Started Testing my 350WSM today

[Whelen B]

My gun is a rechambered Ruger77 all weather that began its life as a 350RemMag. I picked it up from my smith this week. The conversion went well and was pretty straight forward as the Ruger had the shortmag box and follower from the factory and a 1 in 12 twist too. I get 3 rounds nicely in the box and one in the chamber = 4 total.

The recoil was stout as one might expect of a gun with power levels closer to the 358Norma than the 35Whelen. I loved it. The rifle weighs in at 7lbs. 13oz. with bases and rings but unloaded. I didn't test accuracy at all today but basic functioning and chronographing loads. The rifle feeds either spirepoint or RNs equally well - kudos to my smith!

I think I'm going to like this 35cal incarnation. Should be a pretty good hunting tool for the big critters. Can a box of 225TSXs be far off in my future??? Who knows?

 

[pharaoh2]

Very cool. Looking foward to hear if it shoots minute of lungs.

 

[Salty]

Right on Whelen' glad to hear its finally done. Further range reports required.

 

[grit]

Did you have any luck finding dies? I'm considering the same conversion, what kind of velosities are you getting?

thanks

 

[SuperCub]

That does sound like a good conversion for all those SAUMs a WSMs that are floating around out there.




.

 

[stanway]

Congrats. I am looking forward to range results.

I am having fun with my Ruger all weather 350 Rem Mag. Today, I confirmed a really nice load with the 225gr Sierra boat tails.


.

 

[Whelen B]

what kind of velosities are you getting?

These are my first 11 rounds chronographed out the front door so I'm just getting started - http://www.35cal.com/ruger77_350wsm.html

Figuratively "out the front door" I mean.

 

[Salty]

250 grains at ~2650 sounds encouraging.

 

[blargon]

I see you're necking up the .325 brass. Would .300 work as well or is it too small to start with?? Nice rig BTW

 

[grit]

Do you have proper dies for it? If so where did you get them from? and how much?

thanks

 

[Whelen B]

Would .300 work as well or is it too small to start with??

Yes it will work just fine but it's less of a stretch with the 325 - and the case ends up a slight bit longer I believe which I prefer. Neck and mouth concentricity of the reformed cases may (?) be better too using 325.

Do you have proper dies for it?

Not yet - working on that. For initial loads I simply used the elliptical expander button in my Hornady universal 35cal neck sizer die to open the cases. I then devised a makeshift way to seat my bullets relatively squarely by using a disassembled Lee seating insert from a 350RemMag die. Works to get me started but it's a bit of a pain and sure less than ideal.

My universal 35cal neck sizer isn't that universal in that the WSM cases are a little to fat to fit up inside. I have a machinist friend who I hope can make a relief cut to enable those short fat cases to fit in that die to be neck sized.

BOTH Redding and RCBS list the 358/300WSM among their custom series offerings - but I'm hoping to get Hornady ones - or maybe modify either a standard 325WSM or 300WSM set. We'll see. UPDATE - I just ordered Hornady 2 die set for 109 US$ plus shipping.

 

[beretta boy]

Maybe time to post a "please delete" in the
"Gunsmithing" section ... apparently a 350WSM reamer is
no longer needed ???