You guys have more experience at selecting different kinds of barrels. Thinking about building a Whelen. What is the lightest barrel I can get by with? powdr

I would not want anything smaller than ~.660 at the muzzle. I like my 35's to be at about .700 at the muzzle at about 20-22" What length are you planning on going with? Will you be using a break? will You be using the correct length of pull. I need about a 14.5 LOP or the shorter lighter barrel is alot less enjoyable. Having said that when I have to have the longer stock I feel like anything less then 20" is kind of akward looking and feeling. YMMV

06, going to be 22in and really do want it as light as I can. I have a 14in LOP and will be using a fiberglass stock. Thanks for the feedback. powdr

I went Remington sporter contour @22”, light handy and shoots great

Powdr, you may plan to stick with lighter bullets, and it's your party....but.the Whelen can thump you a little when shooting 225s and 250s. Stock fit matters, no doubt, but a little more weight might not be so undesirable.

Remember, that barrel is going to have a pretty good sized hole in it from stem to stern so it'll be lighter than a similar barrel bored .277" or .284".

Have owned three.35 Whelens, two the standard and one an Ackley Improved. All had Remington standard-contour sporter barrels, though one was a .30-06 rebored by JES. All grouped three shot into an inch or less at 100 yards. And the rebore was am old 760 pump.

Thanks guys. Much help and it is appreciated. powdr