Help me choose which 35 bore for my next encore

[glockky]

I am planning to order another encore frame and a barrel from MGM. I definitely want to stick with 35 caliber but cant choose between 35 whelen and 358 winchester. MGM only offer a 1-14" twist without spending big bucks on a custom blank.

The only advantage I can see to the whelen is being able to shoot heavier bullets. I already have the NOE copy of RCBS 35-200 is flat point and hollow point version. My goal is to push a 200gr bullet at 22-2500 fps with acceptable hunting accuracy. Hopefully I have not set an unobtainable goal there. But I already have a MGM 357 and marlin 35 remington that will push a 200gr bullet to 2000 fps with good accuracy.

Since I have started shooting cast my whiz bang magnum rifles slowly started to disappear and be replaced with cast friendly calibers. I am looking to get something thats flat shooting and capable of taking an elk if I ever get lucky enough to get drawn for a tag.

[35 shooter]

My encore has a 35 whelen bbl. on it and i have not been dissapointed at all.
I have the 1/14 twist and it shoots everything i've put in it from 200 to 280 gr. cast into 1.5" or less at 100yds. with the best loads.
If i weigh the boolits it'll tighten up even more.

I like the easy to find brass for it...any 06 based case can be necked up to 35 whelen.

The .358 is probably more efficient for a cast shooter as far as case capacity goes. Either will do to hunt anything, anywhere, anytime!!

[rbuck351]

If you are only going to shoot the lightweight boolits (200gr) it won't make much difference as either should push it to the speed limits of accuracy. The Whelen will hit the same speeds with a heavier boolit. Both 06 and 308 parent brass are plentiful.

[Mk42gunner]

The Whelen has a longer neck than the .358 Winchester, not that it will really matter in a single shot.

I think the .358 will do whatever needs to be done with cast in a .35 caliber rifle. If I had been into cast rifle boolits when I built my first .35 Whelen, it probably would have been a .358 instead.

To throw a monkey wrench into the decision process, I like the ide of a rim on break action guns. The .35 WCF or .35 Krag wildcat come to mind. Performance should be roughly equivalent to the .358.

Robert

[glockky]

Is the 35 WCF a 30-30 necked up to 35 ?

[pietro]

Is the 35 WCF a 30-30 necked up to 35 ?


No, the .35WCF was based on the .30-40 Krag cartridge.


.

[Artful]

http://files.harrispublications.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2012/02/358-and-416-ultra-mag-b.jpg
LEFT: From left to right—.35 Rem., .356 Winchester, .358 Win., .35 Whelen, .350 Rem. Mag., .358 Norma Mag., .358 STA, .358 WSM & .358 UMT—the current lineup of .35-caliber rifle cartridges offered as factory loads and Towsley’s .35-caliber wildcats. When in doubt, pick a bigger bullet.

I'd go 356 Winchester - same dies as 358 wcf but rimmed case and in a pinch you can use 358 Win cartridges in a single shot.

[rockrat]

35WCF, think more of the 405 win necked down to 35 cal. Nice satisfying "thunk" when you drop one of those long rounds into the chamber:). Had a 95 Win in 35wcf at one time.

[Tatume]

My Browning BLR in 358 Winchester pushes the RCBS 35-200-FN to 2250 fps with good accuracy and minimal leading using H4895.

[dead dog]

Can you buy 356 Winchester brass? What case do you make it from? I'd like to ream out a 35 Rem. one day.

[dragon813gt]

Can you buy 356 Winchester brass? What case do you make it from? I'd like to ream out a 35 Rem. one day.

Yes and no to the first part. It's not common but can be found. You can make it from 308 just like 358 Winchester. In a single shot the lack of the semi-rim is even less important. It will headspace off the shoulder.

[glockky]

My Browning BLR in 358 Winchester pushes the RCBS 35-200-FN to 2250 fps with good accuracy and minimal leading using H4895.

What kind of trajectory do you get with that load at 200 yards ?

[Tatume]

Sighted two inches high at 100 yards it is down seven inches at 200 yards.

[Hickok]

.358 Win. would get my vote. It would push cast boolits as fast as possible with a smaller case and less powder.

[Zim]

I, too, like rims in TCs. If wildcatting is an option & you don't want the 356Win, try the 35/30-30 or 35/303 Epps. Custom dies only hurt once. The 35-30 is similar to the 35 Rem and has a nice neck. While the 35/303 is compared to the Whelen.

The 358 can push the 250 gr boolits as fast as they need. Given the choice between Whelen & 358, I took a 358 bolt gun. But I also have the 35-30.

Excellent choice of caliber!

[TCLouis]

Get ye some 356 or 307 brass and make it a 358R.

Jus' Sayin . . . .

[reed1911]

For the added options the .35 Whel. gets my vote. However! Based on what you stated you wanted, a 200 @ 2200-2500 the 358 will do all you need. Non-custom chamber, non-custom prices, brass is plentiful, can be made from plentiful .308. This does not mean it does not apply to the other calibers as well, just that it meets the demand you stated you wanted.