Gunnerboy
Member
Im building a new mauser and for grins n giggles i wanted a large caliber rifle, and i am currently stuck between a 338-06 or a 35 whelen, so could i get some opinions as to which one and why ?
338-06 or 35 whelen ?
- Thread starter Gunnerboy
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I've owned and hunted with a custom 338-06 built on a Rem 700 action. It was a great firearm and I wish I never let it slip away from me. It was a keeper.
The .338 has a big selection of bullets to select from. The .35 not as much. Either caliber to get full potential from will be a handloading proposition. Both cartridges headspace on the shoulders. There is more shoulder on the .338-06 than the 35 Whelen.
Either cartridge will be a hard hitting round. I would think the .338 would have a slightly flatter trajectory over the .35.
Just my opinion, others will vary.
'loose
The .338 has a big selection of bullets to select from. The .35 not as much. Either caliber to get full potential from will be a handloading proposition. Both cartridges headspace on the shoulders. There is more shoulder on the .338-06 than the 35 Whelen.
Either cartridge will be a hard hitting round. I would think the .338 would have a slightly flatter trajectory over the .35.
Just my opinion, others will vary.
'loose
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The .35 Whelen could be a lot of cheap shooting fun with cast pistol bullets & light loads.
rc
rc
Gunnerboy
Member
^ theres two reasons why im torn, 35 whelen cheap shooting fun, 338 flatter trajectory better choice of bullets
It's truly a 6-of-one, half-a-dozen of the other, proposition.
It's true that there is a larger selection of .338 bullets, however, since you're building it, you may wish to consider having it chambered in .35 Whelen-Ackley Improved. This will add even more flexibility to the Whelen, with the advantage of shooting standard Whelen ammunition, if you happen to be hunting & have somehow lost your handloaded ammo. I'm not sure whether any factory loaded .338-06 ammo exists, or what your odds would be of finding it in the aforementioned situation; Whelen ammunition will likely be more readily available, in that regard.
Either way you go, you'll have one heckuva great rifle, I'm sure!
Sam
It's true that there is a larger selection of .338 bullets, however, since you're building it, you may wish to consider having it chambered in .35 Whelen-Ackley Improved. This will add even more flexibility to the Whelen, with the advantage of shooting standard Whelen ammunition, if you happen to be hunting & have somehow lost your handloaded ammo. I'm not sure whether any factory loaded .338-06 ammo exists, or what your odds would be of finding it in the aforementioned situation; Whelen ammunition will likely be more readily available, in that regard.
Either way you go, you'll have one heckuva great rifle, I'm sure!
Sam
loadedround
Member
I believe the Mr Loosenock is correct. The .338 bullet has a much greater BC than the .358 using comparable bullet weights and therefore would have less wind resistance and less drop and theoretically be more accurate all else being equal. I like the 35 Whelan round and own on in a Remington 700. Hoever if i were to build MY custom rifle today it would be a 338-06 since I am a reloader. If the gentleman were a reloader and building a custom rifle, I would also consider the 338-06 A Square. JMHO.
Gtscotty
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Neither! This would be a perfect opportunity to build a classic 9.3x62. The old round would be right at home in a Mauser. The 9.3 loaded to modern pressures should give you better velocities at each bullet weight, and greater cross sectional bullet area.
Of the two you mentioned, I'd say 35 Whelen, if you're going to get a medium caliber rifle, you might as well move on up to .35 cal. While .35 cal bullet selection is not as good as .338, there are plenty of .35 call bullets available from all the major manufacturers. Also if need be you can buy loaded 35 Whelen ammo from Remington, Hornady, and maybe Barnes?
I had a savage that I rebarreled, originally to 338-06 and then 35 Whelen... finally I just sold it and bought my Ruger 9.3x62. With my 35 Whelen I was not able to get much above the high 2300's fps with 250gr bullets.... other people seem to surpass that mark, but any higher gave me pressure signs.
I never loaded for the 338-06, but in all the threads I could find it seemed like folks were trying to load it up into 338 Win mag range.. In my opinion, if you want a slight diameter increase from 30-06, might as well go with a full on 338 Win Mag. If you want a significantly larger and heavier bullet and don't mind mid range velocities, you would do well with the 35 Whelen (and even better with the 9.3).
