35 Whelen question.

pinotguy · September 20, 2007, 09:51 PM

I have a sneaking suspicion that I already know the answer to this question, BUT I feel compelled to ask. Is the grand ol' 35 Whelen (with the proper load) OK for Wyoming pronghorn? I know it's a lot of gun, it starts to resemble a mortar at ranges of 250+ yards, and it's tailored for larger game. Currently though, it's the only suitable rifle I have (I'm more of a handgun guy).

We would be heading out in about 3 weeks so I have a little time to fine tune things. I won't be working up a load, rather I am looking at using some factory ammo with a 200-gr. bullet. Specifically I've narrowed it down to either the Remington Core-Lokt or the Double Tap Barnes TSX. I am well aware that other cartridges are much better for this scenario but this hunt snuck up on me and this is the situation.

Thanks in advance.

davlandrum · September 20, 2007, 10:01 PM

Sounds like the perfect excuse to go get another rifle

Sorry, just had to chime in. I have absolutely no valid information to answer your question. Heck, I can't even come up with re-hashed, half-true, quasi-knowledge that I learned on the internet to answer that.

Know your range limit and stick to it, I think you'll be fine. Heck, guys kill them with bows, including stalking - not just sitting water holes.

taylorce1 · September 20, 2007, 11:24 PM

Use the .35 Whelen just for bragging rights. When your buddies settle on that long shot all you have to say is "What couldn't you get any closer." Your job of getting a pronghorn might be a little harder but I've killed all mine inside of 200 yards, they really are not that hard to get if you take your time and don't rush things. Remember you have all day to hunt pronghorn.

Fremmer · September 20, 2007, 11:39 PM

Pinot, I've seen the .35 Whelen absolutely hammer a good-sized deer. I don't recall any excessive meat damage, etc.

I just remember it was quick.

It should work fine on the prong.

jrothWA · September 21, 2007, 01:10 AM

The basic case is the 30-06, so then rebarreling could be done to a different round, .270win, 7MM Mauser, .308Win etc..

taylorce1 · September 21, 2007, 09:38 AM

Time would be the factor here for re-barreling with 3 weeks to go until the hunt. I agree that that is a choice but if I went that way I'd have had it done months before the hunt. It would be faster and probably cheaper to just buy another rifle in a different caliber and spend the spare time at the range than to wait on a re-barrel at this point and time.

BTW on your ammo choices I'd just go with the Core-Lokt as they will not explode at 35 Whelen velocities. You shouldn't have much damage to the meat as long as you stay out of the shoulders. Pronghorn die pretty easy when shot in the vitals there is no need to break down shoulders.

MosinM38 · September 22, 2007, 10:12 PM

Should be fine... A guy I know does ALL his hunting with a .35 Whelen. Seems to work for him

Although he has only used that gun for about 10 years (So he is Extremely skilled with it) I have seen him drop stuff easily at 350-400 yards.

MeekAndMild · September 23, 2007, 12:03 AM

I've only got a few weeks experience with the .35 Whelen but so far I'm impressed with its accuracy and am planning to try it out on whitetails this year. I've had good luck hunting deer of varying sizes (even the lightweight yearlings which would be close to antelope size) with a .35 Remington shooting 200 grain bullets, so my presumption is that the higher powered Whelen could do the same at longer distances.

Art Eatman · September 23, 2007, 07:56 AM

You're limited less by your skill in the actual shooting than you are limited by your ability to judge the range if the antelope is out beyond 250 yards...

Which is why folks buy laser range-finders and maybe tape a "cheat sheet" of distance vs. bullet drop to the stock.

Art

Scorch · September 24, 2007, 12:34 AM

Quote:

maybe tape a "cheat sheet" of distance vs. bullet drop to the stock

Art, that is called a "reference library".

FirstFreedom · September 24, 2007, 07:55 AM

Heck yeah, it'll work fine! Just make a PBR, range the game, get close enough, etc., as Art and others have said. The Whelen is no slouch in the flat shooting dept. - not like it's a .45-70 or something.

