.35 Whelen

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
@Ian , a suppressed falling block in .358win sounds like a great idea! Would this be the reciever you are working on yourself, maybe?

@fiver ; funny you should mention the 7x57R. This cartridge is quite popular in Norway, for break-action combination guns. Someone at my range have been doing some intense target practice with the 7x57R this spring, the brass bucket is full of once-fired cases. I just couldn’t leave them, out of principle..... But I don’t own a 7x57R gun myself. If anyone need them, let me know.

@RBHarter ; the 9x57 should be an excellent cartridge, I agree. And brass can be made easily enough.

Speaking of cartridges, I’m not generally attracted to wildcat cartridges. But I saw a wildcat cartridge in a Norwegian load manual, that I think was pretty clever. The designer was a bullet caster. He wanted a long-neck cartridge that offered easy brass logistics in the 8mm. So, he formed 30-06 brass in a standard 8x57IS die. This created a «8mm-06» with the powder capacity of the x57, and a long neck. Easy brass logistics, standard stock item die sets, simple chamber modification of a 8x57 chamber. Pretty clever! It’s the bottom cartridge, below a regular 8x57.CE931F0D-31DF-4FFE-87E7-A6C2510CC959.jpeg
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
that just gives you higher pressure capable 30-30 cases,, only with out the rim.
it was one of the XCB ideas we kicked around for a bit though.
 

Ian

Notorious member
...a suppressed falling block in .358win sounds like a great idea! Would this be the reciever you are working on yourself, maybe?

Yes, when I finally get finished with my shaper restoration. A 9X54R might make more sense for the falling block action though. Still kicking around ideas; Mueller's falling block is at the top of the list and I already got a complete PID system set up and proved out on my glazing kiln for doing heat treatment.
 

shuz

Active Member
I can confirm that a 1:12 twist will easily stabilize a 280g cast boolit from a .35 Whelen. I had a gunsmith make one using a Remington 700 action and a Douglass premium bbl. I ve harvested a couple of bull meese and bull elk with that rifle and the old Lyman 358009. 4064 was the powder of choice. Velocity was chronographed 2250fps. Accuracy was 1.5"@ 100 yds for 3 shot. All 1.5" high. I wish I could use it for harvesting game, but since I moved off the ranch, my hunting days have passed.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I can confirm that a 1:12 twist will easily stabilize a 280g cast boolit from a .35 Whelen. I had a gunsmith make one using a Remington 700 action and a Douglass premium bbl. I ve harvested a couple of bull meese and bull elk with that rifle and the old Lyman 358009. 4064 was the powder of choice. Velocity was chronographed 2250fps. Accuracy was 1.5"@ 100 yds for 3 shot. All 1.5" high. I wish I could use it for harvesting game, but since I moved off the ranch, my hunting days have passed.
I wish this bullet had just a slight bit smaller dia nose,so I could powder coat and again shoot and hunt this favored bullet!
CW
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
@shuz ; sounds like a great rifle and load! I’m sorry to hear you no longer can hunt big game with it.

I am so happy with the .35 Whelen, I have another build in the making. The rifle used so far in this thread is a bit heavy and long for forest hunting, it was designed to be the «recreational cast bullet rifle of my dreams», rather than a practical hunting tool.

Now, I’m building on a stainless Howa 30-06, in a Boyds laminate stock. It will have a Lothar Walter stainless 1:14 barrel, threaded for supressor. Full action bedding. The reciever threads and bolt face will be squared, and the lugs lapped. The original recoil pad will be replaced with a thicker one, both to soak up recoil and increase LOP. The trigger is pretty good already, but will be polished a bit. Leupold european 3-9x40 in standard Leupold mounts.

The original sling studs will be removed, and replaced with flush cups on the left side of the stock. I don’t like regular sling studs; the rear is in the way when I shoot of the bench, the front when I shoot off-hand. Mounting the sling on the opposite side of the bolt handle makes a lot of sense. The flattest part of the rifle will rest against your back when you carry it, a much more stable position that also brings the weight closer to your axial centre. These things are noticable if you walk a lot in difficult terrain with your rifle in a sling.

This is the «raw material» of my up-and-coming ultimate cast bullet hunting rifle :)

E31CC418-5C82-4F7C-BB47-F273ECE7A692.jpeg
 

Ian

Notorious member
Oooooh, I like it! Please keep us updated on progress, I'm particularly interested in the sling mounts.
 

Spindrift

Well-Known Member
Today, I could fetch my new .35 Whelen at my gunsmith.

It started out as a lightly used stainless Howa 1500 in 30-06. Boyds laminate stock, that was a bit short. Amateur bedding job, and the laminate looked a bit rough around the action screws (amateur drilling job?). The trigger was fairly nice, but should have a bit more over-travel for functional reasons.

The barrel is made from a blank by Lothar Walther, 1:14 ROT. The profile is a bit thicker than the original 30-06 barrel, to retain stiffness despite the bigger hole in the barrel. 20,5in barrel, threaded for suppressor. .375 suppressor made by a Norwegian maker, hybrid aluminium/steel light weight suppressor. The reciever threads and bolt face squared, bolt lugs lapped. Pillar and whole-action glass bedding (vacuum fit!). LOP elongated to suitable length with a thick recoil pad, and a spacer plate. Mating surfaces in the trigger/bolt polished, after-travel adjusted.

Original sling studs replaced by Recknagel flush cups, with the front cup in a much more forward placement (see photo). Removal or installment is super smooth and quick, and once the sling is removed, there are no protrusions to hurt your hand.

I’m very happy, so far. Hopefully, I’ll find time for a trip to the range during the hunting season.

2EB50D80-879B-4E47-AC54-2023C049E2EF.jpeg4E48551C-EC14-4A24-A8DE-01EDFD1E31D4.jpegBBF92F42-98D6-49DB-AA36-9FDCD241BF3E.jpeg63EF2110-C035-44E5-82B3-56B9E198952C.jpeg