35 whelen

[WhelanLad]

The Whelen is a wikid calibre, alot of power without the boot...

poor mans magnum an id use it for anything

225gr woodleighs an sambar deer dont mix well.

more of larrger game calibre than for deer, its too hard for fallow eg mulies an whitetails... perfect for elk/sambar/moose typee animals

 

[ton45-II]

I love the 35 whelen cartridge in my ruger #1. It's my anything NA big game rifle. I would love to take it to Africa if I can afford it one day. It's too bad you don't handload for it. You will really discover the brilliance of this caliber from handloading.

 

[c-fbmi]

I love the 35 whelen cartridge in my ruger #1. It's my anything NA big game rifle. I would love to take it to Africa if I can afford it one day. It's too bad you don't handload for it. You will really discover the brilliance of this caliber from handloading.

You and your #1 in 35 Whelen would not be well received by PHs in Africa, they wouldn't say anything to you, but I can tell you what they'd say when you were out of earshot, and it wouldn't be complimentary.
The 35 Whelen while adequate for MOST NA game is neither "fish nor fowl" in the cartridge world and although a good enough caliber for medium range, it doesn't excell at anything. You need to go back and research why it was originally developed and it made a lot of sense back then, today there is no reason for such cartridges to remain, other than nostalgia. I have to agree with Dogleg's post on this point.
The Whelen doesn't do anything better than a 30-06 with 220 gn bullets at the same velocity.

 

[240gord]

The Whelen is a wikid calibre, alot of power without the boot...

poor mans magnum an id use it for anything

225gr woodleighs an sambar deer dont mix well.

more of larrger game calibre than for deer, its too hard for fallow eg mulies an whitetails... perfect for elk/sambar/moose typee animals

You should try the 310g Woodleigh bullets.I have a couple of boxes,going to try on Black bear this year.

 

[shortaction]

You and your #1 in 35 Whelen would not be well received by PHs in Africa, they wouldn't say anything to you, but I can tell you what they'd say when you were out of earshot, and it wouldn't be complimentary.
The 35 Whelen while adequate for MOST NA game is neither "fish nor fowl" in the cartridge world and although a good enough caliber for medium range, it doesn't excell at anything. You need to go back and research why it was originally developed and it made a lot of sense back then, today there is no reason for such cartridges to remain, other than nostalgia. I have to agree with Dogleg's post on this point.
The Whelen doesn't do anything better than a 30-06 with 220 gn bullets at the same velocity.

This is a very snobbish statement! You have no idea how he would be received by the PH! They might think him to be a heck of a sportsman. I don't really think they would care about his gun and cartridge selection as long as he isn't under gunned and gets the job done when the oppurtunity presents itself. I can't see how a 30-06 with 220gr bullets would be any more effective on plains game than the 35 whelen and there has been plenty a hunter arrived in Africa with a 30-06.

 

[c-fbmi]

This is a very snobbish statement! You have no idea how he would be received by the PH! They might think him to be a heck of a sportsman. I don't really think they would care about his gun and cartridge selection as long as he isn't under gunned and gets the job done when the oppurtunity presents itself. I can't see how a 30-06 with 220gr bullets would be any more effective on plains game than the 35 whelen and there has been plenty a hunter arrived in Africa with a 30-06.

Actually after 7 different trips to Africa and hunting with 12 different PHs in 7 different countries, I think I have a pretty good idea of their mindset. Not to mention the 100s of hours spent talking to them about calibers and rifles and their opinions, what they like to see for a client and what kind of guns etc. etc. etc.
My statement was made from just these kinds of conversations with PHs and not from any form of snobbery. You can also rest assured from my experiences they care very much about what calibers and rifle types their clients show up with.
May I ask from what experience base you speak, when calling my statements "snobbish"?

 

[Dogleg]

See, that's what you get for having a Whelen. If you had a 9.3x62 you'd take it with you all the time, like I do.

The 9.3x62 was just Mauser's effort to get some thump into a cheap commonly available action that farmers could afford.


Just like the Springfield is a Mauser copy, the 30-06 is a rip-off of the 8 x 57, the .35 Whelen is a 9.3 cousin from out of town.

 

[shortaction]

Actually after 7 different trips to Africa and hunting with 12 different PHs in 7 different countries, I think I have a pretty good idea of their mindset. Not to mention the 100s of hours spent talking to them about calibers and rifles and their opinions, what they like to see for a client and what kind of guns etc. etc. etc.
My statement was made from just these kinds of conversations with PHs and not from any form of snobbery. You can also rest assured from my experiences they care very much about what calibers and rifle types their clients show up with.
May I ask from what experience base you speak, when calling my statements "snobbish"?

Really, because you have had conversations with a few PH's, you know without a doubt what another person will think of someone else they have never met! Wow, that is simply amazing! I guess there is no better way to break an arm than patting oneself on the back!

