Two popular rounds that have their reputation as effective big game hunting cartridges are the 35 Whelen and the 30-30 Winchester. These rounds, while they are used for similar tasks, are often not compared in-depth. So in this article, we will compare these two rounds to see which is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 35 Whelen is a more powerful cartridge than the 30-30 Winchester, with a flatter trajectory and more energy especially at longer distances. Making it is better suited for hunting larger game at longer ranges. The 30-30 Winchester is an older cartridge better suitable for shorter range hunting of deer and other similar sized game.
now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how the two cartridges compare in-depth.
In-Depth Look at the 35 Whelen
The 35 Whelen was developed in 1922 and is based on the 30-06 Springfield case necked up to .358 caliber. Although the 35 Whelen was designed in 1922, it wasn’t being produced until the late 1980s. From that point, the 35 Whelen earned a reputation for being a powerful and accurate cartridge, capable of taking down game like elk and moose at long ranges.
Typically, the 35 Whelen shoots bullets between 180 and 250 grains. Combined with the larger case size of the 30-06, you have a cartridge that can easily take game like elk, moose, deer, and bears while not having too much drop nor so much wind drift that it is ineffective at longer ranges.
However, you do have to consider the downsides to the 35 Whelen. Firstly, the 35 Whelen has quite a bit of recoil and it can be difficult for some shooters to handle. Additionally, the 35 Whelen isn’t as widely spread as some more powerful or similar cartridges such as the 300 Winchester magnum or the 30-06 Springfield.
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 30-30 Winchester
The 30-30 Winchester was introduced in 1895 and quickly became one of the most popular hunting cartridges in the United States. It has a long history of use in lever-action rifles and is a favorite among deer hunters. In fact, it is such a favorite among deer hunters that it is considered to be the cartridge that has taken more deer than any other.
The 30-30 Winchester typically fires a bullet in the 150-170 grain range, with muzzle velocities ranging from 2,200 to 2,500 feet per second. Even though this round does not produce a lot of energy, it does certainly have enough to take game as large as black bears and large deer at closer ranges.
There is only one real downside to the 30-30 and that is that it does not carry its energy very well at long range nor does it have a lot of energy at close range. This means that your options as far as what game you can take and how far you can shoot are limited.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 30-30 Winchester with a 170-grain soft point bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2200 | 1827 |
| 50 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 2044 | 1577 |
| 100 | 0 | 1.8 | 1894 | 1354 |
| 150 | -2.8 | 4.3 | 1753 | 1159 |
| 200 | -8.4 | 8.1 | 1619 | 990 |
| 250 | -17.2 | 13 | 1494 | 843 |
| 300 | -30 | 19.4 | 1380 | 719 |
| 350 | -47.5 | 27.3 | 1279 | 617 |
| 400 | -70.3 | 36.7 | 1191 | 535 |
| 450 | -99.3 | 47.6 | 1118 | 472 |
| 500 | -135.4 | 59.9 | 1060 | 424 |
In-Depth Comparison
When comparing the 35 Whelen to the 30-30 Winchester, it is important to consider the intended use.
The 35 Whelen is a more powerful cartridge that is better at long range. This makes the 35 Whelen better at hunting big game such as deer, elk, hogs, or even moose. However, the 30-30 has been used to bag more deer than any other cartridge out there.
In terms of recoil, the 35 Whelen generates more recoil than the 30-30 Winchester, which may make it more difficult for some shooters to handle. However, if you go with the 30-30 for its lighter recoil you are sacrificing long range performance.
When it comes to availability, the 30-30 is the winner. Because the 30-30 has been around longer it is more available and cheaper to shoot than the 35 Whelen.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the 35 Whelen and the 30-30 Winchester are both effective hunting cartridges, but they have different strengths and weaknesses. The 35 Whelen is a more powerful cartridge but does have a lot of recoil. The 30-30 Winchester is a less powerful close range cartridge that is cheaper to shoot and easier to find ammo for.