What do I need...

[StrawHat]

The .375 Whelen for cast bullets is slightly less work than the .400. You can't just expand '06 brass up to .400. You have to expand the case up to really straight and then neck down to .400. Unless you are going hunting with the rifle, the .375 is the better cartridge. FWIW.

Why would you introduce logic into this kind of discussion?!? Heck, logically he should just spin another 06 barrel in and call it done. Or 35 Whelen if he can find store bought ammunition.


If it were me, that 400 Whelen or Brown/Scovill would be tempting. But I already have a 405 WCF and that is all I need.

Kevin

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Ooh I looked at a Brown Whelen in 35 when I had this 35 Whelen built in .87!! Dies was costly and I had Whelen dies from smith. So it was a Whelen but I had a longer barrel left to see if I got velocity gains 27". Later I came to
My senses and pruned it to 23.5".

I have much to flesh out!! Love contemplating a new build!

CW

 

[Michael]

Yes, it is discontinued, but a nice tastefully finished rifle with an octagonal barrel, sweet dreams indeed.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Yes, it is discontinued, but a nice tastefully finished rifle with an octagonal barrel, sweet dreams indeed.

Octagon would be flat classy!!! I do much like my Browning BPCR's tapered octagon

 

[Bret4207]

100%!!

I really like my 6.5/06. Its built on a Argentine 1909 Mauser action, Timney Trigger with a Shaw barrel 26". My very first load was a starting load of 4350 in new Winchester '06 brass with a 120 Nosler solid base bullet. Three of us over the hood of a jeep shot a 1.25" group @ over 200 yards!! Later that chronographed 3200fps.
It LOVES 142 Sierras shooting under 1" @ 200 from a rest.
Lately 140 Gold dots hand H4350 are its flavor of choice all are ahooting well havent nailed down best or velocity but the 142's better 3000fps.

Aha, you already gots one. First load I tried in the FN Mauser 6.5-06 was some ridiculous amount of powder pushing an 85/87 gr Sierra HP 6.5 Varminter bullet. As I was told, yes, that barrel is shot out, but the chrono read some crazy high numbers out of that 26" barrel. It was up in 22-250 territory, if not Swift levels. Of course that bullet and the others I tried all gave a group measured in feet instead of inches, much less fractions of an inch! I'm sure a great number of woodchucks fell to this rifle back in the 50's, but it's just a hunka steel now.

 

[BudHyett]

The .35 Whelen is one-step conversion for forming. There are plenty of good .35 caliber molds from 200 grains and up. My favorites are the RCBS 200 grain and SAECO 245 grain bullets,

Why make it harder?

 

[RicinYakima]

From my boyhood in the 1960's until I made a 35 Whelen in about 2010, I thought the 30/06 was the most versatile caliber. After using my 35 Whelen with 200 grain plain base, 250 Nosler and 300 grain cast GC, I have revived my thinking. The 35 Whelen is the most do everything cartridge (except for gophers at 500 yards).

 

[Glaciers]

I don’t know about supplanting the mighty 30-06. The 35 Whelen is great and versatile for the reasons you mention, but, the 06 was my first center fire, which I still have except it’s now a 338-06 improved. I will never be without at least one 06, well and the Whelen as well. The Whelen is great, but so is the 06 with 240 grain Woodleigh’s.
That’s like picking your favorite grandkid, you can, but your going to feel guilty. My first Whelen was a custom Mauser which didn’t fit well so it went done the road. Should have kept that Mauser, just to look at, beautiful rifle. Next was a early 80’s Winchester Featherweight rebore to the Whelen. Still have that one as Featherweights just fit me.
Then Remington standardize the Whelen, well not quite as special now. Sure glad it’s discontinued, maybe making it, special again.

 

[CZ93X62]

Aha, you already gots one. First load I tried in the FN Mauser 6.5-06 was some ridiculous amount of powder pushing an 85/87 gr Sierra HP 6.5 Varminter bullet. As I was told, yes, that barrel is shot out, but the chrono read some crazy high numbers out of that 26" barrel. It was up in 22-250 territory, if not Swift levels. Of course that bullet and the others I tried all gave a group measured in feet instead of inches, much less fractions of an inch! I'm sure a great number of woodchucks fell to this rifle back in the 50's, but it's just a hunka steel now.

"A hunka steel" that would make a great 30-06, 8mm-06, 338-06, or 35 Whelen.

