700 CDL 35 Whelen

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bear slayer

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I put one of these on layaway today:D :D :D and was just wanting to here your opinions on this gun like accuracy and on game performance.
I know a few of you guys have whelens and would like to hear your stories
Thanks BearSlayer
 
Well, I'll start off

My Whelen kills moose like the Hammer of Thor, providing your bullet placement is good(of course, this is true with any caliber/cartridge).

I have used 225 gr Nosler Part at 2700 fps and 250 gr Hornadys at 2600 fps. I like the Hornadys for their performance, accuracy and price.
 
I don't have a CDL but I do have a Remington 700 BDL in .35 Whelen. The worst loads out of it still produced about 1.5" groups. I used it to take a black bear two years ago and it absolutely hammered it. It actually rolled the bear and while the bear did get to its feet and make short run the blood trail was so intense that it could have been followed with a flashlight if it had been dark.

At the time I shot the bear I was using the 250 grain Hornady and IMR-4064. It was a good combination but I am now using Reloder 15. The accuracy is just as good and the velocity is much better while using a powder that is insensitive to temperature change. From my 22" barrel I get a chronographed average of 2592 fps. With the 24 incher on your Whelen you should do better yet. The load is nothing more complicated than the max load from alliant, 59.5 grains of Reloder 15 and a 250 grain bullet.

Chuck
 
the Whelen is for all the shooters/hunters who think they should have a "magnum" of some stripe that will be "better" and "deadlier" than thier current rifle, usually a 308, 30-06 or 270 etc. With a 225 gr bullet it will come very close to a 338 Win Mag in velocity and the recoil will be more on par with a cross between a 30-06 and a 7 Rem Mag, which isn't much.
My 24" Whelen on a 700 action does 2725 with a 225 Partition.

I was at Wholesale Sports today and a guy was talking to the same counter guy as I was. He wanted a 300WSM for "big bears" because he felt his 30-06wasn't up to the task...:confused:

It was one of those situations where it becomes a three way conversation...I suggested there was little advantage in pushing the same bullet weight and diameter 200-300 fps faster and what he should buy is either a 35 Whelen or a 338 Win Mag.....well he thought that was rediculous and mutterd something about the Whelen being a woods gun or short range rifle ...etc. etc.....:rolleyes:

IMHO...the 35 Whelen is the best bore size on the '06 case for average guy who wants more bullet weight and energy but doesn't want the recoil of a 338 Win Mag......some don't agree....too bad:D
 
I too own a 35 whelen Imp and have shot Elk, Black bears, Moose, deer with it. all one shot kills. I use Speer 250 gr sp point, at 2565fps. Imr 4320 powder has worked best for me and it regularly gives me 3/4" groups at 100 yrds. It was built from an mauser 98 action. Have yet to find a cal that works better. My last Elk I hit it in the neck at 100 yrds the bullet deflected and traveled the whole length of the animal to lodge against the hip joint. Now that's good hitting powder for a non Mag .

I think you will be very pleased with your choice.
 
I have a 700 CDL in 35 Whelen. While I acquired it just a bit too late to give an evaluation on it's effectiveness on game, I am more than pleased with accuracy/velocity. I load the 225 grain Bullets with Vihtavuori N540 and the 250's with Reloder 15. Velocities run right around those listed, 2700+ for the 225 grainers and a bit over 2600 with the 250's. I have a firm belief that such projectiles at these velocities will put a serious "hurt" on anything one chooses to shoot with them. My groups average just under 1" with the 225's and right on 1" with the 250 Speer. The 250 Hornady shoots slightly better than the Speer. I will have a better story to tell next fall, since the Whelen will be coming Moose hunting and Black Bear Hunting with me. Recoil is a bit brisker than a 30-06, but definitely tolerable. Regards, Eagleye.
 
It was one of those situations where it becomes a three way conversation...I suggested there was little advantage in pushing the same bullet weight and diameter 200-300 fps faster and what he should buy is either a 35 Whelen or a 338 Win Mag.....well he thought that was rediculous and mutterd something about the Whelen being a woods gun or short range rifle ...etc. etc.....
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I see this situation all the time... believe me when I tell you that you will not ingratiate yourself to the gunstore salesman by giving unsolicited advice to prospective buyers. Especially when the buyer already has an opinion of his own and the clerk is trying to close a deal.:redface: Just an observation.

I really like the look and feel of the CDL and from all the reports the carbon steel barrels are very good indeed. The 35 Whelen is a deadly long action cartridge that gives magnum performance from a non belted case.... now if it was only shorter and fatter.:)
 
35 Whelen

Remington chose to use a 1/16 twist in their Whelens. That twist will stabilize 250 grain bullets well but internet lore has it that they fall short of stabilizing the real heavies -300 and 310 grain. Most users would be well served by a good 225 or 250 grain bullet at any rate.

My Mauser custom is a 1/14 twist and it does stabilize 300 grain bullets but I have not had opportunity to try the 310 Woodleighs.

I do most of my shooting with a 287 grain cast bullet and it is probably the best cast bullet rifle I have used. Sub minute of angle for 3 shots every time with selected bullets and often as small as 5/8" at 1950 fps.

This is the third Whelen I've had. One previous was a 1/14 and the other a 1/12. Both shot well with the bullets I was using at the time. A lot of gents swear by the 1/12 but for my purposes the 1/14 is adequate.
 
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