350 Rigby Magnum

[Porker]

Sat up in bed one Saterday morning with a jolt.. thinking: Porker your an absolute genius!

Why not convert a 35 Whelen to 350 Rigby by cleaning up the chamber of the Whelen? If that’s possible, only thing to consider is if you can squeeze the 350 into a standard action. Any thoughts?

 

[Shawn.54]

It would be possible to do it what action are you considering for the conversation if it’s the Remington 700 this cartridge would fit without changing length of box a Mauser 98 would require a little stretching of the box, not a problem but there is little performance gains to be had. Unless you know of load data that is hotter than what I’ve found. The 350 Rigby seems to be a low pressure cartridge that has larger case volume. If there is modern data that brings up the pressure then it would be a gain if it would be loaded at original specs all you would achieve was making reloading more expensive due to cost of brass.
Shawn

 

[Porker]

Thanks Shawn, my thinking is along the lines of a more traditional action, Winchester or k98, even Montana which comes in left hand is ideal. The 350 just doesn’t seem right in a 700!

My thoughts originally is also to stick with a traditional load.. not needing to hot rod this one since my 338WM can do all that. This project is more for a brush gun ... samber deer in the thick stuff under 100m. Standard action will be less hefty than a magnum action. I’m not a fan of light rifles in general... even less a fan in medium bores but also don’t see the need for a magnum action in this package.

This is good news, I’m fairly excited about the prospects now. You mentioned the model 700 and I’m assuming it’s because Remington makes a 35 Whelen in their product line. I’m thinking there might be a used custom Whelen turning up at some stage in the future.

 

[Shawn.54]

I mentioned the 700 for two reasons yes it’s originally chambered in 35 Whelen but it is also long enough to fit the 350 R with no alterations to the box. I understand your wanting a classic cartridge I myself am in the process of building a 404 Jeffery on a standard 98 action and it is even longer than the 350R by.1” so I know that the 350 would fit it my be easiest to get the action you want with the bolt face that fits and get a barrel installed then you can match twist to bullets you want to use most factory Whelens are 1-16 twist better for 250gr and down 1-12 would be better for 250gr and up. Opening a standard 98 to accept the 350R would require milling or filing the back of the box and maybe a little off the front if you picked up a 98 that was already in a 7mm or 300 mag the feed rails would need little work.

Shawn

 

[Porker]

Good point about twist rate.. I think I had a look at your progress pics on your 404... you must be excited about that build... Winchester m70 action ok?

 

[Shawn.54]

Yes form what I’ve heard never had one. Rem 700 Ruger 77 and American Savage 116 Savage Axis, Mossberg Patriot and Mauser large and small ring 98. All print under a inch but the 700 in 35 Whelen and the Patriot in 375 Ruger are the most accurate by far.
Go figure the bigger the bore the the better they seem to shot for me. Can’t wait to try the 404 but it’s hunting season now and it’s going to have to wait.
Shawn

 

[Sako AV]

Not to hijack your thread, but from the sound of what you're looking to do with this rifle as well as the desire for a traditional caliber, have you considered the 9.3x62?

 

[Porker]

Not to hijack your thread, but from the sound of what you're looking to do with this rifle as well as the desire for a traditional caliber, have you considered the 9.3x62?

I have a sickness for odd calibers Sako ... realised I need at least one "off the shelf" caliber and the 338WM does all my bigger and longer range stuff. 6.5x55 vermin and medium game and my 450/400 double is almost paid for No doubt the 9.3's are excellent ... if I ever get one it will be a 9.3x74R in single shot.

 

[linecreek]

I too am building a 350 rigby, Mine is on a 1917 enfield action, These actions are plenty long enough for the 350 rigby, I make my cases by turning off the belts on 375 H&H ,reducing the neck in standard dies(mine
are RCBS,and trim to length. The 350 rigby is a great old cartridge and the enfield is a great old action. I also built a 416 rigby on one.

 

[Porker]

Linecreek, please feel free to post some pics of your progress! both me and (i bet) Shawn would like to see it come together. Close up pic of your enfield action would be a good start ... i'm not a demanding type of guy at all

 

[Shootist43]

Just curious, what will a 350 Rigby do that a 35 Whelen won't? When loaded with 225 Gr. bullets the Whelen is a very formidable cartridge. To the best of my knowledge the last Remington 700 Whelen was produced in 1988. In my book, that makes it somewhat unique.

 

[Shawn.54]

The great thing about the 700 35 Whelen is its long mag lets you really stretch out the cartridge with the 225 accubond.
I keep seating the bullet shallower trying to get it closer to the lands and in the end stopped because it is barely in the case. In my pic is 35 Whelen with 225 and a 375 Ruger at what is max col for standard long action. By the way these are the most accurate cartridges I have.

 

[Abeln]

@Shawn.54 ,

Is that a failsafe loaded in your 375?

 

[Shawn.54]

GS Customs 200gr HV it is a speeder 3213fps out of the muzzle I took a whitetail deer at 427 yards with it this year.
I love these bullets started using them in my sons 22-250 for deer 40gr at 4175fps he has taken 6 deer with them from 60-225 yards have never found a bullet yet all have exited.

 

[Abeln]

I will have to check those out.

Thank you.

 

[Shawn.54]

They are costly but very effective I found them looking for an alternative to lead bullets after finding lead about a foot from a bullet hole.
Tried Barns x years ago left a bad taste in my mouth to say the least.
Shawn

 

[Porker]

Just curious, what will a 350 Rigby do that a 35 Whelen won't? When loaded with 225 Gr. bullets the Whelen is a very formidable cartridge. To the best of my knowledge the last Remington 700 Whelen was produced in 1988. In my book, that makes it somewhat unique.

Thinking along those lines will have me with only my 338! It will duplicate and do what both the Whelen and 350 can do, thank goodness my wife doesn’t know this.... it’s one of those really cool useful cartridges and of all the 35’s is the one that interests me the most... something different...

 

[Porker]

Those GS custom projectiles are from South Africa and gaining a steady following,

 

[Shawn.54]

Those GS custom projectiles are from South Africa and gaining a steady following,

They have a plant in Charleston SC and before that it was in Michigan great people to talk to and when you call you talk to the owner or his wife or daughter.
Shawn

 

[linecreek]

FIRST PHOTO: The three actions are all 1917 Enfields:
TOP ACTION: Stock action. MIDDLE ACTION: 350 RIGBY MAG - very little needs to be done, open rails, length is OK, open bolt face, the bolt face on the 350 Rigby is the same as the 300, 338, 375, etc. BOTTOM ACTION: is the 416 Rigby. The action is lengthened ONLY at the rear, rails and mag area opened.
SECOND PHOTO: The 2 bolts are the 416 and 350 with the faces opened.
THIRD PHOTO: This is the 350 Rigby work in progress.
FOURTH PHOTO: Is a finished 300 H & H.