 

[Missionary]

Sadly no one ever standardized the 375 Whelen. Some lift up the 9.3 but that is o better and actually much harder to find molds for.
But .375-.380 molds abound. So we happily continue on in our uninformed bliss launching .377 cast in copious amounts with big smiles.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

The .35 Whelen is one-step conversion for forming. There are plenty of good .35 caliber molds from 200 grains and up. My favorites are the RCBS 200 grain and SAECO 245 grain bullets,

Why make it harder?

Morning man! Agree with you 100%. I have the Whelen & both those molds.

Not making it harder. I have simply walked that road & have that to choose if I want. Simply seeking my next adventure.

CW

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I picked up the rifle today.



Talking with my friend. He brought out the 375 x 06 imp. Its a Stainless Remington barrel on a K98 action. Gorgeous wood. Rifle sites & scoped. Shoots very well he said. The imp is better headspace with larger shoulder from less body taper.
He said it is not for sale now. But he is putting my name on it & told his wife that this was "my" gun. So I wont build this Vanguard into a Whelen of any diameter.

Leaning back to a long 6mm Rem. Gonna load some dummies tomorrow.

 

[Bret4207]

"A hunka steel" that would make a great 30-06, 8mm-06, 338-06, or 35 Whelen.

If anything, I'd probably go 375 Whelen. If I was smart, I'd screw on a Super Whiz Bang Magnum Tacticool tube and stick it in a plastic stock with a scope the size of a small vacuum cleaner on top and trade it off for something even more vintage...and probably a single shot at that!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

105g Speer seated 3.005. (Base of bullet @ neck/shoulder.
Of coarse no idea about throat yet. But I have 3.4+" of magazine length!!

I have about 100 Range pickups 6mm stamped cases. But over 500 New 257 Roberts. Cases I can size.

CW

 

[Bret4207]

Warp 10, here he comes!!!

 

[358156 hp]

Ooh I looked at a Brown Whelen in 35 when I had this 35 Whelen built in .87!! Dies was costly and I had Whelen dies from smith. So it was a Whelen but I had a longer barrel left to see if I got velocity gains 27". Later I came to
My senses and pruned it to 23.5".

I have much to flesh out!! Love contemplating a new build!

CW

I have an '06 in the works with a 27+ barrel. I'm trying to sort out the stock issues, the rest of the rifle is done. The goal is to hit 3000 fps with 180 gr. This is now easily done with some of the newer powders that were introduced just before covid. I think I should be able to do this with H4831 as well. I got screwed on a custom stock for it, and am rebuilding it to be usable.

 

[358156 hp]

105g Speer seated 3.005. (Base of bullet @ neck/shoulder.
Of coarse no idea about throat yet. But I have 3.4+" of magazine length!!

I have about 100 Range pickups 6mm stamped cases. But over 500 New 257 Roberts. Cases I can size.

CW

Last suggestion- 6mm-06 based on a 240 Weatherby without the belt.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I have an '06 in the works with a 27+ barrel. I'm trying to sort out the stock issues, the rest of the rifle is done. The goal is to hit 3000 fps with 180 gr. This is now easily done with some of the newer powders that were introduced just before covid. I think I should be able to do this with H4831 as well. I got screwed on a custom stock for it, and am rebuilding it to be usable.

RL26... YOU CAN DO IT! But... its loud, funny report. No hard bolt lift or excessive head expansion.

My buddy did it last year. Decided somethings gotta be wrong pulled all remaining and dosent load any more.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Last suggestion- 6mm-06 based on a 240 Weatherby without the belt.

I did consider it!! But its not perfermance level Im seeking. As would be FAR cheaper and easier to just go buy a 6mm Creed.

I ran across a 6mm Rem Ruger American on GB last summer. I was just a bit slow. I didnt know Grice commissioned these. So I was way late to order new one.
So I started looking at the 6creed. Was gonna order one, and got to thinking. What am I doing? I dont just want a .243 bore rifle.... I want a 6mm Remington!

I cleaned my brass last night. This AM I annealed it all (55 pcs) Before annealing I deprimed and got this...



I have a bunch of new 257 Rob +p brass. I can size down but prefer 6mm head stamp. Looking to swap.

CW

 

[RicinYakima]

I think I should be able to do this with H4831 as well. I got screwed on a custom stock for it, and am rebuilding it to be usable.

A full case of H4831 will barely make 2850 with 173 grain bullet at maximum magazine length in a O3 action. Got to go to denser powders, I guess. FWIW.