Author Topic: Picked up my R700 CDL .35 Whelen today. (Read 858 times)

Graybeard · « **on:** November 12, 2004, 05:12:58 PM »

Oh this thing's gonna hurt. :eek: It is as light or maybe lighter than any of my LSS Mtn. Rifles. Ouch! Did I mention this thing's gonna hurt my shoulder? :eek: Gonna hafta find a way to tame it if I'm gonna get in any bench time with it prior to getting the shoulder surgery I need.

I'm really surprised at the light weight of it. From the Remington web site I was expected it to weight at least a full pound or more over what this one does. Now that new pad Remington has put on it looks like it should really help to soften the blow. BUT it seems to me it also is gonna require an extra 1/2" or so of scope eye relief as I think it's gonna compress that much in recoil.

Nice looking gun tho. Wood is no nicer than on a BDL and really not as nice as I've seen on the older original Mtn. Rifles. :roll: Sure wish it was SS metal and laminated wood but I reckon ya can't have everything ya want.

Did I mention this sucker is way too danged light for a .35 Whelen? Oh my aching shoulder. :eek:

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 12, 2004, 07:18:47 PM »

I really enjoy the whelen as a super all around big game rifle. I have one of the Ruger 77 specials runs when they were trying to get rid of thier surplus of the older style synthetic stocks. It can easily be loaded up or down for any game animals on this continent. If you keep the loads down to milder levels it should be just fine on your shoulder, you can easily load it to 35 remington power levels for practice and save your shoulder for hunting. My favorite load of a 250gr Hornady RN @ 2400fps is a easy shooting load, and works like a charm.

anthony passero · « **Reply #2 on:** November 12, 2004, 07:30:39 PM »

Good luck with your whelen.I have a 700 classic in .35, shoots like a champ!!! loves 250 gr. speers and 4320 powder and federal 210 primers. It does kick though.The factory 200 grain loads do not hurt too much.Also if you can find any of the old factory 250 gr. roundnoses, they used Hornadies for those I remember reading somewhere,man they shot really well!! What kind of glass are you putting on it? Anthony

jvs · « **Reply #3 on:** November 12, 2004, 09:21:43 PM »

I bet that Whelen is gonna hurt your shoulder.

dbuck · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2004, 03:36:55 AM »

Greybeard, be careful what you ask for, you might get it. Oh, the recoil, too much gun. Should have got a 30-06.

dbuck

Graybeard · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2004, 04:13:06 AM »

Already have a .30-06, an LSS Mtn. Rifle. With 180s it comes back pretty hard on this shoulder that desperately needs surgery that I keep putting off. I've not put them on a scale but I think the CDL might weight less than the LSS Mtn. Rifles. Maybe not as the barrel contour is a wee bit larger and it is 2" longer but that's a big hole in it compared to my three Mtn. Rifles.

I may take a look at what other chamberings are available in the CDL and get another now that I've seen and felt it.

But with this one I'll likely keep loads real light for now and may use cast bullets primarily for the present. I really hunt nothing that requires a gun this big but it is one I've long wanted and am just now getting around to. Just like the .257 Whby. Magnum, it's a chambering I've long wanted and now finally got around to this year.

In a hunting situation you don't fire enough rounds to really matter. On the bench working up loads is where it will matter to the right shoulder. But I have a PAST recoil shield I'll use and if I have to I can take other measures to ameliorate the recoil. It will probably be next year after hunting season ends I even get around to firing it.

dbuck · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2004, 08:20:36 AM »

Greybeard, don't keep putting off that surgery on your shoulder, I just had to replace a joint in my left foot and after it heals I've got to do the right one. It won't get any better. Just remember getting older is not for wimps. I was goint to suggest a PAST recoil pad, but I see you already have one.

I was looking at the Remington CDL in 308, but ended up purchasing an American CZ 550 in the same caliber. Good luck with your new rifle.

dbuck

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2004, 11:44:01 AM »

I will continue to put the surgery off until the pain becomes unbearable or the doctors tell me it can wait no more. I need it on both shoulders and each will take me out of shooting and hunting for at least a full year. At my age I'm just not willing to take that much time off. There is no way to know how many more I have left and ain't giving up two of them unless it becomes absolutely necessary.

