tried a 35 whelen

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I've got a rem 760 in .308 that's a family keepsake that I've had for years. Although very accurate, I find the forestock too far forward to be comfy for me (I'm short) and a tad heavy when scoped. I don't like to carry it much especially since I got my rem 700 Ti.
Well, I came across what I thought was a pretty good deal on a rem 7600 in 35 whelen so I grabbed it. Till now I've never tried or even handled a 35 whelen. Took it out today with factory 200 grain loads and tried it with iron sights. Off the bench I got a 3 shot group measuring just under 2 inches. I was impressed with the accuracy (although I expected as much since my 760 is also impressively accurate) as well as the how slick it fed the 35's and the nice boom and relatively tame recoil.
I've been contemplating an 'east coast' bush rifle setup since most of the shots on deer I've taken are under 100 yards. The fast cals are hard on meat and since the distances are short, a big, heavy, slower cal would be better suited (only my opinion). I was thinking about a lever trapper model in 44 mag or 45 Colt for that role but now I'm thinking about keeping the 35 and sending it to get the 18.5 inch treatment. While the 44 mags and 45 Colts are well suited to shots <100 yards, the 35 should be good to go should you wander into an open area where shots may extend out farther, especially if set up with a variable 1X to 4,5,or 6 power scope, ie. more versatile.
I'm thinkin I'm gonna like the 35 whelen as a kinda do all cal :D Should I keep the 7600 and mod it or look for a different platform for the ol' 35?
ps. I handload all my carts, so ammo availability is a non issue.
Lemme hear the praises of the 35 whelen :)
 
Exelent choice, 7600 Remingtons are usually as acurate as any bolt actioned rifles. 35Whelen is shining with 250gr non premium ( cheap ) bullets, esp 250gr Speer HC. They kill up to 250-300yds like a hammer of thor. You will never complain about bloodshot meat.
 
The 35 will definitely do all you want it to do,but at close range on deer a barnes tsx will travel the full length of the deer leaving a large long wound channel through bone and all. Been there done that with my 760 wehlen. A short fast BIG hammer.......I like that
 
The last moose I shot in NB was with a 35 Whelan. It was the only time I have had a moose drop in its tracks. Exit hole was the size of a Toonie. Did not bloodshot the meat the way faster bullets did. I think the bullet was a 225.

That shot was at about 100 yards. I would feel comfortable with it out to 250 yards, like the shos you sometimes get across a bog.

Buy the 760. It will be comfortable. But before you bob it to 18.5, remember the muzzle blast will be pretty bad.

I bobbed my 740 in 3006 to 18.5" as a bad weather rifle with ironsights. I was shocked at how much velocity it lost. I don't have the log in front of me at the moment, but it was over 300 fps.
 
I shoot a 35 Whelen based on a 700 with an H-S stock. Splits holes at 100 and drops elk and moose on the spot without a massive recoil. I love it.
 
I bobbed my 740 in 3006 to 18.5" as a bad weather rifle with ironsights. I was shocked at how much velocity it lost. I don't have the log in front of me at the moment, but it was over 300 fps.
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Thanks for tips so far guys :)
I don't expect to lose nearly that much velocity by cutting 3 to 3.5 inches off. The 'general' rule that's commonplace is 25 fps per inch. I had a look at 35cal.c0m and his data states:
250 gn Hornady sp: 59.5 gn Re15 in 22" 7600 = 2430 fps @-4C
250 gn Hornady sp: 59.5 gn Re15 in 18.5" 7600 = 2392 fps @17C
Only difference in conditions being temp 17C vs -4C. However, Re15 isn't known for temp instability.
Those data are actually what I would expect to see with the same load 22" vs. 18.5" barrels. I'd be surpised if the difference was more than 100 fps but I definitely want to hear first hand experience on this instead of relying on theory. Anyone else check velocity before and after a shortening with the same loads?
 
Glad I put the temperature notes on those for you - I don't always. The 35 Whelen gives up little in a short barrel - a natural for that. You are right I think - my understanding is also that ReL15 was developed to be relatively temp insensitive for the military.
I never knew anyone to actually USE a properly loaded 35Whelen on big game to be dissatisfied with its performance. A buddy killed a good sized Woods Bison with 250gr. NOS partitions with his. He told me he was quite impressed with it's performance.
 
