Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Winchester Collectors Pre 64 70 in 35 Whelan

As stated in a previous post, Featherweight rifles were chambered in .358 Win. with no issues that I am aware of. I've never heard of a US rebore firm that reproofs their work, European standards are different. In either case I cannot see the need for reproofing except to meet European regulations.

About 10 years ago, I found an unusual 35 Whelen in a shop in Idaho.
It was a rebored/re-rifled and re-chambered 1950s M-70 with a stock
that was a dead ringer for a Super Grade with ebony forend tip.

The shop owner said it was guaranteed to be accurate, or send it back.
He siled and said: You won't be sending it back." He was right.

Also have an old beat up transition Model 70 in 338-06.
Now that is a cartridge that should have been brought out of wilcat class. Accurate with 338 210 Noslers.

Slavek, why don't you take up golf or some other hobby? Here's an idea. Give JES a call and tell them you think they are stupid...

Good post. There's always that option too. 338-06 has a lot of cool factor, as does the ol Whelen. Hard to go wrong with either one.

I recommend something with even more cool factor. This would be very proven .318 Accelerated Express aka .318 Rimless Nitro Express Westley Richards.

That is my plan when I find the right P64, which that Featherweight sounds like it is.. I have a M700 CDL 35 Whelen. Great shooting rifle, but unless I spend the money to put a 3 pos safety on it and probably a better extractor and likely a trigger, I probably won't ever be 100% happy with the rifle.

JES does great work with his rebores. Rebored a Classic 338 Win Mag to a 35 Newton, it is plenty accurate for a hard hitting .358..

The rifle discussed is sold, but if you look at his other guns, they are all priced at the absolute maximum.

If you sign up for Proxibid, you can find any of them at major auctions for less. (if you a patient)

Given the numbers of faked rare model 70s (and other Winchesters) in circulation, anything "odd" is suspect.

Quality rebores work just fine and the 35 W is a great cast bullet cartridge as are any of the 9.3s.

I have an early Ruger 1B rebored from 06' to 35 W. With full house jacketed bullet loads it is a handful.
Wouldn't even want to think of the later, lighter 1S in this chambering !

Scotty, PM me if you want to check on the fwt I found for $675.00... It's actually a pretty damn good buy..

I recall a Gunsmith (Ray Montgomery in Grand Junction, CO) that had a "blue pill load" listed on his price sheet. For those that are too chicken (or too smart) to intentionally fire an overload in their rifle.

Twenty or so years ago when I built my M/70 Whelen i used a standard grade, were I to do it over I would choose a Featherweight. I recently picked up a pre'64 Featherweight that had been rebarreled in .257 Roberts using a Douglass premium barrel with featherweight contour. Why Winchester never offered the .257 in pre'64 Featherweight is a mystery to me. At least they did in the later Featherweight.

Sure enough. Lets go back in time and kick their azzes...

Instead of barreling Model 70 action I would look for used Remington 700 Classic in .35 Whelen. It is better handling rifle with just about perfectly designed factory stock. All you would need is to throw in Timney trigger. I should mention that bolt movement in Remington action can be made to work a lot smoother than in old Model 70. Why go through all that trouble with Winchester for no gain?

PS. Oops I forgot you would have to replace original solid rubber pad with something useful. The original has consistency of plastic butt place. Ask me how I know.

Sir, have you ran many P64's? Just wondering cause when you say a Classic "handles" better and it it smoother I question how many rounds you've put through either. Nothing against 700's but they aren't even in the same ballpark as a mildly tuned up 70 as a hunting rifle.

Scotty, he has had some off the wall remarks. It often makes me wonder how his golf game is... Just sayin..