Pennsylvania Game News - May 2013 - 63

man’s magnum.”
Original loads had a 200-grain bullet
traveling at 2,600 fps and a 250-grain
at 2,500 fps. As the years passed other
loads included 180 grains at 2,700 fps,
220 to 225 grains at 2,600 fps, 275
grains at 2,300 fps and 300 grains at
2,200 fps (all depending on individual
rifles). Familiar powders such as IMR
4320, 4064 and 4895 still get the job
done, but there are also newer ones
such as AA2460, Reloader 15 and
Varget that many handloaders prefer.
All depending what slug weight was
used, knockdown power would reach
up to 3,500 foot pounds, which covered
any big game in the Northern Hemisphere (and elsewhere). The Whelen
handles either round nose or spitzershaped bullets well, but I would stay
with the spitzers just for the advantage
of long range capability that I would
put at 350 yards. With a 100-yard zero,
the 200-grain factory load drops around
17 inches at 300 yards, and a 250-grain
around 19 inches. With a 200-yard
zero they are almost equal at around
11 inches at 300 yards (although they
will shoot almost three inches high at
100 yards).
The .35 Whelen finally became a
factory round in 1987 by Remington

It’s the Law:

Arms, and they chambered it in their
Model 700 and 760 pump. Other companies have followed suite with rifle
twist varying from 1 to 12 inches to 1 to
16 inches. Either one works well with
200- to 250-grain bullets, which is what
you will find as far as available factory
loads go. The faster twist will handle
heavier/longer slugs a little better, and
the slower twist favors lighter bullets,
but I think that you’re splitting hairs
in debating between the two.
I have known some shooters try the
flat point .357 pistol bullets at speeds
more than 2,800 fps, but I just don’t see
the reason why. All that does is make
you readjust your sights to a bullet you
will never use in the field, and this is a
big game rifle, period.
Throughout the years I have owned
a couple of Whelens (the second one
was a rebored Winchester post 64
featherweight with a Burris 2-7x variable) and have handled a half dozen
more belonging to other sportsmen on
the range and in the field. They all can
attest to its effectiveness from deer to
hogs to elk and bears. My cousin, Rich,
swears by his Remington pump in .35
Whelen with factory 200-grain spitzers.
I have seen him harvest deer from 30
yards out to 300 yards. What better
testament is there for a cartridge than
that?

Q: Is it illegal to have a crossbow in my vehicle when it is in the
cocked position?
A: No, but any crossbow that has been cocked and has a bolt affixed onto
the string or positioned into the firing mechanism of the device is prohibited
in, on or against any conveyance propelled by mechanical power. For complete
safety, though, a bolt should be fired into soft ground, before the crossbow is
transported in a vehicle.
MAY  2013 

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