35 Whelen, 444 Marlin or 45-70 Gov ?

deckerhead said:
COOL.....didn't know that could be done ? must be short compared to the 35 case ?
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He's saying that he loads the bullets in a Whelen case... Not that he shoots .357 cartridges in his Whelen rifle... There are a few reasons why that would be foolish AND pointless.

I do the same, I use everything from hard cast 158 pistol bullets to 265 grain thumpers, with appropriate loads.
 
Hawes said:
I've got the Handi in 45/70. I love this rifle! I don't have experience with the other two, but the 45/70 gets my vote. My only complaint is the lack of ejector.
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A few years ago I lucked out and found a 45/70 pre 2007 NEF, which has the ejector... Takes a bit of practice to catch the spent casing as it flys out. ;)

My advice to the OP would be to factor in what the local ammo availability and cost of the three cartridge types mentioned.

As it sits I'd be tempted with the 35 as I don't have a handy rifle in that caliber yet. ;)

But I'm quite happy with the 45/70 for our brush happy critters within 100 yards.
 
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deckerhead said:
Its settled !!!.....bought a 45-70 H/R Buffalo classic from Epps today.
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There ya go..........decision made, problem solved!! 45-70s are a lot of fun, I have several in lever guns as well as 45-90 and a 45-110 in a Shilo Sharps LRE........entertainment for years at recoil levels from that of a 30-30 to that of a 458 WM.....what fun!!
 
geologist said:
In Ontario, the .35 Whelen.

Out west and north of 60, 45-70.
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Why is that? Elk, grizzly and polar bear? I have shot moose in 5 provinces, the Yukon, and the territories, the largest bodied moose I have seen come from northern Ontario. Largest antlers from northern BC/Yukon. IMHE anyway, and Ontario also has polar bears, caribou and elk.

I never understood why people think Ontario ends a few hours north of the GTA. Lol.
 
Any way you say it, the 35 Whelen is the most powerful choice offered in this thread.

Congratulations to the OP.
 
Ya thought $415 was a little steep for a single shot.......but love the classic look. Still a lot cheaper then a repro Sharps (Perdosoli) I guess......
 
The buggest moose I have seen certainly wasnt in Ontario!
But I will say that i had some awesome hunts there! Any of the three cartridges will suffice. But the 45-70 just seems to call out to me!

If it were a bolt rifle, 35whelan would get the nod!
 
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