Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Building two new 35s

Am building a new 35 Whelen another one, on a Rem 700 squared action, got the SS 1-14 barrel blank turned to contour and ran into a small problem, a good problem, the donor action I bought, in a group of four 700s, is a August 1958 dated 700, cut checkering, all original, 06 in excellent shape. Saved it to last for tear down. So stopped at the tear down stage for a bit more consideration.

While thinking on it, started a 358 Win build on a Mauser 3/4 action. Never owned a 358 Win rifle, figured it was about time to own one. Building a 1-14 twist 22" barrel cast bullet rifle. This one I am keeping a photo log on a step by step.

I still need to cut the stock for the 358 on my duplicator, may make a myrtle stock for it. I cut stocks outside, have the duplicator on commercial casters so I can roll it outside on the shop's concrete apron.

1985?

Mr. Rapier,, Sounds like you are doing a good thing.
I have 2 of the Colonel's 35 and 2 in 358 Win.
The first 35 Whelen is the Rem 700 Classic circa 1988.
Next up (35 Townie) is a build I did on a Zoli bolt action using a Douglas Barrel.
the initial 358 Win was built on a Savage model 10, also with a Douglas BBL.
Then I got a Ruger Hawkeye in 358 Win,,,but kept it "stock".

I hope your builds work out fine.

The first 700s were made in March of ‘62.

Not a Rem collector, just have a few, mostly for the actions used in custom builds.
This is a picture, I know how to use PI but not figured out the 24 gallery quite yet.



The Mouse-r is a M-96 Husky 1943 dated, brand new arsenal action, found on my shelf in a plastic bag, stuck it there when we built the new house, shop and barn, decided to use it. Never supposedly had a barrel mounted. I put the mandrel in it, was tight, squared the face to the mandrel and lapped the lugs on a new bolt to 100% contact, I have a few 96s.
Got a few mods to go until finished, got the thumb de cocker removed, thumb safety installed, trigger guard narrowed and thinned, trigger installed, bolt handle bent, knob tear drop shaped, ramp polished was rough, scope base installed, stripper clip hump removed, tang sloped below the sear groove for stock fitment. It is coming along. Waiting for the SS barrel, probably spintvthe whole business and C coate it black. Oh, with the polished ramp, it feeds 358s well enough to get me to a final setup and fitting.

Great choices. I’ve got (3) 358’s, and a whelen on an old 700. Love em👊🏻

Never owned a 358 Win, but it's always been high on my list. I have it completely surrounded with two 35 Remingtons and a 35 Whelen classic. They're my primary hunting rifles here in Iowa. Not necessarily looking for one,but I happened upon a 9.3x57mm mauser which many compare to a 358 Win. Casewise it's almost exactly inbetween the Colonel and the 35 Rem

Ever considered adding a 358 Norma Magnum to the line-up?

Or a 358 STA.

Give it time. It's a progressive (the original meaning of the word) disease. It often takes time to grow into bigger & better things.

A 358 Win. & a Whelen is a good start.

Oh, I keep returning to the 35 pool and jump in again. It is like the ARs....just tater chips. Once you start eating it is hard to stop.
This is my maple stocked 350 Rem Mag Mauser, a why not build. Used a Richards dual grip as a pattern to do the rear and a Mouser stock to do the front. Something you do not see too often on a duplicator, putting several stocks together on a cut. The tip, cap and recoil bolt plugs are Madagascar ebony. The Packmeyer recoil pad is a real good idea.
It is hard on big hogs, basicly a belted short action 35 Whelen.



Dick Riley's favorite rifle was a 358 Norma, worked in his shop in Hooksett NH for a bit until I went in the service in 64. So, the Norma comes with some real good reccomondations and good backups.

One cost effective way to the .35's is sending one to JES for rebore. I traded for this pre-64 .243 FWT, found out it was shot out. The guy I got it from felt bad about that, sent me $250 to cover cost of a JES rebore to .358 Win. JES does a good job with fast turnaround; it shoots very well. Lot less expensive than building one or buying an original.

