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Modern inflated advertising, designed to sell NEW rifles and chamberings is sometimes difficult to resist, especially for the new/young shooters.

Hunters today are told they need the lastest craze in high velocity, big fat cases that have the ability to "kill game animals at 600yards". They fail to note that in most of the hunting areas in the States, Canada, Europe and Africa, game isn't killed past 100 yards and these wonderful lazer bolts of power aren't needed. Even if they did, that 'confession' would most likely fall on deaf ears.

The fact that they couldn't hit a animal the size of an elk at that range off the bags due to their inexperience means nothing to them; they dream of those 'long' shots across mountains or canyons. They are told they 'need' that rifle, hense anything else is deemed to be too 'old school' or inferior and thus is passed by.

Fin Agaard once wrote an article in a Handloader digest, or magazine, grouping rounds together as he saw them work in Africa. It was an eye-opener as to different round's effectiveness on these animals of chase. One soon learns that 100 fps here or there, or even 200fps and 100gr. weight means diddly-squat on actual game. The .35 Whelen, 9.3x62 and .375H&H were all very similar when the larger species of antelope were the quarry - all using appropriate bullets, of course. Close in there were the various 9mm and even the 8x60 ctg.

In retropect, one of the quickest killers on moose for me, was a Model 94 in .375 Winchester with a measly little 220gr. Hornady, loafing along at 1,940fps MV. Go figure. That round and loading makes the .35 Whelen look like an Elephant ctg. in comparrison. What I had in that rifle, is a round loaded to deliver perfect bullet performance with that bullet on those heavy animals and possessing the accurcy needed to place it in exactly the right spot for bang--flop performance.

If you are afraid of it because it bites you when sighting it in, the requisite accuracy for quick kills at any range is lost and no amount of foot pounds of energy is going to make up for it.

Of course, we all know this.

The .35 Whelen deserves greater popularity. Those who have them and use them, know how effective they are and aren't about to change to something 'new' just because of hype.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V