One action left, what to build?

[ian-bradley]

Well boys it’s settled, I’ve always admired work by the famous AL Biesen so I am gonna have a light weight sported built in his style in 257 Roberts.

 

[Dewald]

Well boys it’s settled, I’ve always admired work by the famous AL Biesen so I am gonna have a light weight sported built in his style in 257 Roberts.

Fine choice. I’ve never heard of any person regrettng owning the .257 Bob.

Personally I’m a .250 Savage man, but that comes from my love for old FN rifles. Now if a Pre-64 Bob came along I’d feel obliged...

 

[Desert Dog]

I just finished a Dougals-barreled FN Mauser commercial action, bedded into some beautiful wood. I chambered this one in 25-06 and couldn't be happier!

25-06 is everything 257 Roberts wished it could be, lol! It is clover-leafing 100gr TTSX's at 3320 FPS.

 

[Michael Dean]

If you spend 90% of your time in south Louisiana, your main quarry is the whitetail deer. Whitetails in Louisiana run small, you just don't need a large caliber. My recommendation considering where you live would be something in the 6.5 category. My personal choice is the 6.5-284. It's a nice lightweight flat shooting cartridge that's perfect for deer sized game and it's also a good caliber for Coyote.

You mentioned that shots are 100 yards or less, I'd use a 130-140 grain bullet and you'd have yourself a perfect whitetail gun. A 22-24 inch barrel in an ultralight stock would give you a gun you could carry all day; considering the short ranges you'll be shooting you won't need a scope with more than 7-9 power. A 3-9 varial power scope would be perfect. You've got the heavy calibers covered with your 375, now its time for a lighter weight rifle.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Probably plains game and medium game in the USA.

Ian Bradley
Can't go past a properly loaded 35 Whelen.
A 225 grain accubond @ 2,850 fps hits hard and flys flat or.
A 250 grain Speer hotcore at 2,700 fps will put a lot of hurt on the bigger stuff.
Just my biased 2 cents worth.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Come over to the Dark Side, 6.5 Creedmoor.

Hog patrol
Silly idea he wants a rifle not a new wizzbang reinvention of the wheel.
The poor crudmore is nothing but a 250 savage AI with a slightly modified shoulder necked.
He wants a real gun not a trumped up toy.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

bob,
I think it is time you stepped up to the plate and got a 7mm stw.
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Seems like the 270 Win would be too close to the 7x57?? The 338-06 is a very straight forward, easy to reload cartridge that, IMO, would nicely fill the void between the 7x57 and the 375 Rug. It would also do the same between the 7x57 and the 416 Rem... the 416 Rem, by the way, I believe is a superior cartridge in its category.

There are no surprises with the 338-06. Headstamped brass is available if needed or it's simple enough to size or fire form brass to 338. There are a great number of premium, readily available 338 bullets for the choosing. Additionally, the 338-06 has a large enough shoulder for positive head spacing... something the 35 Whelen, at times, suffers from a lack of. Advisable, IMO, in the 338-06 to cut a chamber with adequate throat/freebore length for longer bullets! Mine is my go-to for most PG hunting with the exception of eland where I'm more comfortable with a 375 or 416.

Fourfive8
I long throated my 35 Whelen as well can load the 225gn accubonds to 3.4 inches overall and still have room to the lands. Also had it freebored a bit as well. Fortunately the mag has plenty of room. Could load to 3.5 inches and fit the mag just.
Cheers
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well boys it’s settled, I’ve always admired work by the famous AL Biesen so I am gonna have a light weight sported built in his style in 257 Roberts.

ian-bradley
A perfect choice. If the action is long enough to load to a COAL of 3 inches long throat you barrel and load 115 grain Barnes to 2,900+fps and go have fun
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I just finished a Dougals-barreled FN Mauser commercial action, bedded into some beautiful wood. I chambered this one in 25-06 and couldn't be happier!

25-06 is everything 257 Roberts wished it could be, lol! It is clover-leafing 100gr TTSX's at 3320 FPS.

Desert Dog
A properly loaded Roberts will give you 3,200+ fps with the same bullet with less fuss. What's 100 fps between friends.
The Roberts was strangled at birth but properly loaded isn't that far behind the 25 ought six.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[sambarhunter]

Can't go past a properly loaded 35 Whelen.

Well you can Bob,its called a .358 Norma magnum,i have rolled a few Sambar with mine...then there is the STA

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Well you can Bob,its called a .358 Norma magnum,i have rolled a few Sambar with mine...then there is the STA

Sambarhunter
Is all the extra powder, recoil and loss of performance with some bullets really worth it.
2,950fps chronoed velocity with the 225 grain Woodleigh PP
and 2,700 fps with the 250gn Speer hotcore chronoed really that fare behind the Norma. The 358STW is more of A good thing if you can afford the premium bullets needed to withstand those velocities.
Most game is shot inside 300 yards so I don't see the need for faster but that's my opinion.
If someone wants to shoot a 358 STW or a 338/ 378 Weatherby or other brilliant cartridges I say good.
I can't handle that sort of recoil. If you can well and good I applaud your choice of weapons.
I'm not saying the Whelen is better than others 35s but inside realistic ranges it will do me. I have tried the Whelen to 400 yards on 600ml drink bottles and have no problems hitting them but I try to keep my game ranges to what I can confidently hit 99.99% of the time.
Just my little rant. I do like the big toys but a shoulder injury has put pay to that.
Cheers mate Bob
Keep hunting and enjoy what you use

 

[postoak]

How's the building coming along?

