I was thinking #3 and 24". Is this to light? For Alaska and Africa Plaingame. I like to take a different rifle every time. Maybe some Elk mountain hunting as well.

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
I was thinking #3 and 24". Is this to light? For Alaska and Africa Plaingame. I like to take a different rifle every time. Maybe some Elk mountain hunting as well.

No, not too light. A bit heavier than I like but certainly on the right track. A #4 is much too heavy.

I guess the length will depend on the powder you use.

This Ruger RS Whelen has a very light 22" factory barrel that finishes off at .560". It was too light until I bedded in a High Tech stock. It is perfect now. Are you trying to build something light?

I'd like something light.... but my wife my be shooting it at some point (read: I'm carrying it) so I need to tame the recoil.

I have 1917 Enfield at home that is going to be the donor action. It has a 23" 30-06 barrel, so I'm going to weigh it (seems about right weight) and then measure the barrel. It looks like a #2 contour to me, so I think #3 would be about right since the 35 will take more metal out of the barrel and I plan a newer, slimmer stock for it.

I recently held a no 3 douglas contour whelen at 26" and it was incredible.

My tang safety, Model 77 Ruger came from the factory with the standard 22 inch barrel and I had it re-barreled after a couple of years with a 26 inch Shaw barrel in #3 contour and love it.

Very old custom Springfield 1903 with a 25.5" barrel that is measurers .680" at the muzzle so that is at least a Douglas 4. Love it. My favorite rifle. If I were to build another one it would be 26" same basic taper with a 12 twist. If I wanted to go lighter, I guess I would go down to the 3 taper and save 1/2 pound but would not give up the 26" length. The length adds balance offhand and sitting. Makes the gun settle in recoil and since I also use iron sights and a peep most of the time on the Whelen, gives a great sight picture. Other than that, it is just cool!
dmw

quote:

Originally posted by Fury01:
Very old custom Springfield 1903 with a 25.5" barrel that is measurers .680" at the muzzle so that is at least a Douglas 4. Love it. My favorite rifle. If I were to build another one it would be 26" same basic taper with a 12 twist. If I wanted to go lighter, I guess I would go down to the 3 taper and save 1/2 pound but would not give up the 26" length. The length adds balance offhand and sitting. Makes the gun settle in recoil and since I also use iron sights and a peep most of the time on the Whelen, gives a great sight picture. Other than that, it is just cool!
dmw

Contour can have the same effect as length. You don't NEED a 26" barrel to have it settle nicely. That is more a function of contour and weight distribution.

Z1r,
"Contour can have the same effect as length. You don't NEED a 26" barrel to have it settle nicely. That is more a function of contour and weight distribution."
Within reason yes I agree. However i shot a 26" Reminton 3200 12 guage at International Skeet that balanced like a 2x4 made out of lead. We called it the "club." I also shot a Winchester 1400 with about 3 inches more OAL that weighed a pound less and it balanced and swung beautifully. I find the same thing with barrel beyond the forward hand with the Whelen. I suppose somebody could put math to this weight, fulcrum etc. and all but for me, 25.5" and contour and weight on the Whelen is just right and if I had to go one way or the other it would be another 1/2" longer.
To be fair; my buddy shot the 3200 like a house afire and loved it! Whatever works for you on guns, girls, and to some extent horses. I can't go as far as mules 'cause Mules just don't work.
best regards,
dmw

Some years ago Rick Jameison writing in Shooting Times did a interesting piece on efficiency,barrel length,and harmonic's for the 35 Whelen.. He used a Strain Gauge for his findings.. If I remember right he got back to well under 22" before Barrel Harmonic's/Accuracy and Velocity Loss all parted company.. Efficiency of Balance...

I would be interested in a copy of the Jameison Article to which you refer! However, I refer back to my guns, girls and horses comment to explain why I like my old Whelen as is.
Best regards,
dmw

I'd go no.2 at 22"...

I have a #4 Hart 25" -- it's heavy. Next time will go #3.

So here is a link to the "perfect" rifle for me. Though it is a 30 caliber, it would be perfect also in 35. (I don't know how to post pics so a link I hope is allowed.)
http://www.gunbroker.com/Aucti....aspx?Item=273351457
If you have won the lottery recently and are not sure what to do with it, just send the one to me!
Best regards,
dmw

I have a 35 whelen ai on a 1917 remington, with a 26" douglas barrel on it, not sure the contour. the rifle is my favorite for balance and the way it handles in my hands, not sure where that comes from but I love it (though sadly I haven't finished getting it back in service yet).

I just want to warn you on using the 1917 action for this cartridge though, if you're like me you'll constantly be saying "maybe I should just have it taken out to 358 Norma". something to consider before building it. if it wasn't a gift and didn't shoot great before I started playing with it I'd go ahead and have it rechambered.

Man that Jaeger rifle is NICE. it looks like somebody might get htemselves a hell of a deal. themarket is always great when I'm broke (or is it I'm always broke so doesn't matter? )

Red