35 whelen project ideas and help(now 9.3x62mm)

B

BrianT79

Member
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Saskatchewan
Hey everyone i have a serious itch to get a 35 whelen and I currently have a kimber 84 classic select in 2506 that is just sitting in my safe collecting dust that i havent shot in 2.5 years Im thinking get it rebarreled to 35 whelen in a 20" barrel i wondering what is the best twist for the 225-250gr bullets and if anyone has a smith that they would recommend that will work on a kimber also open to what your thoughts are on the project as a whole

Thanks
 
Last edited:
I would go with a 22" barrel... the Whelen is a good choice as an all around hunting rifle... use a lighter contour barrel, it is not likely to be a range toy.
 
Good morning
I hunted with a 35 Whelan for years mine was built on a Mauser 98 action.
I had a 25 "bbl on mine with a 1 in 10 or 12 twist.
I would go with a 24 inch bbl stainless fluted.
It is an awsome hunting cartridge.
Can't remember all of the Elk Moose and bears I took with the 35 loaded with 250 gr bullets at around 2500 fps.
JR Custom in Tomslake B.C could do the work.
Hope this helps.
Reb
 
My current Whelen has a 24” barrel but I think a 22” would balance better on a light weight Kimber action. 225-250gr bullets will shoot very well in a 1:16 twist, but most guys opt for a 1:14 or 1:12.
 
The 12 twist on my M77 MKII Whelen was perfect with 250 Parts... the only bullet I shot out of it.
 
My .35 Whelen was built from a stainless Ruger MKII .30-06 has a Bevan King 22” stainless barrel with a 1:14 twist. I mostly shoot 225gr TSX from it but it is also very accurate with 250gr Speer and Hornady. It has taken a back seat to my .375 Ruger for he last few years as my moose rifle but it’s still in the back of the safe.
 
Also had a 35 caliber project but used a .300 Win. Mag. Remington 798 ( / Zastava LKM 70) action so went with the .350 Remington Magnum. I specified a 24" McGowen Precision barrel with a 1:12 twist to have the flexibility to load the 310gr Woodleigh bullet which is the recommended twist rate for these bullets.

Shoots pretty good. Haven't tried to optimize accuracy yet. Outperforms my .375 H&H Magnum with the 310gr bullet. :cool:

35872121401_7c549f7cd9_b.jpg

.350 Rem. Mag. Remington 798 with Leupold VX-2 Ultralight 3-9x33mm

35194004293_80f31e7696.jpg



Groups at 100 yds off the bench
38587136054_18f42a6883_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
I just finished a Whelen on a Bighorn SR3. It has a 21" Benchmark #4 12 twist, topped with a Vortex Razor HD LH 1.5-8X32. All set in a Bell and Carlson stock. Weighs in a 8lbs 8oz. I think the weight is appropriate to the chambering and it balances and carries beautifully. I still have the reamer, if you are interested, Manson, used once. Gary Flach in Langley B.C. works on Kimbers and is very familiar with them. He does good work.
 
Last edited:
What velocity are you getting out of the 21 inch barrel I'm hung up on wanting it to have a 20" tube just for the fact that it would be a joy to carry while hunting and i dont think ill give up that much in fps and would you mind sending me Gary's contact info

Thanks
 
Are you set on a 35? A 338 will have better bullet selection. A 9.3 will have heavier bullets available. I have a 358 Norma and I am constantly banging my head when looking at bullet selection
 
I have all 3. There are 338 bullets available with rather impressive ballistic coefficients. A 35 caliber has a wider bullet weight range from 158gr to 310gr. 320gr bullets available for the 9.3
 
BrianT79 said:
What velocity are you getting out of the 21 inch barrel I'm hung up on wanting it to have a 20" tube just for the fact that it would be a joy to carry while hunting and i dont think ill give up that much in fps and would you mind sending me Gary's contact info

Thanks
Click to expand...

I just finished the build, so I haven't completed load development yet. Normally I would run 250s, but I think I'm going to run 225s out of this rifle. My last chronyed loads were 225 Speers over 57 gr. of Varget (Hodgdon's max) for 2550 fps. Nosler publishes a max load of 60.5 gr. of Varget under 225 NABS or Partitions. There's a sweet spot around 60 grains in this rifle, but I didn't have a chrony the day I ran them through. I'm hoping to hit 2700 fps. Nosler lists 2800 fps for 60.5 out of a 26" tube so I may be dreaming.
 
Yeah pretty stuck on the 35 i have a 375 ruger and a 458 win mag if i need to push a heavier bullet and after marking the barrel at 20" i think with the 225-250gr it would be a hell of a nice rifle to carry around chasing moose in northern saskatchewan
 
hi me I got a h&r handi rifles 22 in bull barrel whit a competition muzzle brake 2.5-10x44 scope best gun ever my 35 whelen hand load whit 200g ftx bullet I do shot 2-2.5 in at 340 yards very good for moose, deer I use 38 cal 158g xtp 357 mag bullet whit lite load or 38 cal 140g ftx 357 mag . one bullet one shot one kill every time have fun and good luck
 
Thanks everyone just waiting to hear back form a couple of smiths that i have contacted Ill let you know how the project progresses also thinking of having the metal duracoated in one of the heavy metal colors maybe Marilyn Bronson or Gray Sabbath
 
I wouldn't go less than 22 inches on the rifle stock combo for handling sake. I went with 23 and it handles fine.

If I wanted a short rifle I would buy a short action CDL and do a 20inch 358Winchester instead.
 
98ssuck said:
Are you set on a 35? A 338 will have better bullet selection. A 9.3 will have heavier bullets available. I have a 358 Norma and I am constantly banging my head when looking at bullet selection
Click to expand...

How much selection does a person need? 250gr Partitions and, unless they flat out refuse to group, load up and forget about it!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom