Advantages of a 35 Whelen?

I previously had a 9.3x62 Zastava but sold it as I found it unwieldy. My current favourite thumper is an 1895 cba in .45-70. It's lighter and trimmer than a regular guide gun and comes with a solid buttplate instead of a recoil pad. Pretty lively shooting heavy loads but is just balanced perfect - in my opinion the best of the marlin guide gun length rifles (even though it's not a jm and I have owned several).

I got turned on to the 7600's a while back and now own a couple with regular barrels but am thinking a 35 whelen carbine with the 18.5" barrel might be just the ticket for the areas I typically hunt and the type of hunting I prefer (where there's lots of walking and most shots are under 100 yds).

i kind of want smaller, so i might just re barrel the tikka.... i kind of want the money though as im in nz tryin to live a dream on a budget :D
 
I wouldn't buy a 35Whelen in a carbine configuration. Too short. Too much recoil. Too much muzzle blast.

A 22 incher with a small scope will still handle very well and would do a good job replacing all the rifles mentioned in the OP. That's the route I would go.
 
Over the last while there have been a couple of other threads related to the 35 Whelen. On paper it looks good. Proponents of this caliber have noted that a 24 inch barrel brings out the charms that this cartridge is capable of. I search around for a 35 Whelen made up in a Left handed bolt action but haven't seen one yet. It seems like a capable cartridge that is often times over looked by many.

There are probably at least two single shot rifles out there in production. And not too long ago remington has made rifles chambered in the 35 Whelen caliber; both in a pump and a bolt action. I'd probably lean towards the bolt action myself. I find with pumps the accuracy is less stellar then a bolt action. I believe that this happens because some pump action guns have a certain degree of lateral movement, and it's tough to repeat the same hold when shooting this type of rifle... On a shotgun it's not a problem when a number of pellets are reaching out towards the intended target.

For those who are more familiar with the Pump action rifle they may find it acceptable for their needs. But at extended ranges the bolt ought to provide some better groups at 200 yards and beyond. If the Remington 7600 pump action rifle is used as a bush rifle - on deer drives it should perform as well as is needed.

Not long ago I contacted Savage to see if they would build a 35 Whelen and they said that they are not chambering any of their rifles in the 35 Whelen so they weren't interested in building one. I think Browning might though. And Montana will build a bolt action in 35 Whelen - but the price is getting up there as it would have to be imported. Not sure if Tikka or Sako would build one - but they might.
 
It comes in 7600; that’s something the rest don’t do. Otherwise no.

The others also have a hard time shooting 35cal bullets...

I wouldn't buy a 35Whelen in a carbine configuration. Too short. Too much recoil. Too much muzzle blast.

A 22 incher with a small scope will still handle very well and would do a good job replacing all the rifles mentioned in the OP. That's the route I would go.

I was under the impression that the 7600 carbines were only made in 30-06, everything else only came in the regular length rifle?
 
What I saw of elephants makes me believe that a .45/70 loaded with a non-expanding bullet might kill one, but it wouldn't break a charge. If you attempted to break an elephant charge with a .45/70, you'd end up a grease stain in the grass. I'm unimpressed by 350 mag's video evidence of the .45/70's prowess on elephants. An African buffalo weighs about 1800 pounds, but lets call it a ton for the sake of argument, while an African elephant weighs 6 tons. There is simply no correlation between these two animals. In Tanzania at least, a legal elephant must have at least 4' of ivory out of the lip, so the elephant you're hunting is a big elephant. An up close encounter with one of these guys defies description, but it might be awesome if the word had not been so diminished through misuse. With a head on brain shot, the bullet must penetrate 4' just to reach the brain. Now you don't have to shoot your elephant in a confrontational fashion, but these licences are expensive, and you should do what you can to get your money's worth. Confronting your elephant at 8 yards will do this. Add a bit of long grass to the mix, makes a .577 feels like a .22, and a .45/70 is completely outmatched.

Elephants in the long grass . . .


Sub adult males sparing . . .


Elephants on a sand river . . .


Chas. Osborne .577 NE . . .
 
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What I saw of elephants makes me believe that a .45/70 loaded with a non-expanding bullet might kill one, but it wouldn't break a charge. If you attempted to break an elephant charge with a .45/70, you'd end up a grease stain in the grass. I'm unimpressed by 350 mag's video evidence of the .45/70's prowess on elephants. An African buffalo weighs about 1800 pounds, but lets call it a ton for the sake of argument, while an African elephant weighs 6 tons. There is simply no correlation between these two animals. In Tanzania at least, a legal elephant must have 4" of ivory out of the lip, so the elephant you're hunting is a big elephant. An up close encounter with on of these guys defies description, but it might be awesome if the word had not been so diminished through miss use. With a head on brain shot, the bullet must penetrate 4' just to reach the brain. Now you don't have to shoot your elephant in a confrontational fashion, but these licences are expensive, and you should do what you can to get your money's worth. Confronting your elephant at 8 yards will do this. Add a bit of long grass to the mix, makes a .577 feels like a .22, and a .45/70 is completely outmatched.

Elephants in the long grass . . .


Sub adult males sparing . . .


