Two cartridges that are often put in a similar category are the 35 Whelen and the 450 Bushmaster. these two cases are popular among hunters and shooters alike, but how do they compare? what are their best uses? How do the cartridges stack up in all types of cartridge versatility? In this article, we will seek to answer all those questions and more.
Here is the short answer:
The 35 Whelen has more energy, better ballistics, and is better suited for hunting game like elk, and moose. However, the 450 Bushmaster is made to hunt animals such as deer at close range and in thick brush. If you desire a heavy hitting cartridge, go for the 35 whelen, if you need a close range deer round to be used in thick brush, the 450 bushmaster is hte better bet.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look at the ballistics of each cartridge, their best uses, and how they compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 35 Whelen
The 35 Whelen was made by Colonel Whelen and is based on the .30-06 Springfield case, necked up to accept 358-inch diameter bullets. This round is made to be a heavier hitting 30-06 so that you can hunt big game animals like moose with a standard action rifle. It has a flatter trajectory than some other big-bore cartridges such as the 45-70, making it effective for longer-range shots but it still keeps its high energy.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 35 Whelen with a 200-grain soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2800 | 3481 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.3 | 2667 | 3158 |
| 100 | 0 | 1 | 2537 | 2858 |
| 150 | -1.2 | 2.2 | 2411 | 2582 |
| 200 | -3.9 | 4 | 2289 | 2327 |
| 250 | -8.3 | 6.5 | 2170 | 2092 |
| 300 | -14.5 | 9.5 | 2055 | 1876 |
| 350 | -22.7 | 13.2 | 1943 | 1677 |
| 400 | -33.2 | 17.7 | 1835 | 1495 |
| 450 | -46.5 | 23.2 | 1732 | 1332 |
| 500 | -62.8 | 29.6 | 1634 | 1185 |
In-Depth Look at the 450 Bushmaster
The 450 Bushmaster was developed to be a cartridge that is highly effective at taking big game animals at close range and in thick brush. It was created as a straight-walled cartridge so it also complies with regulations in certain states such as Iowa or Illinois. The 450 Bushmaster fires a .452-inch diameter bullet typically from 300-400 grains and delivers impressive stopping power at close range making it an ideal brush gun (a brush gun is a gun chambered in a cartridge that can reliably punch through heavy brush).
Here is a ballistics chart of the 450 Bushmaster with a 300-grain jacketed soft point bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 1900 | 2405 |
| 50 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1741 | 2018 |
| 100 | 0 | 2.8 | 1592 | 1687 |
| 150 | -4.1 | 6.1 | 1453 | 1406 |
| 200 | -12.4 | 11.3 | 1331 | 1179 |
| 250 | -25.5 | 18.1 | 1224 | 997 |
| 300 | -44.5 | 26.6 | 1136 | 860 |
| 350 | -70.3 | 36.7 | 1068 | 759 |
| 400 | -103.6 | 48.2 | 1014 | 685 |
| 450 | -144.9 | 60.9 | 970 | 627 |
| 500 | -195.3 | 74.8 | 932 | 579 |
In-Depth Comparison
Power and Range: The 35 Whelen has more power and a later trajectory than the 450 Bushmaster. Its higher velocity and more case capacity along with a lighter bullets contribute to its better performance. The 450 Bushmaster is optimized for short range hunting and has more stopping power than the 35 Whelen thanks to its bigger heavier bullet.
Recoil: Due to its larger case capacity, the 35 Whelen generates more recoil than the 450 Bushmaster. That being said, the 450 Bushmaster is still no slouch in recoil, around 24 pounds, so neither cartridge would be light recoiling, but the 35 Whelen is the worse of the two.
Ammunition Availability: The 450 Bushmaster has gained significant popularity in recent years, resulting in increased availability of ammunition from various manufacturers. The 35 Whelen has been around for a longer time and enjoys a good selection of ammunition options. So availability-wise, they are about the same.
Legal Considerations: The 450 Bushmaster was designed to comply with certain hunting regulations that restrict the use of bottlenecked cartridges. Therefore the 35 Whelen technically can not be used in as many situations as the 450 Bushmaster but there is a low likely hood that you won’t be use the 35 Whelen.
Versatility: These two cartridges are used for different tasks, the 35 Whelen is used for hunting big game, the 45 Bushmaster is for medium size game at close range. The 35 Whelen can be used for a wider array of tasks from hunting big game to long range shooting.
Conclusion
The 35 Whelen and the 450 Bushmaster are cartridges that are used for specific tasks. The 35 Whelen offers better long-range performance and versatility, making it a solid choice for hunters who value downrange energy and flat trajectories. The 450 Bushmaster is designed for close to medium-range hunting in brushy or wooded environments, providing hard-hitting power at shorter distances.