35 whelen and the 338 win mag

the 338 will reach a lot farther,, read your ballistics chart , i was interested in a whelan, but never got one as i thought it was kinda short in the reach dept. used a .338 wm for a number of years with good success,today i would say any 300 mag will do better ,,wade
 
Ya, ballistics charts for the whelen seem a bit harder to come by....but my research show that the whelen is a good 300y gun and the 338 a 500y round. Provided the shooter can actually shoot that far. How'bout recoil, is the 338 that much of a step up...the whelen certainly gets my attention with 250's
 
advantage of the 338 Mag would be a higher BC bullet for long range. A 338" 225 gr Accubond @ 2800 fps leaves the Whelen behind. Both are great cartridges but the 338 Mag does have more reach, ...and more recoil.
 
338 Mag 225 gr Nosler Accubond @ 2800 fps (BC .550)
100 yards +2.7"
200y +1.9"
300y -4.5" 2350 fps, 2775 ft lbs energy
350y -10" 2285 fps
400y -17" 2220 fps
500y -37" 2085 fps, 2170 ft lbs energy

35 Whelen 225 gr Nosler Accubond @ 2750 fps (BC .421)
100 yards +2.7"
200y +1.6"
300y -6" 2185 fps, 2385 ft lbs energy
350y -12" 2100 fps
400y -20" 2010 fps
500y -44" 1850 fps, 1700 ft lbs energy
 
Looking at the data above I would bet that a moose wouldn't know the difference if shot with either round. But then again, I have a 35 Whelen A.I and a 338 RUM so go figure.
 
todbartell said:
338 Mag 225 gr Nosler Accubond @ 2800 fps (BC .550)
100 yards +2.7"
200y +1.9"
300y -4.5" 2350 fps, 2775 ft lbs energy
350y -10" 2285 fps
400y -17" 2220 fps
500y -37" 2085 fps, 2170 ft lbs energy

35 Whelen 225 gr Nosler Accubond @ 2750 fps (BC .421)
100 yards +2.7"
200y +1.6"
300y -6" 2185 fps, 2385 ft lbs energy
350y -12" 2100 fps
400y -20" 2010 fps
500y -44" 1850 fps, 1700 ft lbs energy
Click to expand...

I have always thought BC. was a static figure
 
higher the BC, the better retained velocity the bullet will have. that makes it drop less, drift less, and hit with more energy
 
The 33 cal bullets are more aerodynamic and the selection is better if you ask me. Both have more than ample power to down anything on this continent. I personally like the .338 more but either is a great game getter. The recoil is stiffer with the .338 thats for sure, but getting a good recoil pad and not buying a super lightweight gun go a long way in making a .338 more user friendly.
 
got to go said:
The bullets BC. doesn't change with the velocity. Check a reloading manual. I might be Wrong But I Doubt it. :)
Click to expand...


The BC only changes with bullet weight, not velocity. To have the same BC in a .35 cal, you need to go to 250gr or heavier, depending on type. Then you drop quite a bit in muzzle velocity, giving the advantage to the .338 bullet...
 
got to go said:
The bullets BC. doesn't change with the velocity. Check a reloading manual. I might be Wrong But I Doubt it. :)
Click to expand...

Sierra bullets lists different BC's for their bullets depending on muzzle velocity, so it does vary slightly. Regardless, there is a significant BC difference between 338" & 358" in the same weight/style of bullets such as the Nosler Accubond I compared above. And the 338 will push them slightly faster too. That adds up to it being a better choice than a Whelen for 300+ yard shots. This is fact :) I dont own either, I have no agenda here.
 
Tod ... beat me too it. Right on the money.

No agenda either ... I do have a 35 Whelen, but if I wanted something foir 300 yards+
I would look to something like a 338 ... probably a 300 RUM ... even flatter with more energy at 300...and beyond.
 
The .338 looks "better" on paper, but the .35 whelen performs a little "better" in the field in my opinion. The Whelen kicks less, with less muzzle blast so is easier for most people to shoot accurately. Whelens do fine with 22" of barrel. .338 mags do not. I find the .338's 24" or 26" barrels less handy. Of the animals I've seen killed with both, no detectable difference in effect. But then, I do not shoot at animals that are more than 300 yards away. That's why it's called big game hunting, not shooting.
 
got to go said:
The bullets BC. doesn't change with the velocity.
Click to expand...

Well actually it does.

The whole concept of Ballistic Coefficient is a slippery one and the BC is not a static number. The actual BC changes during a bullet's flight and the numbers quoted are the supposed average over some pre-determined distance. The problem that arises is that initial velocity and air density are variables that can affect this average number, sometimes to a large degree.

The crude figures provided by the manufacturer are handy to compare different bullets but at the end of the day the only way to find the true trajectory of a load is to shoot your rifle at all distances you would expect to be shooting game at.
 
The 35 Whelen is a great midrande, heavy game load that can reach out to 350 or so if necessary. The 338 is a versatile cartridge that can handle either task and do it better than the Whelen.
The 338 is good long range round. It is accurate and effective out to well beyond where most guys should be shooting. At the same time, it is a reliable thumper for big game at close quarters.
A 338 can be built in any number of configurations. A long range "stalking" rifle, a short, handy, brush rifle, an African -style plains rifle.
I've heard it said the elk was developed to suit the 338 Winchester. Well, I'm pretty sure the elk pre-dates the 338 but it's hard to imagine a more perfect match. The same is true of moose or big bears. They are the 338's meat.
I like the 35 Whelen for a lot of reasons but the 338 is a far more versatile cartridge. In addition, you can buy factory ammunition suitable for most anything in 338. It's often difficult to buy factory 35 Whelen at all. Regards, Bill
 
The 338 win reach out further,but for the average moose/elk hunter who shooys inside of 300-325yds,not much difference.Both excellent rounds
 
Hey loving all the replys fellas, thanks. Don't know why I'm looking at a 338, need it like a hole in the head. I don't intend to shoot anything beyond 200ys but I like the confidence to know that it can reach out if I do my part. seems too that the 338 can be loaded down a bit to '06 levels for practise and deer and then stoak the fire for elk or moose,,,now what gun to get it in? There's a couple of nice Sako Finnbears around...but I think I want an all weather gun that's lighter, for carrying, and suffer the recoil..thinking tikka with a limbsaver. It can't bark worse then my 45-70 GG with 405g loads....hmmm, too many gun, not enogh time..or $$. thanks guys
 
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