Of the two you mentioned, I'd say 35 Whelen, if you're going to get a medium caliber rifle, you might as well move on up to .35 cal. While .35 cal bullet selection is not as good as .338, there are plenty of .35 call bullets available from all the major manufacturers. Also if need be you can buy loaded 35 Whelen ammo from Remington, Hornady, and maybe Barnes?
I had a savage that I rebarreled, originally to 338-06 and then 35 Whelen... finally I just sold it and bought my Ruger 9.3x62. With my 35 Whelen I was not able to get much above the high 2300's fps with 250gr bullets.... other people seem to surpass that mark, but any higher gave me pressure signs.
I never loaded for the 338-06, but in all the threads I could find it seemed like folks were trying to load it up into 338 Win mag range.. In my opinion, if you want a slight diameter increase from 30-06, might as well go with a full on 338 Win Mag. If you want a significantly larger and heavier bullet and don't mind mid range velocities, you would do well with the 35 Whelen (and even better with the 9.3).
Gunnerboy
Member
maybe i should refine a bit...... 338-06 and 35 whelen are calibers i can afford to get barrels for.
I've had both, kept the 338-06 for now but am contemplating selling it too. I like it a touch better than the 35 Whelen, but neither will accomplish anything I cannot do just as well as my 30-06. Both are good rounds that let you hunt with something just a bit different from the norm.
My choice would be the .338-06, but I would do one of the improved versions, probably a .338/.280 Imp.
With a 225gr bullet you can handload the .338-06 to the magic 2,000 fps and 2,000 fpe at 400 yards. That's "enough gun" for anything I'll ever do.
With a 225gr bullet you can handload the .338-06 to the magic 2,000 fps and 2,000 fpe at 400 yards. That's "enough gun" for anything I'll ever do.
Patocazador
Member
I have both in Rem 700 actions. I have a stock .35 Whelen that is my most accurate rifle with 1/4" 100yd. groups when loaded with 200 gr. and Reloder 15.
My .338-06 Ackley Improved doesn't shoot groups that small but has Nosler Partitions in 210 gr. available. The smallest Partitions in .35 cal. are 225 gr.
As someone already suggested, I'd get either one in Ackley Improved for a more positive shoulder and more powder capacity. This means fire-forming brass and reloading.
My .338-06 Ackley Improved doesn't shoot groups that small but has Nosler Partitions in 210 gr. available. The smallest Partitions in .35 cal. are 225 gr.
As someone already suggested, I'd get either one in Ackley Improved for a more positive shoulder and more powder capacity. This means fire-forming brass and reloading.
GooseGestapo
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For many years I contemplated rebarreling my Interarms MkX into .35Whelen. I often read great things about it.
However, when I got around to actually doing it, I went with the .338/06. It's a great caliber and lives up to it's hype.
However, I too like the "wallop" that I get from the .35's. I eventually ended up with a deceased friends .358wcf. It's "close" to the .35Whelen, so now I've got "both", sort-of.
If you live where you're likely to get 200yd+ shots, definitely go with the .338/06. If you hunt wooded areas (like I typically do), then the .35Whelen will not leave you wishing for more.
However, I found my self "missing" not having a .30/06 in the "inventory", so I ended up getting another '06. The only thing wrong with the .30/06 for the lower 48 is that its..."boring".... It just works...
I also latched onto a used Ruger M77MkII in .375Ruger. The .33's and .35's don't get hunted much anymore. The poor old .35Rem hasn't been deer hunting in 5yrs now.... I'm still trying to "hunt" the "new" off of the BLR. Haven't taken a deer with it yet... And Nosler just introduced a 200gr Accubond bullet. Should be just the bullet for the .358 and .35Whelen for non-dangerous game. For heavier game, I'd use the 225gr Accubond.
If/when I go back to Alaska, the .375 will definitely get the pick.... It doesn't kick that much more than the .338/06 and has a bit more "horse power".....
I do see routinely 2,800fps with a 200gr bullet from the .338/06. My "heavy" load is either 58.0gr of IMR4350 or 61.5gr of RL19 under a 250gr bullet for about 2,550fps. Or, about 100fps behind the .338winmags I've chrono'd. There really isn't that much difference between the .338/06 and the .338winmag, and since my '06 holds 5+1 rds, I'd pick it for a "bear" rifle. But, again, the .375Ruger trumps it....
