Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Help an old man out

If a grandpa had more money than brains and wanted to build a bolt action in 25-35 for his young grandson, what parent rifle, receiver, etc. should he look for? I know its stupid, but you are talking to the one that loves all the odd ball stuff.....and who, coincidentally, had no problem finding ammo because no one ever buys what i shoot...lol....thanks guys.

forget the bolt action rifle take a Ruger # 1 and rebarrel rifle to 25 -35 rifle , the #1 will always still have value ,if you look real hard and ask on the 24 hr campfire free ads you may fine a Ruger #1 25 -35 ? good luck ,Pete53

Thanks Pete. I will have to cut the stock down on whatever gun I choose. I was thinking of just getting a TC Contender in the caliber, but hope to find something more in line with a small Model 7 size. Appreciate your advice and I would love to have that gun in a No. 1 for me. Thanks again

you must really dislike that kid......

Haha 😂😂

I had a Marlin 336 rebarreled to .25-35.. Fun gun..

Rem 788 in 30-30, you could really spruce up a Sav 340 or one of the clones, Springfield, Hiawatha and there are a couple others. I saw a beautiful Mannlicher stocked 340 a number of years ago, some even came with a butter knife bolt handle from the factory.

Forgot the Win Model 54 came in 30-30 also and the Rem Model 30 came on 25&30 Rem a rimless version of the 30-30/25-35

There's some good choices above, and I do like the 25-35 Cal. your looking at. When my boys were young and starting out, yeah we all start them out on .22 cal rifles, naturally, and then graduate to what your talking about. I went with a few savage .17 cal rifles, and graduated from there to a 25-20 Winchester model 1892,Lever action, loading one shot at a time, and again graduating from there. Using Bolt actions also, trying to show them the Difference, and letting them find their way and compare accordingly. My father in Law,(Grandpa), gave them a Harrington and Richardson, .22 cal. rifle for Christmas one year, as I gave them a Winchester Model 67 bolt action .22 the next year! One is a Sniper in the U.S.M.C., and the other hunts all over the Country for Big Game! You have several choices, Good Luck!

This grandpa bought his grandson a 7.62x39 because 6.5 Grendel youth models weren’t anywhere to be found then. Three bucks down in three years, including a 200lb one. He’s covered until he grows a bit, maybe even longer. Still, a Grendel is my idea of a near-perfect rifle for kids, especially where .223 isn’t legal like VA.

Might try an SMLE. Load one with 25-35 cartridges and see if it feeds and ejects them. Just don't fire it.


If it feeds and ejects well you would simply need a barrel and a chamber reamer and the use of a lathe to fit it up.
The old Lees can look classy when done right. this one is a 303, but making one in 25-35 would be no more difficult if the action feeds them to start with.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA by .com/photos/156296479N08/]Steve Zihn, on [bleep]

I went to Gunbroker and searched bolt action rifles in .30-30. A Winchester 54 in .30 WCF is for sale. No bids @ $2600. Enjoy

I like the .25-35 Contender option! In fact I liked it so much that I had Match Grade Machine make me one for my G2! Cheaper than any first class conversionof a really nice bolt action, and he can add barrels later to HIS taste!

Mine has 4 barrels presently: .22 LR match chamber, .357 Magnum "Super 16," .25-35 WCF, and a .410 3" "Magnumb" shotgun. All but the Super 16 are customs from MGM. (The latest "Rifle" has an article on MGM).

A friend of mine used to have a beautiful custom rifle in .25-35 on an 1898 Krag action. It was, however, a single shot. Happens he liked BASS (Bolt Action Single Shot) rifles just fine. There was one in .22 WCF Improved (ever see one of those?) in a recent issue of "Handloader"--drool worthy if you like that sort of thing. I do.).

Keep in mind that a .25-35 with lighter, better designed .257 bullets that have points is a whole different critter than the old timers with heavy, flatnose bullets.

I do like the idea of a "Lee Speed" in .25-35. If you have more money than brains.......try a Krag in .25-35. Sedgley made them work.

texasjohn, that's a beaut!

I happen to like "Sedgleys". I also have a Lee Speed that I admire. I think the .25-35 is a wonderful old round and I like to see a Grandpa thinking outside the box on such a project. The Contender option would be the easiest............

John

The Ruger #1 or less costly #3 seems an excellent solution. I'd recommend too! But as the courtroom objection goes... "Nonresponsive to the question!" Already mentioned above, several bolt rifles. All good candidates particularly as already chambered for the same genre rimmed spec'd shell. A giant leap forward as factory rimmed cartridge designed. Conversions to rimmed, not just a matter of Christmas tree fashion, hanging a barrel and some 'ornament' elements on a centerfire receiver! The correctly chambered rimmed round rifle, far better than the potential mess, headache & $$$ of modifying bolt and magazine assembly!*
My choice would be the Win 54* first yet, as noted, both pricey and moreover potentially destroying collector value IF original! Even where not, too often seeking the suckers. Typically offered with high prices, seeking uninformed!
The Rem 788 also about as good choice and the Win. Much later production, not genuinely "collectible". Also all other than Model 54 Win, "Push Feed" if that makes a difference. (My belief
shouldn't make any.) The Savage model 340 mentioned, seeming another excellent alternative and probably the least expensive variant of the several discussed. My sole addition, the Savage/Springfield rifle Models 40 or deluxe version Model 45. Any of these several Savages, mediocre trigger pull at best. Without creative work, learn to live with them. I have all this Thread-mentioned rifles in original 30-30 Win chambering, excepting the Model 340. I speak from "user"/design observer, rather than gunsmith experience.

*Factoid: *The Model 54, Winchester in 30 WCF chambering, actually designed & produced with unique receiver & other components specifically for that chambering! Great quality, but some replacement parts...! Potential issue!

Good luck & just my take.
John

Wow...love the pics..As practical as synthetic can be, the warmth of wood can't be beat for me. All good suggestions, but I am stuck on this caliber and the limitations/costs that come with it. Rebarreling a Marlin 336Y as was mentioned somewhere is attractive too. Thanks again.

To me you couldn't get much nicer than a good 1885 HiWall in 25-35.

One criterion I used when choosing a rifle for my grandson was the availability of ammo if Grandpa should suddenly go under, or otherwise be unable to provide it. I bought 100 rounds of hunting ammo, mounted a scope on a rail for maximum adjustability, and turned over a ready-to-hunt package to him.

Not knocking the OP’s choice, just being practical because stuff happens.

Good point....I started buying the Hornady Leverevolution ammo for the caliber last fall. Going to get some dies too. Should soon have some brass from a friend too. I have used Superior Ammo and like their work when I get in a bind. I am the one who hunts exclusively with the 257 Bob, 7-30 Waters, 7x57, 264 Win, 308 Norma, 300 H&H, 6 mm, 6.5 Jap, 38-55, 250 Savage., 35 Whelen, and some of the Ackleys. Been hoarding ammo for years. But you are right, he wont find the 25-35 at Walmart or the local convenience store. Luckily, I got the hooks in the son-in-law when I gave him the 28 ga. double for his first Christmas with us. I think he will pick up the torch when I'm gone. Talking to the kids about the old calibers and why we want to keep them alive sure was fun. They can carry on intelligent conversations with most everyone at the camp from their age to mine.

P.S. In the ammo shortage of late, I can find more ammo than I expected in stores around the state. No one else (or very few) is shooting it.