Remington .35 Whelen
 

This is my first post—I hope I’ll find time for many more. I think it’s great to have a convenient and powerful forum like this to discuss hunting and shooting related topics with like minded people!

I have recently become interested in the .35 Whelen. So much so in fact, that I convinced myself I need one. Remington appears to be the only large manufacturer chambering rifles, their 7600 pump and their 700 bolt-action, in .35 Whelen. Since, I am most interested in a new gun, I’m going to limit my questions to Remington’s offerings. I have three questions; first, am I right in saying the only game in town for a new rifle in .35 Whelen is Remington? Second, which gun would you expect, if either, to be inherently more accurate and why? I’d expect at distances where the Whelen is appropriate, either gun will be more than sufficiently accurate—if I do my part! Your account of shooting / ammo recommendations for either gun in this caliber would really be appreciated. Finally, which gun would you expect to hold its value better? Thanks in advance.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

Cervids- Nice user name:D. Welcome to the forum.

You are correct in that Remington is the only major comapny to offer the 35 Whelen in "factory" guns. I have seen Rugers chambered in 35 Whelen, but they were custom ordered.

As far as accuracy, you are also correct, in the normal range of the 35 Whelen either action will be plenty accurate for hunting. The bolt will be "inherently" more accurate, just because of the way the actions work. I am no smith, but have had it explained to me many times, and have found it to be true, when you really test it on the range (the difference really isn't that noticeable in guns made these days).

As far as holding value, the bolt will be worth more in the long run (if taken care of, of course), both because of initial cost, and bolt actions just hold their value better than semis or pumps.

Ammo recommendations is more bad news, there are very few factory loads for the 35 Whelen, you are much better off handloading or searching the web for custom loaders for that caliber. Choose your load dependent on the critters your hunting, but the Partition is a good one in the 35 Whelen.

Make sure your supplier can get the Remington 700 CDL in 35 Whelen, as it is a limited run, and several of the places I checked counldn't get it. There are plenty of suppliers on the web and in Gunlist that offer it though.;)

Good Luck

Erik

Rusty Axe Camp

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

Welcome! You picked a good one. The 35Whelen is, I think, one of the best choices available for hunting anything in the lower 48, and will make do nicely in Alaska as well.
Currently, I think Remington is the only major manufacturer chambering rifles for this
cartridge - a shame. Ruger did chamber some model 77 for it, and if you search the
gun auction websites you can find one now & then, sometimes even NIB (new in box). It was not a "custom" order - just weren't many made. One that is available, on a custom order basis, is a Winchester model 70, but it's costly. Check it out on Winchester website (link: http://www.winchester-guns.com/homepage/homepage.htm ).

Edit: Here's link for the custom rifle by Winchester, and appears to still be available in 35Whelen: http://www.winchesterguns.com/prodin...d=900&cat=013C


There isn't a whole lot of ammo to choose from. Remington makes two loads, one with
a 200gr. bullet, and another with 250gr. Federal makes one load, but it's a good one.
It uses a 225gr. Trophy Bonded bullet. That's all there is unless you go with a custom
ammo supplier or roll your own.
As to holding value, the pump is a good gun, but I think the Rem.700 bolt action will be worth more as time goes on. There's two reasons for this. First, pumps are not all that
popular. Second, the Rem. is the CDL version, and chambered for 35Whelen - there won't be that many around, and scarcity makes for greater value in time.
Heck, look at the Ruger now. It was about $400-450 when I had a chance at one years ago in my local gunshop. Now, I see them going for as much as $800-1,000 on the
Internet.
Following are some gun auction links, and links for ammo. Good luck.

GunBroker.com: http://www.gunbroker.com/

AuctionArms: http://www.auctionarms.com/

GunsAmerica: www.gunsamerica.com

Ammo: http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/default.asp

http://www.cpcartridge.com/index.htm

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

The Remington pumps will shoot very well. Very close to what most out of the box bolt will do. I have had four of them. They will all shoot better than 1 1/2 inch. The Pump 35 whelen will be worth p;eny as they are soyught after for back-up guns for bear hunters and such. You can, go wrong with either. I may be wrong but I think Savage offers barrels for the 35 whelen through Midway. Its possable to do it your self but a smith would not charge to much to change the barrel and head space it. Good Luck.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I just checked Midway. They have both the 35 Whelen and the 338-06 barrels. The 338-06 will reach a little higher velocity than the 35 Whelen when both are shooting the 250 grain bullets.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

Thanks!