Wearing a Trijicon 3-9x40 with duplex type reticle and bright dot. Great glass. Scope in Signature rings.

Fav load is the Shock Hammer 178 over RL-7, deadly on WT's and hogs.

DF

Oh, that’s just flat out sexy!!👊🏻

Thanks.

Deer and hogs don't think so.

DF

Oh I bet!! 358 is the “hunters cartridge”.. not much I wouldn’t hunt with a 358. 225 sgk, no fuss, no muss.👊🏻

My custom pre-64 358 Win has visited Africa with great success and my tweaked Ruger RS 35 Whelen has done the same in south Texas, Alberta and northern BC. They work fine like so many others.

Very nice pre-64, JES does good work, he has a list on line of barrel muzzle diameters required by caliber for a re-bore. Good thing to check if you have some old barrels.

The 358 Win is a very under appreciated hunting cartridge, by the general hunting public, probably no cartridge is any better for deer size game in the thick woods, where shots are normally well under 200 yards, which also happens to be the normal cast bullet hunting range.

When combined with the Rem 200 RN or a 180 Win it can be loaded to 35 Rem velocities to make a good hunting rifle for younger hunters.

It’s also a really interesting round, lots of info on pistol bullet loads, cast bullet loads, etc. not many rounds as versatile.

If one was big into these variations, seems having a dedicated scope set up for different classes of ammo would make sense.

I thought about it, just stuck with hunting ammo.

DF

I'm a 35 fan. You'll literally have to pry my 358 Norma from my dead hands. Shoots sub MOA with 250 gr Hornady spires.
Finally getting a Savage 99 wrapped up in 358 Win (thanx to help from a campfire member). Several 35 Rems (1 a 760 pump). Even several wildcats including 35 Gibbs, 357 AR (like a 350 Legend but it uses 223 basic brass and a .358 bore), even a 35 HRT (6.8 SPC necked to 35). I miss the 350 RM XP-100 that I traded off. The only 35 Whelen I had, I sold before I shot it, because I was offered $220 more than I paid for it.

I have a Douglas 358 barrel blank sitting on my shelf, just waiting for the next 35 cal that I can't live without.

I have a .358 Model 7 that they can bury me with. Love that thing.

No doubt like everyone else they’re really looking forward to doing so….

+1

I second, third, fourth the JES route, I have several 358's and all but 2 were created that way, and they all just shoot, he rescued three really bubba smith jobs and made real shooters out of them. I must say he did a savage 99 for me that was a compete dud in 308 and made it a real killer in 358 win, only thing i dislike it whacks you pretty good.

I wouldn't be without a 35 they just get the job done. My two are nothing fancy, a pre 64 FWT M70 and a Ruger #1 35 Whelen. If I ever draw an Elk tag again for Michigan these will be the go to guns.

The Shaw 358 Win short chambered barrel came in today. The barrel is a SS .659 muzzle, 22" with 1-14 twist and a recessed crown. Documents said it was .040 short chambered, actual measurement is just .017 so can easily be hand cut for a perfect chamber fit, I like a tight headspace. Nice work, barrel screws on properly and locks up on the two points, end of threads and the receiver face, same time. The bolt closes and locks up without the cartridge. The Rem 200 RN feeds into the chamber like Roscoe as does the RCBS 200 grain FN cast.

I noticed back a few years ago that Shaw changed out their equipment for new and CNC stuff. I have built some rifles for friends that wanted their own Shaw barrels installed, that turned out they shoot in the sub 1/10" category, and that ain't bad in anyone's book.
Have a bit of metal work to do yet, plus the stock to cut and finish. But it is coming along.

I am still debating on all black or black action metal, jeweled bolt with SS barrel. Plus considering a 5/8x24 threaded muzzle for my 35 cal can. Think I might as well do the muzzle thread.

Nice. Can’t wait to see it progressed.

