Bought a new #3 .45-70 in early 80's. Took a deer with it, love the short OA length/minus action length and also lite weight. Re-barreled to Douglas 22" and fitted #1 wood. Nice light mountain rifle...good knockdown with a Barnes 250gr at 2600+ fps.
Last edited by MarkJuen; 02/11/20.
When it's time to fight, you fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's ark... and brother, it's startin' to rain.
Forgot to mention I also have a nearly new <50 shots .45-70 barrel and also the original wood kicking around here somewhere?
Oops - went to check. I have the wood pieces and the barrel band they are like new. .45-70 barrel is not here. Not surprised, I moved from Oregon in 1994 and whittled 37 long guns and 17 handguns down to 4 and 3 respectively. Gave away and sold alot - I am sure I gave away the barrel to someone - maybe to H&K Gun Shop in Forest grove Oregon, Curt did lots of work for me...
Last edited by MarkJuen; 02/11/20.
When it's time to fight, you fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's ark... and brother, it's startin' to rain.
Looks like a dandy deerslayer, the Whelen has been my primary whitetail rifle for more than 25 yrs. now. It just gets the job done, never needed a 2nd shot.
I have a #3 in 223 that I got with the intent to rebarrel to 257 Rob. It shoots so well, I have been hesitant to make any changes. Took a deer with it this past season.
Does that lever bite your hand a bit with .35 recoil? I'm slowly working on a No.3 project- had JES rebore a .223 to 9.3x62 and am restocking with No. 1 pattern wood. There's no way I'd want to shoot it with the OEM lever, so I cut, welded, and shaped it to be more friendly for recoil.
Ruger #3 take off 45/70 barrels make great 458x2” American or 450 Marlin ‘All Ruger’ model 77 bolt action rifles with a little lathe and reamer work. I would have used a No.1 take off barrel but a #3 is what I found first.
Does that lever bite your hand a bit with .35 recoil? I'm slowly working on a No.3 project- had JES rebore a .223 to 9.3x62 and am restocking with No. 1 pattern wood. There's no way I'd want to shoot it with the OEM lever, so I cut, welded, and shaped it to be more friendly for recoil.
As a matter of fact, yes it does at the range. It's a pretty light setup with ballistics nearly equaling my .375 H&H mag 270gr loads, so yes it can be a handful. As I recall, it banged my ring finger pretty good if I shot it loosely off bags.
Last edited by MarkJuen; 02/13/20.
When it's time to fight, you fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's ark... and brother, it's startin' to rain.
I have a #3 in 45/70 that I put #1 wood on. It looks good but I've never shot it since I put the new wood on it. It was a beast with the original wood. A guy with 45/120 reamer offered to rechamber it but I chickened out. :>) John
35 Brown-Whelen.... always sounded like a fun cartridge, as do the Gibbs design rounds. Tell me how it is to own and load for it.
I love the gun but now live in an elk-less State so it doesn't get any use. I had previously owned (pre Remington 35 Whelen launch) a .35 Whelen in a 700ADL so I had plenty of brass to form. I fire-formed my previously formed Whelen brass to Brown Whelen with 55gr 4064 under a 200gr bullet with CCI 200 primer. it yielded about 2300fps approx 8 feet from the muzzle. The neck does look pretty short and scary but I have never had any problems with bullets staying seated with a 250gr Speer Spitzer. I previously used a 275gr Barnes in my 700ADL 35 Whelen but that bullet never (looked) stable with the Brown neck. My Elk load with the Brown was 63gr of 4064 under a Speer 250gr spitz. cci200 at 2623fps (loa 3.430") average 8 feet in front of the muzzle. My old Elk load with the ADL in 35 Whelen was 54gr 4064 under a Barnes 275gr cci200 at around 2400fps (loa 3.370")
Interesting comparison of 35 whelen 24" barrel and the 35 Brown Whelen 22" barrel:
.35 Whelen 24" - 250gr Speer Spitzer - 55gr 3031/cci200 - 2534fps LOA 3.440" .35 Brown - Whelen 22" - 250gr Speer Spitzer - 55gr 3031/cci200 - 2451fps LOA 3.430"
*I know I compared case capacity Whelen vs Brown but couldn't locate my figures. (been a few years) lol!
That Remington - did it to me twice, lol! I had sporterized a Arisaka 99 to 7mm08 before Remington legitimized that cartridge, and then they did it again to me with the 35 Whelen - probably one reason I went up to the Brown version.
When it's time to fight, you fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's ark... and brother, it's startin' to rain.
Thanks, I suppose would make the same offer of the 45-70 barrel for those . As I said it is new as it was taken off a new No 1 in order to make a 475 Turnbull for an article in Rifle magazine.