Got my .35 whelen dialed in.

[JonD.]

I finally got my first Handi ever a .35 whelen I got from burntmuch, stocked, scoped and to the shooting bench(well technically my 2nd --my 8 yrold daughter has a .223 youth model) . I was surprised at the recoil of this gun. You might call me a sissy, but 5 consecutive rounds was all I could take for one sitting. I did get it shooting in the ten ring, but had to call it a day and go to work. My shoulder was glad too. I took it out again and I'm getting 1" to 1.250"groups with it with factory ammo-- I'm happy with that. It's only had about 60 rounds thru it, so it will get better.

I purchased a 45-70 barrel for it and a muzzleloader barrel for it. I sold the 45-70 barrel to another member(this was an impulse buy and I really didn't need it, plus I would've had to purchase a rail, scope and rings, etc., also after feeling the recoil in the .35, I didn't want to try the 45-70) Haven't shot the ML barrel yet, but I had a NEF Heritage(Sidekick) and would think it won't kick any harder than it did.

I'm also looking for a turkey barrel. I'm thinking that a 12ga. 3.5" magnum shell kicks real hard in these guns(they kick real hard in heavier auto-loaders-- I know a light single shot will be bad). How bad is the recoil for this? BTW I have a synthetic stock with standard recoil pad. I might step down to a 20ga.

BTW for all you lefties out there: I sent H&R an email asking about left hand thumbhole stocks. They said that they did not offer them at this time, but would pass the word that people were looking for left hand stocks, and this might be a future item. If you are a fellow southpaw, and would like to see some left hand thumbhole stocks offered, send them an e-mail and let them know-- who knows, maybe they will see it as an increase in sales and start making them? I know they would increase in one sale for sure.  hr1871@hr1871.com

[jpshaw]

All the 20, 16 and 12 Ga NEF kick really bad.  As much from the lighter weight then gauge.  While a medium bore rifle will weigh about 7 pounds a 12 gauge will be closer to 5.5 lbs.  Get a good slip on recoil pad to go over the existing one. 

[burntmuch]

Glad to hear its shooting good for ya.

[quickdtoo]

Congrats Jon!! You know I'm partial to the 20ga TDC barrel, it patterns Hevi-13 #6s from a Trulock tube real good at 37yds, and the recoil with a prefit Limbsaver on the synthetic monte carlo stock is about like a 30-06, it's going turkey hunting tomorrow or Friday. The vent rib makes it real easy to mount a nice fiber optic sight set on it too.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,142452.msg1098569267.html#msg1098569267

[BBF]

What did you expect in recoil from the Whelen, this isn't a wimpy cartridge. If you re-load you can bring it down to mild .358 Win level

[JonD.]

What did you expect in recoil from the Whelen, this isn't a wimpy cartridge. If you re-load you can bring it down to mild .358 Win level

I guess I was comparing it to the recoil I get out of my semi-auto 30-06. I wish I had the time to reload, but I don't so I'll just have to stick with factory ammo.

Thanks for that info Tim. The 20ga. sounds better and better all the time. I hope you get a bird! Our season is over now--the turkeys whipped me.(Actually this didn't take a lot of doing, this year was the first time I had ever been turkey hunting. I'm hooked on it and ruined now )

Thanks burntmuch. I love this gun. I will only hunt with it, so the recoil issue won't bother me much. I'm hoping to get to use it on a bull elk in our elk lottery drawing this year, and to thump a big ole buck during deer season. My daughters barrel fits right on this frame so I can borrow it and plink

jpshaw, thanks for that info and advice.

[krod47nw]

I had read on here that the whelen had problems with misfires.  Has this issue been corrected?  I have read several posts lately about good shooting whelens.  It was also blamed on factory ammo.  Did the factory correct the ammo?  Did I miss something?

Kevin

[JonD.]

From what I've gathered from this forum is that the biggest issue was with factory ammo which has been corrected. There was a spell in ammo production in which the shoulder at the neck of the ammo was too shallow and did not fit in the chamber correctly.

There's an article in the FAQ's about this.

[kennyd]

I have fired exactly one 3.5 12  goose load in my second barrel for a .45-70.  I don't ever want to experience that again.  I seriously think a few would do permanent damage.  If I decide this is something I will use, there is going to be a recoil tamer of some sort put in the stock.

[fish280]

Get your self a softer butt pad. If it were mine, I'd can that NEF hickey puck and install a pad made from a good quality constant thickness flip-flop.