If it was the problem you perceive it to be I'm sure when he went to book his hunt the PH would say something like "be glad to have you, unless of course you plan on bringing a Ruger #1 chambered in 35Whelen" or "well I was talking to this gent off CGN and he said I could rest assured you would not be well received here" . LOL Man, you make me giggle. Hehehe

 

[c-fbmi]

Hey Dogleg, good thing you're Canadian spouting all those truths, in the US they'd be out looking for you, sceaming heresy. But you are entirely correct the 9.3 even pre dates the '06 which shares it's 62 mm case length. Coincidence? The original version was 64 mm but shortened to 62 mm the year after the 9.3 X 62 came out. And of coarse all our .473 base dia cases are derivatives of the 8mm, the Krag nothing but a Brit clone, all our belted mags come thanks to the British .375 H+H and even the big Wbys nothing but the .416 Rigby with a belt added. The RUM line up.........404 Jeff, the WSM line up, same Jeff and the same with the Dakota line up. The 2.5" belted mag which the Americans love to claim is their variation was done in 1912 by H+H on their 275 H+H belted rimless magnum.
Even the new Ruger 375 and 416 supposedly proprietary case is almost dimensionally twinned from the old 8X68 mm case. Although not perfect you could make funtional brass for the Rugers from 8X68.
So where does the 35 Whelen fit in all this, like you said in the gun safe, I have my 340, 9.3X62 and 375. The Whelen really does not improve on the '06 with modern powder and modern heavy bullets, plus all the versatility the '06 offers. IMHO

 

[SuperCub]

The Whelen really does not improve on the '06 with modern powder and modern heavy bullets, plus all the versatility the '06 offers. IMHO

As much as I like the Whelen it would be very hard to debate against this arguement, esp for most hunting here in NA.

I have a 30/06 in the safe that keep reminding me that it should be a Whelen, but common sense tells me otherwise.

.

 

[janesy]

In the past few years, I can say I have shot a moose with a 30-06 and been there when a similar sized moose was shot buy a hunting partner with a 35 whelen. Similarly, the next year I shot a doe with a 308 and another partner shot a slightly larger doe with a 35 whelen. I can can say from experience the damage was 10 fold in both occasions with the whelen. Meat hanging in the trees was my the way to describe the deer. Some will argue dead is dead.

Although, Both of my animals were shot with a 30 cal 180Gr projectile. Where the whelens were 250 and 200. Difference being, neither of my 30 cals can shoot a bigger bullet accurately, so that in its own offers an advantage to the whelen.

 

[SuperCub]

Bullet type/construction is a big factor to consider concerning meat damage as well as velocity.




.

 

[c-fbmi]

Really, because you have had conversations with a few PH's, you know without a doubt what another person will think of someone else they have never met! Wow, that is simply amazing! I guess there is no better way to break an arm than patting oneself on the back!

If it was the problem you perceive it to be I'm sure when he went to book his hunt the PH would say something like "be glad to have you, unless of course you plan on bringing a Ruger #1 chambered in 35Whelen" or "well I was talking to this gent off CGN and he said I could rest assured you would not be well received here" . LOL Man, you make me giggle. Hehehe

Pretty much the response I expected. So what I am gleaning from your response is that you have no experience base from which to draw your conclusions, you have not had the more than 100 days in constant company of PHs and you have never been to Africa hunting.

I will endeavor to civilly enlighten you as to PHs and how they think from my experience.
Hunting is a job for them, it is how they make their living and it is all based on disposable income from the client. They work very hard to fill your wish list in the time allotted and in most cases there is more list than time. ANY impedament reduces their likelyhood of being successful in this goal and they view a single shot rifle as just such an impedament. Follow up shots are the rule in Africa not the exception, even on well placed hits. I don't care who you are a bolt is quicker to reload and get back into the action than a Ruger #1, this will cause delayed follow up shots and conceivably lost animals. This is a PHs second worst nightmare (losing clients is their first) as you get to pay whether you recover the animal or not and this usually strains the PH/client relationship and affects the tip. If they don't get you all or most of your wish list you can bet this will be reflected in the tip as well, which they rely on for some of their annual income. It is NEVER the clients fault and it is always blamed on the PH, this has made them very cut and dried about such things as single shot rifles, experimental bullets, odd ball wildcats and the like. They view them as a potential loss of income to them. It also damages the potential of repeat business it things go badly and animals are lost, regardless of fault. They want you to show up with a good reliable bolt action rifle, showing some use (brand new rifles scare them as well) in a good 30-06 or bigger as long as you can shoot it well, shoot a bunch of animals, give them a big tip and then go home so they can get on to the next client.
If you were working with a client and he showed up to the jobsite with tools you felt were not adequte for the task and you knew in the end you would get blamed for ANY shortfall on that job and as such it would be reflected in what you got paid, how would you feel?
This is what I have learned in my 100 and some odd days and evenings in the company of Professional Hunters.

 

[brybenn]

I guess Craig Bottington didn't get the memo on single shots in Africa. His daughter Brittany took a cape buff with a ruger #1 in 405winchester.

