I have three 35's: Rem.700 CDL in 35 Whelen, Rem. Classic 35 Whelen and a Ruger MKII 350 Remington Mag. I've been thinking about rechambering the CDL to 358 Norma or possibly rechambering the Ruger to a 350 WSM. What are you fellas ideas on that? Or maybe just stick with what I have for elk hunting. Maybe just AI the CDL?

As to modifying any of your 35's to .358 Norma, I guess I have to ask "Why?" I've shot a fair number of elk, and must say I've never seen an elk a .30-06 with 180 gr. bullets wouldn't handle just dandy.

When living in Alberta & Saskatchewan, I had a custom .358 Norma Mag built. It was one of the more accurate rifles I've ever owned. But I soon quit using it, then after letting it be a safe queen for a few years traded it off. It simply was not needed, even where one might on occasion run into a grizzly bear.

If you want a .358 NM just for the fun of having one, I'd say, go for it! But I don't think elk hunting requires one.

If the MKII has a std. length action, it would be cheaper/easier to convert that to 358NM. Good caliber, but no flys on the 35whelen either. Just get 75yds closer.

Before I'd consider any conversion to .358 Norma with any of the guns you have mentioned, I'd trade one for a .375 Ruger.....serious power and a lot less costly than trying to convert a .35 Whelen to .358 Norma.

MKII is a factory short action fredj338. These ideas of mine have just been pondering I guess. I do know I really like my whelens, the 350 mag, well I just need to shoot it more. I've only run factory loads through it so far. I'll ponder some more and hopefully kill another elk with my whelen this year!

That 358 Norma is interesting though. Recoil might be a little stiff in a sub 8lb rifle too.

P.S. The 350 is scuffing cases pretty bad going into the chamber, how can I fix that for a smoother feed?

The 358 Norma Mag. is a heck of a cartridge but the 35 Newton would be even better .

If you are considering the .358 Caliber, you might do well to look at the .358 STA chambering. I got one and liked it so well I got another. It is my go to Elk round now and my son claims the second rifle as his. It has also been with me to Alaska, Alberta and Africa, where it is an excellent Plains game getter. Good shooting.

Done thinkin. I'll just stick with my whelen for now. Thanks fellas

quote:

Originally posted by raybass:
P.S. The 350 is scuffing cases pretty bad going into the chamber, how can I fix that for a smoother feed?

Welcome to the Ruger WSM actions ... look on the bright side ... at least it feeds!! Get a 'smith to smooth it out for you, from memory mine had a few big burrs and cartridges needed to sit a little higher.

A friend has converted/rebarrelled his Ruger 300WSM to 35Sambar (35WSM) and the initial velocities of around 50-75fps behind the 358Norma that were published by Breil Jackson in Guns & Game magazine where confirmed. It's a lot of recoil in a light rifle though!
Cheers...
Con

Thats what I was thinkin it would do. From what I understand they set the barrel back and rechamber. Would be pretty cool but I'll wait and shoot it for a while like it is other than getting a smith to smooth it up on the feeding.