Bob Nelson convinced me - 35 Whelen

[HuntingGold]

Over the last 5 years or so I have bought several Sportsman 78 rifles to be used for donor actions. One has already been converted to a 280 Ackley Improved. The above rifle will be rebarrelled and restocked as a 35 Whelen. As you can see, I found a jug of Bob's favorite, CFE223. I have the brass and will buy more this morning. I found the appropriate bullets in an estate and the used dies at a gun store. The wood will be sent to Richards microfit and carved into the 102 classic style.

I thought Bob would like to know I'm moving forward.

 

[HuntingGold]

I no sooner walked in to the shop when we sat down and discussed barrels. Moments later I went on a website and bought a barrel, 1:12 twist.
Chuck then took my rifle and started stripping it down. I had other work and noticed he is going to town!

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

That’s how it start he converts one before you know it the whole forums a cult dedicated to the mighty 35 with bob our prophet who’s the chosen one. He’ll show us all the light lite by col. whelen and teach us to cast out those evil doers among us that spout blasphemy and carry .243s

 

[HuntingGold]

Exactly.... Except my wife's .243 is safely put away and shall not be cast aside. Bob's influence won't touch her rifle.... Yes a gift when she was 12.
Aside from that... I have taken the plunge!

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Exactly.... Except my wife's .243 is safely put away and shall not be cast aside. Bob's influence won't touch her rifle.... Yes a gift when she was 12.
Aside from that... I have taken the plunge!

That probably excludes you from deaconhood

 

[HuntingGold]

Laughing my a$$ off!

 

[leslie hetrick]

welcome to the dark side, and becoming a card carrying 35 whelen owner.

 

[TOBY458]

Is the predecessor of the Model 700?

 

[leslie hetrick]

made in the same era, as a less costly version. they were inexpensive and made good hunting rifles and great donor actions for rebuilds.

 

[Shootist43]

Hunting Gold, I can assure you that you will long cherish making this decision. IMHO the 35 Whelen should be to America what the 404 Jeffery is to Africa. Now that is saying a lot. I haven't tried Bob's load of CFE 223 yet, my load using IMR 4064 has served me quite well.

 

[BeeMaa]

Holy crap. How long does @Bob Nelson 35Whelen need before he finds this thread? Bob...you out there? Wake up. Your people need you!

@HuntingGold - Looks like it will be a beauty of a build. The wood alone is amazing.

 

[HuntingGold]

@Shootist43 I think he sent me your 4064 loads or at least some 4064 load data. I look forward to trying it all out.

I was shocked to learn the barrel will be delivered within the week. This thing could be popping caps sooner rather than later. I just boxed up the blank and it will ship tomorrow. In the meantime, we will use another 700 stock to test etc.

@TOBY458 The Sportsman 78 was indeed very similar to a 700 ADL and produced only for a few years. It was essentially the same metal on a very cheap wood stock (this was before synthetic). Some had a round bolt handle while others have the same bolt handle as the 700. This particular gun has the same bolt handle. Prior to the gun buying rush, a 78 could be found for much less than a 700 and made great donors.

As a side note the Sportsman 78 should not be confused with the 788 which is a very different gun.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Over the last 5 years or so I have bought several Sportsman 78 rifles to be used for donor actions. One has already been converted to a 280 Ackley Improved. The above rifle will be rebarrelled and restocked as a 35 Whelen. As you can see, I found a jug of Bob's favorite, CFE223. I have the brass and will buy more this morning. I found the appropriate bullets in an estate and the used dies at a gun store. The wood will be sent to Richards microfit and carved into the 102 classic style.View attachment 396422

I thought Bob would like to know I'm moving forward.View attachment 396423

@hunting Gold
Glad to see you have started the build. It looks like a lovely peice of wood.
You are going to have great fun working up loads especially with the balistic tips and the hornaday 250 grain round nose
Bob.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I no sooner walked in to the shop when we sat down and discussed barrels. Moments later I went on a website and bought a barrel, 1:12 twist.
Chuck then took my rifle and started stripping it down. I had other work and noticed he is going to town!
View attachment 396455View attachment 396456View attachment 396457

@hunting Gold
Looks like he's trueing up the thread.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That’s how it start he converts one before you know it the whole forums a cult dedicated to the mighty 35 with bob our prophet who’s the chosen one. He’ll show us all the light lite by col. whelen and teach us to cast out those evil doers among us that spout blasphemy and carry .243s

@Skinnersblade
All I can say mate is
SHIT STIRRER!!

 

[gbflyer]

That is an excellent bullet for the .35 Whelen. No longer made, now it’s Accubond in the Nosler lineup in .358. Cherish them if they shoot well. Haha.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That probably excludes you from deaconhood

@Skinnersblade
No it doesn't he is already above deaconhood as he his building a Whelen with steel and wood and using appropriate powder.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

That is an excellent bullet for the .35 Whelen. No longer made, now it’s Accubond in the Nosler lineup in .358. Cherish them if they shoot well. Haha.

@gbflyer
He got hold of a lot of projectiles from an estate sale and was lucky to score some old balistic tip hunting bullets pre accubonds.
Bob

 

[ZG47]

Exactly.... Except my wife's .243 is safely put away and shall not be cast aside. Bob's influence won't touch her rifle.... Yes a gift when she was 12.
Aside from that... I have taken the plunge!

Nothing wrong with the .243, provided that you go easy on the propellant and stick to 90 grain maximum bullet weight. Do that and you will neither burn out the leade in a great big hurry nor will you need a piece of 4x2 to open the action. It can take a wee bit of fettling to get reliable magazine feeding but if you are going to do a lot of fast rechambering, you either buy a Sako OR select a chambering with a case design that was set up for reliable feeding.
That being said, it is not a good choice for anyone who likes to use hot loads OR who is starting to reload AND it is still in the .250 Savage class of chamberings. Before anyone gets confused by these words, I will never buy a .243 Winchester unless it can be effectively converted into a reliable 6mm Remington or I am looking to rebarrel.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

@Skinnersblade
All I can say mate is
SHIT STIRRER!!

mission complete