35 Whelen Bullets Review

After a decade of hunting with the 35 Whelen I have gained a fair bit of real-life experience with 35 caliber hunting bullets.  What follows is a review of the 3 bullets I have used the most; 225 grain Nosler Accubond, 250 grain Speer Hot-Cor, and the 225 grain Barnes TSX.

My review is based on real-life (or death) as it were, use of these bullets on elk and moose. Let me begin with some general comments.

I have never recovered bullets shot from the 35 Whelen where moose or elk were shot past 50 yards broadside. (my longest shot being 150 yards).  All 3 bullet types produced wide wounds but with significantly less peripheral shock damage (and meat damage) than say, a 300 Win Magnum at these ranges.  The effect on animals though, was devastating, where they either collapsed immediately or stumbled a few yards before collapse. While I generally aim for lung shots, one moose took a Speer Hot-Cor through both shoulders at 150 yards.  That bullet continued on to land somewhere in the Canadian wilderness.

I have recovered 6 bullets though, a result of head-on shots or extremely close range shots. Close range shots, which are common when hunting the big timber, are where the bullets I use were put to their most extreme test.

Speer 250 grain Hot-Core: This is an affordable and accurate round in the 35 Whelen. In my 22 inch Remington 700 I managed to get 2600 fps with this round using maximum powder charges of RL-15.  Of all the bullets I tried, for some reason my Rem 700 liked these the most, producing 2.5 inch groups at 200 yards and good velocity without any pressure signs.

At ranges over 50 yards the Hot-Cor produced pass-through shots on broadside moose.  The effect on moose was nothing short of devastating.

Inside 50 yards the Hot-Cor has issues though.  Bullets shed so much weight upon entry (a result of too much velocity) that they can't pass through. Recovered bullets had in fact, shed almost half their weight. I took one elk head on, and was surprised at the lack of penetration, despite the creature dropping like a rock.  I needed to take a point blank finishing shot broadside .... this round only penetrated to the hide on the off side.

The 250 grain Speer Hot-Cor delivers a brutal punch, but if you want exit wounds, don't expect them on close shots.  The lesson is simple ... the bullet is cheap, accurate, and once velocity drops below 2500 fps it performs well. And, even when exits are not achieved, the wound channel produced by the compacted lead and copper is enough to anchor any North American big game animal.

35 Whelen shooting 250 grain Speer Hot-Cor 20 yard head on shot; Poor Penetration

 Nosler 225 grain Accubond: The Accubond is the most expensive bullet I have tried. It proved to be very accurate (2" group at 200 yard) and I could push them to over 2600 fps. But, for the money, performance on animals was underwhelming. Pretty well everything I have said about the 250 grain Speer Hot-Cor (above), could be said about this Nosler round.  For example, I shot one bull moose at 15 yards broadside .... the Accubond killed it for sure, but the bullet didn't exit, coming to rest under the hide on the far side. Considering what I had paid for this round, I was not pleased.

In another instance I took a small bull moose head on at 20 yards ... the moose dropped like a rock, but penetration was shockingly shallow.

Recovered Accubond bullets are pretty ... perfectly formed mushrooms that retain about 75 percent of their weight.  But, I just can't get over paying a premium price for a premium bullet that doesn't perform any better than the cheap Speer Hot-Cor.

35 Whelen shooting Nosler 225 grain Accubond at 15 yards; No Exit

Barnes 225 grain TSX:  In my Whelen, the TSX is the least accurate round.  I have struggled to keep 200 yard groups inside 3".  RL-15 seems to work the best for me, although IMR 4064 gives me higher velocity. I push the TSX to 2570 fps ... any more and groups open up. I should mention that on internet forums many 35 Whelen posters report outstanding accuracy with this bullet.

Performance on game though, is where this bullet shines. For example, this past year I took a young bull elk head on and a bit high. The bullet hit shoulder bone, collar bone, and traveled down 4 ribs before coming to rest. It's the only TSX I have recovered ... the rest all lie somewhere in the brush adding copper to the soil content of Saskatchewan.

