35 Whelen for Deer
A few of my buddies like to bust my chops for using a 35 Whelen for East Coast (PA, WV, VA, NC, SC) Whitetails. I was wondering what you all thought? I own 11 rifles including a .260, 7mm-08, .270, and .30-06. I know these are all great deer rounds, but here's why I like the 35.
My first deer gun was an old 35 Remington. Most of my buddies back then used 30-30s (it was 45 years ago!), so I was rather unique for using the 35. Well, in my formative years with the 35 Remington I hit several deer which I had to track a long way.... someI got, some I didn't. Now as a grown man, I realize the problem was me. However as a 15 year old I thought the 35 Remington didn't have enough power. So, I saved and saved and eventually bought a .350 Remington Magnum (partially because it was a 35 caliber and partially because it said 'magnum'.... I was a kid what did I know?) Anyway, probably due to the fact I was now 17 years old & a better shot.... I started dropping all kinds of deer with that old .350 Rem Mag!
Well, the years went buy & sold my .350 and acquired other rifles. Eventually, in 1988 Remington chambered the 35 Whelen. I never lost my love for the 35 caliber, so I bought one!!! I've been using that same 1988 Remington 700 for the last 20 years!
So, now my buddies in several deer camps like to laugh at me for bringing an elk gun to a deer camp (I find that funny since some of them love the 7mm mags & 300 mags so much for whitetails).
Anyway, with my 225 gr handloads I always get a nice exit hole & the deer rarely go more than 30 yards after their hit. Since my Whelen is slower than their wizz magnums, I don't get near as much bloodshot meat either.
I ask all of you to settle this argument.... who is correct my pals or me?