.35 Whelen
Encyclopedia
The .35 Whelen is a powerful medium-bore rifle
cartridge
that does not require a magnum
action or a magnum bolt-face. The parent of this cartridge is the .30-06 Springfield
, which is necked-up to accept a bullet diameter of 0.358 in (9.1 mm). This cartridge is more powerful than its parent, especially in killing power on large game.
by Col. Townsend Whelen
, and built by gunsmith James V. Howe (later of Griffin & Howe). At the time Colonel Townsend Whelen was the commanding officer of the Frankford Arsenal
, and James V. Howe was a toolmaker in the same establishment.
The 1923 issue of American Rifleman
Colonel Whelen referred to it as "the first cartridge that I designed" and in that same article stated that, "Mr. James V. Howe undertook this work of making dies, reamers
, chambering tools, and of chambering the rifles, all in accordance with my design."
In 1987 the Remington Arms Company standardized the cartridge, in other words they began producing it as a regular commercial round. It was first made available in the Remington model 700 Classic
, manufactured in 1988.
The .35 Whelen is the ballistic twin of the .350 Remington Magnum
. With the correct bullet choice this cartridge is suitable for virtually all thin-skinned large and dangerous game. The European designation for this cartridge would be 9 x 63 mm; with its wide bullet selection and high muzzle energy it is in the same echelon as the venerable 9.3x62mm.
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
cartridge
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
that does not require a magnum
Magnum
Magnum may refer to several things:* Moses Magnum, a Marvel Comics villain*Magnum, P.I., a television series** Thomas Magnum, the lead character...
action or a magnum bolt-face. The parent of this cartridge is the .30-06 Springfield
.30-06 Springfield
The .30-06 Springfield cartridge or 7.62×63mm in metric notation, was introduced to the United States Army in 1906 and standardized, and was in use until the 1960s and early 1970s. It replaced the .30-03, 6 mm Lee Navy, and .30 US Army...
, which is necked-up to accept a bullet diameter of 0.358 in (9.1 mm). This cartridge is more powerful than its parent, especially in killing power on large game.
History
The .35 Whelen was originally developed in 1922 as a wildcat cartridgeWildcat cartridge
A wildcat cartridge, or wildcat, is a custom cartridge for which ammunition and firearms are not mass produced. These cartridges are often created in order to optimize a certain performance characteristic of an existing commercial cartridge.Developing and using wildcat cartridges does not...
by Col. Townsend Whelen
Townsend Whelen
Townsend Whelen , called "Townie" by his friends, was an American hunter, soldier, writer, outdoorsman and rifleman....
, and built by gunsmith James V. Howe (later of Griffin & Howe). At the time Colonel Townsend Whelen was the commanding officer of the Frankford Arsenal
Frankford Arsenal
The Frankford Arsenal was a United States Army ammunition plant located adjacent to the Bridesburg neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, north of the original course of Frankford Creek.-History:...
, and James V. Howe was a toolmaker in the same establishment.
The 1923 issue of American Rifleman
American Rifleman
American Rifleman is a United States-based monthly shooting and firearms interest publication, owned by the National Rifle Association...
Colonel Whelen referred to it as "the first cartridge that I designed" and in that same article stated that, "Mr. James V. Howe undertook this work of making dies, reamers
Chamber reamer
A chamber reamer is a specific type of fluted reamer used by gunsmiths and firearms manufacturers to cut the chamber of a handgun, rifle, or shotgun. The chamber reamer is inserted into the bore of a barrel and held stationary while the barrel is turned around it...
, chambering tools, and of chambering the rifles, all in accordance with my design."
In 1987 the Remington Arms Company standardized the cartridge, in other words they began producing it as a regular commercial round. It was first made available in the Remington model 700 Classic
Remington 700
The Model 700 series of firearms are bolt-action rifles manufactured by Remington Arms since 1962. All are based on the same centerfire bolt action. They often come with a 3, 4 or 5-round internal magazine depending on caliber, some of which have a floor-plate for quick-unloading, and some of which...
, manufactured in 1988.
Performance
Suitable 0.358 in (9.1 mm) bullets range in weight from 150 gr. This round can use .38/.357 pistol bullets (which are all .358") for cheap practice, low recoil target shooting, and varmint hunting. Using a 250 gr bullet, the .35 Whelen will generate 3500 ft·lbf (4,745.4 J) at the muzzle from a 24 in (61 cm) barrel.The .35 Whelen is the ballistic twin of the .350 Remington Magnum
.350 Remington Magnum
The .350 Remington Magnum was introduced in 1965 by Remington Arms Company for the Model 600 rifle. It was later offered in the Model 660 and Model 700 rifles but was discontinued as a regular factory chambering in 1974 after a poor sales record...
. With the correct bullet choice this cartridge is suitable for virtually all thin-skinned large and dangerous game. The European designation for this cartridge would be 9 x 63 mm; with its wide bullet selection and high muzzle energy it is in the same echelon as the venerable 9.3x62mm.
See also
- .358 Winchester.358 WinchesterThe .358 Winchester is a .35 caliber rifle cartridge based on a necked up .308 Winchester created by Winchester in 1955. The cartridge is also known in Europe as the 8.8x51mm. -History:...
- 9mm Jonson
- List of rifle cartridges
- 9 mm caliber9 mm caliberThis article lists firearm cartridges which have a bullet in the caliber range. The most prevalent of these rounds is the 9x19mm Parabellum.*Length refers to the cartridge case length.*OAL refers to the overall length of the cartridge....
- .30-06 descendants.30-06 Springfield Wildcat CartridgesWildcat cartridges are firearms cartridges whose dimensions have been modified. Usually these modifications are with an eye toward improved performance, either measurable or not. This article deals with wildcat cartridges which result from a simple necking down or up of the original .30-06...