Josh
Well-Known Member
I've never heard of a 45 Whelen before, that would be... interesting...
What Chamber for 1903 Action
- Thread starter Josh
- Start date
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Lots of good ideas presented here.
My top two suggestions are:
1. Put it back to original using the action as the basis for a .30-06 rifle as close to the 1903 Springfield pattern as possible. It will not be an original rifle but it will have the external appearance of being original, and that's not a bad look. Plus it would be a cool project.
2. Re-barrel it for 7 x 57 just use the action as the foundation for that rifle. You may have to open the bolt face up just a smidge but probably not. The 7 x 57 is an iconic cartridge, correct for the time frame of the original rifle and a plausible conversion for the era of that action. Not to mention just a great cartridge!
My top two suggestions are:
1. Put it back to original using the action as the basis for a .30-06 rifle as close to the 1903 Springfield pattern as possible. It will not be an original rifle but it will have the external appearance of being original, and that's not a bad look. Plus it would be a cool project.
2. Re-barrel it for 7 x 57 just use the action as the foundation for that rifle. You may have to open the bolt face up just a smidge but probably not. The 7 x 57 is an iconic cartridge, correct for the time frame of the original rifle and a plausible conversion for the era of that action. Not to mention just a great cartridge!
Glaciers
Alaska Land of the Midnight Sun
Josh Looking at your list of rifle/cartridges in the original post, you have most bases covered pretty well. But P&P’s idea isn’t bad returning to close to original, but I would go a little differently.
I like the 30-06 a lot. It’s a great and versatile cartridge. I only have 2 now but they are both favorites with different job descriptions. One is a Winchester Featherweight which sports a Bushnell 6500 Elite 2.5 x 16 scope which is my jacketed bullet 06. My second is a 03 Springfield made by Sedgely with a receiver sight and this is my cast bullet rifle.
Personally I wouldn’t return it to as close to original as possible because I prefer Sporterized rifles. If it was all original-original, that would be different. But you have the opportunity to build a great cast bullet machine. I would even give consideration to a 1 in 12 twist on a 22 to 26 inch barrel. My choice would be a standard to light barrel leaning more to a middle weight. Then scope it or receiver sight, your wallet is your only limit.
People now days put the 30-06 down as to mundane or not high tech or something else, but there’s no fly’s on the 06.
I once did a little reloading book research comparing to other cartridges like the 25-06. Great cartridge, 120 grains out at 3000 fps, 270 - 130 grains at 3100, 280 Remington 139 at 3000, compared to the old 30-06 launching a 150 grain bullet at 3000 fps. The 30-06 will do it all from 110 grains to 225 grains with B.C.’s 600 to 700.
Hunting bullets to 240 and if you have a dust old box of Colorado Custom Bullets at 250 grains. The verity is quite amazing.
For me my standard is the Hornady 190 grain InterLock BTSP which has worked well for me and If anything I still have a couple boxes of 220 gr RN Hornady and some 240’s by Woodleigh which are designed for the 30-06 in mind at 2400 fps.
So P Dogs to the big bears the 06 can and had done it all.
But, you know this already. I’m not telling you anything new.
The reason I’m all up over the 06 might be because I gave a Winchester model 54 - 30-06 to Dave up the hill about 40 years ago and it looks like I may get it back. If I do get my hands on it it will be my cast rifle with optics.
I like the 30-06 a lot. It’s a great and versatile cartridge. I only have 2 now but they are both favorites with different job descriptions. One is a Winchester Featherweight which sports a Bushnell 6500 Elite 2.5 x 16 scope which is my jacketed bullet 06. My second is a 03 Springfield made by Sedgely with a receiver sight and this is my cast bullet rifle.
Personally I wouldn’t return it to as close to original as possible because I prefer Sporterized rifles. If it was all original-original, that would be different. But you have the opportunity to build a great cast bullet machine. I would even give consideration to a 1 in 12 twist on a 22 to 26 inch barrel. My choice would be a standard to light barrel leaning more to a middle weight. Then scope it or receiver sight, your wallet is your only limit.
People now days put the 30-06 down as to mundane or not high tech or something else, but there’s no fly’s on the 06.
