35 Whelen recommendations

I can't believe no one recommended woodleigh 310 gr pills. For when you really want to put the smack down on something.

Don't forget you can also load single 000 buckshot pellets over about 10 grains of titegroup for small game. Then you can cover more bases with one gun.
 
Been looking at the Leupold 2.5-8x alot, may just have to keep an eye out. I've been looking at the VX-3HD version, I just wish there was more reticle options (would like something either in a heavier duplex, no.4, etc if I don't end up with an illuminated reticle).

Used a VX Freedom Scout this year (wide duplex), like the scope and it did it's job, but I was lucky enough to have lots of daylight remaining, feel like it would've been tough to pick up later in the evening on a black target

That small game load sounds like fun!
 
A lot of good advice above already on bullet choices. Find the one your rifle likes best and go with that.

For a stock, you could look at Boyd's if you are thinking wood or laminate. I just put a wood (AA Claro) on my LH Rem 700 in 358 Win, and like it a lot (drop in required no additional fitting). For synthetic there are a lot of choices. For some the recoil of the 35 Whelen is more than they are comfortable with, with hot, heavy loads, so a lightweight synthetic may not be a good choice; but you know your recoil tolerance and can decide what will work for you. A LimbSaver pad will also make a big difference for felt recoil.

While not a 35 Whelen, the 358 Win is its little brother in a short action, and for illustration I will put the pic of my build here for you:
Rem 700 LH 358 Win 1.jpg

Fo a scope, Trijicon has some great options for you, and the green dot or triangle works best in low light (our eyes lose yellow first, then red, and green last). Leupold has some great options too: the older VX-3 scopes are great, and I also like the older VX-R with the Firedot reticles, or newer scopes with the Firedot reticles. The illuminated dot or cross stands out in low light on black/dark fur in the timber very well, and will aid in shot placement. While you may be shooting short range for a bear, where 1 power on the low end would great, there will be other hunts with this rifle in the future and you will want to buy once, buy right; a 2.5 or 3 power at short range will also work, and give you a little more magnification for future hunts where shooting ranges may be extended, and 6-9 power on the high end may be of better value in the long run. Just additional considerations for you to consider as you determine what will work best for you. (The scope I went with on my rifle is the VX-5HD 2-10x42 w/ Firedot reticle as I had it on hand)

Have you considered if you will be putting iron sights on it too? NECG makes some great sights.

Hope your build turns out as you anticipate and that you have many great adventures with it!
 
BlackRam; that's a beautiful rifle, love all the choices, looks like a great setup! Irons are a great touch.

I was torn between a 358Win or 35Whelen when I started, they both seem like great options.

Ended up ordering a B&C (black with grey web) stock from Prophet River, was heavily considering a Boyds though. I really love the look of stainless and walnut, I think I'd be too scared to walk through the bush with it haha.

I'm not particularly recoil sensitive, although the heaviest recoiling rifles I own currently are an '06 and my 45-70, and I manage fine with 3.5" turkey loads, so I'll see how the Whelen compares.

I'm leaning towards something like an Accupoint 3-9 with the green triangle post. I like the idea of a lower bottom end, but like you said, more magnification may be beneficial for broader use. I was actually looking at the same VX-5 this morning, a bit more than I was hoping to spend on glass, but that magnification range does seem like about perfect.
 
A new option is on the horizon as well, they must've borrowed the .35 Whelen reamer from the Scout chambering cell:


1737559947929.png

I would have preferred if that barrel was on a Bergara B-14 if only for the alloy bottom metal as opposed to plastic, but I'm going to keep an eye on availability up here and see if any of these make their way up.
 
Saw that, unfortunately (for me) not an option in lefty at this time.

Have most of my parts here now other than the barrel, which will hopefully be here early spring. Have a small PTG order that's been sitting in customs for two months, the CP strike really held that up.

Bought a Trijicon Huron 3-9x40 with the No.4 reticle for a good price on Black Friday, wasn't exactly what I was looking for but they seem like a tough reliable scope. Was a bit worried about the published eye relief specs for the scope, but eye relief seems much better than the specs. I guess I'll find out during load development.

Anyone ever opened up the barrel channel on a Bell & Carlson stock before?
 
mikeyb said:
A new option is on the horizon as well, they must've borrowed the .35 Whelen reamer from the Scout chambering cell:


View attachment 889279

I would have preferred if that barrel was on a Bergara B-14 if only for the alloy bottom metal as opposed to plastic, but I'm going to keep an eye on availability up here and see if any of these make their way up.
Click to expand...
It’s about time.
 
