4831sc. They don't list barrel length which should matter. Maximum is 2410 fps using 69.5gr of N560 (whatever that is).
 
I don't have a chronograph; but book loads from Woodleigh for the .338 max out at around 2400 fps. I use a similar load to the one SB posted.

Nosler lists a max velocity of around 2400 fps for their spitzer 300 grainers

I'm thinking 250 grainers are the sweet spot for the .338 wm. On a quest to find a reasonable 300 grain cartridge for some reason.
 
That .338 300gr AB bullet has a b.c. of 0.72! Retained down-range energy or what?!
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These are two cartridges I just can't choose between. I have two permanent spots in my gun safe waiting to be filled, one for a Marlin 444 the other for a bolt action 35 Whelen, possibly a Rem 700 custom. Get both.
 
WOW! thanks every one for their input in this discussion. I have just gotten into the 35 Whelen and the cartridge intrigued me! put around 20 rounds through it and shoots fine! have been shooting the 444 for awhile and like it also. I think I will keep shooting them both and trying different loads in both! But keep the info coming in!
 
badbrass said:
WOW! thanks every one for their input in this discussion. I have just gotten into the 35 Whelen and the cartridge intrigued me! put around 20 rounds through it and shoots fine! have been shooting the 444 for awhile and like it also. I think I will keep shooting them both and trying different loads in both! But keep the info coming in!
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That a boy. I knew he'd give in!!!!!
 
Both are great looking rifles! If I could only keep one, it would be the 35W for sure... I just had one built! I also think you should get out elk hunting more.......
 
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