What's the easiest way to convert a 700 from 30-06 to 35 Whelen? I remember reading of someone mentioned here who will bore out a barrel. The 700 has the standard sporter barrel, what O.D. does the muzzle need to be to accommodate the change? Boring the existing barrel seems easier than a rebarrel job. This is a working rifle, not a show piece, and being a working stiff money is a factor.

Thoughts, comments, recommendations?

I’ve got a Rem 700 that Jess at 35caliber.com rebored from 30-06 to 35 Whelan. I believe it cost me $225 and it was well spent. It’s a very nice rifle., no issues at all. Call Jess and talk with him. He’s very helpful.

Another vote for Jess as above. He has done a couple of projects for me, a Ruger No.1 to .35 Whelen and a Husqvarna single shot bolt rifle to, of all things, .38 Special. Both shoot extremely well and I couldn't be more pleased with his price and turnaround times.

Other than the above work, I have no connection with Jess or his business; just a happy customer.

The two posts above mine say it all. Get in touch with JES. He is quick and inexpensive.

My experience was a Douglas premium air gauged barrel on a Remington 700 action. It shot patterns instead of groups no matter what I tried.

I sent it to JES and he bored it to 35 Whelen.

With no other changes, it shot almost everything into great groups. The only exception was some Hornady Super Performance 200 grain ammo. That particular load shot as badly as the original 30-06 did.

Thanks guys, that sounds like the way to go.

Another vote for Jes...he's done 3 for me...ALL shot great, no problems...I highly recommend him.


Good Hunting

Just for the sake of being thorough, look up the threads by just-a-hunter on his JES rebore. It may give you a different perspective.

JES rebored my 30-06 to a 338-06.He did an excellent job with a very quick turn around.14 days from the time I shipped it from Texas to Oregon and back to me.I've shot groups under 1/2",so I cannot complain one bit on his work.And the price is unbeatable too.

If you decide to go the JES route be sure to ask him if he as figured out the problem he had about 2 years back where he was producing undersize bores, high pressures and blew up at least one rifle for an AR member here. A second member here was having same difficulties and JES didn't stand behind his work on either occasion..

I did one a commercial mauser. Be aware that the SAAMI 35 Whelen chamber has a long Weatherby style free bore. If I had taken the time to look that up I would not have rebarreled the rifle to 35 Whelen. Be warned accuracy will never be top shelf. IF you have a custom reamer made there is no guarantee that factory ammo will be safe.

Yet another example of stupid SAAMI specs that hamstring a great old cartridge.

"What's the easiest way to convert a 700 from 30-06 to 35 Whelen?"

Just buy a prechambered and threaded barrel from Pac-Nor. Turn the shoulder back to set the headspace. It does not get any easier.

Re-boring is labor intensive. Time costs. I would never rebore a modern bolt gun barrel.

I would never even consider having a barrel rebored unless I wanted to retain a unique outside configuration.
Full disclosure though; I sell new Douglas barrels in original Rigby and Oberndorf contours. Never an issue with them.