35 whelen build
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Seems you’re a little confused yet what direction you want, a workhorse hunting rifle or blue collar class you put some of your own sweat into. I’m getting a little spun on what you want from the rifle, if it’s a classy and quality .35 Whelen the Savage just doesn’t fit. Even if smoking tires with the Mrs is date night a fine stocked Savage will make you a mild internet meme like the railed tactical leverguns.
People will be saving pics of your rifle for the wrong reason, I get you won’t care, but it’s just a strange investment of effort for no benefit on the action. Forget about stock fit frankly as you’re making a new one, the Savage offers zero advantages when starting fresh. Supergrades can be found fairly easily with fine wood, this is one I bought from Hoyt. Bob Jury can rebore a Model 70 for you for less than fitting a barrel costs usually, even a prefit. Something you’re ignoring on Supergrades is the quality of the finish too, no rifles compare at the price point. If a classy rifle on a budget is what you’re after, this or the No.1A is what you’re looking for. If all you want is a .35 Whelen and the class and heirloom qualities don’t matter on reflection build the Savage or 783 and hunt the crap out of it. Or better yet if all you’re after is a .35 Whelen just buy a factory one, there are many, and actually use it as most hunting rifles rarely take game. But only the first option is something that will bring you joy in late mid winter evenings, as well as hunt for you.
As for Rugers they’re stocked really well actually, and have some of the better lines of the production rifles. They are stocked a tad long for most however, Hoyt’s 6’4 and they’ll fit him better. It’s just a simple one hour stock adjustment to make it point for you.
https://gunblast.com/Ruger_No1_35Whelen.htm
CZ 550 is the other rifle with all of the benefits your looking for, if i was hunting where a 35 whelen is required I'd want the CRF as a hunting partner, lord knows how hit and miss the savage is for reliable feeding and ejection when life and limb are truly on the line, I know people trust their life to a .270 win because the idolize the author of all the books, but there are better choices for both cartridge and delivery system.
Supergrades can be found fairly easily with fine wood, this is one I bought from Hoyt.
Lol... there is the Supergrade .257 that I spoke of earlier... she is a beauty, ain't she... and that is factory wood! The 7X57 is close to her equal.
Fit is a very personal thing, the Ruger M77 MKII's fit me like a glove, as do the M70 Featherweight and Supergrade, but there are others that don't. Everyone gets to choose who they bring to the dance.
That is way nicer than the supergrade i was looking at. Theyve really creeped up in price for the new ones.
Ardent you are correct. Im not sure which way i want to go yet. I know i want a wood stocked blued rifle chambered in 35 whelen to hunt with. Im ok taking time and restocking it as i have other big game rifles. While im much more willing to spend more money on a 250 savage and a future 275 rigby build im not opposed to dropping coin on the whelen as ill likely keep it. I tend to move 30 cal guns often
Would a 3006 supergrade have enough barrel to be rebored?
Ardent you are correct. Im not sure which way i want to go yet. I know i want a wood stocked blued rifle chambered in 35 whelen to hunt with. Im ok taking time and restocking it as i have other big game rifles. While im much more willing to spend more money on a 250 savage and a future 275 rigby build im not opposed to dropping coin on the whelen as ill likely keep it. I tend to move 30 cal guns often
Would a 3006 supergrade have enough barrel to be rebored?
Slooshark1
CGN frequent flyer
It likely would have enough barrel to rebore. I had a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS rebored to .358 Norma and that had enough meat although it is pretty thin at the muzzle. If wood and blued is what you’re after, just get a Winchester Model 70 Supergrade with nice wood and get it rebored. You will not be disappointed. They feed so smoothly and the Supergrade also has a 24” barrel, I believe which will help wring a few extra FPS out of the Whelen. I’ve owned quite a few different Whelen’s over the years and have shot enough animals with the cartridge to know why you want one. I’m looking forward to seeing the pics of your build. Hopefully not a Savage or 783 though, lol. I have to agree 100% with Ardent on that one.
A Rem 783 walnut model would be a nice base for a 35 Whelen job. Easy peezy with a prefit 22" tube.
That would be cheap and dirty with a decent rifle in the end as long as the 783 was walnut.
A full route custom on a 98 or M70 will be an entirely different rifle for a lot more cost and very nice to boot.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Bob Jury in Alberta is the man, very affordable and top notch rebores. Fast too, which is something you don’t find much.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There’s really no cost difference starting with a good M98. There is or was a good VZ24 action on the EE for under $400 if memory serves. Or pick any Mauser sporter and rebore. Frankly it would be goofy to do a 783 or Savage in a nice handmade stock, like putting Rita MacNeil in a really nice dress and calling her Shania. She’ll get lots of looks, just the wrong kind.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Just picturing that
made my day.Paul expressed few years ago that it will be cheaper to get an extra scope with QR rings than having a real sights put on. the more i think the more he was right ... not all the time but sometimes lol ...
I had irons put on my Whelen,
$50 for a set on the EE and under $100 for Dennis to mount them.
in that case money well spent.
