Does .35 Whelen offer much over .30/06.

[BigUglyMan]

Great points about the 9.3 but I can plink with my 35 whelen using .357-.358 pistol bullets. I've shot almost a 1000 rounds of plated .357 158 grain ammo last year in my Ruger number 1. How much live fire and trigger time are you able to put into your 9.3? I shoot my very flexible whelen all day long. I have the rifleman performance on my side

There's are .365" pistol bullets available from Hornady though they're not as common as .357" bullets.

 

[remington jim]

i always carry with one in the chamber... The safety is on, but i never rely on the safety, i maintain control of the muzzle... Even in a slip and fall... Or on uneven ground... Or crossing a creek... Or climbing a tree... Or scaling a mountain...

x2 rj

 

[Kevan]

Great points about the 9.3 but I can plink with my 35 whelen using .357-.358 pistol bullets. I've shot almost a 1000 rounds of plated .357 158 grain ammo last year in my Ruger number 1. How much live fire and trigger time are you able to put into your 9.3? I shoot my very flexible whelen all day long. I have the rifleman performance on my side

I shoot my Whelen and my 9.3 at the range with the same loads I use for hunting and I shoot a lot with them.
My 9.3 bullets are quite inexpensive when bought by the 100 pack and the Whelen works very well with a 290 gr. Lyman GC load that is also an excellent hunting bullet.

 

[longbranch*]

I picked up a used model 70 off of here that was rebareled to 35 whelen, Ive got to say it is one of the best cartridges ive ever hunted with. Kills stuff dead fast! big holes and easy on the shoulder, what more could you want! I love it so much im going to build a lightweight 35 whelen for mountain hunting. Its ballistics are so close to the 3006 that a 180 grain bullet is clipping along at about the same velocity as the 225gr does out of the 35.

Same for me. Couple years ago I picked up a pre-64 model 70 that had been rebored/chambered to .35 Whelen. Could drive tack's at the range and first weekend out I took a 6X6 elk, nice 4X4 Muley and a pesky black bear that kept hitting our gamepole. Love this cartridge. Excellent range out to 250 yards (your mileage may vary), for a medium bore, easy on the shoulder and you can load 5 cartridges as a bonus.

 

[BigUglyMan]

The thing being overlooked when comparing the .308/180 and the .358/225 is the sectional density. The 30 caliber 180gr bullet has a decent, but not spectacular, SD of .271. The 35 caliber 225gr slug has a much less impressive SD of .251. Now, will this matter when you ram either behind the shoulder of a deer at 100 yards? Not in the slightest. But when you pack on the pounds and step up to elk or moose does it make a difference? On an oblique shot at 250 yards which would I prefer? I'd probably tend toward the 30-06, with bullet construction being equal.