35 Whelen Max Effective Range

[BCsteve]

Here's the Strelok data for my Tikka 35 Whelen AI, McGowen 24" barrel.

215 HHT @ 2900 FPS and ~1k feet elevation. Good to between 550 and 600 yards if we're using Hammer's 1800fps minimum expansion velocity threshold

Did you post pics of your Tikka .35 Whelen? Let's see her!

 

[Leaf Litter]

Did you post pics of your Tikka .35 Whelen? Let's see her!

I haven't painted it yet, so it's a pretty spartan T3X with a stainless barrel, but it serves the purpose. I'm going to get my airbrush out soon and paint all of my boring black rifles. Fortunately I have like 5 of them to practice on, but I doubt painting camo is as hard as the muskie lures I paint.

 

[35WhelenAI]

I haven't painted it yet, so it's a pretty spartan T3X with a stainless barrel, but it serves the purpose. I'm going to get my airbrush out soon and paint all of my boring black rifles. Fortunately I have like 5 of them to practice on, but I doubt painting camo is as hard as the muskie lures I paint.

It's not a Tikka, it's a Mauser 98 with a Shilen barrel, holds five in the magazine and one up the spout, which equates to six 200 gr. TTSX bullets on board with the 25 inch barrel. Along with a lot of other stuff that shoots like a dream. Painted the Hi-Tech Specialties stock (early Bansner) in flat green with a clear coat spray over. Easy peasy.

 

[BCsteve]

I haven't painted it yet, so it's a pretty spartan T3X with a stainless barrel, but it serves the purpose. I'm going to get my airbrush out soon and paint all of my boring black rifles. Fortunately I have like 5 of them to practice on, but I doubt painting camo is as hard as the muskie lures I paint.

Nice rifle! Ya, it’s like my new semi custom Tikka 6.5 PRC and .35 Whelen. If someone didn’t know any better they would think they are just factory Tikkas. I haven’t decided yet what to do with the stocks. I hope you use your lures for inspiration! Lol

 

[BCsteve]

It's not a Tikka, it's a Mauser 98 with a Shilen barrel, holds five in the magazine and one up the spout, which equates to six 200 gr. TTSX bullets on board with the 25 inch barrel. Along with a lot of other stuff that shoots like a dream. Painted the Hi-Tech Specialties stock (early Bansner) in flat green with a clear coat spray over. Easy peasy.

View attachment 869043

8.0 lbs, impressive!

 

[35WhelenAI]

8.09.9 is what the scale says. That's the way of saying 8 lb, 9.9 oz. 8 lb even would be impressive.

 

[BCsteve]

Ah, I see….still not bad for a Mauser with a 25” barrel.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Not too shabby. The stock is 20 oz with the recoil pad. Fairly thin taper on the barrel. Lightweight bottom metal and magazine box.

 

[Leaf Litter]

Mine sits at 9lb and change scoped, but it's my Iowa deer rifle and I rarely walk more than 3 miles in a day. I like the weight for soaking up the ample recoil, but if I'm being 100% honest, I didn't realize how heavy the Savage Magnum barrel profile would end up being when I ordered it. I had to remove a lot of stock material to get the barrel to float.

 

[35WhelenAI]

My 35 AI has hunted 23 seasons in Colorado and a few other states as well. Just over eight and a half pounds, I'm absolutely pleased with it. If I need a 2 lb lighter rifle, I'll lose three more pounds and be ahead of the game. Lighter rifles have their place but when it comes to a 25-in barrel on an 8 1/2 lb rifle taking a shot off hand, that's where I'll put my bet.

 

[Balderdash]

Tikka T3X which started as a 6.5x55. The barrel is a stainless 22” Bevan King 1:14 twist barrel with SAAMI spec chamber. I had that barrel installed on a Ruger MKII for several years but wasn’t seeing much action because it was so dang heavy. When I found out that the thread was the same as on the Tikka I got a hold of my gunsmith and had e barrel swapped over on the Tikka with some minor chamber touch up. With everything being the same, it lost a pound going from the Ruger to the Tikka.

Nice looking rig. Same scope and rings I'd use on a Tikka 35W build.

Running that same NF scope on my 35W "Salvage" right now.

 

[gerry35]

That's a nice rig, is that a 3-10 SHV? Looks like a good fit with the Sports match rings. My original 35 Whelen bolt gun was a 1 in 12 Bevan King barrel too. Wish I could have got another one, it was quite accurate.

Tikka T3X which started as a 6.5x55. The barrel is a stainless 22” Bevan King 1:14 twist barrel with SAAMI spec chamber. I had that barrel installed on a Ruger MKII for several years but wasn’t seeing much action because it was so dang heavy. When I found out that the thread was the same as on the Tikka I got a hold of my gunsmith and had e barrel swapped over on the Tikka with some minor chamber touch up. With everything being the same, it lost a pound going from the Ruger to the Tikka.

 

[BCsteve]

That's a nice rig, is that a 3-10 SHV? Looks like a good fit with the Sports match rings. My original 35 Whelen bolt gun was a 1 in 12 Bevan King barrel too. Wish I could have got another one, it was quite accurate.

It is a 3-10 SHV but the medium Sportsmatch are too low with the BC scope covers. Got some high ones on the way.

 

[gerry35]

It is a 3-10 SHV but the medium Sportsmatch are too low with the BC scope covers. Got some high ones on the way.

Awesome, good to know. I would like to put one on my Tikka 6.8 Western. That scope would be great on my Rem 700 Whelen too.