.35 wehlan for hunting

[jsrubicon]

Does anyone still hunt with a .35 Whelan for whitetail anymore. ?

 

[robtattoo]

Firearms

All encompassing forum for the big "boom stick."

rokslide.com

 

[ODB]

Probably not as many here but it is very popular among more vintage hunters. It is a very capable cartridge equivalent to the old 350 Rigby

 

[Gen273]

I don't see nearly as many anymore as I did 25 years ago. But it is a good cartridge.

 

[Jakeb]

I use one for deer during our single shot season. (35 cal or bigger required) Great cartridge absolutely hammers a southern deer lol

 

[gbflyer]

I carry mine certain times of the year in brown bear country. Probably not necessary but I like it.

 

[insanelupus]

Yes.

 

[Maineotter]

35 Whelen is almost a standard cartridge in Maine. We have a big "cult" of deer trackers who like pumps in 308 30-06 or 35 whelen. Probably some of the most fun you can have deer hunting! Get on a toe dragger with a good swagger, chase them for the day, then hike miles back to your truck in the dark. 35 whelen works great for the very close shots we have in the thick brush. Iron sights are the way to go, scopes fog or get covered in snow, red dots starburst when snow gets on the emiter, but if you install a rear peep site you just blow the snow off while you walk. The big heavy bullet does a number on deer. As far as brush, the heavy slow bullet does better at penetrating. Anything light and fast is more likely to ricochet. Deer tracking, unless your super stealthy and catch them in the bed, you gotta take a shot on a moving deer or you'll never put them down. Thats where the snow really helps, you can keep on a deer and make a fast follow up. I prefer not shooting at running game but if your tracking you literally have too

 

[Maineotter]

The only thing I dont like about 35 whelan is if I get to a big cutting and can see a couple hundred yards. In the big woods with logging it happens. I swapped to a 300 wsm a while ago for that specific scenario. But its a scoped bolt action and definitely not the best at quick shots. 35 whelan can push 300 all day though if you scope it. Im just not good enough to push it further myself and when I had a 35 whelan I kept it for close range (100 yards or less) with irons

 

[RME]

The 35 Whelen got really popular in the south 15? years ago when states started allowing 35+ caliber single shots. On public I see guys with CVA 35 Whelens all the time. It's common for people to use it through "Primitive Weapons" and open rifle season, they like the performance on deer so not much reason to switch over.

 

[Eleven]

I will occassionally.

 

[jsrubicon]

35 Whelen is almost a standard cartridge in Maine. We have a big "cult" of deer trackers who like pumps in 308 30-06 or 35 whelen. Probably some of the most fun you can have deer hunting! Get on a toe dragger with a good swagger, chase them for the day, then hike miles back to your truck in the dark. 35 whelen works great for the very close shots we have in the thick brush. Iron sights are the way to go, scopes fog or get covered in snow, red dots starburst when snow gets on the emiter, but if you install a rear peep site you just blow the snow off while you walk. The big heavy bullet does a number on deer. As far as brush, the heavy slow bullet does better at penetrating. Anything light and fast is more likely to ricochet. Deer tracking, unless your super stealthy and catch them in the bed, you gotta take a shot on a moving deer or you'll never put them down. Thats where the snow really helps, you can keep on a deer and make a fast follow up. I prefer not shooting at running game but if your tracking you literally have too

You are so spot on with your comment. I hunted with a old lever action iron sights it was either a Marlin or winchester back in the 80s. It never failed to put venison on the table with little damage to the meat.

 

[Maineotter]

You are so spot on with your comment. I hunted with a old lever action iron sights it was either a Marlin or winchester back in the 80s. It never failed to put venison on the table with little damage to the meat.

Thank you! The Marlin levers are amazing. I have a new Ruger Marlin (Ruglin?) 45-70 Trapper. Quality is amazing and the gun shoots better than I do. Its become my go to short range rifle. I don't know how I'm not destroying meat, but I flattened a bear and the buck in my profile photos with it. Hornady Leverlution, I want to say the last bullet I recovered went from 325 to 308 grains, and it expanded from .45 to .65 in diameter. The bear folded at 20 yards with no heart, the buck never took another step. I need to try it with subsonics, but I'm unsure if the Obsidian 45 I have will be quiet enough. Probably not with it being a pistol suppresor

Apologies if I'm going off topic on this 35 whelen post! Just responding, I love gun talk

 

[Dirty-D]

My first rifle was a $5 raffle won at a fundraiser. Savage 110 package gun .270 with a Japanese Bushnell trophy scope.

I rebarrelled and restocked it with a Bell and Carlson and a 35 Whelen barrel. 20” threaded with a lightweight 35 cal cannon the end it brings that old gun into the 21st century and is hell on hogs.