But, it's really easy in my neck of the woods to find a used .338winmag. I doubt you'll have much luck finding .35Whelen ammo, .338/06 ammo, or even .358win ammo, and especially the .375Ruger, in the "boonies"... whereas .338winmag or .375H&H ammo is prevalent. So, with the cost of rebarreling a rifle factored, I'd suggest just finding a used .338winmag.... after you've rebarreled to .35Whelen...... Then, you can decide for yourself "which" YOU prefer...
However, when I got around to actually doing it, I went with the .338/06. It's a great caliber and lives up to it's hype.
However, I too like the "wallop" that I get from the .35's. I eventually ended up with a deceased friends .358wcf. It's "close" to the .35Whelen, so now I've got "both", sort-of.
If you live where you're likely to get 200yd+ shots, definitely go with the .338/06. If you hunt wooded areas (like I typically do), then the .35Whelen will not leave you wishing for more.
However, I found my self "missing" not having a .30/06 in the "inventory", so I ended up getting another '06. The only thing wrong with the .30/06 for the lower 48 is that its..."boring".... It just works...
I also latched onto a used Ruger M77MkII in .375Ruger. The .33's and .35's don't get hunted much anymore. The poor old .35Rem hasn't been deer hunting in 5yrs now.... I'm still trying to "hunt" the "new" off of the BLR. Haven't taken a deer with it yet... And Nosler just introduced a 200gr Accubond bullet. Should be just the bullet for the .358 and .35Whelen for non-dangerous game. For heavier game, I'd use the 225gr Accubond.
If/when I go back to Alaska, the .375 will definitely get the pick.... It doesn't kick that much more than the .338/06 and has a bit more "horse power".....
I do see routinely 2,800fps with a 200gr bullet from the .338/06. My "heavy" load is either 58.0gr of IMR4350 or 61.5gr of RL19 under a 250gr bullet for about 2,550fps. Or, about 100fps behind the .338winmags I've chrono'd. There really isn't that much difference between the .338/06 and the .338winmag, and since my '06 holds 5+1 rds, I'd pick it for a "bear" rifle. But, again, the .375Ruger trumps it....
But, it's really easy in my neck of the woods to find a used .338winmag. I doubt you'll have much luck finding .35Whelen ammo, .338/06 ammo, or even .358win ammo, and especially the .375Ruger, in the "boonies"... whereas .338winmag or .375H&H ammo is prevalent. So, with the cost of rebarreling a rifle factored, I'd suggest just finding a used .338winmag.... after you've rebarreled to .35Whelen...... Then, you can decide for yourself "which" YOU prefer...
critter
Member
I have 2 .35 Whelens built on M98 actions. Real thumpers, they are. Also, loads of fun as a plinker with pistol bullets. Good for introducing young shooters too.
blarby
Member
Well gunner, do you reload a lot ?
Do you cast a lot ?
What kind of terrain we lookin at ?
I think those three will help us point ya a lil' better.
Do you cast a lot ?
What kind of terrain we lookin at ?
I think those three will help us point ya a lil' better.
Curator
Member
Having also built a couple of .35 Whelens on M98 Mauser actions, I would add: Magazine length on standard Mauser actions is a limiting factor for the '06 length cartridge. The .35 Whelen really shines with 225 and 250 grain bullets. These end up deeply seated to work through the magazine, reducing powder capacity. I sometimes wonder if the 9.3X57 cartridge would not have worked better, or a .358 diameter edition of the 8X57 round to take advantage of readily available pistol bullets for plinking. The best .35 Whelens I have built (and still own) use .30-06 actions: an '03 Springfield, and a M1917 Remington. Of the two common twist rates, I prefer the 1 in 12" to the 1 in 16" for better accuracy with heavy bullets. The .35 Whelen is capable of driving a 300 grain bullet at 2200 fps making it capable of any North American big game.
Gunnerboy
Member
well Blarby, im in the PNW so terrain varies from 50 yd jungles to 1000yd shooting disasters (not me btw) And the rifle would more than likely be for elk for my father, im a learning gunsmith and mausers are my thing right now, and yes i reload ALL ammo i hunt with on big game.
Vern Humphrey
Member
Amen -- I've put thousands (litterally) of 198 grain cast bullets through Bigfoot Wallace, my custom '03 in .35 Brown-Whelen.
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