That's a matter of opinion.....while the .35 Whelen is a fine deer round it's brush busting is truly of opinion.....tests would disagree with this assumption. The 6.5X55 class of cartridge would do as well IMO!!! Further I'd say that bullet diameter and weight have little to nothing to do with "busting Brush"
As for the Ackley Improved version it's a well known fact that the ackley improved cartridges are mostly not worth the extra cost of build and reloading. Extra performance is truly a myth and lately most advocates say that the brass lasts longer as they have finally realized that the performance claims are pure BS....The brass life will also be disproved I believe.