My CZ in 35 Whelen

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heavymetaljeff

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I've been wanting a 35 whelen for a while. I finally got one in a trade a few months ago. A CZ VZ.24 with a Douglas barrel. Got a large amount of virgin brass and dies no problem. Projectiles seem to be an issue to find easily. Got some 250gr hornady it shoots very well over varget. Recoil is tolerable. So my question is, I find lack of bullets annoying. Would I be better off with a 375 or a 338. I already have a 06'.
 
GMC403 said:
I’ve been shooting Whelens and other 35cals for a while now. Never had an issue finding projectiles (online dealers)

Nosler Partitions and Accubonds are good, but pricey. I’ve been happy with the Speer 250gr Hot-Cor, and at $25 a box they’re very economical.
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I have no issues getting 35 bullets. My petload for mine is 200gr TTSX, 2980fps, 1/2 inch MOA overlapping. Rem 700 CDL. It's a great round, especially if you reload. My back up load is a 250gr Speer Hot Cor about 2510 fps. The 35 is great for anything. But my main moose gun remains a 9.3, just personal choice. The 35 is my Elk gun and its setup for up to longe range shooting.
 
Just talk with a gun shop. Most will order in what ever you want. Ive had jerry at mystic precision bring me in brass and bullets i couldnt get locally.
 
I've shot a half dozen elk with my Whelens, using plain Hornady Interlock 250 gr, both the old RN and the spitzer types. Every one worked as if it was an advertisement. About 70% weight retention and a full round mushroom nose. Bullets usually found under the off side hide. I can say the same for Speer 250 Hot Cor spitzer. I have shot several more elk and moose with the .35 Whelen and Speer Grand Slams, a very good bullet in this cartridge but sadly discontinued. Nosler partitions are worth a look. Don't fall into the trap of using your .35 Whelen with light bullets. It will work best on really big game with 225-250's. If you are hunting deer exclusively, 200's are OK but it defeats the purpose of the cartridge to use light bullets on elk and moose and bears.
I've shot more than a dozen elk, a couple moose, a big mountain caribou, and a few other critters with my .35 Whelen rifles. Every one of the animals take could have been taken just as well with the Hornady bullet you tried first. Don't be annoyed about the lack of a wide bullet selection.
 
A little looking around online or at gun stores should produce a variety of 35 cal bullets. WhileI am not loading for the Whelen, I have no problem finding bullets for my 35 Rem, 356 Win or 358 Win, in either FP's or spitzers.
Looking on EE will also net you some 35 cal bullets for sale.
I have had really good luck with the Speer 220gr Hot Cor's and know others who have done well with the 250 grainers.
Others have had great performance as stated above with the Nosler partitions and AccuBonds, and the Barnes TSX's.
 
There are always lots of .35 cal bullets available in pretty much any store that carries components that I have been in... our local store carries a very good variety, but will also order in anything requested. As stated above, you don't have to get fancy with the Whelen, a 225 - 250 grain SP will handle anything you are hunting quite nicely, bonded or no... I use 200 SP's in my .358's, but like the Sierra 225 SBT and Speer 250 Hot-Cor in my two Whelen's, and they were good in the others that have now moved along.
 
Thanks for the replies. I guess I'm just used of walking into cabelas or my LGS and grabbing what I need. I did get some swift A frames at the gun show. I just hate being at the mercy of the only guy there who has them. I can load 200grs for my 06. I was wondering if going to 375 would have any advantages. Mostly going up to a 375 ruger or down to a 338win. Also curious on what you guys think value wise if I do let it go20191001_072247.jpg20191001_072247.jpg20191001_072247.jpg20191001_072230.jpg
 