I once did a little reloading book research comparing to other cartridges like the 25-06. Great cartridge, 120 grains out at 3000 fps, 270 - 130 grains at 3100, 280 Remington 139 at 3000, compared to the old 30-06 launching a 150 grain bullet at 3000 fps. The 30-06 will do it all from 110 grains to 225 grains with B.C.’s 600 to 700.
Hunting bullets to 240 and if you have a dust old box of Colorado Custom Bullets at 250 grains. The verity is quite amazing.
For me my standard is the Hornady 190 grain InterLock BTSP which has worked well for me and If anything I still have a couple boxes of 220 gr RN Hornady and some 240’s by Woodleigh which are designed for the 30-06 in mind at 2400 fps.
So P Dogs to the big bears the 06 can and had done it all.
But, you know this already. I’m not telling you anything new.
The reason I’m all up over the 06 might be because I gave a Winchester model 54 - 30-06 to Dave up the hill about 40 years ago and it looks like I may get it back. If I do get my hands on it it will be my cast rifle with optics.
Josh
Well-Known Member
I've done #1 already, it was a fun project, but, I sold it down the road because it wasn't as fun as I thought it would be.
I've considered just getting a raw blank and making a barrel myself. It'll never be a bench rifle and I'd like to try. All these ideas are excellent. Here's a pic of my restored rifle.
RBHarter
West Central AR
The 45 Raptor is a load data compatible rimless 460 S&W . Cut the neck of a 308 blow it straight at 1.8" . Blowing an 06' straight at 2.5" does the same thing but with the same case capacity as 45-70.
My ultimate plan was to get a 3" extended 32 ga or 28 ga Wad-Lok full or extra full screw in choke to allow a 7/8-1oz 410ish shotshell for grouse chucker etc in a moose/elk/bison capable 300 yd sledgehammer. If a 500 gr solid can be loaded 13-1400 fps MV at 2.55" in a Trapdoor capable 45-70 you should be able to get 400-425 gr of shot in a 1.8" 308 case and push it 12-1300 fps without blowing through 30 kpsi . The Wad-Lok is supposed to stop wad rotation and an extra full 28 gauge the last 4" will easily clear even a .458 and should get you a fairly stable 25-30 yd 30" circle . Unfortunately the screw in choke and threading is as much as barrel fitting.......I might still do that Rossi with the bulge under the front sight . 250 gr in 45 Colts is still a half oz and a 1-32 is only half the twist of a 1-16" so it should work even better .
Michael
Active Member. Uh/What
In the end, what will make you happy, what we all think basically follows with what would make each of us happy if it were our rifle.
You can be pragmatic and practical about it, or go with something that you always wanted or maybe even with one of those "maybe someday" rifles/chamberings that you always thought would neat to have or has been in the back of you mind for years and years.
Regardless of what you go with, enjoy it, wear it out, and do it all over again.
You can be pragmatic and practical about it, or go with something that you always wanted or maybe even with one of those "maybe someday" rifles/chamberings that you always thought would neat to have or has been in the back of you mind for years and years.
Regardless of what you go with, enjoy it, wear it out, and do it all over again.
Josh
Well-Known Member
I might be interested, what's the bore specs supposed to be on 400 Brown Whelen?
Josh
Well-Known Member
Yeah, like just do something... anything... LOL
I did a quick check, it looks like folks used Douglas barrels at .410" and 1/14 or Shilen barrels at .411" and 1/14.
Ben has a good point about what will feed. The only Springfield in .400 Whelen I've handled (made by Howe) showed signs that the magazine had some serious work done to it. That was on a LN Springfield, but it fed very very well, one of the nicest Springfield cartridge conversions I've seen.
L Ross
Well-Known Member
The good thing about a rebore is that it leaves the rifle closer to what your Uncle gifted you. Then once you accept the concept of a reboring job it narrows the possibilities to what will clean up the .30 caliber bore. The only rifle I've ever had rebored was a 1909 Mauser done by Norm Johnson in Turtle Lake, ND. High Plains Reboring and Barrels L.L.C. I was very happy with his work. My choice was .35 Whelen.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I seriously considered a 375 or 400 Whelen before I built my 6mm.
But a life long family friend was preplexed and hesitant. He seemed in different and talked me out of them.
