I haven't been to a gun shop in over a year due to health. Didn't go to Mississippi this winter, same reason. I'm much better and recovering so today leaving the doctor's office I stopped off at the local gunshop. Mainly just to check on ammo and gun availability. He had plenty of both.

Looking at the long gun racks I found a JM stamped 1895 Marlin in real nice shape for $499.95. But then a Remington 700 Classic caught my eye. There are only two calibers that would have tempted me. A 7mm Mauser and a 35 Whelen. The rifle was in 95-98% condition and in my favorite caliber, 35 Whelen.

The $399.95 price tag shocked the hell out of me. With Mass. being a shotgun state I've seen the shop under price rifles before but not like this. Needless to say I headed to the desk for paperwork and checkout. They put it in a soft case and I walked out the door thinking, happy day to me.

Jackpot

Great score. A while back when I was selling a 35 Whelen, neither of the local shops would touch it. Didn't think they'd resell it (they don't do online). Glad the semi-obscurity worked out for you!

It’ll work fine in Mississippi the next time you come this way. For $400 bucks that was a steal. My wife gave me a Classic model when they came out. She was actually able to surprise me by going through a buddy with an FFL.

I've run into the same thing in Jersey, it also being a shotgun state.

3 JM Marlin 336's in .35 Remington, all in excellent condition $250 each. One appears unfired.

3 Remington 760 pumps in excellent condition, again $250 each.

A Remington 700 BDL in 270 with a Denver Redfield 2X7, $225

And a Remington 700 BDL in 7MM Rem. Mag. with Nikon Pre Monarch 3X9 that appears unfired, $400.

I'll take them at that price all day long. I asked the gunshop about the prices and they've told me they tell the people they can't get a lot for them and that they would be better off taking them to a shop in Pa. or NY and they said the people tend to respond that they don't care, they just want them gone.

Pic?

When you find a 336SC in 32 Special, PM me.

Dang, I’d have been $900 down. Probably would sell the 700 to a true believer though (Whelen believer).

You did good.

Gator and Wink,

This shop does not sell online. They have fair prices across the board and do so much business they don't need to. When they get in a rifle in a less than common caliber it's usually marked down lower than would be expected. This rifle had a 1.75-5 Redfield in Weaver mounts and a good quality leather cobra type sling. It was as if the guy finished hunting season and brought in the rifle. I hate to think what he accepted as a price to sell it. I had the shop take the scope and rings off and told them to give it to someone else that needed it.

Nav,

I've been using my Encores in Miss. since the first season .35 cal and up became legal. For them I've loaded 200 gr. Hornady SPs. For this rifle I've got 500 225 gr. Partitions bought cheap that I'm going to load as the everday load. If I need more bullet I'll load 225 gr. TSXs.

Congrats on feeling better and rifle

3 JM Marlin 336's in .35 Remington, all in excellent condition $250 each. One appears unfired.

If only they were in a state where is possible to buy a gun. Will the lgs ship to a ffl in NYS ?

That’s a hell of a deal. I would have to drink a beer to celebrate!!!!! I’d like one in 300 H&H!!

Rifle Lottery Winner !!

Jerry

Nice snag.

The 35 whelen is one of my favorites.

A lefty 35 whelen is on my list.

Well done. That’s easily a $900 rifle around here.


Okie John

I was looking at a Rem Classic in 35 whelen at a lGS the tother day. Priced around 650. I was thinking that was a good deal.

Congratulations. Getting something at half price or better is great. Right now "Kaiser Rolls" are fighting over .375H&H 34 bids 565€ with a week to go. The nickname is "Big Pipe" from cylindrical shape of the acton so it would be less expensive to produce. The .35 Whelen is great a cartridge. Some guys prefer 9,3x62 because rifling twist of typical rifle allows for stabilization of heaver bullets, but for American hunting 225gr or 250gr is plenty of weight.

I've not tried all of the various lead core 250 gr. bullets on the market and I would prefer a faster twist than 1/16 of the Remington but I don't know of any that will not stabilize in that twist. If anyone has had lead core 250s that wouldn't stabilize in the 1/16 let us know.

A hunting partner from way back bought the Whelen classic the year they came out. A couple of years later he drew a Maine moose tag. I helped him work up a load with the original Barnes 250 gr. X bullet. These did not have the grooves of the later TSX bullets and were shorter. We worked up a load with RL15 that averaged 2558 fps over my Pact chronograph with sub inch accuracy. He took a 48 inch bull at around 160 yards that fall with a quartering shot through the shoulder. We found that bullet perfectly mushroomed in the off side hindquarter.

I bought those 225 gr. Partitions mentioned above first, because of the price and because I know they will work fine for anything I'm likely to hunt anymore. For something big or mean I would use the 225 gr. TSX. There is nothing in North America I wouldn't take on with them.

I remember about a dozen years ago when there was a run of CDL 700s in 35 Whelen being clearance out for just over $400. I bought one and it was a great shooter but I never seemed to take it hunting so I sold it to someone else. It would run about 2600 fps with 250g Hornady interlocks over rl15.

Bb

I picked up a new Remington 700 CDL from Whittaker Guns (online sale) for a sale price right at $400. It had a little ding in the stock and I either got the unlucky pick or that was the reason it was on sale. Either way, very thrilled to have it and its a great rifle. I have only fired it a few times so far and never have hunted it. Messing around with other things first.

?

Congratulations on the great deal and more importantly your health.

Have you tried the 180gr TTSX?

I shoot the loaded vor-tx ammo in my encore.
I’m been real satisfied with it.

I'd have walked out with the 1895

This shop will ship to an out of state FFL. PM me if you want details.


Aboltfan, mine is a very small shop also. They do sell online via Facebook, basically to local people. You can buy over the phone paying via credit card, then go pic it up. Often you have to do it that way, because by the time you drive to the shop, it's sold to someone else. They are basically a tactical shop and do a tremendous business in that regard. Blued steel and walnut isn't their cup of tea, and little demand for it in this state for it from their customers, hence the prices.

I'll keep my eye out WiFowler, ya never know !!!!

Nice to find something like that.. Good job.

Dave,
I don't shoot factory loads very much. So far everything I've used has been 200-250 gr. bullets. The only Barnes in 35 calliber has been the 225 gr. TSX.

For the guys who asked about pictures I'll try to get some posted when my technical advisor has some time for me.

What part of Mississippi, and some Marlin details? I might have my brother pick up a Marlin......that I don’t really need! memtb

man i love those remington classics. have 2 of them and of course theyre both great shooters.

Excellent snag! Even though I can't give a rat's patoot about a .35 Whelen, that rifle would've come home with me too.

I didn't get real involved checking out the Marlin. I took note it was in good shape and a Ct. built rifle. By the way, that gun is in a shop in Mass. I'm not in Miss. right now.

Thanks, won’t be headed to Mass. anytime soon! So.....I guess that’s a “hard pass”! memtb