Rapier - It's looking real nice!
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Cheers,
Rex

Works with a PC, but alas I use an iPad and am fresh out of a right click on an IOS. No internet connection, use cel phone connection. We live in the woods, no land line or cable. If I could get my PC pictures onto my pad it would be great. I would love to be working from my PC

Got the action and bolt finished, discovered that the end of the bolt body had a little ding / bur that was keeping the bolt shroud from turning up to the correct length, so the fitting of the cocking piece for the safety / trigger sear engagement had to be re-done, recut, etc. Checked the firing pin protrusion, launched a pencil with a new eraser. Did those changes today.

I found some new, unfired Peterson 358 Win brass at Graft to allow me to do an old fashioned gunsmith tight headspace set up with, a corner of .003 thick note pad paper stuck on the base of a new piece of brass, a make do headspace gauge, two pieces stacked, the bolt will not close. I setup my normal chambers to sweep the base of new brass as the bolt handle stops on the close. My personal guns setup.

Had a problem with the lathe, the operator had partial malfunction, so the muzzle thread ended up a 1/2" cut off, facing and a re-crown. I will get back to that muzzle thread later. I set up the jeweling fixture in the mill to do the bolt, just need an 800 polish on the body to get that fixed up.

Got a epiphany while spinning the 358 Win barrel. I have another 96 to rebarrel or have JES cut to a 358. Why noy make a 55 ot a 57mm x 358. I have the reamers and an extra set of dies, so...

Built the custom for my Dad before he passed, he shot some corrosive through it, would like to save the exterior of the barrel. Cut the 35 W dies off, make the 57 ftpm 7x57 or 8 x57 brass the 55 from 6.5x55 brass, I could run the 358 Win reamer in from 51mm to 55mm or 57mm or just short chamber with the 35 Whelen reamer, finish with the 358 Win reamer.

I was delaying, holding on to the 1958 700, but as an 1985 it changes the need to save it. Nice gun, but not that nice as an 85, it will be a trued, 5x squared, threads cut .010 over with 100% lug contact. 250 recoil lug 35 Whelen in just a bit.

Jewling fixture setup in my mill for jewling the bolt body. Got half of it done this morning, it does a 600+ dot pattern the way it is setup now.
Did a 600 grit base polish first. I usually use valve grinding compound and a small stainless wire brush with two stacked O rings, this time decided to use the craterex rounds method to see how it turns out. I usually do the bolt handle flat as well, adds a little accent.
A straight length wise polish on the extractor seems to work best, with a blued or black ring for contrast.

Decided to do the action, barrel and bottom metal in black, a double Carekote turns out like a semi gloss finish. Turn it 1/4, 1/4 etc., so it stays wet until you get two light coats over the sand blast finish.

Got the bolt jewling finished, not impressed with the Craterex turning at all. Way more precise with a wire brush a double 0 rings with valve grinding compound. That flexing of the craterex tip is totally for the birds on a bolt with multiple humps, bumps, holes and cuts. A steel shaft with shot bristle wire brush does not flex.

I got it to turn out half decent, no blue ribbon job, but decent at 20 feet.

I got another 35 done, sorta, a Glock 23 LEO exchange 40 came in. So I fitted a 357 Sig barrel to the 40, put on Novak adj sights, a Ghost Maker 3.5# trigger, extended slide lock. After a week in the parts washer soaking, it all came out pretty clean, including the 40 barrel.

Back to the long guns.

Nice…..is 2850fps with 200gr TSX a realistic goal? 😂

There’s no flies on the .357 Sig but neither are there any on the .40s/w either so I would be of the mind that a 2 caliber option is always a benefit especially when both chamberings are excellent. 👍🏼

That was my thoughts on the Sig and S&W deal, the option was too cheap to pass up.
I got side tracked for a bit, finally decided to go on and thread the 358 Win muzzle so I could put my 35 can on it. Got the .625 by .500 shaft cut today, now need to thread it, then re-crown. Still debating in my mind on the stock. May just go with a fairly plain walnut, to save on all the aggravation. Especially since I now need to replace the rubber on my band saw wheel. Yep, a plan.

