A number of powders are suitable for use in the .35 Whelen, and most work quite well. If I had to choose one for all bullet weights, I would look at IMR-4895, IMR-4064 and IMR-4320.

Bullets weighing 200 to 225 grains are more comfortable to shoot due to less recoil, and relatively soft bullets such as the 225-grain Sierra and Nosler Ballistic Tip are great choices for deer. When either of those bullets exits the muzzle in the neighborhood of 2,600 fps, and is zeroed three inches high at 100 yards, it will be about two inches above line of sight at 200 yards and around eight inches low at 300.

For larger game such as elk and moose, I believe the Swift 225-grain A-Frame and the Nosler Partition of the same weight are tough to beat. Due to their higher velocity they shoot flatter and retain more weight for deep penetration than softer bullets weighing 250 grains.

I have no plans to hunt brown bear with a rifle in .35 Whelen, but if ever I change my mind either the Swift 250-grain A-Frame or the 250-grain Nosler Partition will be my choice in bullet.

Like many cartridges over .30 caliber, the .35 Whelen has never enjoyed great popularity among big game hunters. It’s a bit much for deer, and hunters who go after larger game with a medium-bore cartridge often choose flatter-shooting and more powerful cartridges such as the .338 Winchester Magnum.

A FEW GOOD .35 WHELEN LOADS
Bullet	Bullet Weight (gr.)	Poweder Type	Poweder Charge(gr.)	Muzzle Velocity (fps)
Barnes XFB	180	H335	59.0	2,794
Hornady PSP	200	IMR-4320	58.0	2,617
Nosler Ballistic Tip	225	Varget	51.0	2,552
Nosler Partition	225	V-N140	56.0	2,581
Sierra SBT	225	IMR-4064	57.0	2,510
Swift A-Frame	225	RL-15	58.0	2,566
Nosler Partition	250	IMR-4320	53.0	2,429
Swift A-Frame	250	H4895	53.0	2,374
Speer PSP	250	H3335	52.0	2,430
Barnes PSP*	275	H380	57.0	2,336
Barnes PSP*	300	BL-C(2)	53.0	2,228
Remington Core-Lokt	200	factory	--	2,511
Federal TBBC	225	factory	--	2,529
Remington Core-Lokt	250	factory	--	2,348
* These bullets are no longer available. Notes: Powder charges are maximum and should be reduced by 10 percent for starting loads. Remington cases and No.9 1/2 primers were used in all loads. Velocities represent an average of five or more rounds clocked at 12 feet from the muzzle of a 22-inch Apex barrel. Abbreviations: XFB, X flat base; PSP, pointed soft-point; SBT, spitzer boattail; TBBC, Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Warning: The loads here are safe only in the guns for which they were developed. Neither the author nor Intermedia Outdoors assumes any liability for accidents or injury resulting from the use or misuse of this data. Shooting reloads may void and warranty on your firearm.

Remington is down to one rifle in this caliber (the 700 CDL) and no longer offers it in the Model 7600 pump gun. However, when Remington offered the Limited Edition Model 700 Classic in .35 Whelen in 1988, it was a success--eclipsing sales of all but the .300 Weatherby Magnum in this 25-rifle series.

Perhaps the best testimony of the effectiveness of the .35 Whelen on big game was written years ago, by a hunter who used it to take an Alaska brown bear. He wrote: “At the impact of my 275-grain bullet the bear spun partly away from me. Immediately I fed him another bullet right between the shoulders, and he turned back toward me. Then, as he lurched forward, I shot him through both shoulders. The grizzly fell dead at my feet.”

The year was 1937, and the grizzly in the story ended up second in the Boone & Crockett record book. The .35 Whelen rifle the hunter used was built by Griffin & Howe, on a 1903 Springfield action. His handload consisted of the 275-grain Western Tool & Copper Co. bullet pushed to maximum velocity by IMR-4064. That hunter was none other than Elmer Keith.