I am giving consideration to having a pre-64 M70 06' barrel re-bored to the whelen. I have both a featherweight and standard weight barrel. Jes re-boring says the featherweight is big enough at the muzzle but I'm not sure I want to go that light. I don't mind a 8 1/2 - 9# rifle rifle but the featherweight does intrigue me as well. I suspect the re-coil difference will be noticable. For those of you who have a whelen, what are your thoughts on this? thank you.
I personally prefer a light contour barrel on a Whelen, as I find the recoil more push than hit. Mine has a 24-inch barrel and measures .575 at the muzzle.
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Posts: 3866 | Location: Eastern Slope, Colorado, USA | Registered: 01 March 2001
Randall Redman rebored a pre'64 M/70 to .35 Whelen for me more than 25 yrs. ago, it is my favorite hunting rifle. I would not hesitate to have a Featherweight rebored to .35 Whelen as the recoil is more gentle than most folks realize and I don't feel the lighter barrel would change that significantly.
Posts: 414 | Location: Indiana | Registered: 22 November 2015
My Whelen has a #3 contour Shilen cut to 22". For my purposes, light and compact enough to carry through underbrush for hours but enough weight to mitigate recoil. My opinion, my rifle.
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Posts: 579 | Location: Texas | Registered: 07 January 2015
Originally posted by devere: thank you to all who have replied thus far. For Butchlampert: did you mean that you and others have used JES for re-bores and were very pleased?
Yes Sir, I read the thread on JES and was very surprised. Not saying it didn't happen, just wasn't anything like our experience.
I’ve measured three Oberndorf Mauser barrels in 9.3x62 (two Type A’s and a B) and all three measure 15mm, or about .590” at 23.6”. The 9.3’s are .366” groove diameter vs .358” for the Whelen. Phil Shoemaker has posted pics on here of his pre-64 model 70 in 9.3x62. I believe it has a 21 or 22” pre-64 featherweight contour barrel. A Whelen on the featherweight wood seem about the same recipe for bear and moose smackin’.
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.600” @24” is my favorite contour for 35 Whelen. A joy to carry. I’m having a 358 Norma put together right now using the same criteria. I definitely wouldn’t worry about going too light for a 35 Whelen, unless you are extremely recoil sensitive.
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Posts: 668 | Location: Missouri | Registered: 15 June 2014
My attitude is to go as light as you can. If then you want to add weight, simply glass bed lead shot into the barrel channel. In this manner you get the balance you want and the weight you want. I'd opt for the .600 diameter muzzle.
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Posts: 28849 | Location: western Nebraska | Registered: 27 May 2003
Few years ago, I built a 9.3 x 62 (ABout same ballistics as 35 Whelen.) 7 lbs 15 oz, with the scope 8-11. Grandsons (13 and 15)shot it without comment on the recoil, wouldn't have wanted it any heavier
Posts: 3673 | Location: Phone: (253) 535-0066 / (253) 230-5599, Address: PO Box 822 Spanaway WA 98387 | www.customgunandrifle.com | Registered: 16 April 2013
well, for better or worse, I had the featherweight barrel re-bored. I liked the idea of a little shorter over-all length and easier packing over the standard 24" barrel. I'm still putting it together so have not shot it. It looks like the weight will be around 8-8 1/4#. The stock is a factory hi-comb with an original ventilated recoil pad. I may swap a steel floorplate and trigger guard for the featherweight to add a little weight if necessary. Unless it shoots terribly, it will go with me to Kodiak Island for a hunt with my son. thanks for all your input.