AG said:
I've got a rem 760 in .308 that's a family keepsake that I've had for years. Although very accurate, I find the forestock too far forward to be comfy for me (I'm short) and a tad heavy when scoped. I don't like to carry it much especially since I got my rem 700 Ti.
Well, I came across what I thought was a pretty good deal on a rem 7600 in 35 whelen so I grabbed it.
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If you don't like the way the 760/308 handles, you're not going to like the 7600 either as they are exactly the same.


.
 
SuperCub said:
If you don't like the way the 760/308 handles, you're not going to like the 7600 either as they are exactly the same.


.
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yeah, I know, your right. I'm just trying to talk myself into liking it ;)

Glad I put the temperature notes on those for you - I don't always. The 35 Whelen gives up little in a short barrel - a natural for that. You are right I think - my understanding is also that ReL15 was developed to be relatively temp insensitive for the military.
I never knew anyone to actually USE a properly loaded 35Whelen on big game to be dissatisfied with its performance. A buddy killed a good sized Woods Bison with 250gr. NOS partitions with his. He told me he was quite impressed with it's performance.
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So were these loads as hot as you got with your 7600's before getting sticky extraction? I know the 7600/760's don't do as well with warm loads as other action types.
After the promising first trip out just to function test the gun I'm giddy to scope it and work up some handloads for her. What about Re17? I've read in a few places that some praise it more than Re15 for the whelen. Anyone chime in with experience with Re17?
 
There's always the original 9.3x62mm 1908............[.366-06] in a Husqvarna mauser..........Harold... Whelan likely was aware of this one when he went with the more available to the American public .358 bullet size
 
So were these loads as hot as you got with your 7600's before getting sticky extraction?
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No - I just stopped at a very reasonable and potent 2400MV with the 250s. Absolutely no high pressure isuues at all. You'll notice I don't push my pumps and semis - though I know several individuals making 2600+ in both without problems. But I leave most of my higher velocity loads for my bolt guns. I've found in my hunting world that 2400MV is about perfect in the the thick woods in a fast handling pump or semi.
If I were to up it a bit I could do it with ReL15 if I wanted. But perhaps ReL17 might be even better but too early to say. I got 2600MV (Hornady250RNs) with ReL17 my first and only time out to the range so far with my 22" 700Classic. - look in this table for details - http://35cal.com/loading.html#700classic
 
mbogo3 said:
There's always the original 9.3x62mm 1908............[.366-06] in a Husqvarna mauser..........Harold... Whelan likely was aware of this one when he went with the more available to the American public .358 bullet size
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Any 9,3mm brass is hard to get and very expensive, bullets likewise but to the lesser degree. 286gr bullets are having rainbow trajectory, and so far I haven't seen elephants here in North America. Go with 35 Whelen, it is much more flexible round.
 
gunrunner8 said:
Any 9,3mm brass is hard to get and very expensive, bullets likewise but to the lesser degree. 286gr bullets are having rainbow trajectory, and so far I haven't seen elephants here in North America. Go with 35 Whelen, it is much more flexible round.
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Hmmm..........Somebody better tell Anthony at Trade Ex then. He has brass at decent prices,and 14 types of 9.3 bullets to pick from.
 
Rainbow trajectory hmmmm 286gr +2" at 100 ,0 @225,-8"@ 250 + -16" @300 yards.Wanna put up some of your wife's china? This fall one dead moose180 yards and a wolf at an easy 105 Yards.I have 100 Lapau and a 100 Grafs brass in reserve.Velocity at 2400fps or thereabouts ballistics from the Tech at Hornady, had him punch it into the puter before the hunt...................Harold... not slamming the 35 Whelan but it's already been done
 
Woodbeef said:
Hmmm..........Somebody better tell Anthony at Trade Ex then. He has brass at decent prices,and 14 types of 9.3 bullets to pick from.
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Also, according to the Hodgdon reloading manual (online) the 9.3 can push 270's up around 2550 fps.....maybe not a laser beam, but can't be too far off in comparison to the .35 Whelan.
 
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