Since i now have my pre 64 30,06 and it is such a good shooter, i have been wondering what I would do with my model 70 classic 30,06.
I was thinking I might do a .257 Roberts improved , but I think i want to do another whelen. The one I have is fine but it is matt with a syntheticc stock and I just a wooen one thats blue.
Here is what i am thinking of. 1st order brockmans new scope base that works with the tally qd rings and has a spring loaded peep site that pops upwhen you remove the scope. Then take it to the smith put on a 24 inch douglas barrel mabye a williams floor plate. and trigger guard.( might just go with the stock though). The rifle has a prety good piece of wood so I might just strip off the finish hand sand it and hand rub an oil finish on it. Change out the pad and mabye put one of those cross bolts you see on Big game rifles through the stock just so it it doesent look to much like a stock model 70. Not sure what to do for a front site. Probably scope it with a 1.5X5 VX3
. I would like the 1.75X6 but its only available in matt. one of the europian 30 leupolds might be good but certanly a low end variable of some type.
Unless I get another Idea, I'll probably start the project 1st of the year...tj3006

for that amount of work you might want to look at the 9.3 X 62 instead of the whelen.

Further I'd suggest a totally new fancy english walnut stock for the rig. It's got to be worthy of the time you are spending on it.

I've been sitting in my office this morning thinking of a very similar project. I have a 30-06 Super Grade that is just a bit to heavy to live life as a 30-06. It would just make more sense for it to be a Whelen or a 9.3x62.

I'm planning to go to Africa in '07 for eland and both of these calibers would be good. Right now I'm leaning towards the Whelen since it may shoot a little flatter with similar power to the 9.3.

There has been a few e battles fought on this site between the 9.3 X 62 and the Whelen.
Personaly i like them both and can't see any reason to call one better than the other.
If i was building on a mauser action, i might go with the mauser round. but since i am using an american action I think the whelen just seems more appropriate. And I think the ability to use bullets as light as 180 grains makes the whelen abit more versital in the US.
an English walnut stock might be a really classy way to go, but like I said the wood on my factory stock is really prety darn good.
If I am not happy with the way it looks when i am done, i can allways have it restocked later...tj3006

I agree with you about an American cartridge for an American action. Just seems better to me. I doubt you would see any difference on game.

Both cartridges are classics.

Here is what I did with my whelen.

very nice elcab ! the one i already have is on a 98 action with a synthetic stock and an adams and bennet barrel, shoots real well. Leupold 2X7 in an old redfield base. Shoots prety well and i carried it alot elk hunting this last year...tj3006

Why not Ackley Imp it and along with a little more juice your case trimming will all but cease to exist. Lots of great bullets out there and inexpensive ones for plinking.