Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats M1917 to .35 Whelen or >

I've got a good old sporterized Model of 1917 (Winchester) that I've been shooting & hunting with most of my life. Dad sporterized it shortly after returning home from WWII, and I first shot it back in 1966. I like the old beast, as does my youngest son. He took a buck this year and a bear last year with the old rifle.

Toying with the idea of bumping it up to something with a bigger bore, staying with a .30-06 based case:

.338-06
.35 Whelen
9.3x62 (don't know much about that one, but it sounds cool)

Is there more involved than a simple barrel swap? Feeding issues?

Thanks, Guy

I'm just selling one of these now to a friend of mine. It's been sporterized - bolt handle modified, magazine reduced to 4 rounds and flattened, cocks on opening, Fajen stock, scope mounted on Weaver bases, Timney trigger, etc. I was thinking of changing it over to a .375 H&H but realized it's probably cheaper to buy a new one.

Shouldn't be any feeding problems. A simple rebore to 35 Whelen is about $225. would be cost efective and the rifle would lok just like it did when your dad srorterized it.

Here's a link to someone that specializes in 35 cal rebores.

http://35caliber.com/index.html

IF you want to keep it forever go ahead. If you want a modern rifle there are a ton of choices out there in those three calibers that will have resale value.

If your 1917s metal is all original and you can find a decent original stock for it, it's worth more than many minty used rifles in the calibers you mentioned would cost.

9.3x62 is a great caliber, superior to the 35 Whelen.

9.3X62

Thanks for the input guys.

60 some years ago this rifle was modified considerably from original. Ten years or so ago it was updated. My son is the fourth generation of our family to hunt & shoot with this old rifle, and yes, I/we intend to keep it forever. It shoots well, and I might just leave it a .30-06, as that cartridge has done well.

Simply exploring the idea of a bigger bore cartridge, based on the .30-06 case. I figured it would probably be an easy conversion. Hadn't really given a re-bore much thought. Good idea. I was just thinking new barrel.

Regards, Guy

To me it's such a massive heavy action it really calls out for something big. I've had two, first was a 458 lott, the current one is a 500 Jeffrey.

I figure the 358 STA would be a good starting point, and go up from there. A 500 A-square is fairly practical way to get into serious power levels.

Yeah - I know they've been built to take some HUGE cartridges, but mostly I hunt mule deer, occasionally black bear or elk... Not seeing a .458 or .500 rifle in my future!

My thoughts as well. Mine is a 340 Tyranosaur, kinda like a modernized and AI'ed 340 Weatherby. Since the OP hunts deer, Elk and black bear, a 340WBY or 358STA would be fantastic choices and make full use of thie rifle's true capabilities. Anything much less would be a cryin shame, and a tragic waste of action length and capabilities, IMO.

Guy, since you are near here, feel free to come by and check out my 1917 and even take it out and shoot it. MARK

I too have a m1917 that is looking for a new dress. After dyna bore coating it is now shooting small holes. Considering a Lone wolf stock and maybe an eventual rebarrel to one of the cartridges listed depending on which day the question is asked.
The 416 Dakota seems like it would nicely fit the action...

I saw a custom 1917 in 375H&H awhile back, dont remember what
the price was.

GuyM
45 years ago I was face with the same situation. Mine was also a Winnie. and I had it turned into a 308 Norma Mag.. It has serve me well every since. Just a thought Cheers NC

Well I have one in 450 Ackley Magnum and another being built in 416 Rigby, but he wants to use the 30-06 case family. I have a mauser in 9,3X62 and it is just great. He won't have to worry about feeding problems or ammo.

I had a Remington Model 30. Stock replaced. I think it might have been a 35 Rem with the chamber punched out to 35 whelen. small groups as normal for a 35 cal. wanted to convert to larger cal but ended up selling the gun. it was slicker than snot and kind of cool. wish i had the gun back. sold it to a guy doing a really big bore with it

If you will never need or don't want a big bore, do an uberfast 7,30,33 or 35. 7mmUltra or STW, 300RUM, 340 WBY, 358STA etc. Nothing wrong with a 375H&H on all manner of American game either. Here is mine, in 340 Tyrannosaur which is kinda like a 340WBY AI'ed. It is easily my deadliest and bloodiest rifle in the safe. Been to Africa and Alaska several times each as well as beenn used by me on Elk and Bear in many states here.

To re-do that great, old CRF action to a mere 30/06 length cartridge would be a crime, and a travesty.

Just had an idea for a cool wildcat! how about a 9.3/366 STW! 8mmRemMAg necked to 9.3mm!! 286gr bullets at probably, oh.... 2900fps?

I'd go with the Whelen, although I prefer the 9.3x62, just because you will save money by reboring as opposed to moving to some larger, magnum cased, round that would require action and feeding work as well as rebarreling. Besides, the Whelen is period correct for a 1917 sporter and would make for a nicely balanced rifle with the factory (military) barrel.

A 35 Whelen rebore is what I have planned for this Springfield, for the reasons set forth above:

Re-doing the rifle to something based on a 30/06 case makes perfect sense because it will work so well. Instead of chambering for a big cartridge to utilize a heavy, clunky, action, one can re-contour the receiver a bit and lose some weight and ugliness. A 35 Whelen on an Enfield would make a fine, classic combination. GD

Also known as the 9.3 Sisk. Charlie has it listed on his website.