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

What do you guys think of this one? Look at Steve Barnetts site. He has listed a M70 in 35 Whelan with supporting documentation from the company that did the work on an original Winchester. Did Winchester chamber the rifle? Can it be considered an original M70 in this chambering?

This is nothing I'm interested in. If I wanted a 35 Whelan (and I think it's a great cartridge) I could have one built for a third of what the asking price is on this. I saw it listed and it peeked my curiosity is all.

Mine is built! Pre-64 Model 70. 23" Shillen Select Match. 1-12" twist.
Cerekoted midnight blue. McMillan Edge stock. Forester action screws.



Shoots 200gr Factory Federal Fusions very well. I'll switch to 200gr TTSX and RL15 after I shoot up the factory ammo.

I love it when they shoot like that... GSP post a link buddy. I don't have steve barnet on speed dial... I doubt anyone else does either..

Winchester did not chamber a pre 64 M70 in 35 Whelen. Personally, I would consider it to be an overpriced custom....

No.

I built my .35 Whelen from a shot out .30-06 standard grade, Randall Redman did the rebore/rechamber more than 20 yrs. ago. It now has a pre'64 Super Grade stock and a Griffin & Howe mount with Lyman All American Perma Center 4x with LEE dot. It is my favorite deer rifle, it likes 225 gr. Sierra or Nosler bullets with IMR 4064 or RL-15 as propellant. When not deer hunting I shoot lots of cast bullet and pistol bullet loads, 15gr. of Unique behind a 200-210-215-225gr. cast bullet is an accurate fun load to shoot. Easy on the rifle, the shooter and his wallet.

It would be simple to send a std. 30-06 to JES and have them rebore it to 35 Whelen for about $250.00. Just a thunk..

I don't see the value here. It's not factory according to the description and invoice shown. Let's see a picture of the barrel markings? IMO it's worth a little more than if you did the conversion today just because it is an old conversion and comes from the Whelen shop. $2000 - $2500 is my thoughts.

I think it's worth what you can pay for a standard grade 30-06 and then the extra work to have JES rebore it for you. For me, that would look something like this:

$675.00
+$250.00

Total: $925.00.... Pretty easy..

BSA you can search Barnetts fine guns and get the web site. I don't have a direct link. I'm of the same opinion as others here. glad I'm not missing something. If I were to have a 35 Whelan I'd just have one made for a third of the asking price of this one. IF it was priced around $2K that would be a different story.

Rather than re bore a 06 wouldn't be easier and about the same cost to just re barrel it?

Cheaper to rebore in my opinion.. Turn around time with JES is very quick too.. I know some of you guys don't live as close as I do to them, but I could take a rifle to them and have it back in less than a week. If I had a smith re-barrel one of my rifles, it would cost a minimum of $150.00 and the barrel itself would cost about $400.00 for a good barrel.. There's also the fact that if you just have the std. wt. barrel rebored, you still have the use of the factory irons. Kind of a win win the way I see it. How much would it cost to buy a barrel, add iron sights and have your smith install it for you, vs. re-bore of about $250.00???

Here's a question, can you rebore a Pre 64 fwt 30-06 to 35 whelen??????? I know where one is for $675.00. It could be up for grabs to anyone here. Pretty good deal. The only negatives I saw with the rifle was an added recoil pad (who would have thunk) and a jeweled bolt...... That would be kind of cool. A 35 whelen fwt.. Hmmm..

I don't know why it couldn't be rebored, the outside diameter of all Featherweights were the same and they made them in 358 Winchester.

I guess if I re barreled it I wouldn't put iron sights on it. I'm having a rifle being built now that will have iron sights just because of what it will be but that's the first one with them.

A 35 Whelan FWT....that would be awesome...at both ends:)
I like my 358 but not so much at the bench.

http://www.gunsinternational.com/gu...70-pre-64-35-whelen.cfm?gun_id=100688396

Gun being discussed.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Just wanted a little confirmation...

I like how you put that, "Awesome at both ends"... Ha ha.. . It would probably make a handy little elk rifle though..

It wouldn't be that bad on the back end. I have a 358 Featherweight that was re-chambered to 350 Rem Mag (basically a short action 35 Whelen) and a checkered steel butt plate on it. When you fire it you know it's thee but it's not bad at all.

Things that make you go hmmmmm....

Quite a bit of metal would be removed from the barrel. Does JES reproof the gun after the job is completed? Being done in USA I assume no. Doesn't sound like smart idea to me. In Europe gun undergoing such modification would need to be submitted to proof house to make sure it is safe to use. I would use that standard if I were you.