.35 Whelen

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 .358" (9.09 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 cartridge 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 'The 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.

Performance
Suitable .358" bullets range in weight from 150 grains to 300 grains. A great attribute of this round is its ability to utilize 38/357 pistol bullets (which are all .358") for cheap practice, low recoil target shooting, and varmint hunting. Using a 250 grain bullet, the .35 Whelen will generate 3500 ft·lbf at the muzzle from a 24" barrel.

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 the 9 x 63 mm, and with its wide bullet selection and high muzzle energy, puts it in the same echelon as the venerable 9.3 x 62 mm Mauser.

Cartridge specifications

 * Bullet diameter: .358"
 * Maximum case length: 2.494"
 * Maximum cartridge length: 3.34"
 * Shoulder angle: 17.5 degrees
 * Industry maximum pressure: 52,000 CUP (Copper units of pressure)

Categories
Cartridge:rifles