|
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 954
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 954 |
Got a 35 whelen on my mind…. If you were looking for one what would you go after?? I know the market is slim on selection. May have a lead on a 700 classic but really wondering if it might just be easier to rebarrel an action and just be done What’s your take ?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,303
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,303 |
The easiest way to try one out is to get anything in a 270, 30-06, etc and send it to JES and have him rebore it. If you wanted to go a bit better, a nice barrel put on the receiver of your choice is also another option.
Finding original Whelens is fairly expensive right now, so you may wait awhile to find a deal while doing a rebore will be about a 2 week turnaround.
If I were making another Whelen, I'd likely have the Featherweight profile copied and put on a P64 with a 9 or 10 twist barrel, coated to your choice, and put in a nice stock.
Semper Fi
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,673
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,673 |
I'd buy a barrel after I found a donor rifle, in my case a model 70! I'd also pay attention to the barrel contour and twist to get what I really wanted.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,624
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,624 |
I would look hard for one of these. I snagged one, and they have pretty much sold out now, but there's probably a few still floating around. They sold out really fast on Gunbroker for up to $1750. I found mine by just Googling "57160 Whelen", and looking through a lot of (sold out) sites. Here is a link to the info at Lipsey's. Lipsey's Hawkeye African 35 Whelen
Last edited by WhelenAway; 03/17/24.
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,849
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,849 |
If I remember correctly the Remington Classic 35 Whelen's had 16-twist barrels.
I went the route of finding a Winchester 70 Classic Stainless and had a PacNor 35 Whelen barrel with a 14-twist installed. If I was doing it today I might even go with a 12-twist barrel.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,293
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,293 |
I had Jess do a Ruger #1 rebore it too a 35 whelen shoots excellent and looks great too. also i have a Winchester model 70 s.s. 30-06 that i am rebarreling so someone need a donor barrel ? cheap ? Pete53
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 208
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 208 |
I went this route almost two decades ago, although mine's blued, not stainless: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1003581418?pid=384077Shoots the Federal factory 225 grain TBBC into .8" 3-shot groups. More than good enough for my purposes. That Ruger is VERY nice!
Presidents come and go, but entitlements are forever - Michael Medved
Our forefathers would be shooting by now
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,285
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,285 |
I bought a Rem. M30 and had JES rebore it. Or try to find a 1903 sporter, maybe with shot out bore, and do the same.
Last edited by Recoil_Rob; 03/17/24.
"My problem lies in reconciling my gross habits with my net income."
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709 |
I have had this M77 RS for decades. I tweaked it a bit and it shoots very well. Nice light contour on the factory barrel bedded into a light High Tech stock makes for a nice package. Black bear, nilgai, moose and elk have dropped from it. They are a bit hard to find though.
Conduct is the best proof of character.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,850
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 8,850 |
The easiest way to try one out is to get anything in a 270, 30-06, etc and send it to JES and have him rebore it. If you wanted to go a bit better, a nice barrel put on the receiver of your choice is also another option.
Finding original Whelens is fairly expensive right now, so you may wait awhile to find a deal while doing a rebore will be about a 2 week turnaround.
If I were making another Whelen, I'd likely have the Featherweight profile copied and put on a P64 with a 9 or 10 twist barrel, coated to your choice, and put in a nice stock. ^^^^ This Ruger made a very good 35 wh for a couple years in a SS Hawkeye. I had one and foolishly sold it. Wish I had that one back....
Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,931
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,931 |
I'd buy a 30-06 and load it with 200-220 gr bullets and call it good. I tried 35 Whelen and 338-06. The only thing they do that 30-06 doesn't do is kick harder.
But if you're like most people you just have to find out for yourself.
Most people don't really want the truth.
They just want constant reassurance that what they believe is the truth.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,344
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,344 |
If I remember correctly the Remington Classic 35 Whelen's had 16-twist barrels.
