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.

Cervids- Nice user name. 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

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

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.

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.

Thanks!

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.

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

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

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.