The TSX retains virtually all of its weight, yet produces wound channels that equal the Nosler Accubond and Speer Hot-Cor. I suspect that at extended ranges, say 250 to 300 yards, the lead core bullets may perform better (maybe), but I haven't had the chance to test this out.  Most of my kills are within 150 yards.

This coming year I plan on loading up some Barnes 200 grain TTSX bullets. Ballistically at least, they may actually outperform the 225 grain TSX in energy delivered down range, and maybe penetration. As of this writing, I have no idea how fast I will be able to push them or how accurate they will prove to be.

35 Whelen Bullets from Left to Right in order of least to most weight retention: 250 gr Speer Hot-Cor, 250 gr Speer Hot-Cor, 250 gr Speer Hot-Cor, 225 gr Nosler Accubond, 225 gr Nosler Accubond, 225 gr Barnes TSX

Summary: Years of hunting all big game species available in Saskatchewan has provided me with a vast informal bank of experience using a variety of bullets.  After all is said and done, I have become a die hard fan of Barnes bullets ... at least for shots ranging inside 300 yards. My hunting partners use Barnes bullets as well, again, because experience has demanded that they do.

I suspect that those who regularly kill big game at long ranges would not agree ... but long range hunting just isn't in my skill set, so it's irrelevant to me. As well, I have read that in the smaller calibers, say 6mm, that Barnes bullets produce too small a wound channel ... but that's just what I have read.

In my opinion, based on real-world hunting experience, you can't go wrong with Barnes bullets in your 35 cal if you don't intend on shooting over 300 yards, or wherever velocity falls below 1800 fps. If I ever get the chance to take an elk or moose at over 200 yards, I will be sure to let you know how the Barnes performed.

35 Whelen 2

Last summer I was browsing an online firearms site and came across a new, in the box, Remington CDL Special Edition 35 Whelen. After a bit of dickering the rifle was on its way to my home.

The photographs of the Whelen in the ad had looked great, so I was really anxious to see it... And sure enough, the rifle was exactly what I had hoped it would be.

I love quality wood stock rifles for their look and feel. The only problem is that wood stocks are not as well suited for hunting as are synthetic stocks; not if you hunt like I do. After a couple of seasons my wood stock rifles are chipped and scratched... Miles of cross country hunting in thick difficult terrain does that. Even worse, the temperature and moisture extremes I put my rifles through make it hard for most wood stocks, even pillar bedded and free floated ones, to hold zero. I speak from experience.

So it is, that even though my new Whelen was absolutely lovely, I decided to remove the stock and instead drop the action and barrel into a Bell and Carlson black synthetic stock. I free floated and bedded the action, and just like that I had a new, not as pretty, 35 Whelen. I topped it with a Nikon Monarch 3 2.5-10x50 scope and headed to the range.

35 Whelen Remington SF action in Bell and Carlson Stock

To my surprise, and unlike my other Whelen, this one booted me fairly hard each time I fired a 225 grain TSX Barnes down the tube (max charge). The light weight of the action and straight stock created a bit more recoil than I had expected. But, what was I to expect when pushing 225 grain projectiles down the bore at just under 2700 fps.

The rifle has completed its first hunting season and so far the elk cutlets from the spike elk I dropped taste just fine. And, after harsh temperature and moisture extremes (snow and sleet soaked action versus warm truck versus hot dry days in the field) the rifle holds zero perfectly.

If I have a beef, it's the recoil, but then I am getting a bit on in years and heavy hard kicking calibers like the 338 win mag just aren't my thing anymore. In the end, this Whelen delivers devastating down range performance on elk size critters out to 300 yards with recoil similar to calibers such as the 30-06. In my case the straight stock and light weight make for stout recoil, especially when shooting prone.

I will be trying a few different load work ups this year and will let you know how that turns out.

Merry Christmas and may you keep venison on the table this coming year.

Kwik Klip Conversion

My 35 Whelen Remington 700 Classic project is nearing an end.  What started out as a somewhat rough Rem 700 Classic has slowly turned into what just might be my all time favorite rifle. You can follow the progression here, and here.

