338-06 vs 35 Whelen

[John Spartan]

Thinking about another project - considering the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen. Would be using this for everything up to moose, possibly bison. Should also be able to handle grizzly in an emergency.

I'd welcome the experiences of GunNutz who've used either one or both to outline the pros and cons of each chambering.

 

[Rick]

Thinking about another project - considering the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen. Would be using this for everything up to moose, possibly bison. Should also be able to handle grizzly in an emergency.

There's enough high quality bullets available and they are ballistically near identical, so nothing you hunt will ever know the difference.

I prefer the .35's, but only because cheap shooting using bulk handgun bullets is available, and I am a dedicated bullet caster and more and better moulds are available for the .35's.

Bottom line; I think any difference between the two in performance is more theoretical than anything else. Pick whichever one floats your boat.

 

[Amphibious]

I have a .338-06 currently being finnished at Corlane's. I went with .338 because:


1. If I was getting a custom rifle I also wanted a custom caliber. why spend the money to have a rifle made if you can just buy one off the shelf?

2. Seems everybody and their dog has a .35 Whelen

3. .338-06 A-Square always seemed more "classy" then .35 Whelen. no idea why, just makes sense in my head....

hard to go wrong with either.

 

[NAA]

On the practical side, since there's virtually no ballistic difference between the two, a .35 Whelen will be easier to sell down the road when you want to move up to something cooler like a .416 Taylor...

 

[beretta boy]

Either one makes up into a nice medium bore. As another option, how 'bout the 30-06 case based .375 Scovill ??? You get an adequate .400 long neck and a 17 degree 15 minute shoulder. You have the option of loading down with 220 and 255 gr. flatpoints or go for the gusto with 210, 235, 250, 270 or 300 gr. conventional designs. The 270 gr. Barnes XLC FB exits at just over 2500 fps - with 58 gr. of H4895. That's within 8 percent of 375 H&H 270 gr. performance. Should give you all your looking for for moose, bison or grizz !!!

 

[JohnnyJ]

Hello,
You have it all wrong.
It's not 338-06 or 35 Whelen.

It's 338-06 and 35 Whelen.

Either when loaded to max are excellent performers that will easily drop a Moose or Elk at 400 yds.

No such thing as too many guns or too much ammo!!!

Good Luck
John
35 Whelen and 338-06

 

[280_ACKLEY]

1. If I was getting a custom rifle I also wanted a custom caliber. why spend the money to have a rifle made if you can just buy one off the shelf?

Weatherby chambers this round in their ultralight... better cancel the rifle (grin)!

Getting a 338-06 built, that is cool. Details..... need the details.....!

280_ACKLEY

 

['Boo]

Weatherby chambers this round in their ultralight... better cancel the rifle (grin)!

No they dropped it after the second year. While not a true wildcat anymore the cartridge is quickly going feral! LoL

On the practical side, since there's virtually no ballistic difference between the two, a .35 Whelen will be easier to sell down the road

Watching the Buy & Sell here it seems a true 338-06 usually sells quickly while a number of Whelens have bounced around for weeks.

 

[Salty]

a number of Whelens have bounced around for weeks.

Mostly pump guns though from what I recall. Smaller market. From what i see any quality bolt gun in Whelen or 338-06 gets snapped up pretty quick if the pricing isn't too high.........

 

[280_ACKLEY]

Forgot to mention... build a 35 Whelen!

 

[bjjzak]

By the time you find one of the Weatherby's in 338-06, you will have spent as much if not more than the cost of a decent custom. As to which caliber, 6 of one 1/2 doz of the other, but with the Whelan, you can go with the wonderful 250 gr Speer hotcor bullet, by all reports, excellent performance on damn near everything, at a regular bullet price, roughly half of the "premiums". If you don't reload, then go Federal with their 225 gr buttwhomper. A bit pricey, but should be effective.

Hell, get one of each! It's not like being married, you can have more than one!!!