Thinking about building a .35 Whelen

[azwizard]

Calling .35 Whelen.....

My last home built rifle was a FN Mauser action rebarreled to a Douglas 22" Barrel in .25-06 with Model 70 style safety and Timney trigger with a custom floorplate and retaines just enough of the stripper clips to work if I only load 4 rounds.
With my Leupold 3X9 scope on it I get 1 hole groups at 100 yards and just over half an inch at 200 yards. The Action/Bolt/Barrel were all faced and crush was set before the chamber was cut so everything was in the same plane.

I'm getting the bug to build another rifle and I'm thinking .35 Whelen. The intended use for this one would be 2-300 yard Max.. Elk/Moose rifle, Short Range Bear rifle. And Obviously pretty much everything else in North America. That does not mean light weight just short and handy.

Kind of thinking more scout/shorter rifleish? Budget minded.. What action to start with this time, ect...

Is there an easier way to do this? The last rifle took 5 years to complete. Money and time were issues and to some extent still are.

Any thoughts.

 

[RSVP2RIP]

I went down this road also, but building a gun wthout spending a lot of money isn't really feasible. If you are looking for a project, rather than saving money go for it. But I think you would be best served by getting a used 35 whelen and sawing off a few inches of barrel and recrowning. A mauser action would be a good place to start, but there is going to have to be some magazine work to get rounds in there, or get new bottom metal. A 700 action would work also, but then barrel fitting would require an investment in tooling to get the recoil lug in the proper position, as well as a new action wrench (assuming you did your own barrel work). Sounds like a pile of cash going into this.

 

[stan rose]

I would just keep an eye out in the local gun shops, pawn shops, gunbroker, and gun shows for already sporterized Mauser, or Springfield 1903 rifles and go from there. I have seen a lot of these rifles go for $200 and under, then you can remove the barrel, stock and what ever else you do not like and start your build. Finding actions for less than $200 is getting difficult especially if it is in good condition. If money is a major concern may I recommend Adam & Bennett barrels, I have used to of these with excellent results, one shoots as well as my Shilen build. Granted I would not use A&B for a serious target rifle but for a hunter I am willing to gamble on the odd bad barrel. I really do like the Mauser 98 more than any other bolt action, but something about .35 Whelen screams 1903 Springfield, IMHO.

 

[lefteyedom]

Custom Mauser Action 35 Whelen,Timney Trigger, all the work is done! Starting bid is $350 with no Reserve!!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=305157461

 

[azwizard]

The .25-06 I built took 5 years and topped out for the rifle at about $400 invested. The original action cost me $89.00 The machining time was mine and if I needed a tool to do the job I made it.

This time around I was hoping to cut down on everything a little. Find a Mil-surp action that was already a .30-06, face the bolt and action and screw on the .35 cal barrel or maybee even just punch out the barrel to .35 cal and then ream the chamber. Would there be enough meat on the barrel to safely do that.?

Leave the stripper clips in place this time, Turn the bolt down Leave the original safety and just install a custom trigger and floor plate. Cut the barrel to 18 or so inches, cut a target crown and thread it for a muzzle brake.

I'm also planning on a 4X fwd mounted scout scope. Not sure about co-witnessing the sights yet need to think about that one.

Laminated Boyds stock, bedded and free float the barrel.

So suggestions? Action's... etc. What sights to co-witness? Would like to keep the whole deal around 8 1/2- 9 1/2 lbs if possible.

 

[lefteyedom]

It is more than just punching out the bore. Reboring a barrel rarely(but sometimes) makes sense. There are shops that will do it for you, but for the price and the trouble just get a new barrel in 35 Whelen...

If you want to do something on the cheap here is my suggestion

Find a Cheap 8X57 98 Mauser and rechamber it to 8/06 (improved?). Load it with 225 grain bullets and chunk them out at about 2500 fps. Start with a 22 inch barrel and shorten to taste.

Mine is a standard 8X57 with a 18" barrel in a sportized mil-stock and a fix 4 power in a conventional mount. I am out $75 for the rifle and $20 in sandpaper and paint... The rifle is built around 190-200 bullets.

