Reboring .30-06 to 35 Whelen

[GuyWithGun]

Gave up on the idea of turning .338 Win Mag to 35 Whelen and traded it in on a FN Mauser in .30-06. Was going to put a Douglas barrel on it, but the factory barrel is cool looking and has plenty of meat for reboring so decided to keep it on there and jus get it recut. Couple of questions came up...

1) Can you change he twist rate with a rebore?

2) Who's doing a good job with them?

 

[Jim Watson]

1. Yes, it is just like making a new barrel except it is used steel.

2. I have not had it done, but always refer to Clearwater.
http://www.1911pro.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=1470

Note that a rebore with new neck and throat, same chamber, will cost you $350.


Me? I'd just stock up on 220 gr Hornadys and 240 grain Woodleigh .30 bullets and save the cost of barrel reboring.

 

[jmr40]

Good point. In actual use a 220 Nosler Partion from a 30-06 will outpenetrate any 35 Whelen load on large game. With lighter bullets the 30-06 offers much more versatility on smaller game and on longer shots.

I've had 35 Whelen and 338-06 and felt neither offered me a single advantage over the 30-06. Sold the 35 and the 338-06 is up for sale.

Unless you just want to be different there is no reason to do this. If you do decide to go this route it would probably be cheaper to just replace the barrel. And FWIW, I like the 338-06 better than the 35 Whelen.

 

[GuyWithGun]

How is it like getting a new barrel? Is it a sleeve or what?

 

[Jim Watson]

No sleeve, that is "relining."

They treat your old barrel like a bar of steel with a hole through it.
They ream the hole larger and cut new rifling in it.
Then screw it back into the action.

 

[natman]

Gave up on the idea of turning .338 Win Mag to 35 Whelen and traded it in on a FN Mauser in .30-06. Was going to put a Douglas barrel on it, but the factory barrel is cool looking and has plenty of meat for reboring so decided to keep it on there and jus get it recut. Couple of questions came up...

1) Can you change he twist rate with a rebore?

2) Who's doing a good job with them?

1) Yes.

2) Z-hat, Redman, several others. Click here

I've never had one redone, so I can't recommend any particular service.

I do know that it's doubtful that any of them can bore a better barrel than FN did, so I'd think long and hard before I drilled a new hole in one of their barrels. Having an accurate, collectible 30-06 wouldn't be too bad. That's if your new rifle is an original commercial FN sporter. If it's an FN military action with any old barrel stuck on it, bore away.

 

[StrawHat]

The advantage with a rebore is you get to keep the barrel that was made for the rifle. No new inletting or profiling a new barrel to fit. As was mentioned, a new, larger hole is drilled, then reamed, then rifling is cut or swaged in place. The exterior of your barrel remains the same.

With a 35 Whelen, shooting the same weights bullets as a 30-06, the Whelen will get more velocity at lower pressures. The Whelen may have less penetration with similar weight bullets. With bullets having the same sectional density, the Whelen will give better penetration. And the Whelen can handle heavier bullets than the 30 calibers.

Another great thing about the Whelen is the number of cast bullets and molds available for it. It is a good cartridge for cast bullets.

 

[GuyWithGun]

Strawhat,

Thanks. I guess the part I was getting hung up on was boring out all the riflings down past the grooves. Wasnt sure there wold be enough metal taken out for a clean tube to change twist, guess there would be.

As for the idea of the Whelen, I agree. Researched it a bunch and a Whelen is not just a .30-06 with a bugger bullet, good stuff happens. The heavier bullet you put in it, the better the better gets. Taking the new-old gun to the range in about an hour and if it shoots sweet, figure the barrel is good and will look at sending her off next week!

Thanks to all.

 

[DM~]

I've had more than 20 rebores done, if done right it's just good or better than a bbl. change.

Redman has done quite a few for me, and they all were excellent. Randy has always done best quality work for me!

I agree that going from 30-06 is really a waste of money, UNLESS big bears are on your menue. Nothing wrong with a "properly loaded" 30-06 for big bears, but i was the guy going into the alders when things didn't go right.

For that reason, after trying several different cartridges, i settled on the .338-06 and found it so be pretty handy to take into the brush, with it loaded with 275 Speers, or 250NP's.

Personally, i wouldn't waste the money to go to a Whelen...

DM

 

[StrawHat]

GuyWithGun, If the 35 Whelen is too pedestrian for you, there is always the 375, 40 and 411 caliber wildcats on the 06 case. Properly done, they are in a world of there own. And they offer one or two additional cartridges in reserve over a magnum.