I've got a shot out .223 Ruger 77 All-Weather and was thinking it'd make a pretty slick conversion. But... it's pretty handy as a .223 so no reason to change.

Any other ideas for an action to build a bolt 35Rem? Mini Mauser, 799, Sako?

(Stainless prefered - I'm rough on rifles)

How about the Remington 600? Though it is not stainless you finish the metal in one of 'tough' high tec finishes.

might sound odd, but I always wanted to take a little 223 and rebuild to a 30 Remington. Launches 30 cal bullets perfect speeds for coastal California blacktails.

If one wants a .35 Remington the best action IMO would be a short action Rem 700 ....but the 600 and 660 would also do quite well.

I'd certainly not build on anything that was previously a .223 and this includes the Mini Mauser.

If I was to do a 30 or 35 Remington, I would get a Ruger 77 MKII in 7.62x39, and convert the action to feed. I think that would give the best results because the action is controlled feed, claw extractor. The bolt face and extractor would need to be opened very little. The sheet metal spacer in the magazine could easily be removed and shortened, then put back in the proper place for the longer cartridge. In other words I think little would need to be done to get it to feed right.

That's what I would do. I just hate to see anyone messing with wasting money on junk like the 600, 660 or 700.

I thought about it when I had one of the Rugers, but just figured it was too much money to invest in a limited use rifle.

The least expensive way is to use a Contender action, but you specified bolt action.

Frankly, let's get practical about this. To get the best use out of the rifle you'll need to handload anyway, and with handloads it's easy to duplicate 35 Rem ballistics in a 358 Win case, and it's much esier to find an action for the 358 Win. Practically any short action will do, with no modifications necesary.

That's what I would do, and forget the 35 Rem. Sorry to burst your bubble, but after you think about it long enough, and start counting dollars, and potential resale, you most likely would get there anyway.

KB

quote:

Frankly, let's get practical about this. To get the best use out of the rifle you'll need to handload anyway, and with handloads it's easy to duplicate 35 Rem ballistics in a 358 Win case, and it's much esier to find an action for the 358 Win. Practically any short action will do, with no modifications necesary.

That's what I would do, and forget the 35 Rem. Sorry to burst your bubble, but after you think about it long enough, and start counting dollars, and potential resale, you most likely would get there anyway.

KB

Oh boy. A .358Win has been clouding the radar the whole time I've thought of this project. There's always a handful Rugers, NIB, ready-to-roll out the door on GB and at the price point where I'd just be getting started with a 35Rem.

If Winchester would just see to chambering one of thier new Extreme Weather rifles in .358Winner, holy smokes!!!

I am in agreement on a 358 Win rifle. The 35 Rem is great, in a lever rifle. The case head is an odd size, .460".

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by PWS:
Oh boy. A .358Win has been clouding the radar the whole time I've thought of this project.

Well, let me continue with the clouding.

I thought about the 358 W chambering a long time, and I still think it's a good woods cartridge for deer and hogs, even black bear.

But since I was considering something in the "want" catagory, as opposed to the "need" catagory, and I had a nice Mauser LR '98 action looking to be re-deployed as a civilian, I went with a 9.3x57. It's a bit of an odd cartridge, and not much load data exists, but there is enough, especially here on AR. Brass is readily available too, but can be easily made from 8x57 brass. I think you can get a barrel from Lother Walther - pre-threaded and pre-chambered. You'll have to inquire to confirm. I got my barrel pre-threaded and pre-chambered from PacNor. They will also install the barrel. I also know a gunsmith who has a reamer.

I haven't hunted with my 9.3x57 Mauser custom yet, but it performs spectacularly at the range. I could shoot a dingle berry off a feral hog's tail at a hundred yards with it, and not upset the hog. It's a great cartridge for the handloader. As I remember, I'm using 4064 or 4895 with a charge that allows the 270gr Speer bullet to be seated, with the base of the bullet even with the junction of the case neck and shoulder, right on top of the powder, not compressed but no extra space either. Also, as I recall, the velocity is right at 2250fps, out of a 20" barrel.

I'm relatiely sure that 2300 fps is safely achievable, perhaps by using a ball powder, such as W748 or H335. I think 2400fps is achievable with a 250 gr bullet. Norma also makes a 232 gr bullet which may be useful. Then there's cast bullets, which opens up lots more possibilities. It's a cartridge that could keep you busy for a long time at the range, with a cronograph, testing all the possible loads for it. In my case, it was one of the easiest cartridges to develop a good load for. Basically the first attempt was successful, and the second load equally satisfying. I'm not looking for top velocity, but accuracy.