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Going up to a 375 has some advantages, but has some disadvantages too.
Pros: Larger frontal area for more "Smack" and better SD and weights for better penetration, and bullets are common, but mostly in the heavier weights (270-300 gr)
Cons: in the H&H and other larger cases, you are going to be burning more powder and getting more recoil
Unless you go with a smaller case such as the 376 Steyr. You get the benefits without the extra recoil and muzzle blast. Although your choices in ammo (235 and 270 gr loads) and brass are limited to Hornady. You do have more choices in bullets from 235 to 300 grains such as Speer, Nosler, Swift, Woodleigh, etc. From personal experience I can tell you that the 376 is a very fun cartridge to shoot and has worked very well on bison and elk with the 260gr AccuBond@ 2632 fps from a 21"barrel (full stocked rifle) that produces 1/2" groups at 100 yards.
Going down to the 338 cal also has some advantages: mostly being a larger selection of bullets and ammunition in the Win Mag version, with better performance in velocity and energy.
Cons with the Win Mag is again increased powder consumption, recoil (of which is more than the average shooter can handle well)and muzzle blast. It is a great cartridge and performs very well on moose, elk, bison and big bears. Also based on personal experience. Going smaller, one has the 375 Win and the 38-55, but both are quite a step down and are not quite so comparable. But I find the 375 Win to be a great cartridge which I thoroughly enjoy shooting and hunting with.
In lesser cartridges, you are limited mostly to the 338 Federal and 338-06; both of which have not set the world on fire, but both are very capable performers. The 338-06 is very similar to the 35 Whelen in performance, whereas the 338 Federal is comparable to the 358 Win. Only Federal loads for the 338 Federal and Weatherby was the only company to load for the 338-06. Both are fun to shoot and can be very accurate. Having fun with my 3 different rifles chambered to the Federal and my custom 338-06.
Some have preferences to either one of the 3 calibers; I find them all to be interesting, fun to shoot and hunt with and having their own virtues (but this may have more to do with the rifles that I have them chambered in).
Another cartridge that is in the same league as the 35 Whelen, 338-06 and 376 Steyr, but not mentioned yet, is the 9.3x62. It does have the advantage of shooting heavier bullets from 250-300 grains, and has gained a very strong reputation in Africa on dangerous game, where it has been called the "30-06 of African cartridges". Just starting to play with this cartridge, but have been wanting one for quite some time. Had to wait to get a left handed to Sako, before I pulled the trigger, both figuratively and physically!
At this time I have rifles in the 338 Federal, 338-06, 35 Rem, 356 Win, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 375 Win and 376 Steyr. And I like them all! LOL
I know several people who have Whelens, and they all love it. Perhaps you should try another cartridge, either bigger or smaller, or both (I know, I am such an enabler! LOL), but hang on to your Whelen so that you can make your own decision on which to keep and use. Or you may just find you like them all for their own merits as I do.
 
depending on the Twist, if i was to get a 35 whelen I would shooting a lead gas checked bullet

lead 200g at around 2100 fps ....... it would do a DRT for almost everything
 
Thanks for the insight. I think I'll keep an eye out for some new glass, should be some sales coming up. Also what's out there for inexpensive 225gr? Be nice to have some cheaper practice rounds(my LGS quoted me $90 for 50 noslers)Is there any noticable difference in recoil or performance between a 225 and 250. My first load development with a CCI 200 and 53gr of varget under a 250gr hornady SP RN was giving me around 1".
 
Hi,
Well done on the 35 Whelen!
This is a great caliber and cartridge.
If you impact your target, big game as an example, at over about 900m/s, you will probably notice bullet deformation beyond desirable with traditional expanding bullets. This can mean that more specialized bullets like Barnes, Trophy Bonded, Nosler Partition, Swift A-Frame, etc are desired. The .375 H-H does not require these specialized bullets and is one of the standard calibers & cartridges in Africa. Unfortunately .375 is not so popular in North America. The .338s are enduringly popular in North America, and have a wide range of bullets available. The .338 Win Mag is probably the best value for money, and available in North America... not so much in Africa. .340 Weatherby is a little better performance, but generally less available and more expensive. .338 Lapua has become popular as a high-powered long-range rifle, but may be over-the-top for the average shooter. It has some outstanding capabilities that take overwhelming attention to detail to achieve. And then there is .338 RUM, but why? So, I would suggest considering .338 Win Mag for Elk, Moose, Bison and big bears. Africa is best approached with a .375 H-H, for many practical reasons.
To stop charges, it has been suggested that a bullet of 500 grains or more in weight at 2000ft/sec, or more is required. This also deals big animals like Cape Buffalo a blow that can lead to one-shot kills often enough. (Not immediate incapacitation, but no follow-up shot required) Charge-stopping is mostly the job of the Professional Hunter.
I asked a very experienced Professional Hunter in Southern Africa what the best caliber or cartridge for an African safari is? He simply replied " it is the biggest rifle that you can shoot accurately". I think that this is actually true everywhere.
 
The Speer Hot Cor are a regular cup and core bullet as compared to the A-Frame which is a premium bullet that is more complex to manufacture with its' own partition in its construction, hence the more expensive cost.
Don't get me wrong, the Hot Cor is a good bullet and does perform very well. Have used it (220gr) for years in my 358 Win, with great results, and I have some for the 35 Rem (180gr) and for my new 9.3x62 (270gr). The Barnes TSX is a monometal bullet that works very well, but can be finicky; if your rifle likes them, they will shoot very well, but if it doesn't, you will have to move onto another bullet type.
 
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