Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Custom .35 Whelen rifles, what did you build yours on?

Nearly 20 years ago I had a pre '64 M/70 rebored/rechambered to .35 Whelen. It sits in a Super Grade stock and wears a Leupold Vari-X 2-7X in a Griffin & Howe mount. It is my favorite deer rifle shooting 225gr. Sierra and Nosler bullets over a charge of IMR4064. Seeking details of others .35 Whelen custom rifles.

Don't have a custom but I'd love to see your Pre64 35 Whelen. I always keep my eyes open for a good donor.

Winchester model 70 left hand classic, high tec stock,23 inch SS benchmark 1 in 12 twist barrel. Talley quick release with NECG front and a Redfield flip up receiver sight mounted to rear Talley and a vx3 3.5-10x40 Leupold. 8.4 pounds loaded.

Stainless MRC 1999, stainless Shilen 1/14 at 22", McMillan Edge stock setup for blind mag, cerakoted, Talley LW's, currently wearing a Conquest 4x. I think it is 7 3/4lbs....was about 7 1/2 with a Leupold. Don't really know why I like 35's so much, I don't spend much time shooting them, probably less than any other caliber...I just kill stuff with them.

Very nice! What a killer. What's your 35 Whelen prefer for bullets?

I've been so lazy with it that I've never reloaded for it. Ran across an ad here where someone was selling their Whelen factory ammo and I bought it...later the same guy found some more and I bought it from him. Remington 200's and 250's both cloverleaf at 100 yards...same POI. I've never shot it past 100. I'll just keep killing stuff in the woods with it until I run out of ammo then I'll break down and reload for it.

Fair enough. Amazing what big bullets pushed at decent speeds do to animals.

I love my Whelen (M700 CDL) but have always wanted a Model 70 so chambered. My old Remington shoots too well to mess with though.

First Whelen was built on a 98 mauser action.



Current whelen is really a short whelen (350 rem mag) and a factory rifle, Ruger all weather.

Zastava action

Winchester 70 Classic Stainless, PacNor 22" #3 with 14 twist, McMillan Compact Edge, Cerakote Graphite Black.

VZ-24


Mike

We have two custom Whelens in the family.

I barreled this one myself 4 years ago for my oldest son.
Stainless left hand Ruger M77 Mark II.
Wears a 14" twist King barrel at 22-1/2".


Mine was built by a member here, Bill Leeper on a 1949 Model 70 with a 14" twist Shilen at 23" and a McMillan Hunter's Edge handle.

Mine is on a Howa 1500 as that's what the school was issuing students at the time. Blued, 26" Shilen #3 with 1-12" twist, basic walnut stock.

Remember firing the just-chambered barreled action in the booth and thinking, "I should have gone with something smaller". Later, after I had the complete rifle assembled, it was a pussy-cat during test firing.

Quite a cartridge.

I built mine on the Remington 700 Classic - the factory barrel wouldn't stabilize 250 grains or heavier. She got a Benchmark barrel (21" SS, 1/12 twist, 6 groove, Remington magnum contour), McMillan Remington Sporter stock, and a Schmidt & Bender Zenith 1.1-4x24 (FD9).

I have a L61R in a McM Sako Classic that will likely get re-barreled to 9.3x62.

Scotty, why does it not surprise me that half the posts on a Whelen thread are from you? LOL

Just do it... find a .270 M70 and get 'er rebored. Best thing you could do to a .270...

STerling Davenport built this one on a 700 action with Kreiger bbl.

I know Kurt. Guilty as charged.

It's hard to give the boot to my CDL though. It literally stacks 250 PTs with RL15. It's just always sitting there, ready to hunt.

Win. Mod 70 Classic S/S
30/06 Rebored to 35 Whelen by Dan Pederson
1-12" Twist
Leupold 2.5-8x36 Boone Crocket Reticle
Likes 225gr TSX & 250gr Speer Hot Cores and RL15

...everyone knows the factory 16" twist will not stabilize 250's...:o) ......yeah right.... ;-)

I had a 700 Classic Whelen as well as a tang safety Ruger Whelen, the both shot 250's very well.

one of those old wive's tales that refuses to die.