As a final touch I decided to replace the standard internal magazine and hinge-plate with a removable magazine. My choice of conversion was the Kwik Klip conversion for Long Action Rem 700; mainly because it was easy to obtain and most of the reviews I read were positive.

Kwik Klip for Rem 700 Long Action

I placed my order through T. E. C Trade Ex Canada Inc. I placed my order on a Monday and received the kit in one week. The price was the cheapest I could find in Canada.

During installation I ran into an immediate problem because the Bell and Carlson stock needed a bit of sanding in order for the bottom metal to fit. After a bit of work things came together well with a surprisingly snug fit despite there being a bit of space around the rear.   (See photo)  The kit comes with shims that I used to level the kit with the bottom of the stock. (the photo shows the fit before shims were used)

Next came the inevitable ammunition feed test ... which didn't go well. The first 2 rounds fed perfectly, but the last always slipped downward and off of the bolt face. A quick check online solved the problem though ... all it took was a slight bending open of the top of the magazine housing. The cartridges now fed perfectly.

Overall I am pleased. The Kwik Klip metal has a shine, which matches my Remington bluing, and the basic fit and finish of the kit is good.

The conversion to removable magazine is the final change I envision making to the Whelen. It's been an enjoyable journey.

Kwik Klip Long Action installed in Bell and Carlson Stock

Rainy Weather Bull

The first few days of the 2018 hunting season started out wet..... and I mean really wet and cold. Misty, cold, sleet layden weather had settled in for a few days prior to opening day of elk season. My hunting partner and I had decided to start the season with an attempt to ambush elk as they either came to, or left a corn field. For two mornings and evenings we tried different locations, saw lots of deer, and a few coyotes, but not a hair nor tine of any elk. And this, despite the fact that the corn field was loaded with elk tracks. The worst part was that the wind was up each day, and it constantly drizzled near freezing rain. For whatever reason, the elk that had been frequenting the field had moved on... including a decent 6 by 6 which had been caught on trail cam.

If the elk weren't going to make it easy, we decided to change tactics to search, and hopefully score.  We took one of our favorite trails which wound its way into the hilly semi-forested country several miles beyond the corn.

We made contact pretty quick in the form of several elk bugling within close proximity to each other. We spotted a small bull bugling on an open hillside about 700 yards out.

We cow called and bugled several times, and almost immediately got answers from several bulls, but it soon became apparent that the herd bull was pushing his harem further away. This forced us to pursue.

An hour later found us on a scrub covered hill within 300 yards of the herd which was somewhere on or over the hill opposite us. Visibility was obscured by clumps of pine and willow, but fairly large gaps gave good glimpses of the opposite slope. We paused to cautiously scan the slope but as soon as we did, the bugling from the herd seemed to be still moving away. The end of legal daylight hunting was approaching, which was unfortunate, because the remaining half hour we had was not enough to launch a stalk on the herd bull.

We decided to try calling.  My partner gave a long location bugle which I followed up with several pleading cow calls. Almost immediately a spike bull appeared in a gully below us, and began working his way around the wet bottom. And then, right on his heels came a 3 or so year old bull with funky misshapen antlers. I liked the look of them.

That bull soon vanished in the willows which lined the bottom of the gully. He splashed right through the water and after about a minute the brush on our side of the gully began to shake and snap as he raked his antlers on the trees.

I gave a soft cow call and up he came.... straight to us.

"I'm taking him!" I whispered.

The bull just kept walking strait up the slope, winding in and out among the willows. At thirty yards he emerged completely from the scrub and paused. I had my Nikon Prostaff 5 dialed down to 2.5 magnification and the safety off, so all it took was a lift of the rifle, a moment to aim, and the 35 Whelen thundered. The bull collapsed as if all four feet had been cut out from under him.

The other bulls in the herd kept calling as if nothing had happened, but I didn't care, I was headed down the slope the short distance to my elk.

He was about the size I expected.... not very big by trophy standards, but the experience and the unique shape of his antlers made him a trophy to me.