Based on my experience with the 9.3x57, I have completely lost interest in a 358 Win. Part of the reason is that I like Mauser actions, and this cartridge gave me another excuse to assemble one. And it's a fun rifle to boot.

KB

quote:

Originally posted by PWS:
I've got a shot out .223 Ruger 77 All-Weather and was thinking it'd make a pretty slick conversion. But... it's pretty handy as a .223 so no reason to change.

Any other ideas for an action to build a bolt 35Rem? Mini Mauser, 799, Sako?

(Stainless prefered - I'm rough on rifles)

PWS,
Looks to me, doing a 35Rem on a 223 action is not a good idea - The 35 rem is longer and the bolt face is much bigger in diameter. A rem short action would be an OK choice. But to me it's long enough to do a 35 Win which would be a step up in performance.

Now, there a CZ chambered for the 7.62x39 this may be an good option for rebarreling to the 35 Rem - Don't know?

quote:

Originally posted by RaySendero:
Now, there a CZ chambered for the 7.62x39 this may be an good option for rebarreling to the 35 Rem - Don't know?

I don't think it's a good option at all. The CZ 527 is too small, too short, and the magazine limits the cartridge length too.

The Ruger in 7.62x39 would be a good option because it's a normal length short action, and the 7.62x39 bolt face is smaller than the 35 Rem, but the Ruger action is too expensive IMO, because that rifle brings a premium price.

After all is done and said, a custom job in 35 Rem is a lot of money, and for not much in ballistics or nostalgia. It would be fun for a week or two, but wear off pretty quick for me. Often I've made choices that are not practical, but this is an example of where I draw a line between practical and not. There are other examples, such as trying to put a 45-70 in a bolt action. IMO, that's done by folks who just have too much time and money.

KB

A couple months ago, my dealer called me to say that a guy was moving out of state, and had dropped off 6 boxes of 358 Win ammo he no longer needed. As he didn't want it, I picked it up, having always been infatuated with the round, I soon bought a little Ruger Frontier. It's a gray laminated carbine with gray metalwork and a 16" barrel with a quarter rib. What a cool little rifle! Can't wait to use it on a Whitetail next season.

if you can find them, model 30 and 788 are factory..

since it will be a tough conversion, find someone who's done it.

otherwise 358 winchester can be loaded down. i've built severeal 358s.. buying the ruger in 358 is going to be the best bet going

Scratch the "built-for-223" actions then. I figured they might be a little to skinny.

There's a custom shop Model 7 and a Model 600 both already built in .35Rem on GB right now. The 7 is $1200+ and the 600 is a collector's gun. I didn't know the 788 came in .35Rem but I'll look around.

Bench rest actions are the next lead to follow up. The PPCs are ~.440 base and the .35Rem is ~.460 - pretty close. Length might be the only issue but I'm sure enough $$ could fix that .

I mentioned the 30 Remington on the 223 action since the 6.8SPC is the 30 Remington case and used in 223 guns, HOWEVER, if I was going after a 35 Remington I would use it in a pump. Like the Remington 141 I have with side mount scope, or just buy one of the Remington Model 7s that they made in 35 Remington. Local gunshop had one a few years ago that I almost bought.

Along the lines of Kabluewy's thinking, if you need a .35 look to the 9x57. Any small ring Mauser can be built into one. I load .35 Rem equivilents for fun shooting or load 250's at 2200 for a little more. Perfect for a SR Mauser or intermediate 98. Feeds a lot better than a .35 Rem.

Then again, the 9.3x57 is hard to beat. One of my favorites.

I've always wanted a bolt 35 rem, right now I'm sitting on a short action 700, but that will probably go to 358 win.

I've seen a few small ring mausers in 35 rem, didnt think to look at how they treated the bolt face.

I also recall a very nice Mannlicher Schoenauer in 35 rem, probably a 1903. Of course you can find these in 9X56. A MS in 35 rem would be super cool, and probably relatively easily converted from a 6.5MS.

Another interesting option would be a Savage 1920, just the right size action and cool looking, originally chambered in 300 and 250 Savage so it should be strong enough, just dont know what might need to be done at the bolt face. Every once in a while I see one thats beat up, and could be a good donor, but good condition ones are getting expensive.

Right now the easiest choice would be a rem 7. It's smaller size is probably more appropriate for a 35 rem than any other easily available action.

Here's the results of a quick search on Gunbroker. This is only a sample of what's available. Do your own search for more results.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=214481980

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=214167690

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=213818078

http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=214329627

Pretty much any SA action will do...but as been pointed out the case head is the "problem"...if you want a 35 Rem, buy a levergun, use Hornady ammo and be happy...or pay through the nose for a factory 35 Rem bolt gun at one of the auction "stop and rob" locations.