 

[sambarhunter]

Bob I answered to "Can't go past a properly loaded 35 Whelen."

All good and well for the Whelen,its a good cal and I would be happy in the bush with one.
You can throw figures up blah blah but forgot to look at the Ft-Lbs energy and that is where the Whelen falls well behind the NM which can produce some awesome figures.

You have asked "Is all the extra powder, recoil and loss of performance with some bullets really worth it."

When the power is needed you then know why it was invented.

Some are happy with a six,some want a V8 to tow their trailer.
I am answering your opening line remember.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob I answered to "Can't go past a properly loaded 35 Whelen."

All good and well for the Whelen,its a good cal and I would be happy in the bush with one.
You can throw figures up blah blah but forgot to look at the Ft-Lbs energy and that is where the Whelen falls well behind the NM which can produce some awesome figures.

You have asked "Is all the extra powder, recoil and loss of performance with some bullets really worth it."

When the power is needed you then know why it was invented.

Some are happy with a six,some want a V8 to tow their trailer.
I am answering your opening line remember.

Sambarhunter
I agree the power was invented so why not use it. As I said now days unfortunately I can't handle it due to a shoulder injury. The Whelen with a muzzle brake is my upper limit now unfortunately. I used to have the opinion of big hole and plenty of power equals very dead game but shoulders don't like it any more.
The Whelen with the 225 woodleigh PPSP is putting out 4,300+ fpe
The 250 hotcore and 225grain accubonds are over 4,000 fpe
Sighted in 2 and a bit inches high at 100 yards gives it a good 400 yard range as all three bullets shoots as flat as the 308 win. A max of 22 inches of drop @ 400 yards. This takes it out of the bush gun category
4,000++ fpe is not to shabby and I would not hesitate taking on a buffalo (If I could afford it) with it.
I took my Whelen to Namibia last year and had no problems with it. Every thing shot went down 1 shot including a big zebra stallion, Kudu and black wildebeest. Shot placement helps as much if not more than FPE.
I wasn't denigrating your choice of calibers it's that I can't use them no.

My Whelen, myself and my zebra.
I've hunted sambar in Victoria and found my stoutly loaded 444 marlin with 280 grain Woodleigh RNSP and found it had to much power for them so went back to the 270 and never had a problem. Would like to try the Whelen on them.
Cheers sambarhunter
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

bob, how does the 225 Woodleigh compare in penetration to the 250 speer?
the Woodleigh might be the better bullet being faster if penetration compares.
bruce.

 

[sambarhunter]

Bob I dont come to argue but I had a look at Nathan Fosters summation of the Whelen and the Norma and his figures for the Whelen dont come close to 4000Fp`s. I do see 'suggested loads' and i`m sure that some do stuff to the max at times.

Btw Bob if you are not aware NF is a Kiwi guru in the ballistic`s world.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

bob, how does the 225 Woodleigh compare in penetration to the 250 speer?
the Woodleigh might be the better bullet being faster if penetration compares.
bruce.

Bruce moulds
Don't know really only recovered 2 bullets the woodleigh and one accubond. The accubond went thru 5 and a half feet of kudu front to rear ham.
All others thru and thru the 250 gn Speer hotcore had complete penetration on a black wildebeest at around 180 yards. A mate took the Whelen as a backup for another hunter on a giraffe hunt but it wasn't needed.
Cheers mate Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob I dont come to argue but I had a look at Nathan Fosters summation of the Whelen and the Norma and his figures for the Whelen dont come close to 4000Fp`s. I do see 'suggested loads' and i`m sure that some do stuff to the max at times.

Btw Bob if you are not aware NF is a Kiwi guru in the ballistic`s world.

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/

View attachment 336179 View attachment 336180

Sambarhunter
Like yourself I'm not here to argue with anyone or put any ones choice of calibers they use.
There is one caliber I hate with a passion and that is the 243. I seen to much game wounded with well placed shots with them.
Yes I'm very aware of the NF fellow and have read many of his balistic studies and found them very informative and have used his knowledge to choose some projectiles. He is a very knowledgeable person.
Unfortunately there are are still some cartridges that are loaded to anemic pressures as you would agree. With modern powders and good projectiles these oldies can be given a real boost compared to the 1925 loads.
If the 350 Remington mag and the Whelen have similar case capacity they should be equal if pressure is the same. I just bought the Whelen into the 21st century usin 21 century components and did it without stressing anything.
With the newer powders available now I don't doubt the Norma could get a boost.
My results are based on my real world results.
Once again I'm not here to argue ore disparage anyone.
I do recommend people read those balistic studies they would learn heaps about the calibers they use .
Cheers mate Bob