My newly refurbished Whelen had its first kill... and I was delighted.

Taken at 30 yards with my 35 Whelen

35 Whelen Re-do

1988 Remington 35 Whelen bedded in a Bell and Carlson stock with an AC Douglas Brake

6 years ago I bought a 35 Whelen in Remington 700 Classic. The rifle was from Remington's 1988 offering.  Apparently the Whelen's that year flew off the shelves ... it was the first large commercial product run of the caliber.

My Whelen looked somewhat worse for wear, but the price was right and given that I wasn't sure I would like the cartridge, the old Rem Classic did just fine.  I promptly set about rejuvenating the old-timer.

First I gave the bore a good cleaning and made sure that the rest of the rifle was clean ... the previous owner had been kind to it, so not much cleaning was needed. Then, I went to work restoring the bluing ... it looked sad.

I ran a small test strip using Blue Magic metal polish and was delighted with the result.  The polish came off completely rusty, but left the metal looking much healthier.  My concern was that it would take off too much bluing, but the Remington bluing held fine. I gave the barrel and all visible parts a blue magic rub.  After that i applied a few layers of carnauba car wax and the barrel looked amazingly good; it once again had that 1988 Remington shine. 

My next project was to bed my Remington Classic stock. It was my first ever bedding job, so I proceeded with extreme caution; perhaps a bit too much caution because I was too sparing with the epoxy and ended up with several small hollows. The bedding did it's job though, and the rifle's performance improved markedly. Up until now it had had trouble holding zero for even a few months.

A scope upgrade to a 2.5 - 10 x 50 Nikon Prostaff 5 completed the package.  Experimenting with a variety of ammunition (reloads and factory) and dropping 3 moose and a couple of elk over the next few years had me falling in love with the rifle and the cartridge. It became my go-to rifle.

All About the 35 Whelen

Vicious Winters, Wolves, and a Come-back

Deep snow with sleet laden branches

The part of Saskatchewan that I love to hunt in is recovering from several brutal winters coupled with a Timber Wolf over-population. Deep snow, extreme cold, and wolf packs numbering in the twenties turned what was a hunting paradise into a hunting desert.

We used to scoff at white tailed bucks under 150 inches; considered it bizarre if we saw no elk, and expected to shoot at least one moose every season. Well, it's amazing what severe winters and wolves can accomplish; the forests were virtually emptied of game.

After the first severe winter the wolf population increased and local farmers began to suffer depredation of cattle for the first time ever, some losing several dozen or more head. The deer population was cut down by at least 80% and any cow elk we saw were dry.   The moose seemed to do fine the first severe winter, perhaps due to the fact that the wolves had lots of deer and elk calves to feast on.

The following winter more or less finished off all but a handful of deer, and drastically reduced the elk and moose populations. But, it also wiped out the wolves. By winter's end there was hardly a wolf to be found ... where we used to see wolves every few days and tracks everywhere, you can now find none. I have read several sources that claim that when wolves run out of game, especially in the winter, they cannibalize each other. I have no idea if this is true, but it makes sense. No wolf pack is going to go long without food before tempers flare, fights break out, and the losers become lunch.

This past year, 3 winters later, marked the beginning of the deer and elk come-back. Deer were plentiful, but mostly yearlings or two year olds, and the elk herds are creeping up to their old standard, with every cow trailing a calf. Large bull elk are not common yet, but in a couple of years we should begin to see decent mature bulls and even a few wall-hangers. Moose numbers though, are still way down.

Long Body; Small Antlers

Needless to say, I entered the season with low expectations. My son and I hunted elk in September and managed to bag two bulls; one spike and one large bodied, but small antlered 5x5. Moose though, turned out to be elusive, for the second year in a row. The sheer lack of sign was actually startling because not that long ago we took it for granted that we would be dining on moose all winter long.

My deer hunt consisted mainly of having a good time snooping around in the woods and bagging a small buck for the freezer.

So far the 2017-2018 winter is mild, and I look forward to better opportunities in 2018.  It's always a sad day when I clean up the 35 Whelen and put it away in the safe.