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.

 

[CoalCountryHunter]

I love the 35 whelen. Started off with a Remington 7600 carbine with a Leupold 2.5-8 on it. Crushed a whitetail with it with hornady 200 gr interlocks. Sold that to my brother as he was converted after seeing how the cartridge operated. I bought a LNIB Remington model 700 cdl. Didn’t notice it had a j lock on it when I bought it I was so excited to find one. I just picked up a better Firing pin spring and the accompanying shroud from PTG and we were good as new. My wife bought me a vortex strike eagle 1-8 FFP scope for it for my birthday. Wasn’t sure I’d like that scope on it but I actually love it. Even with all my long range rifles, better set for the task, I shot a doe across a clear cut with it at 443 yards. 200 gr interlock. Furthest kill to date for me. I was aiming for her neck and when I broke the shot she turned her head to lick her back I suppose and the bullet went through her head instead. Not my intention but was certainly affective. I probably wouldn’t take that shot again but we needed the venison since that’s about the only red meat my wife can eat due to some stomach issues and I had a rough season due to weather that year. Will include a picture of my rifle, but I can say she works to at least 450. I had a pass through, but it was just her skull so take that into account.

 

[Paul Shirek]

I've shot quite a few big bodied, northern white tail with a 35 Whelen. Nothing further than 300. They usually drop like a sack of dirt. Not that I wouldn't use it further, but I usually grab something else if the ranges might get longer.

I use the 200 grn Hornady. Other than poor BC, they're a good bullet on deer sized game; they expand reliably and I would have no trouble using them for a longer range, lower velocity shots. I'd also try the 225 grn Sierras, with which I've also had great luck. Seems the heavier .358 bullets are usually built with thicker jackets, and though they have a better BC, they are not as well suited to expansion at lower velocities on deer sized game.

I also am interested in using mine on Whitetail. Were any of your shots real close? Did you get a good exit wound and blood trail? Thanks!