September 20, 2007, 09:51 PM	#1
pinotguy Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 2007 Posts: 143	35 Whelen question. I have a sneaking suspicion that I already know the answer to this question, BUT I feel compelled to ask. Is the grand ol' 35 Whelen (with the proper load) OK for Wyoming pronghorn? I know it's a lot of gun, it starts to resemble a mortar at ranges of 250+ yards, and it's tailored for larger game. Currently though, it's the only suitable rifle I have (I'm more of a handgun guy). We would be heading out in about 3 weeks so I have a little time to fine tune things. I won't be working up a load, rather I am looking at using some factory ammo with a 200-gr. bullet. Specifically I've narrowed it down to either the Remington Core-Lokt or the Double Tap Barnes TSX. I am well aware that other cartridges are much better for this scenario but this hunt snuck up on me and this is the situation. Thanks in advance.

September 20, 2007, 10:01 PM	#2
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,547	Sounds like the perfect excuse to go get another rifle Sorry, just had to chime in. I have absolutely no valid information to answer your question. Heck, I can't even come up with re-hashed, half-true, quasi-knowledge that I learned on the internet to answer that. Know your range limit and stick to it, I think you'll be fine. Heck, guys kill them with bows, including stalking - not just sitting water holes. __________________ U.S Army, Retired Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have a right to do and what is right to do. -Potter Stewart

September 21, 2007, 01:10 AM	#5
jrothWA Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 2,519	What rifle you useing??? The basic case is the 30-06, so then rebarreling could be done to a different round, .270win, 7MM Mauser, .308Win etc..

September 20, 2007, 11:24 PM	#3
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	Use the .35 Whelen just for bragging rights. When your buddies settle on that long shot all you have to say is "What couldn't you get any closer." Your job of getting a pronghorn might be a little harder but I've killed all mine inside of 200 yards, they really are not that hard to get if you take your time and don't rush things. Remember you have all day to hunt pronghorn.

September 20, 2007, 11:39 PM	#4
Fremmer Senior Member Join Date: June 19, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 3,482	Pinot, I've seen the .35 Whelen absolutely hammer a good-sized deer. I don't recall any excessive meat damage, etc. I just remember it was quick. It should work fine on the prong.

September 21, 2007, 09:38 AM	#6
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,248	Time would be the factor here for re-barreling with 3 weeks to go until the hunt. I agree that that is a choice but if I went that way I'd have had it done months before the hunt. It would be faster and probably cheaper to just buy another rifle in a different caliber and spend the spare time at the range than to wait on a re-barrel at this point and time. BTW on your ammo choices I'd just go with the Core-Lokt as they will not explode at 35 Whelen velocities. You shouldn't have much damage to the meat as long as you stay out of the shoulders. Pronghorn die pretty easy when shot in the vitals there is no need to break down shoulders.

September 22, 2007, 10:12 PM	#7
MosinM38 Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2007 Posts: 1,030	Should be fine... A guy I know does ALL his hunting with a .35 Whelen. Seems to work for him Although he has only used that gun for about 10 years (So he is Extremely skilled with it) I have seen him drop stuff easily at 350-400 yards.

September 23, 2007, 12:03 AM	#8
MeekAndMild Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2001 Posts: 4,988	I've only got a few weeks experience with the .35 Whelen but so far I'm impressed with its accuracy and am planning to try it out on whitetails this year. I've had good luck hunting deer of varying sizes (even the lightweight yearlings which would be close to antelope size) with a .35 Remington shooting 200 grain bullets, so my presumption is that the higher powered Whelen could do the same at longer distances.

September 23, 2007, 07:56 AM	#9
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	You're limited less by your skill in the actual shooting than you are limited by your ability to judge the range if the antelope is out beyond 250 yards... Which is why folks buy laser range-finders and maybe tape a "cheat sheet" of distance vs. bullet drop to the stock. Art

September 24, 2007, 07:55 AM	#11
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Heck yeah, it'll work fine! Just make a PBR, range the game, get close enough, etc., as Art and others have said. The Whelen is no slouch in the flat shooting dept. - not like it's a .45-70 or something.