.35 Whelen
Professionally Reviewed by:
Nathaniel Boos
Nathaniel Boos is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and shooter, renowned for his experience as a long-range shooter, ammunition importer/exporter, and firearms manufacturer. With years of hands-on experience, he is a trusted authority in the ammunition and firearms industry.
Credentials:
- • 2x Team Safari Competitor
- • KRG Training Level 1, 2, and Force on Force CQB certified
- • Licensed Texas Conceal Carry Holder
- • Kranz Firearms Training Group Advanced Carbine Certified
.35 Whelen: At a Glance
| Key Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Firearm Type | Rifle |
| Primer Type | Large Rifle |
| Used For | Big Game Hunting, Dangerous Game |
| Case Design | Rimless, Bottleneck |
| Year Introduced | 1922 |
.35 Whelen: At a Glance: Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Excellent stopping power for large game
- ✔ Good balance of power and recoil
- ✔ Versatile for various North American big game
- ✔ Flat trajectory for medium ranges
- ✔ Can be used in standard-length actions
Cons
- ✘ Limited ammunition availability compared to more popular calibers
- ✘ Heavier recoil than smaller calibers like .30-06
- ✘ Not as flat-shooting as some modern magnum cartridges
- ✘ Less effective at very long ranges
- ✘ Factory loads may be more expensive than common calibers
.35 Whelen: The Powerful American Classic
The .35 Whelen is a versatile and potent cartridge that has earned a reputation as an excellent choice for big game hunting. Developed in 1922 by James Howe of Griffin & Howe and Colonel Townsend Whelen, this cartridge was designed to offer superior stopping power and penetration for large North American game. The .35 Whelen is essentially a .30-06 Springfield case necked up to accept .358 inch diameter bullets, resulting in a cartridge that delivers impressive ballistics and terminal performance.
History and Development
The .35 Whelen was created in 1922 as a wildcat cartridge by James Howe, who was working with Colonel Townsend Whelen at the Frankford Arsenal. The cartridge was designed to provide hunters with a hard-hitting option for large game, offering more power than the .30-06 Springfield while maintaining similar recoil characteristics.
Initially, the .35 Whelen remained a wildcat cartridge for several decades, gaining popularity among handloaders and custom rifle builders. Its performance in the field, particularly on large game such as elk and moose, earned it a devoted following among serious hunters.
In 1987, Remington Arms Company officially standardized the .35 Whelen, making it a commercial cartridge. This move brought the cartridge to a wider audience and led to increased factory ammunition and rifle offerings from various manufacturers.
The .35 Whelen's design allows it to push heavy bullets at respectable velocities. Typical loadings include 200-grain bullets at around 2,900 fps and 250-grain bullets at approximately 2,600 fps. This combination of bullet weight and velocity results in excellent penetration and energy transfer, making it highly effective on large game animals.
Today, the .35 Whelen continues to be popular among hunters who appreciate its versatility and stopping power. It remains an excellent choice for hunting a wide range of North American big game, from deer to moose, and has also found favor among some African hunters for use on medium to large antelope species.
Ballistic Performance
The .35 Whelen offers impressive ballistic performance, particularly in terms of energy delivery and penetration. With 200-grain bullets, it typically generates muzzle energies of around 3,700 ft-lbs, while 250-grain loads can produce over 3,800 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. This energy, combined with the larger diameter bullets, results in excellent terminal performance on large game animals.
The cartridge's trajectory is relatively flat for its caliber, making it effective at ranges out to 300 yards and beyond in the hands of a skilled shooter. At 300 yards, a 200-grain bullet retains over 2,000 ft-lbs of energy, which is more than adequate for ethical harvests of large game at that distance.
Timeline of .35 Whelen Development:
.35 Whelen Performance Characteristics
The .35 Whelen offers excellent performance for big game hunting. Here's a breakdown of its key performance characteristics:
| Characteristic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Velocity | 2,900 fps (200-grain bullets)
2,600 fps (250-grain bullets) Measured at the muzzle |
| Energy | 3,700 ft-lbs (200-grain bullets)
3,800 ft-lbs (250-grain bullets) Muzzle energy |
| Effective Range | 300+ yards Retains over 2,000 ft-lbs at 300 yards with 200-grain bullets |
| Recoil | Moderate to stout, similar to .30-06 Springfield Manageable in properly designed rifles |
| Bullet Diameter | .358 inch Provides excellent sectional density for deep penetration |
Bullet Weight vs. Muzzle Velocity
This chart shows how bullet weight affects muzzle velocity for common .35 Whelen loads.
.35 Whelen: Effective Range for Different Applications
This table provides estimated effective ranges for .35 Whelen ammunition in various applications. Ranges are based on typical bullet weights and velocities.
| Application | Effective Range (yards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Big Game Hunting | 0-400 | Excellent for large game such as elk, moose, and bear |
| Medium Game Hunting | 0-300 | Highly effective for deer and similar-sized game |
| Target Shooting | 0-500 | Capable of good accuracy at longer ranges with proper loads |
| Brush Hunting | 0-200 | Heavy bullets maintain energy and accuracy in dense vegetation |
Note: Effective ranges can vary based on factors such as bullet selection, shooter skill, wind conditions, and specific firearm characteristics. The .35 Whelen is known for its versatility and effectiveness on a wide range of game sizes. Always prioritize safety and adhere to local laws and regulations.
Applications for .35 Whelen
The .35 Whelen's power and versatility make it suitable for various hunting applications:
Caliber Comparisons
To understand the .35 Whelen's place in the rifle world, it's helpful to compare it to similar cartridges. Click on each comparison to see more details:
Recoil Energy Comparison
Compare the estimated recoil energy of .35 Whelen with other popular rifle cartridges. (Based on a 8 lb rifle)
Ballistic Trajectory Comparison
This chart compares the ballistic trajectory (bullet drop) of .35 Whelen with other popular rifle cartridges over distance.
Wind Drift Comparison
This chart compares the wind drift of .35 Whelen with other popular rifle cartridges in a 10 mph crosswind.
Energy Retention Comparison
This chart compares the energy retention of .35 Whelen with other popular rifle cartridges over distance.
Sectional Density Comparison for .35 Whelen
The .35 Whelen is a powerful medium-bore cartridge known for its versatility in hunting medium to large game. This table compares the sectional density of common .35 Whelen loads.
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight (gr) | Sectional Density |
|---|---|---|
| .35 Whelen | 200 | 0.223 |
| .35 Whelen | 225 | 0.251 |
| .35 Whelen | 250 | 0.279 |
| .35 Whelen | 275 | 0.307 |
Note: The .35 Whelen uses .358 inch diameter bullets. Its sectional density values indicate good penetration potential, especially with heavier bullet weights. This cartridge is capable of taking large game animals efficiently when used with appropriate bullet construction.