Montana Rifle AVR .35 Whelen

JT113

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Apr 30, 2016
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Being primarily a bowhunter and growing up in an area of Minnesota where if you were gonna use a long gun to hunt deer, it had to be a shotgun, I never have owned a rifle. Well, except for a .223 AR......but that's just for fun. I'm starting to prepare for an AK moose hunt in 2018, and I figured I start looking at getting a good rifle. I've scoured the internet for reviews of rifles, calibers, loads, range......all that stuff. Of course, you get 5 different opinions on every aspect of a gun or load. Having limited experience with rifles, I thought I'd get some first hand knowledge from some of you guys. What do you all think of the MRC AVR in .35 Whelen? Or just the .35 in general.
 

elkguide

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Jan 26, 2016
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For a new shooter, or even an experienced shooter, the .35's kick hard on both ends. Whatever you hit with it isn't going to feel good for very long but your shoulder is going to feel it too. Awesome results but I don't enjoy shooting one.
 

worx53

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Jul 9, 2013
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The 35 calibers are very underrated in my opinion. I have several 350 rem mags and 35 whelens (ballistically very close)and nothing has ever gotten away. I think even though the ballistics on paper aren't super impressive, they drop animals like Thor's hammer. 250 grain bullets in 35 caliber spend most of their energy in the game rather than blowing holes right through it. I think its great deer, bear, and moose medicine up to 250 yards. That rifle is a quality piece also. Put a brake on it if it kicks too much. Many Alaskan guides still use the 350 mag Rem 600/660 for backup rifles from years of experience with the "small" 35's.
 

LaGriz

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View attachment 37073View attachment 37074View attachment 37074 JT113,
+1 on the .35 cal bores. If recoil is a problem look at the .358 Win or the .338 Fed in a short action. The only .35 Whelen I found to be punishing was a Remington 760 pump rifle. Most all of the bolt guns I have fired in this caliber are quite tolerable. Just remember stock shape/design plays a role in the equation of felt recoil. I recently had a re-bore/build on a classic Model 70 Winchester from 30-06 to a 338-06. The rifle previously had a metal butt plate and is now fitted with a recoil pad. I get some muzzle jump with the 225 gr Accubond loads (2600 fps)that I doubt I will feel in a hunting situation. The mag holds 4 rounds (I like this) and should be good moose/elk medicine. I think the 35 Whelen is nearly identical in performance at medium range with the 338-06 having a slight edge at a longer poke.
View attachment 37072
 

luke moffat

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Feb 24, 2012
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View attachment 37073View attachment 37074View attachment 37074 JT113,
+1 on the .35 cal bores. If recoil is a problem look at the .358 Win or the .338 Fed in a short action. The only .35 Whelen I found to be punishing was a Remington 760 pump rifle. Most all of the bolt guns I have fired in this caliber are quite tolerable. Just remember stock shape/design plays a role in the equation of felt recoil. I recently had a re-bore/build on a classic Model 70 Winchester from 30-06 to a 338-06. The rifle previously had a metal butt plate and is now fitted with a recoil pad. I get some muzzle jump with the 225 gr Accubond loads (2600 fps)that I doubt I will feel in a hunting situation. The mag holds 4 rounds (I like this) and should be good moose/elk medicine. I think the 35 Whelen is nearly identical in performance at medium range with the 338-06 having a slight edge at a longer poke.
View attachment 37072

Agree here. I went through this when I was getting my Kimber Montana rebored from 270 to either 35 wheeler or 338-06. Really came down to more bullet choices for the 338 class bullets.

I can still shoot even 300 grainers out of the 338-06 if I wanted but 250 grainers at 2500 is plenty for anything I plan to shoot thats big hairy and at close range.

Then 210 Sciroccos at just under 2800 fps (with a 21" barrel) with a BC of .500+ is still going just under 2000 fps at 500 yards and has 1750 FPE which is more than enough the kill anything I'd be shooting at that range. The Whelen is a great round as well, but for me it came down to choices in bullets mainly. No doubt either will work as would a simple 30-06 but everyone has one of those. ;)
 

LaGriz

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New Iberia,LA
Too all on this thread,
I think as an "admitted gear junkie" I tend to obsess over details that mean little to a well hit animal. Won't my quarry be just as dead from well-placed 160 gr. AB fired from my .280 Remington, as it would be if hit buy a 220 gr. Bonded Power Point load from my Kimber .325 WSM? As I have added rifles to my battery I have learned that my 1st selection of that .280 Rem was a good one. God forbid that a hunter should have only one rifle! If however, you had to pick just one the .280 (or .280 AI) would be a decent choice. I was reading a lot of Craig Boddington's writing in those days and the "cartridge of the Month" was my 1st read when I handled a copy of "Petersons’ Hunting Magazine". Boddington wrote about his love affair with the 280 and I was listening. Later I became a reader of Wayne Van Zwoll, embracing his logic on the concept of lighter to medium-weight (well balanced) rifles with low-power variable scopes mounted close to the bore. My four rifles where one of the following: A Leica 1.75X6X32 – Kahles 2X7X36 – Kahles 3X9X42 and a Minox 2X10X40MM. We as humans often get “stuck in the weeds” on these debates with ourselves.

JT113,
Kill your moose with the 35 Whelen if that’s your passion. I do like the “Thor’s Hammer” reference when used to describe a well-placed 250 grainer! My .358 win as “rolled” a couple of whitetails at close range. More than enough bullet for sure IMHO. This load is 150 fps slower than the 35 Whelen and would still be enough gun for a moose at medium distances.

Luke,
Can you send me a PM with some reloading data for the 210 Sirocco? My M70 has a 22” barrel with a 6 groove 1-in-10 twist.
I have yet to acquire the reloading gear, but I can see this as a necessary step to getting all I can from this rig.

LaGriz
 
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JT113

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Apr 30, 2016
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Thanks all for the input.......I appreciate it. Luke, your last sentence kinda hits the nail on the head for me. I like to be a little different but at the same time making sure I'm getting the right setup for what I want/need. And that AVR is sure a pretty machine.
 
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