350 REM MAG or 35 WHELEN?

[bigswede]

If you had the chance, would you rather get a remington 700 in 35 whelen with a 22" barrel or a remington model Seven in 350 rem mag with a 20" barrel?  This is a choice I have been pondering and I am having trouble making up my mind.  This gun will not be filling a niche, I just like 35 calibers and short barrels.  What would you do?

[mauser98us]

No contest. 35 Whelan. Cheap brass better performance from longer barrel. Never could understand why a manufacturer would handicap a magnum round with a short barrel.

[bigswede]

I usually handicap them myself with a short barrel.   There's just something about packing a rifle with a 20" tube through the woods, I can't explain it I just like it.  Of course 22" isn't to bad,  

[Drilling Man]

I usually handicap them myself with a short barrel.   There's just something about packing a rifle with a 20" tube through the woods, I can't explain it I just like it.  Of course 22" isn't to bad,  

  Then you have already made your mind up...  So go buy it...

  Personally, i'd rather have the 700/Whelen... 

  DM

[drdougrx]

If Ruger doesn't hurry up and fix my #1 in 35whalen, I may just go out and buy a Remmy to replace it......heck of a caliber.

[Drilling Man]

If Ruger doesn't hurry up and fix my #1 in 35whalen, I may just go out and buy a Remmy to replace it......heck of a caliber.

  Maybe Ruger can't find any guns in their shop with "35whalen" on the bbl., so they can't fix what they can't find...  ha ha ha

  DM

[Sourdough]

I have two of each.  

Remingto 600 in 350 with 18" barrel, and Ruger M-77 in 350 with 22" barrell.  Bears don't know the differance when shot from either one.  I like the Remington due to it's small size and compactness.


Mauser action with 18" barrel in .35 Whelen and a NEF HANDI with 24" barrel in .35 Whelen.  Again I can not tell any differance in how they shoot, it's just the Mauser is much handier to carry.

So my favorites are the shorter barrels.  Both cartridges are devastating on Black Bears at close range.  Took a Grizzly with the little Mauser.

Will say when Remington stopped making .350s I had to cut down 7MM Mag brass to make .350 ammo.  Are they going to stop production again any time soon.  

[BBF]

Had both, one a Rem 700 in 350 Mag the other a rebarreled Ruger#1 in the Whelen. Both shot great. Given the choice or find the need for, I'd go Whelen again, easy to get brass  or expand 30-06 stuff

[Bigeasy]

I have quite a bit of experience with the Whelen, and recommend it for all the reasons listed by other posters who have responded.  You can always cut the barrel down 2 inches if desired, as neither round are really maximum velocity long range numbers.  Big bullets at moderate velocities is the name of the game.

While I have never owned a .350 mag., I have heard several issues from those that do.  When used in a short action rifle, bullets have to be seated deeply, infringing on powder space.  Since ultra light weight is not an issue, It would seem a long action rifle chambered for the 350 would be the way to go, allowing you to seat long bullets ( Barnes X comes to mind) out some, freeing up powder space.

Larry

[Swampman]

The .35 Whelen is a very problematic cartridge and I would avoid it.  I'd rather have the 673 in .350 Rem. Mag.

The Model 673 is a great gun and the .350 Rem Mag is the perfect cartridge for it.

http://www.remington.com/products/archived/centerfire/bolt-action/model-673-guide-rifle.aspx

I wouldn't buy a Ruger in either caliber.

[Dixie Dude]

The Whelen might be a problem with an H&R rifle, but never with my Mauser.  I've made my own brass from 30-06 as well as bought factory.  I've never heard of anyone having any problems with the Whelen in any brand of bolt gun, only in the H&R. 

[Swampman]

I seen many complaints about the Whelen in every commercialy chamber boltaction that is available.

[Bigeasy]

I seen many complaints about the Whelen in every commercialy chamber boltaction that is available.

The 35 Whelen is just a rifle cartridge, a necked up 30-06.  What is it that makes this cartridge so problem ridden?  If the brass manufacturer makes its brass within spec, and the rifle manufacturer chamber the guns barrel within spec, then the gun goes bang every time, just like any other cartridge out there.  No black magic involved.  Some say the cartridge has a small shoulder to headspace on, but in reality, the size of the shoulder on a 35 Whelen, in the view of a machinist/barrel maker who works in 10 thousandths and smaller, is a country mile in size, and no mean trick to chamber for.

Larry

[drdougrx]

Hey Drill,

We'll see what Ruger does.  I'll give them till next month.  Then I'll get my money back.

[Swampman]

The Whelen doesn't have enough shoulder to headspace on.

[Mckie Hollow]

I own both. You will be limited in the weight of bullet in the 350 mag. Model 7 as opposed to the 35 Whelen Model 700. I can get a lot more powder in the 350 Mag. than I can get into My 35 Whelen.  This adds up to more velocity with 200gr. for the 350, but 250 gr. bullets are are for the Whelen, not for the limits of the Model 7 length. Both are fun too shoot. I have always perferred a carbine style rifle, but the New 700 CDL 35 Whelen handles very well. Both are the same weight. The Model 7 has a 20" barrel, the Whelen has a 24" barrel. Just My opinion. 6 of one or 1/2 dozen of the other.