 

[c-fbmi]

I guess Craig Bottington didn't get the memo on single shots in Africa. His daughter Brittany took a cape buff with a ruger #1 in 405winchester.

I assume you mean Craig Boddington, and he and his daughter don't exactly fall under your everyday hunter. I'm sure you realize I am talking in general and not specifics. The PHs have a whole 'nother train of thought on these type of shenanigans, most want no part of it. Stuff that's done for TV does not fall in the scope of my dissertation either, they far exceed the parameters of normal for the sake of filming.

 

[MiG25]

pure guess here, but i'm thinking PH's think the worst until proven otherwise. the guides i know sum up most clients with "can't walk, can't ride, can't shoot".

 

[brybenn]

I assume you mean Craig Boddington, and he and his daughter don't exactly fall under your everyday hunter. I'm sure you realize I am talking in general and not specifics. The PHs have a whole 'nother train of thought on these type of shenanigans, most want no part of it. Stuff that's done for TV does not fall in the scope of my dissertation either, they far exceed the parameters of normal for the sake of filming.

Yes you are correct my fault for the spelling mistake. I haven't seen brittanys tv show but follow her hunting trips thru facebook. She has done very well with the 7mm08 and 405win however.

I respect your opinion and I've never hunted africa but for north american game I think the 35whelen has a place in the field. Especially in ontario bush

 

[Waterfowler]

Pretty much the response I expected. So what I am gleaning from your response is that you have no experience base from which to draw your conclusions, you have not had the more than 100 days in constant company of PHs and you have never been to Africa hunting.

I will endeavor to civilly enlighten you as to PHs and how they think from my experience.
Hunting is a job for them, it is how they make their living and it is all based on disposable income from the client. They work very hard to fill your wish list in the time allotted and in most cases there is more list than time. ANY impedament reduces their likelyhood of being successful in this goal and they view a single shot rifle as just such an impedament. Follow up shots are the rule in Africa not the exception, even on well placed hits. I don't care who you are a bolt is quicker to reload and get back into the action than a Ruger #1, this will cause delayed follow up shots and conceivably lost animals. This is a PHs second worst nightmare (losing clients is their first) as you get to pay whether you recover the animal or not and this usually strains the PH/client relationship and affects the tip. If they don't get you all or most of your wish list you can bet this will be reflected in the tip as well, which they rely on for some of their annual income. It is NEVER the clients fault and it is always blamed on the PH, this has made them very cut and dried about such things as single shot rifles, experimental bullets, odd ball wildcats and the like. They view them as a potential loss of income to them. It also damages the potential of repeat business it things go badly and animals are lost, regardless of fault. They want you to show up with a good reliable bolt action rifle, showing some use (brand new rifles scare them as well) in a good 30-06 or bigger as long as you can shoot it well, shoot a bunch of animals, give them a big tip and then go home so they can get on to the next client.
If you were working with a client and he showed up to the jobsite with tools you felt were not adequte for the task and you knew in the end you would get blamed for ANY shortfall on that job and as such it would be reflected in what you got paid, how would you feel?
This is what I have learned in my 100 and some odd days and evenings in the company of Professional Hunters.

Out of curiosity and interest what kind of tips do PH's expect or receive and what is it based on??

 

[c-fbmi]

Yes you are correct my fault for the spelling mistake. I haven't seen brittanys tv show but follow her hunting trips thru facebook. She has done very well with the 7mm08 and 405win however.

I respect your opinion and I've never hunted africa but for north american game I think the 35whelen has a place in the field. Especially in ontario bush

Hey I just bought a 257 Roberts, who am I to ridicule the merits of useful or useless cartridges. But I wanted it and that was good enough for me.
My comparison of the Whelen to the '06 was for the OP cause he asked, I just said if he already had an 06 I don't think the Whelen is much of a step up. Don't get me wrong if you got one by all means go and kill everything with it and it will do it.
My biggest concern with the ruger #1 in 35 Whelen was the single shot rifle more than the caliber, but I don't think the Whelen is the best choice for African plains game either and definately not good enough for the heavies.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Really, because you have had conversations with a few PH's, you know without a doubt what another person will think of someone else they have never met! Wow, that is simply amazing! I guess there is no better way to break an arm than patting oneself on the back!

If it was the problem you perceive it to be I'm sure when he went to book his hunt the PH would say something like "be glad to have you, unless of course you plan on bringing a Ruger #1 chambered in 35Whelen" or "well I was talking to this gent off CGN and he said I could rest assured you would not be well received here" . LOL Man, you make me giggle. Hehehe

Well, Kai-Uwe Denker told a guy that he was too fat to come hunt elephant with him so I wouldn't say it's a stretch that a PH might have things to say under his breath. I've ridden in the cab of he cruiser and heard them talk too. It's not all complimentary, even when you're paying thousands of dollars to hunt with them. I'd trust what Douglas is saying.