Well it took a few minutes but the muzzle threading is done, plus re-crowned with 90 degree recessed, put an AR muzzle break on it to protect the threads and new crown. Now to stamp it, spin it with 220 on a vertical belt and the barrel spinner, then sand blast the surface for the Cerakote Granite Black application. Decided to go full black, barrel, action, bottom metal. Little more work, but I do like one color better for myself on a bolt gun.

Got the M-96 Husky 1943 headspaced with minimal clearance, to my liking, a cased head with a slight bolt face sweep upon bolt closure, and barrel stamped, with the extractor mounted, to feed and extract the .473 based case. 358 Win new brass and new brass with 200 gr Rem RN a factory OAL. Metal is now ready to sand blast.

So one more step towards the metal finish and the stock making.

i did a Ruger #1 with a Jes rebore 35 Whelen in August 23 this year have not scoped it up yet , bore looks very nice.

Got all of the metal coated today with two coats of Granite Black....Went to bring the wire hangers inside to hang inside for curing, mag bottom plate flipped off the wire and of course landed finish side down on he floor with a bit of dirt, it was still wet, so acetone took the wet but nasty finish right off. Best laid plans of mice and men. I have a couple more projects coming for Cerakote, so will open a new bottle when that need starts up.

This is a cel phone picture of the barreled action coated, hanging. The muzzle has an AR muzzle break screwed onto it with masking tape over. The barrel is plugged and screws in screw holes, best of all worlds, screw heads get sprayed, holes and threads get protected.

Use the Hotlinks for Forums url on PI...

I finally decided on the stock wood and style. I am going to do an English walnut dual grip, with a sanded in Pro Custom Oil finish. The humidity here in FL can make it a long term job. I am not going to do a fancy grain stock, just an A grade with straight grain. It is a cast bullet gun after all.

Discovered my band saw's rubber wheel cover had started coming apart, so had to scrape the wheel down. Now I need to find a new replacement band saw wheel cover. It is an older Craftsman saw.

While resting, I built a target stand at 250 meters on my range and hung two 20" broken disc blades, that I cut holes in for bolts.

This is a better picture of the coated barreled action and bottom metal. The muzzle has what was a taped up thread protector, not coated

Love the .358 win.

Presently having a 35 Whelen built.

The inletted and glass bedded English walnut stock. Bottom and top metal are 100% Acraglass gel bedded, barrel is free floated. The stock wood felt brittle while cutting, so I decided to add a stock through bolt and two English walnut caps.
Richards sent a combination cut stock, similar to the Timney trigger, a multiple model version of their trigger, and also the stock, that also requires hand fitting on a M-96.

I love a 358 Winchester. RZ.

Thirty five years ago I sent a pre'64 Winchester M/70 Super Grade to Randall Redman to rebore/rechamber to .35 Whelen, it has been my whitetail rifle ever since. If I were younger I'd send a pre'64 Featherweight to JES to rebore/rechamber to .358. Both .35's are great cartridges that have stood the test of time. The Colonel would find my .35 Whelen to be very interesting as it is laser beam accurate and has accounted for many whitetails. Back in the day I owned .358's in pre'64 M/70 Featherweight, Ruger M/77 and pre'64 Winchester M/88 lever action. All of these have become so valuable I wouldn't consider hunting with them.

I’m cutting back. I had two 35 Rem, two 350 Rem Mag, two 358, 35 Brown Whelen and several 35 Whelen’s.

Now I have one each 358 Win and 35 Whelen. I probably won’t cut back any further.

Nothing wrong with the ones I deleted except the custom 35 Brown Whelen was not done right and I sold that one as parts.

I’m not sure which I’d keep if I had to go to one 35, probably the Whelen. I like long actions and that might be the factor that tips the scale.

My next custom 35 will be a JES rebore of a 1943 sporterized Remington 1903a3 with a two-groove '06 barrel. Finished chambering will be standard 35 Whelen. Looking forward to starting that one soon.