Elephants on a sand river . . .


Chas. Osborne .577 NE . . .

I have zero personal experience, but have a pretty good grasp on the math and I would absolutely concur with your conclusions.
 
I was under the impression that the 7600 carbines were only made in 30-06, everything else only came in the regular length rifle?[/QUOTE]

Remington made a run of wood stocked carbine in .35 Whelen in the past and currently have synthetic stocked carbine in.35 Whelen.
 
I have few 35 Whelen bolt rifles (one is for sale in EE) and prefer 22" barrele as minimum length.
Being an old geezer that caliber is the max that I actually handle during bench sessions at my local shooting range.
In my 35 years of hunting experience any solid hit with 35 Whelen to the vitals of any B.C. animal species flatten them within 25m or so.
3006 Spr is the greatest do it all cartridge but in close and personal situation 35 Whelen shines when things needs to be settled quick.
45/70 might be a bit better in that department but it kicks more and lacks versatility at longer ranges.
 
I bought the wood stocked carbine a number of years ago at Ellwood Epps and Supercub is correct about the recoil, it's the only gun that "scoped me. I purchased the synthetic carbine from The Gun Dealer this past fall. It has the non Monte Carlo stock so that you can actually use the open sights if you wish. I put Remington version of the Limbsaver recoil pad on it and Don't find the recoil too bad.
 
Been thinking about getting a 35 whelen - probably a 7600 carbine.

I already have a 325wsm, a .45-70, and a .375 h&h. Does the whelen do anything that those don't?

This was the original question.

A 35 Whelan in 7600 would offer little advantage over a .45-70.

A lever-action 45-70 would handle equally as well as a 35 Whelan.

I will rephrase....the .45-70 loaded with hardcast lead will easily handle ANY game animal on NA Continent.

As will the 444 Marlin or 450 Marlin.
 
Do you need a 35 Whelen, not really. Is that something that you want then go for it. I don't need one either as I have it surrounded by calibres which are just as good if not better, but I bought one because I wanted one. Great cartridge. Might find it has a bit less recoil that the ones you listed.
 
This was the original question.

A 35 Whelan in 7600 would offer little advantage over a .45-70.

A lever-action 45-70 would handle equally as well as a 35 Whelan.

I will rephrase....the .45-70 loaded with hardcast lead will easily handle ANY game animal on NA Continent.

As will the 444 Marlin or 450 Marlin.

If I was going to compare the 35 Whelen to any of the 3 he listed I would compare it to the 325wsm. The 45/70 has pretty poor ballistics at 200+ yds, especially with the round and flat nose bullets necessary for use in lever guns.

Besides, considering your user name shouldn't you be extolling the virtues of the 35 caliber? Lol
 
If I was going to compare the 35 Whelen to any of the 3 he listed I would compare it to the 325wsm. The 45/70 has pretty poor ballistics at 200+ yds, especially with the round and flat nose bullets necessary for use in lever guns.

Besides, considering your user name shouldn't you be extolling the virtues of the 35 caliber? Lol

He quoted using a 35 Whelan in 7600 Carbine....that is going to preform about the same as 45-70 out to 200 yards.

For a woods carry rifle I would choose BLR in 358 Winchester, or 300 WSM or 335 WSM.
 
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He quoted using a 35 Whelan in 7600 Carbine....that isn't going to preform about the same as 45-70 out to 200 yards.

For a woods carry rifle I would choose BLR in 358 Winchester.

OK now I'm really confused. Isn't a woods carry rifle where the 45/70 excels?

Seems to me at the muzzle the two have similar energy, (assuming we're talking about hot hand loads in the 45/70 as regular factory ammo is pretty anemic) with the 35 having the edge in velocity while the 45/70 has the edge in bullet weight and diameter, but the 45/70 loses velocity faster, and has a lot of drop and wind drift at range compared to the 35..?
 
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Except the 7600 is a modern rifle that will.accept higher pressures and better pointed bullets.

Smoke some more if you don't think those are definite advantages. :)

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/45-70-government-325-gr-ftx-leverevolution#!/

325 gr FTX "pointed" bullet.....leverevolution high pressure ammo?

In a Ruger no.1 or B-78 you could shoot pointed bullet of your choice...?


Hornady also has 250gr.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/45-70-government-250-gr-monoflex-leverevolution#!/

He was referencing a 18.5 inch barreled 35 Whelan.....not going to be a ballistics star out of short barrel?

Like I said ...out to 200 yards.....isn't going from be much difference?
 
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https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/45-70-government-325-gr-ftx-leverevolution#!/

325 gr FTX "pointed" bullet.....leverevolution high pressure ammo?

In a Ruger no.1 or B-78 you could shoot pointed bullet of your choice...?


Hornady also has 250gr.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/45-70-government-250-gr-monoflex-leverevolution#!/

He was referencing a 18.5 inch barreled 35 Whelan.....not going to be a ballistics star out of short barrel?

Like I said ...out to 200 yards.....isn't going from be much difference?

The difference between an 18.5" and 22" Whelen is gonna be what, like 50-80fps?

And the sectional density on light weight 45cal bullets is garbage...
 
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