I've been looking for a good new or used 35 whelen in a classic sporter construction...

Win Model 70 is only available in the $3000 custom ultimate classic, Ruger doesn't make it at all, and I'm simply not paying money for a remmington.

the Gun MUST be a controlled-round-feed type... and I have no problem with Mauser-98 re-works... we already have one in 30-06, whats one more in 35-06!!!

help, please!

Hit the gun shows, find some type of commercial Mauser in a caliber with standard bolt face. Say a Mark X, FN, JC Higgins, etc., in 270, 30-06.

Buy a pre threaded & chambered 35 Whelen barrel from Brownells.

Take the works to a gun plumber and have the Whelen barrel installed.

This is what I did.

VZ-24 action $60
Drilled and tapped myself
installed Mark 2 safety $15
Timney trigger $27
Bolt welded on $55
A&B 35 Whelen barrel from Midway onsale $49
Boyds Laminate stock $89
Barrel installed $50
hotblue $75

$420 for a custom rifle

[ 12-04-2003, 16:36: Message edited by: Major Caliber ]

When I was looking a bit over a year ago all I could find were a couple left-overs from a special run Ruger did ( in 2001 I believe ). Those had the boat-paddle stocks on them and there were mixed reviews ( some feeding problems, if I recall correctly ).

I found a nice FN 8X57 with an old Bishop stock and Buehler-type safety on it and had it rebarreled. A Timney trigger and all was set.

Hey dasMafia,

You might want to listen to what the other posters have said. There is nothing like a custom made rifle. If you get a really good gunsmith who is capable to doing excellent stock work, you can have a real materpiece. The cost can be much less than you think.

Ask around and find the best custom gunsmith in your area. Talk with him about what you want and listen to what he has to say.

Here are some links to pictures of my .35 Whelen. You will be impressed! -- he said modestly...

Good shooting,

Smoker

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63937&sort=7&thecat=544&password=

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63940&sort=7&thecat=544&password=

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63942&sort=7&thecat=998&password=

http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=63941&sort=7&thecat=998&password=

Very nice. Never saw a schnabel done like that before.

looks like custom is it... no problem.

here's the next questions (and maybe there is a better place to ask this?), identifying a good Mauser.

I haven't spent enough time with them to really know the differences or even identify the differences.

so, really, what I'm asking is for a good source of information on the mausers and affordable custom guns... web sites, books, etc...

I love the m-98s, but I refuse to build it on a sub-par action or with rediculously expensive components.

we're having a trigger and saftey work done on our -06 mauser sometime next month... any reccomendations on that would be appreciated as well.

Smoker, that's a fine looking Whelen.

Here is what I did:

1917 Remington, cock on open, timney, drilled and tapped
26" Douglas barrel in 35 whelen AI.
blond stock with decelerator pad

Free! Gift from stepfather.

Great cartridge.

Red

One Whelen
Two Whelen
Three Whelen
Four!

And there are more out there, sometimes you find them, sometimes not.

You can flip through here looking for advice on mauser actions (do a search). And different people have their favorites.

Since you are willing to consider a custom/semi-custom, have you considered one of those Acrabond Ghosts that they were talking about putting out, if I remember correctly it was a Montana action, barrel, and nice acrabond laminate stock with pad and swivels.

You could also pickup a nice sporterized 03 or 03a3 and just rebarrel it. I picked up one for under 300 once, add another 350 for barrel and chambering etc. (maybe less), still under 650 for the whole deal!!!

Red

keep us updated on your progress, we all love watching guns come together.

thanks dago... I'll have to check those from home.

looks like me and the search function are going to have a long night!

I found one here on the forum, anxious to see if it works out!