Ramrod · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2004, 12:46:04 PM »

Graybeard, as you probably know, the bench is the worst place to shoot heavy kickers, but that is where we all go to develop loads. Real benchrest guns are heavy as heck, and in small calibers, so we lean into them and hold them lightly for best accuracy. Great way to get a scope in the eye, or bruise a shoulder with a magnum, or even a standard caliber in a light gun. But if you can get in a more upright position so you can roll with the punch you won't feel a thing. The Brits fire their Nitro Express guns and 4 bores standing, with elbows on a high table. Sandbags on the hood of a pickup work well. If I can't find a short enough seat, I kneel behind a picnic table. I can still get rock-solid holding on to the forend and resting my hand on the bag.
Also, adding a pound of weight to the gun is easy, and will work wonders.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #9 on:** November 13, 2004, 01:03:45 PM »

Greybeard, the older you get the longer it will take to heal. Go get the shoulder fixed before you get much older! I'll be happy to sit in your deer blind for a couple of years until you can.........

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #10 on:** November 13, 2004, 04:04:53 PM »

I hunted with a Remington 700 ADL FS left hand for around 12 years. It was an early model that came with a Brown Precision stock. It was deadly accurate (.75 MOA) but fairly light with a little 2x7 Nikon in a set of Weaver rings. I got tired of the stout recoil within one season after it shook the guts out of the little Nikon. I shipped the Nikon off for warranty replacement and shipped the barreled action off to Mag-na-Port.
The rifle actually came back before the scope. I was itchy to test it out so I installed a Leupold Vari X III and started shooting. I would estimate that the four port Mag-na-Port reduced the felt recoil and muzzle jump between 20 and 25%. Velocity testing revealed virtually no difference between the Mag-na-Port fired loads and the same loads tested before I sent it off. Accuracy was the same but I have to say I could shoot it better without the recoil induced flinch.
I can honestly say that the biggest argument against porting, increased noise to the shooter, is not a problem with Mag-na-Port. I fired that rifle hundreds of times while hunting with no ear protection with no ill effects.
I am not part of this fine company and have no interest in their success or failure but if you have a rifle that you love but it is stomping the crap out of your shoulder Mag-na-Port is the way to go.

BruceP · « **Reply #11 on:** November 13, 2004, 04:09:27 PM »

O.K. Graybeard since it don't look like anyone else in going to offer then I'll bite the bullet so to speak. You just send that hard kicking thing over to me and I do all that range work for you. I'll work you up a good load, sight her in, and have her back to you by... err ... well ... you know I'll get her back in Alabama just as soon as I can, you know with work obligations and all. Oh yea and that "honey do" list too. But you should have her back at least by the time you get both of those shoulders fixed and healed up. :lol:
brucep

TNrifleman · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2004, 09:25:35 AM »

Graybeard,

My 35 Whelen CDL came in a few weeks ago. She sure is purty! I'll agree with you, the CDL is fairly light, but I do like the lines. My wood is acceptable, but not as good as I hoped for. I haven't got her scoped up yet and am anxious to shoot some handloads. I had a 700 Classic in 35 Whelen until 1999 when some lowlife stole it. I'm glad to have another one. Good luck with yours.

Zachary · « **Reply #13 on:** November 14, 2004, 01:52:22 PM »

GB,

When I first heard that you ordered a .35 Whelen, I was quite surprised given that I know your circumstances regarding hard kicking rifles. I know that your LSS in .30-06 with 180 grainers is at your upper tolerances, but even a heavier stocked Whelen with 200 grainers (fairly light for caliber for the Whelen) would still strke back with noticeably more authority. Still, I can only imagine that you have a fondness for the Whelen, as do I.

I agree with your thoughts about an SS model, although I would probably put on a synthetic stock. But still, if weight is an issue, have you thought about still putting on a heavier laminated stock?

Zachary