35 Whelen on deer
- Thread starter buckshot1987
- Start date
wapitiwhacker
CGN Regular
- Location
- East Kootenay B.C.
Are you loading an AI or do you get that out of a standard Whelen? Really good numbers if it's out of a standard chamber.
You won't be disappointed buckshot1987. It is a great caliber. They don't cost an arm and a leg to reload, and are relatively easy on the shoulder to shoot. I load 250 Speers, less than 2" lower than a 220 at 300 yds., just as fast, and a little more ooomph.
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
The 35 Whelen is pretty much a 35-06, so I dont see it doing any worse damage than a 338-06
In all seriousness I suggest you take up curling or learn to track.
There is no cartridge - magical or otherwise - that will drop an animal in it's tracks 100% of the time. Shot placement is what governs how far an animal goes after the shot not the bullet that hits it.
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
On the other hand, you can get cartridge's that will drop a DEER, live or otherwise in its tracks.
OK. Name the cartridges that are guaranteed to drop a deer 100% of the time regardless of range and shot placement on the animal.
BTW, I have to ask what the hell is an "otherwise" deer?
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
I mean it will be dropped. It could be wounded or stone-dead, but the deer will not go that far.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I have shot a few deer with my Whelen, two were a couple of the longest tracking jobs I've had to do, but I was hunting elk at the same time and was using stoutly constructed bullets. The Speer Grand slam 250 grain works extremely well on elk and moose but is too hard to expand well on deer. On one buck, the Sierra 225 BT didn't expand, a lung shot buck ran over 100 yards, bullet didn't appear to open at all. I think most 200 grain bullets or a 250 RN would be fine for any deer hunting. But, NO more likely to put them down in their tracks than a normal deer caliber like .308. 7x57, .270 or 30-06 though. So, learn how to track. It's an important part of being a competent hunter.
So I guess you have to buy a wounding caliber to learn how to track?
The OP wanted something more powerful than the 30-06's and 308's his peers use. I would hardly call an '06 or 308 a "wounding caliber" sic
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
So he just wants a more powerful caliber?
What about the classic 300 Win Mag?
I myself use a 300 WBY for a bigger caliber if I need it, or if I want to "Reach out and touch something" as my father says.
In summary...Nothing wrong with shooting a 300
What about the classic 300 Win Mag?
I myself use a 300 WBY for a bigger caliber if I need it, or if I want to "Reach out and touch something" as my father says.
In summary...Nothing wrong with shooting a 300
gunrunner8
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, B.C.
This my 2c. I have been using Rem pump 35 Whelen, 250 gr Spear hot core handloads, on everything, for quite a while now. The diference in killing power, between 35 Whelen and 308Win or 3006Spr, is more than diference of the bullet size. Also, I never noticed 250 Spear hot core, to be, to stout for deer.
My .35 Whelen hammered deer when I still used it. It's in different league than the .308s and '06s. As time went on I had to concede that long range reach was far more important to my hunting than close range thump, and it gathers dust now. For that 0-300 range when I want a big bullet the .375 takes the Whelen's spot.
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
I've used the Whelen for the past 20 seasons ... originally with the Rem. factory 200 gr. loads for deer (and the no-longer-available Rem. 250 factory RN's for moose). For most of that time it's been 200 gr. Hornady RN or Speer 220 gr FP (35 Rem bullets) reloads for deer or 250 Hornady RN's for moose. The deer loads I load "down" with H4831 to give around 2200 fps, the moose loads get a full whack of RL-15 .
No complaints, a minimum of wasted tissue and NO lost animals. Not One !!!
One deer as I recall went maybe 75 yards - a quartering shot through the lungs ... all I can guess is that it didn't know it was hurt bad. Everything else - well under 50 yards. Several deer have been "bang-flops" and three moose never took a step. Another made it maybe 20 feet or so before it piled up. Only one "second shot" ... 'cause I wasn't sure of my first - piled the deer up as it ran past me.
If I were to do my moose hunting in a local where the shooting was a little more on the longer-range side of things, I would likely go to 225 gr Accubonds.
Look up "Whelen B's" posts ... he's a big 35 fan too. ! Surprised he hasn't chimed in yet.
No complaints, a minimum of wasted tissue and NO lost animals. Not One !!!
One deer as I recall went maybe 75 yards - a quartering shot through the lungs ... all I can guess is that it didn't know it was hurt bad. Everything else - well under 50 yards. Several deer have been "bang-flops" and three moose never took a step. Another made it maybe 20 feet or so before it piled up. Only one "second shot" ... 'cause I wasn't sure of my first - piled the deer up as it ran past me.
If I were to do my moose hunting in a local where the shooting was a little more on the longer-range side of things, I would likely go to 225 gr Accubonds.
Look up "Whelen B's" posts ... he's a big 35 fan too. ! Surprised he hasn't chimed in yet.
I love the 35s! and make for a good pill on most NA game. The thing I like about the whelen and 358 win is teh ability to up or down load them and they still shoot accurately.
I have strayed from my 35s but would not hesitate to use them for anything, and its only personal preferance.
The last whitetail I shot with a 35 was over 10 years ago, and i remember a neat hole through the lungs, no meat damage and a gut pile 50 yards from the shot. I was using a 225 gr at slow speed.
I have strayed from my 35s but would not hesitate to use them for anything, and its only personal preferance.
The last whitetail I shot with a 35 was over 10 years ago, and i remember a neat hole through the lungs, no meat damage and a gut pile 50 yards from the shot. I was using a 225 gr at slow speed.
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I use a 6.5x55 swede with regular factory ammunition.I admit an aversion to tracking black bear into christmas trees and salal so think you can't see your feet, let alone 3' in front of you.After a couple of tracking jobs[and changing my jeans] I decided to limit my shotson black bear to standing broadside shots right on the point of the shoulder,that took out both shoulders and put the bear right down.The swede put deer on the deck with one shot behind the shoulder,with very little meat loss and nothing went more than 20 yards
beretta boy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Orillia, Ontario
But the question was about the 35 Whelen !!!
