Having built a few rifles on milsurp mausers on a budget, a 35 whelen with a midway barrel and a 458 lott with a ruger #1 takeoff, I'd say the result is a heavy clunky rifle that will cost more than a new factory rifle and won't do anything better and in many ways is a step backwards.
Now if you're looking for a classic custom rifle by all means get a good smith and go all out, but you're looking at $3k minimum and can easily go higher if you go for a custom wood stock and fancy metal work.
If you want a decent sporting crf 35 whelen start with a Ruger M77 mkII or Winchester 70 and either have them rebarreled or rebored, or better yet find one of the Rugers so built by the factory.
There are a lot of ways to try and save a buck and end up with less than what you really wanted, been there done that more than once. There's also figuring out what you really want, paying what it costs and being done with it.
458Lott: Thanks for the dose of reality. You, of course, are correct. I do realize that building a classic, sleek, custom Mauser is an expensive proposition. I know this from my previous attempt at building one a few years ago - everything I wanted (almost) was well north of 3K, in fact it was $5,770.00! - and this was with no fancy metal work - save a 3 panel bolt. This is why I was looking at the gun auction websites - my thinking was that could find a nice custom Mauser in .35W, which some poor slob already went to the time and expense to build, at a substantially reduced price. In my many months of looking, so far I have only found a few. One that would meet my requirements, included dies, brass, loaded ammo and the original stock but it's priced at $2,600.00, which is more than I wanted to spend.
I think you have the right idea in terms of finding a M77 or an M70 and converting, or in the case of the Ruger, possibly a factory .35W. As mentioned, I do already have a M77 in .270, which I find to be a good rifle, but I really wanted this new rifle to have a sleeker profile, carry easier, and be a bit more refined than the M77, as I find the M77 to be a bit clunky and lacking the natural, easy, 'pointability' I am looking for in my new rifle. The M70 comes much closer to what I am looking for in this regard. I believe I could find a used (new model) Winchester M70 Sporter or Extreme Weather SS in .30-06, and swap out the barrel for a .35W Douglas, with a 1:12 or 1:14 twist, screw it on, and be done with it – and at a cost that is palatable to me.
Last edited by High_Noon; 06/26/16.
l told my pap and mam I was going to be a mountain man; acted like they was gut-shot. Make your life go here. Here's where the peoples is. Mother Gue, I says, the Rocky Mountains is the marrow of the world, and by God, I was right. - Del Gue
