35/300 WSM (35 Sambar) Build

Hello Fuzzy and all,

I too would like to put one of these together. My problem is I am torn between platforms to start with.

With this particular cartridge in mind, are you happy with Savage push feed as a foundation? Do you think there would be any significant advantage of going with the Winchester Model 70 with CRF as a platform?

I like both, but for different reasons.

Thanks for any feedback.
 
Awesome! Should be a real stomper. Have you shot many pigs in Saskatchewan?

Just a handful so far but there is sure a lot out in our area. Lots of luck involved when they come in and they are pretty smart and go nocturnal after a few get taken. Counted 35 on one of the trail cams a buddy had out (all at the same time). Its just a matter of being out enough when they show themselves.
 
Hello Fuzzy and all,

I too would like to put one of these together. My problem is I am torn between platforms to start with.

With this particular cartridge in mind, are you happy with Savage push feed as a foundation? Do you think there would be any significant advantage of going with the Winchester Model 70 with CRF as a platform?

I like both, but for different reasons.

Thanks for any feedback.


I am totally thrilled with the Savage Platform for this build. I particularly like my fixed blade ejector for at the bench. Feeds super smooth (better then the 270 WSM savage I had), likely due to the less aggressive angles with the Sambar. Don't get me wrong, I like CRF but really there is no need for my purposes as a moose, elk, deer, bear and pig rifle. Also, super cheap the find a used WSM Savage anywhere to part out the action +/- other parts. Magazine length is also pretty generous and you can load out nice and long to really get the most out of this Wildcat. And, easy to do yourself if you have the time, some go/no go gauges, a barrel vice and a little knowledge.

Bottom line... I would build again on a Savage without question.

Good luck with your build
 
So I ended up taking a nice little bull elk with my Sambar on September 24. I had been out for a few days calling with some success but was running out of hunting days so settled for a nice spiker bull. I called him in to about 100 yards but the wind was not great, and he was pretty antsy. As such, I had to take a frontal shot which I never like. The bullet entered the chest, took out the left ventricle and somehow exited out the abdominal wall. Miraculously, no intestines were perforated and I was able to gut him nice and clean. I have yet to recover a Barnes 358 cal bullet from any big game I have ever taken with my Whelen's, 358 Winchester and now the Sambar. I will post pictures when my membership renewal goes through.
 
So I ended up taking a nice little bull elk with my Sambar on September 24. I had been out for a few days calling with some success but was running out of hunting days so settled for a nice spiker bull. I called him in to about 100 yards but the wind was not great, and he was pretty antsy. As such, I had to take a frontal shot which I never like. The bullet entered the chest, took out the left ventricle and somehow exited out the abdominal wall. Miraculously, no intestines were perforated and I was able to gut him nice and clean. I have yet to recover a Barnes 358 cal bullet from any big game I have ever taken with my Whelen's, 358 Winchester and now the Sambar. I will post pictures when my membership renewal goes through.

Congrats on your freezer-filler... you gotta live
35's!

I have the parts on the way for a .35/375 Ruger... should prove to be a useful cartridge.
 
The Elk almost has Sambar enlters :D :p

Congrats man, You must be happy.

It looks weird when written down saying you Used a Sambar to kill the Elk.... its the first case of the two being used in one sentence for ever LOL

Any chance I can send a Sambar antler To You , to have as a bit of a thing , in memory of The Aus sambars? if you're interested.
 
The Elk almost has Sambar enlters :D :p

Congrats man, You must be happy.

It looks weird when written down saying you Used a Sambar to kill the Elk.... its the first case of the two being used in one sentence for ever LOL

Any chance I can send a Sambar antler To You , to have as a bit of a thing , in memory of The Aus sambars? if you're interested.


PM sent.
Super happy with how the season went. There were some monster wapaiti taken around our area. I thought my spiker was pretty cool though.
Michael
 
So another hunt with the Sambar. Went out Saturday with my buddy for bear and elk. We had tags for both. We were hunting a recently harvested oats field that bears had been in and out of feasting on the oats.

I was using my Sambar and my buddy had his 338 RUM. Not long and a Sow with two 2 year old bears came out to feast. I hadn’t brought my sticks so I was forced to shoot prone on my pack. I couldn’t see the Sow but had an open shot at the larger 2 year old. My buddy had a shot at the sow as he had the angle. Our plan was take them both simultaneously. Earlier we have ranged the last bail in the field at 196 yards and didn’t bother to range the trees at the back as it looked like the bail was near the back of the opening. Anyway, we got our guns lined up and despite an awkward angle for me to get a cheek weld I touched off a 200 grain Barnes TTSX at 2950 fps. My buddies RUM went off almost exactly the same time and we had 2 bear down.

When we went to retrieve our animals we realized that the range was significantly more than we thought. We ranged the final shot placement to 260 yards. My shot had drifted about 6 inches in the strong crosswind and I ended up with a head/neck shot rather than a lung. Regardless, the bear died instantly and of course, no Barnes recovered.... again.

When it was all said and done my buddies sow ended up being 1.5 inches shy of being a B&C and my 2 year old had the best tasting back straps of any wild game I’ve ever taken... and close to the best beef I’ve ever eaten. Now before anyone rails on me about taking a 2 year old and my buddy taking a sow, you need to realize that Saskatchewan had a problem with an over abundance of bear. They have increased it to 2 tags per person in most zones. The meat will be used and my 9 year old son is getting a beautiful bear rug for Christmas.

Couldn’t be happier with the Sambar. And yes, I did scope myself;)

Happy hunting everyone, stay safe.
 

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Judging by the accuracy I had with 350 Mag....I think the 358 /300 WSM will be a sub-MOA rifle easily...

With Max load of IMR-4320 and Speer 250 gr Spitzer it was a devastating combo out to 250 -300 yards.

About the Bears....

No Americans hunted this Spring.

Or likely next Spring either.

Kill as many as you like....
 
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So I took my brother out for his elk the last couple of days. He noted that his 338 Win Mag had loose scope bases. I was carrying my 35 Sambar as I had a bear tag in my pack… so why not carry a rifle. Anyway, I offered him the Sambar last night and grabbed my 35 Whelen.

We called and in just over an hour my brother had a nice 5x5 coming across the alfalfa. I told him the range to the bush line at 600 yards and the elk was inside of that. He didn’t range and decided to take the shot. He was shooting of a primos trigger stick seated. Boom! The 200gr TTSX at 3000fps hit home and literally the elk had feet in the air right there.

He texted and I came out from the blind to see. I couldn’t believe it! I asked my brother if that was the elk…. Waaaaay… out there. Yep it was. We walked up and I ranged back to the tree he had shot from. 415 yards! The front leg was broken and after I gutted it, the heart was completed macerated. Virtually no meat damage! We have not found the bullet yet and didn’t find an exit so the butcher will get it to me when he finds it… fingers crossed.

My brother was so impressed with the rifle. Once again, it did the job like the 35s do.

After running the ballistics, the bullet had just under 1800 foot pounds at 400 yards. It would have been going just over 2100 fps. Drop was 21 inches. My brother was holding high… but definitely some luck involved, haha.

Enjoy the pics.
 

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Congratulations to both of you!

I finally have the rifle that I want to build mine on, but have yet to get going.... I may be asking you a few questions in the future.

Enjoy the harvest!
 
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