I went the route of finding a Winchester 70 Classic Stainless and had a PacNor 35 Whelen barrel with a 14-twist installed. If I was doing it today I might even go with a 12-twist barrel. I have a Ruger M77 RS tang safety and the Remington &00 Classic in .35 Whelen with 1 in 16" twist barrels. Both are accurate with 250 gr. bullets and shoot acceptably well with the long gone Hornady 275 gr. round nose. My go to .35 Whelen though is a custom build on a 98 Mauser action and has a 1 in 14" twist. I have not done much with the 275 gr. bullets due to having a rather limited amount on hand. Doesn't matter much as I haven't seen a T-rex in my back yard in years. PJ
Our forefathers did not politely protest the British.They did not vote them out of office, nor did they impeach the king,march on the capitol or ask permission for their rights. ----------------They just shot them. MOLON LABE
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,910
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 30,910 |
I had JES Rebore to rebore my 1885 Highwall in 30-06 to a 5 groove 10 twist 35 Whelen. Shoots 1/2 MOA or better with evry bullet that I've tried.
I got banned on another web site for a debate that happened on this site. That's a first
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,896
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,896 |
Was down to the lgs one day 30 some years ago and spotted a m77rs in 35 Whelen new on the rack for 289.95 about 40 bucks cheaper than the other calibers. I asked what the deal was? He said they didn't sell well and his distributor was closing them out cheap so he bought a couple dozen and multiple cases of factory Remington ammo. I asked how many he had left? He 18-19 why ? I said I'll take one if I can pick it out he just laughed and we headed to the inventory room. Went thru 1/2 doz boxes and picked one with nice straight grain in the wrist and forend. Couple of elk and a few deer I 'm a Whelen fan. You know you really can eat right to the bullet hole..mb
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,089
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,089 |
Remington 700 KS Mountain Rifle
“Factio democratica delenda est"
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,624
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,624 |
I'd buy a 30-06 and load it with 200-220 gr bullets and call it good. I tried 35 Whelen and 338-06. The only thing they do that 30-06 doesn't do is kick harder.
But if you're like most people you just have to find out for yourself. Well, they do kick a bit more because they move the same bullet weights faster, and another plus is they make a bigger hole. They both handle much heavier bullet weights too.
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,624
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,624 |
Got a 35 whelen on my mind…. If you were looking for one what would you go after?? I know the market is slim on selection. May have a lead on a 700 classic but really wondering if it might just be easier to rebarrel an action and just be done What’s your take ? If you can snag that 700 Classic at a decent price, I'd do it (16 twist be damned).
FÜCK Jeff_O!
MAGA
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,208
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,208 |
If you want a lipseys Hawkeye African, I have one I’ll part with. Pm if interested.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,455
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,455 |
I have a Remington M700 Classic as my .35 Whelen that I purchased used in 2000. It has since been to Africa twice and to Alberta to hunt moose. Several bear hunts and a double handful of deer. Wonderful cartridge. Probably my all-around favorite. And the M700 Classic seems to be an accurate platform for it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,924
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,924 |
Got a 35 whelen on my mind…. If you were looking for one what would you go after?? I know the market is slim on selection. May have a lead on a 700 classic but really wondering if it might just be easier to rebarrel an action and just be done What’s your take ? I've owned Ruger and Remington 35 Whelens. Both had the 1:16 twist and shot 250-grain bullets just fine. If I were in the Whelen market again, then I'd get another of either in a heartbeat. If I were going to build one from the ground up, then it would be on a commercial 98 Mauser. It might also be a 9.3x62. Okie John
If Montana had a standing army, a 270 Win with Federal Blue Box 130's would be the standard issue.
|
|
|
|
628 members (1beaver_shooter, 10Glocks, 1badf350, 160user, 007FJ, 10gaugemag, 59 invisible),
2,400
guests, and
1,319
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,191,832
Posts18,477,994
Members73,948
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|