350 Rem. Mag. one of the original short mags.

[bigswede]

Well fellows, I decided on a Whelen.  It will be here in a week or two.  And Swampman, yes the Remington 673 in a 350 is a great set up, that's why I already own one   Didn't really need the Whelen, just had another rifle I was tired of and so I traded it off.  Now I will have 350 mag, 35 Whelen, and 358 Norma mag.  I guess some day I'll have to get a 358 winnie

[AtlLaw]

I seen many complaints about the Whelen in every commercialy chamber boltaction that is available.

Now Swampy, I love you like a brother,    but I have a Remington M-700 in 35 Whelen and have NO complaints about it!  Accurate.... reliable.... pretty.... what else could I ask!?   

The Whelen doesn't have enough shoulder to headspace on.

I dunno, but when I hear this I got to wonder, why are there no complaints about the 9.3x62?  (.358 not enough sholder, .366 works fine...  )

[Drilling Man]

  As usual, swampy is full of swamp gas...  There are so many people with Whelens it isn't even funny, and i've yet to see headspace be a problem with that cartridge.  If it was a common problem, it would be all over the net, and common knowledge in ever article written about it.

  DM

[mauser98us]

98 Mauser plus 35 Whelan equals perfection as close as you can get it

[Swampman]

98 Mauser plus 35 Whelan equals perfection as close as you can get it

The up side with the Mauser is that hopefully the extractor wll hold the rim well enough that the headspace won't be an issue.  It is all over the net.

[Harry Snippe]

98 Mauser plus 35 Whelan equals perfection as close as you can get it

The up side with the Mauser is that hopefully the extractor wll hold the rim well enough that the headspace won't be an issue.  It is all over the net.

Well Remington chambers many a rifle for the whelan, even the 750 Auto. So if the cartridge had issue's , the rats on their ship, would have been long done , and the company sunk!
Over the years Remington has continued to offer the whelan ,where Ruger could not warrant making the 35 whelan and the 358 W for nothing better than lack of sales.There is nothing wrong with the 35 caipier , other than it STILL needs to be thirty cal. something for the American Hunter

[Swampman]

I agree there is nothing wrong with the .35 caliber.

[Dixie Dude]

Most Whelen owners reload, so most of the problems are associated with making 35 brass from 30-06 from what I have seen and read.  Also, if the shoulder isn't properly sized it doesn't fit well in the HR guns.  The Mauser actions have less trouble because of the claw holding the case.  Yes it has a small shoulder.  Just order some Remington brass and to reload if you have trouble. 

[mauser98us]

And if you gonna spend the cash to get one,go for the Ackley or Brown versions. These rounds can really be pumped up to scream if you so like. I'm getting high 29's to low 3 grand with the 200 grain pill. I still could go more,but why bother. At that point it's time to drag out the Schultz and Larsen in 358 Norma mag.

[Retsof]

I used to have a Ruger in 350 Rem Mag. It shot well all the handloads I put through it. With the advent of some new powders (TAC specifically), the 350 Mag screams with the Barnes 200 gr & 225 gr TSXs. Actually, based on what I've read, the 358 Win is no slouch either with TAC and could probably do everything the 350 Mag can do with few exceptions. With this being said, if I were going to buy a 35 caliber for hunting, it would be the Whelen. Readily available brass and the ability to handle the heavier bullets for which the 35 calibers are well suited would be my primary reasons. In the Barnes latest manual there is a caveat about their 225 gr TSX in some rifles, though this was not an issue with my Ruger. Also, Nosler in general does not recommend using their 225 gr AB bullet in the 350 Mag, though this is dependent I suspect on the individual rifle. I didn't try these in my Ruger. With the 35 Whelen you have none of those issues. That's my very limited experience $0.02 worth (with inflation it's worth even less).

[yooper77]

If you had the chance, would you rather get a remington 700 in 35 whelen with a 22" barrel or a remington model Seven in 350 rem mag with a 20" barrel?  This is a choice I have been pondering and I am having trouble making up my mind.  This gun will not be filling a niche, I just like 35 calibers and short barrels.  What would you do?

The 35 Whelen is an excellent cartridge, I wouldn’t ever consider the 350 Remington Magnum.

The 35 Whelen isn’t problematic at all, so don’t let anyone fool you with this untruth. Some people seem to have troubles with failure to fires, but any competent reloader can solve this easy issue.

I hand load for a T/C Encore in 35 Whelen and I have had zero problems, I use once fired 30-06 Springfield brass.  I do the same for my Weatherby Mark V Ultra Lightweight in 338-06 A-Square, also zero issues with 30-06 Springfield brass.

yooper77

[Swampman]

Those little tiny shoulders are not enough to reliably headspace on.  Get the .350 Rem. Mag. and you'll be a happy camper.

[Bigeasy]

Those little tiny shoulders are not enough to reliably headspace on.  Get the .350 Rem. Mag. and you'll be a happy camper.

There is a whole bunch of cartridges out there with about the same shoulder area, or less, that work reliably.  Whats their secret?

Larry

[mauser98us]

Actually a handloader,if he does not pay attention can create all kinds of problems with a belted magnun. He also has a false sense of security with that belt.