When it comes to hunting rifles, there are countless options available on the market. The 30-06 and the 35 Whelen are two popular calibers for big game hunting. Both cartridges have been around for nearly a century and have a loyal following among hunters. In this article, we will take a closer look at each cartridge and compare their strengths and weaknesses.
Here is the short answer:
The 30-06 is more versatile, more common, and has similar long-range ballistics to the 35 Whelen. On the other hand, the 35 Whelen has more close-range energy but does not hold its energy as well at long range and has more recoil than the 30-6.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look in-depth at each cartridge, their ballistics, and how they compare in-depth.
In-depth look at the 30-06
The 30-06 was first introduced in 1906 and was adopted by the United States military. After World War 1 and 2, this round quickly gained popularity among hunters and shooters for being a reliable cartridge that can take a wide array of game. The 30-06 is a versatile cartridge that can be used for hunting anything from deer to elk to bear.
The bullet weight of this cartridge typically ranges from 150 to 200 grains but can be loaded from 110 grains to 220 grains. This wide array of different bullet weights makes it versatile for hunting different size game. The recoil is moderate, making it comfortable for most hunters to shoot.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 30-06 with a 180-grain bullet:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2700 | 2913 |
| 50 | -0.1 | 0.2 | 2584 | 2668 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.9 | 2470 | 2439 |
| 150 | -1.3 | 2 | 2359 | 2225 |
| 200 | -4.2 | 3.7 | 2252 | 2026 |
| 250 | -8.8 | 6 | 2147 | 1842 |
| 300 | -15.3 | 8.8 | 2045 | 1671 |
| 350 | -23.8 | 12.1 | 1945 | 1512 |
| 400 | -34.6 | 16.2 | 1848 | 1365 |
| 450 | -48.1 | 21.2 | 1756 | 1232 |
| 500 | -64.6 | 27 | 1667 | 1111 |
In-depth look at the 35 Whelen
The 35 Whelen is widely recognized as one of the most powerful and popular rifle cartridges by hunters and shooters alike. It was designed in 1922 with the aim to enhance the performance of its predecessor: The 30-06 Springfield cartridge. This particular rifle cartridge offers superior velocities than what could be produced before, making it even more suitable for hunting large game animals such as elk, moose, caribou grizzly bear, and cape buffalo; a feat which has been achieved successfully for over ninety years now.
The bullet weight typically ranges from 180 to 300 grains and can be fired at velocities ranging from 2,400 to 2,800 feet per second. The recoil is moderate to heavy, making it more suitable for experienced hunters.
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 comparison
The 30-06 is a more versatile cartridge and can be used for game as small as Antilope to even grizzly bear. The 35 Whelen is a cartridge that is better for close-range hunting for bigger game animals like moose or elk. If you were to use the 35 Whelen smaller size game you run the risk of wasting meat due to excess bloodshot.
The 30-06 is a far more popular cartridge that can be found in pretty much any sporting goods store. The 35 Whelen has not seen as much commercial success as the 30-06 and therefore is harder to find in stores and is going to cost more per round by about 1 to 1.2 dollars.
In terms of ballistics, the 30-06 has a flatter trajectory and higher velocity than the 35 Whelen. This makes it easier to shoot accurately at longer ranges. The 35 Whelen, on the other hand, has a larger bullet diameter and more energy, which makes it better suited for taking down larger game at shorter ranges.
Recoil wise the 35 Whelen, being the same size cartridge as the 30-06 with a bigger bullet, has more recoil than the 30-06. Depending on the weight of the gun and the weight of the bullet, the 35 Whelen has about 5-7 more foot-pounds of recoil than the 30-06.
Conclusion
Both the 30-06 and 35 Whelen are excellent cartridges for hunting big game. If you want versatile and a widely available cartridge, the 30-06 is the better choice. If you primarily hunt big game at close range, the 35 Whelen is the better cartridge.