I was able to acquire a Custom 35 Whelen. It is a double heat treat 03, lightweight 23" Douglas barrel, standard Whelen chamber. Fired cases are Go plus .002" in a Wilson cartridge headspace gage. The stock is a Herter's, which makes this a pre 1968 project gun.

Cases are necked up R-P 30-06, and then fire formed with 158 LRN bullets.

So, the barrel twist is 1:10. Loading manuals show a 1:16 as standard, I have heard of tighter twists, but not 1:10.

I have 200 and 250 grain Hornady bullets.

Am I going to have problems getting this rifle to group?

I have Varget, IMR 4064, AA4064, AA2700, IMR 4895. From old articles, it looks as though Varget and the 4064 powders are the best bet for decent accuracy and good velocity.

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Am I going to have problems getting this rifle to group?

You have given no reason for it not to......at least not in your post!

At one time I had one with a 1-12 twist. It was accurate with any and all of the 35 cal bullets available. 4064 and 4895 were the powders I used.

You should be able to shoot a full range of bullet weights with no issue. What may be an issue is your ability to apprach max loads that you see in loading manuals. The tigher twist will create increased pressures. Your rifles max loads will probably be 1 to 1.5 grains below most manuals.

i dunno - can you shoot?

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The stock is a Herter's, which makes this a pre 1968 project gun.

IIRC and I think I do, the last barreled action I got from Herters was a J9 300 win for 59.95(this one had to ship to Ulshaphers guns FFL, not directly to my mail box) and the stock with same order was Indian rosewood for an extra 29.95 This was in 1971, could have been 70 but pretty sure 71. BFWIW I saw an unfinished Herters stock on ebay a few months ago. .02

Herters was in business at least until 1973 and past but their FFL license was jerked for importing feathers from endangered species.....The moved from Waseca Minnesota to Mitchell South Dakota (immediately across the Interstate from the present Cabela's store) in about 1972....and it was largely downhill from there.....A 1968 Herter's stock was among their later ones!

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pre 1968 project gun.

NOT NECESSARILLY SO

quote:

i dunno - can you shoot?

Above Average. Got my Distinguished in the minimum number of leg matches required: three. Got a Regional Gold in the last one with a M1a.


This is my highest X count 200 yard sitting RF with a M1a.





Also having fun with small bore. This was a good 50 yard target prone, shot in competition. I have done better since May, but I was pleased with this one. First time I shot that rifle in competition.

SlamFire; Douglas has always made good barrels and I would be surprised if you couldn't make it shoot just fine. Hell that thing could handle some LONG bullets- 400 grainers out of Whelen

My 35 Whelen is built on a 1903 Springfield MK I action. It has the original 1-10 twist barrel that was re-bored and chambered by a gunsmith in Yakima WA in the 1960s. It has now been completely sporterized with new stock, Timney trigger, and bolt turned to mount a good Leupold scope.

I have loaded and fired 250 gr Hornady and Speer bullets in it for decades now and accuracy is great (under 1 MOA with most loads). I have used Win, R-P, and military brass -- it likes them all. It prefers IMR 4895, but I also get good results with 4320, 4064, and RL 15.

You should like the 1-10 twist which will allow you to use even heavier bullets -- the big draw back when Rem and Ruger "standardized" the 35 Whelen on a 1-16 twist.

Barstooler

Thanks Gentlemen. I was concerned that the faster twist would cause problems. I am glad to read that in fact, it may be a benefit.

I will be careful about watching for pressure signs well before max.

The thing is topped off with a Weaver K-4 scope. Which is not a bad scope for its age. I am going to leave it as is.

The rifle is built rather light, very light contour to the barrel. I expect the recoil to be heavy.

It is hard to shoot well when both eyes are closed!