Otherwise you know what you want to do, so start hunting up the old Mauser you want to build from. You will have fun ether way.

 

[azwizard]

Reboring is about the same cost as rebarreling.. I did a .308 to .338 Federal a few years ago and it's been great. Brought that gun back to life.

But to use a Mil-surp barrel and go from .30 cal to .35 cal is that still feasible? Is there enough meat?

I'm not really trying to cheap out, just do it different this time. Save some steps and or not do something in favor of the Fwd Scout scope. If I do the Fwd scope there is no need to redo the safety, or take off the stripper ears etc.. If I can reuse the mi-lsurp barrel I can maybe use the B-Square mount that bolts to the original rear sight not have to reblue etc.. Different Ideas..

 

[critter]

I have 2 in .35 Whelen. Both are made on VZ24 actions. Made great guns and a really fun, educational project.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I had an Interarms MkX in .30/06 I bought in 1975 in '06 and always wanted it in .35Whelen. (Though I wanted a .270 when I bought it....).

Last Spring, I found another used MkX in .270wcf as I was "looking" to add a .270 to my collection. (I've never killed anything personally with a .270 though I've owned two previously..want to correct that deficiency...). I got it with scope bases for $200.00 at a Pawn Shop. It was in "decent" shape with good metal, no significant rust, and a "clean brite" bore. It shoots sub MOA with ammo it "likes" (but is "picky"). It would make a good "conversion" gun/action. Already has a decent stock which I cut to fit me (had 14.75" lop, I shortened it to 13" and fit a Boyds 1/2" recoil pad). It also already has a decent adjustable trigger (similar to a Bold/Timney) that I lightened to ~3lbs.

For a barrel nearly as good as the Douglas but for less $$$, look into an E.R.Shaw barrel. All I've ever seen/shot were as good as a Douglas. My 1983 E.R.Shaw in .257Roberts with some pitting in the bore still shoots 1/2-3/4moa with 45.0gr of IMR4350 and 100gr SierraHornady or Nosler 100gr bullet. My wife and oldest daughter also killed their first deer with that rifle.... It's a member of the family....

When it came time (had money and desire) I rebarreled my '06 to .338/06. It really is a "tad" better than the .35whelen at ranges over 200yds as b.c. and s.d. of bullets is significantly better. However, I used an Adams&Bennet barrel from MidwayUSA I got on "clearance" for $59.00. It's a 2-moa barrel... So next time I'll go with a better barrel.

However, I'm still really, really fond of the .35's. My "desire" for a .35whelen is partially placated by the aquisition of a deceased friends steel reciever BLR-'81 in .358wcf. But, it "ain't" a Whelen. I haven't been able to top 2,500fps with a 200gr bullet that doesn't give sticky or worse extraction. However, 47.0gr of H4895 is giving 2,480fps and 1.5moa groups, so "it'll do"!

I've always loved the way the .35Rem with either 200gr Sierra RN's or Remington Corlokts put the "smack" on deer. The "paper" ballistics" just don't do justice between the difference of it and the .30/30. (not a slam against the .30/30, have and adore one of those too).
I've decided that the next custom I build will be a .350NormaMag which I'll build on my Savage M110 in .300RUM.
Why??? I "like" the .35's....

 

[azwizard]

The Mark X is a good choice as is the VZ 24 for actions. I like the idea of a 1903/A3 Springfield but not sure I can afford the initial investment. I'm not counting glass or mounts but I'd like to keep the project under $500.00 invested. Before the scout scope.

.35 Whelen wasn't ever really on my radar for many years as I had an .-06 and what else did I need. But Dad had always used a .35 Rem for all his deer and they all dropped in thier tracks.. Literally never had to track one for over 50 years. But they have run off with the -.06 and my 7mm Mag even, and I had to track an elk 1/4 mile after hitting it in the heart with the -.06.

.35 cal just seems to kill better than the ballistics tell you in the tables. So since I can keep the same case platform -.06 from the .25-06 to .35 whelen why not. I'd bet the next elk won't run that far with a blown up heart.