If you’re rolling your own, you may want to give IMR 8208 a try. This was from a few weeks back with my LH Sako AV in .35 Whelen. A 250gr Interlock RN ahead of 54gr 8208. It as well as the 250gr Spire Points gave sub 1” groups with that powder charge. Apologies if the pic is enormous. It’s my first attempt at posting one since the big upgrade and format changes.
1752329392224.png
 
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remington jim said:
Nice looking Rem M700 ! What brand barrel ? Looks to be 24 “ ? A few more pictures would be Nice 😊
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Thanks RJ, planning on taking some more pics when she's out at the range!

JC barrel, went with a 22", 12twist, #4 (smallest he makes in 35cal).

B&C sporter stock, took a bit of opening up but it fits nicely now. Bottom metal is all factory stuff i found on the "other" site, action was a new bare receiver I bought on here. PTG recoil lug. Triggertech Primary.

Glass is a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x40 with the triangle post reticle, mounted in Leupold Backcountry ringmounts.

Will be sighting/breaking it in with factory Hornady and Fusions, but I've got some 250gr PT's over some Varget rolled up to test
 
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Chuckbuster said:
If you’re rolling your own, you may want to give IMR 8208 a try. This was from a few weeks back with my LH Sako AV in .35 Whelen. A 250gr Interlock RN ahead of 54gr 8208.
Click to expand...
That looks great! I do have some 8208 if for whatever reason Varget isn't working

I do have some of the 250gr RN I'd like to work a load up for
 
I’ve had 5 Whelen rifles over the years. The one I still have is my first build I did on a savage action with a Shilen barrel. It’s got a 22 inch heavy sportier barrel. My rifle loves all bullets but I use TSX 225 gr pills. I’ve taken numerous elk and moose and have never recovered a bullet. IMR 4064 is my powder of choice. Mine also shoots Hornady 200gr FTX bullets into one hole.

The point is, pretty much any bullet will do the job in the wonderful Whelen. They simply shoot well. I too have found that CFE 223 and Alliant MR2000 get excellent velocities but never quite the accuracy of an extruded powder. I don’t hot rod my Whelen. I use my 35 WSM when I need the extra oomph.
 
fuzzy39 said:
I’ve had 5 Whelen rifles over the years. The one I still have is my first build I did on a savage action with a Shilen barrel. It’s got a 22 inch heavy sportier barrel. My rifle loves all bullets but I use TSX 225 gr pills. I’ve taken numerous elk and moose and have never recovered a bullet. IMR 4064 is my powder of choice. Mine also shoots Hornady 200gr FTX bullets into one hole.

The point is, pretty much any bullet will do the job in the wonderful Whelen. They simply shoot well. I too have found that CFE 223 and Alliant MR2000 get excellent velocities but never quite the accuracy of an extruded powder. I don’t hot rod my Whelen. I use my 35 WSM when I need the extra oomph.
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True, I’ve seen the data for MR2000 and can likely squeeze out an extra 100fps or so if I were to use it. I’ve been tempted, but then I remember that a 250 grain, .35 calibre bullet at 2500+ fps is already big medicine, and the extra bit of velocity may not yield the same accuracy in the end.
 
Managed to make it out this week and get it sighted in. Extractor was a bit sticky and shaving brass, I've cleaned it up a bit and it seems much better, I'll see on the next range visit.

Love the scope, I think for my intended purposes it'll be perfect.

Hornady Superformance was grouping around 0.8", Fusion was just under 1.5" (all 3 shot groups). Handloaded Hornady 250gr RN was around 1.25" but I haven't worked up a load for that yet.

Got some horrendous flyers with the Partitions I loaded, that being said they appear to have been loaded/pulled before (were part of package deal of bullets). They didn't look damaged or deformed at all, but they were 3"+ groups and erratic. Have several new sealed boxes, so I'm going to redo that. Velocities were consistent, SD and ES were reasonable, so I'm hoping it's just something with that handful of bullets I tried.

Was also damn near 40deg that day. The Partitions were doing about 2400fps at max load of 55.0gr Varget (Nosler data), primers looked good, no pressure signs I noticed.

Worked up a load for my CVA Scout 45-70 the same night, shoulder was a bit tender between the two.
 
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