The 358 Win is a much better, more usefull cartridge than the 35 Rem, arguably. For the additional 0.008" dia increase pick the 9.3 cal or go up to .375.

Nothing wrong with the 9.3 or larger other than going that route also increases your costs as anything outside a "standard" case/caliber puts you into that "wildcat/custom" area and requires higher cost in dies and finding a smith with the right reamer or buying one, not as much choice in "cheap" barrels etc...your shooter, your choice.

Another way to go is buy the cheapest 11 FNS or 11 GCNS Savage in 308W and have a barrel in 358W cut at ER Shaw for $175 including shipping and screw it in or find a used one even cheaper. You wouldn't have to do ANYTHING with the feeding, and you would end up with a very accurate shooter
AND an extra barrel.

You could also go with the Savage FCNS in 270 or 300 WSM Savage and do a 35, 9.3, 375 or larger cal on the WSM case and REALLY have something to enjoy and not have to do any feeding work(just find a smith with the reamer and get a contoured barrel from ER Shaw or McGowen)...AND...you can download to 35 Rem or up to near magnum levels or anything in between... whatever your heart desires.

I will hopefully do a WSM this year since my 375/444 project went sour...I've been itching to do a WSM of some kind for one of my Savage SA's for a couple years...maybe the 325 WSM(quickest/simplest/cheapest) or a 35/9.3/375/416 WSM??

Look around, there are lots of ways to get whatever you want...nothing stands in your way except maybe MONEY.

Luck

Thinking outside the box a little here...
I have a 35 rem on a rebarreled carcano, did it for a lark just to see if it could be done.
What I would do, is find a jap 38 sporter and rebarrel. I use 35 rem brass sized to make 6.5 japs all the time and they feed fine. Cheap sporter, take-off barrel = great beater rifle.

I once owned a 35 Remington on a Swede action, fed just fine. I now own 2 different barrels for my contender, a 14 incher and a 23 inch carbine barrel in 35 Rem.. Then agtain I own a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington too. The lever gun is my favorite, peep sights and made in 1957.

What about a Savage 340. Should be cheap, still needs a re-barrel.

My 336/.35 is my favorite early season deer rifle but the .359 W in a bolt action is a better all-around choice. I've always wondered why American hunters have largely ignored perhaps the best mid-range big game cartridge ever put on the market.

The Sav 340 should work, not exactly sure about the 30-30 model tho'...even the .473" boltface should work without to many problems and there are always workarounds and it is fairly simple to mill/grind a .223 boltface to whatever size you want to fit.

Lots of military and other receivers would work, just takes deciding how much money you want to spend, checking out various receivers and a few measurements.

I like my 356W Marlin 336, but the Hornady 35 Rem offerings are very close in ballistics except for the heavier bullets, but now that the Hornady powder that drives the 35 Rem is available to reloaders, it puts the 356W back out ahead again.

Luck

That 1891 Mauser lying around should make a nice .35 Rem. conversion.

1910/1936 Mexican Mauser ?

quote:

Originally posted by Palidun:
I once owned a 35 Remington on a Swede action.

That's what I was thinking. Converted to cock on open, low scope bolt, and some nice wood, would be one sweet rig.

Just throwing it out there...
The 35 Gremlin is designed to get 35 Remington performance at the same oal as the 223 in a AR15 or bolt gun
You can rebarrel a CZ 527 made for 7.62x39 and go. The link for all the info is in my sig line. The 35 Gremlin is a necked up 6.5 Grendel or 35-7.62x39 improved. Close to the Russian 9x39

Presuming that dies and reamer are readily available, a 35 Gremlin would be a pretty neat and fun cartridge in either the AR or the CZ 527, or the mini-mauser. Anything with a bolt face for the 7.62x39 would also fit the Grendel case head. Either of those platforms IMO would be consistant with the cartridge, especially light, handy and compact. IMO, such a combo, bolt or semi-auto, would be much more desirable than a full size rifle made to work with the 35 Rem. A small scale rifle, handy like a 22LR would be appealing. I have little doubt that the 35 Grendel would be just as good as a 35 Rem ballistically. Seems to me it would be a very efficient cartridge.

However, the same thing can be said of the 6.5 Grendel, and I know dies and reamer are available for it. You wouldn't need a reamer, since Pac Nor will make the barrel using their reamer.

I checked the feeding of the cartridge in my CZ 527, and the magazine works perfectly with no modifications. IMO, the 6.5 Grendel is a better choice if I could have only one.

KB

You can order dies from Hornady
Fireball168 has done a lot of work on this cartridge already and you can see on his website.
http://www.bfgcartridges.com/358Gremlin.html
I'm sure you could get the reamer from him.