Odd as he loved his and enjoyed shooting them. I have shot his and they are fun cast bullet guns.
But a life long family friend was preplexed and hesitant. He seemed in different and talked me out of them.
Odd as he loved his and enjoyed shooting them. I have shot his and they are fun cast bullet guns.
Josh
Well-Known Member
I should have mentioned in the beginning that he bought the rifle from a guy and it was beat to crap. The stock was split and the barrel is shot/cleaned out. It doesn't have sentimental value to either of us, he just didn't want to gift it to me and I sell it. That wouldn't have happened, he wants to see me make something from it.
Josh
Well-Known Member
I'd just do a 25-06 if I were to think of a 257 Bob. I'm really just trying to think of a platform I don't have covered right now.
todd
Well-Known Member
i keep telling myself to make a 400 Whelen-Petrov......even tho reloading you have Quality Cartridge brass
forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4711043/m/547107456?f=4711043&s=518103&r=790102756&a=tpc&csra=Y&m=547107456#790102756
or you can go to the 411 Hawk, it uses 30-06 brass.
don't be so quick to the 9.3mm cartridges. i really like my small ring Husqvarna m46 in 9.3x57. it shoots a 275gr WFN GC with IMR4895 that goes about (i forgot my chrony) 1800-1900fps. i did shoot a load with 286gr Prvi SRN with IMR4895 that goes about 2000-2100fps+/-. i could have taken her up 2200fps but the pressure would be to great as i have a '96 Mauser action. a '98 Mauser, which Husqvarna m146 has, would be my choice. or a 9.3x62.
www.americanhunter.org
forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/4711043/m/547107456?f=4711043&s=518103&r=790102756&a=tpc&csra=Y&m=547107456#790102756
or you can go to the 411 Hawk, it uses 30-06 brass.
don't be so quick to the 9.3mm cartridges. i really like my small ring Husqvarna m46 in 9.3x57. it shoots a 275gr WFN GC with IMR4895 that goes about (i forgot my chrony) 1800-1900fps. i did shoot a load with 286gr Prvi SRN with IMR4895 that goes about 2000-2100fps+/-. i could have taken her up 2200fps but the pressure would be to great as i have a '96 Mauser action. a '98 Mauser, which Husqvarna m146 has, would be my choice. or a 9.3x62.
An Official Journal Of The NRA | Head to Head: .35 Whelen vs. 9.3x62mm Mauser
The .35 Whelen and the 9.3x62mm Mauser have cases within a millimeter in length and a bullet diameter just a few thousandths apart, so which cartridge would a hunter choose?
Bruce Drake
Active Member
I second the idea of barreling it into another rifle cartridge if you aren't sold on keeping it in its original 30-06. Either 6mm-06, 25-06 or 280 Rem (7mm-06) should feed from the long action magazine without any issues. The 6mm and 257 chamberings have limited heavy cast bullet designs but they are out there if you search or get lucky on E-Bay. Heavy 7mm bullet molds (150-180gr) are out there so you can easily load it to replicate 30-06 cast loads but with better BC bullets for the weight.
Rebarreling for 35 Whelen might require some tweaking of the feed rails as the necks are wider than the original 30-06 caliber chambering that it was originally designed for. I have a .358 Winchester barrelled Mauser 98. It's a great cast bullet cartridge but I had to tweak the Mauser's feed rails for that cartridge's 51mm shorter length and wider neck than the original 8x57 cartridge that the receiver was designed for before it would feed smoothly.
I don't have any experience with a 40 Whelen cartridge but I feel you might have same problem in feeding from the magazine as I did with my .358Win.
Bruce
Rebarreling for 35 Whelen might require some tweaking of the feed rails as the necks are wider than the original 30-06 caliber chambering that it was originally designed for. I have a .358 Winchester barrelled Mauser 98. It's a great cast bullet cartridge but I had to tweak the Mauser's feed rails for that cartridge's 51mm shorter length and wider neck than the original 8x57 cartridge that the receiver was designed for before it would feed smoothly.
I don't have any experience with a 40 Whelen cartridge but I feel you might have same problem in feeding from the magazine as I did with my .358Win.
Bruce