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I could be wrong, but as I am looking at the Remington 2005 Firearms and Ammunition Catalog I don't think I am. I don't think Remington produces their .35 Whalen in 7400 or 7600 on a yearly basis. I believe they do limited production runs every so often. You should be able to find one though as I have seen them listed on the gun auction sites that Virginia7 listed.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

www.gricegunshop.com They have the 700cdl Whelen and the 7600 Whelen...that pump they are selling is sweet!

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I need one of those Pump whelens. I wonder if they have any in stock.?

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

Email em James..they got back to me like the next day. I would say they do...that may be big enough for bear...hehehe.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

You'll be happy with the CDL. Remington fits it with their R-3 recoil pad which makes it pleasant to shoot. I also like the stock design better than the BDL and I believe it's a little lighter. Shot my first elk this year with this rifle and I couldn't believe the whump it has.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

The Whelen's are being produced in limited runs for Grice Gunshop in Clearfield, PA. I've dealt with them on several occasions and have always been taking care of and completely satisfied. My 7600 in 35 Whelen will shoot Remington factory 200 gr into about 2 1/2 ", my first attempt with 200 gr corlokts and 4064 tightened up to about 2" then 200 gr hornady interloks brought into an 1 1/4". Recoil is about on par with a stout 180-200 gr load from a 300 winmag. I think the CDL being a little heavier will soften recoil up some, then again the hard rubber butt plate on the 7600 don't help any either.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I've handled a few CDL's including 2 in 35 Whelen. Fairly nice factory rifle and the going rate is right around $640 in Michigan. I actually know where there are 2 35 Whelen CDLs within less than an hour of me in SouthEastern Michigan if you are interested and cannot find one... buy from here and do an FFL transfer, etc.

I am actually just finishing up a custom 700 i am building, chambered in 35 Whelen AI on a Douglas XX #3 tube. With any luck i should be fireforming brass by Tuesday.

everyone is correct on a lack of readily available factory ammunition, even Cableas in Dundee does NOT stock any factory ammo in 35 Whelen. Bullet selection for handloaders is also fairly limited when compared to the 30 and 7mm camps.. heck even the 338 and 375 camps have a greater bullet selection. For this round handloading would be a bonus for really tailoring what you want.

Jamie

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I'm pretty sure Grice's would have both the CDL and the 7600. Really can't go wrong with either. I have a 35 Whelen classic from Remington.... anything out to 250 yards (maybe 300 with some practice) is in a real dangerous situation. I really think the Whelen should be more popular than it is..... it falls nicely between the 30-06 and 338 Winchester magnum...... without the recoil of the mag. Get one..... you'll LOVE it!

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

Conley Precision has a variety of loads for the Whelen. Here's their web site.
http://www.cpcartridge.com/index.htm

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I just bought a .35 Whelen 7600 from Grice last week. The price was $499.95 plus $8 for shipping and insurance to Connecticut. They have more in stock. They had 300 made in 2003 and 250 for 2004. I havn't shot it yet, I'm waiting for my dies and brass to come in. I've shot both Rem. 760 and 7600 pumps and both shot plenty good enough for hunting. Grice's website advertizes the 700 CDL Whelen for $600. They're taking $50 deposits for them and say they will be available in August. Gricegunshop.com.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

I am glad this post came about. Since I have both a 7600 and a CDL in .35 Whelen. What I did w/ my pump was I found a cheap 30-06 and had it rebarreled for .35 whelen, then had the barrel cut down to 18 inches and had it ported. It is bad bad bad medicine for the whitetails in PA. I just bought the CDL and yet to have a scope put on it, so I couldn't tell you how it shot. My pump 7600 shoots about 2 inch groups at 100 yards, which can only be expected I guess w/ the rebarreling, but also it could be me, since the muzzleblast is quite harsh. So if you are on a budget you may want to look into just rebarreling a 30-06. If not everything in .35 whelen that Remington offers has to come through Grices, since they both were special runs in 2004. I personally shoot the 225 grain trophy bonded bullets, but good luck and you will have to let us know what you decide.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

Who did the rebarrel on your 7600? I have been trying to find someone who will do it. I would like to rebarrel a 7600 to 338-06.

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

why is it that i don't see the 225 gr trophy bondeds offered anymore? The Speer bullet chart doesn't list them and neither does Midway and the like???

Jamie

RE: Remington .35 Whelen
 

JamesB:

I had my barrel done by a retired gunsmith who was close to 80 years old here in PA. I had it done about 2.5-3 years ago and he charged me 160 dollars. I can't really help you the poor old guy I heard is now floating in the clouds. He passed away last summer. Most gunsmiths I talked to around here, wouldn't touch a project like that. Goodluck