35 Whelen Makeover (lots of picts)

The Accurate Reloading Forums

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/9411043/m/783103743

09 October 2005, 07:34

ElCaballero

35 Whelen Makeover (lots of picts)

I bought a 35 Whelen from Craigster last year and gave it a makeover. It is a Venezuelan FN M 24/30 action with a Douglas barrel, Tally barrel band swivel, butter knife bolt handle from Brownells and Marbles sights. The stock is a Black Walnut from GAGS. Roy Watson did all of the metal work and did the final inleting and bedding. I checkered and finished the stock. Go easy on me it was my first attempt.

BEFORE:

THE STOCK AS IT CAME FROM GAGS:

DURING:

AFTER:

09 October 2005, 07:53

vapodog

Very nice. I like the wood....nicely done.

Great hunting machine.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill

09 October 2005, 08:00

3584ELK

Nicely done, stock work is difficult at best.

Merkel 140A- .470NE
Beretta Vittoria- 12 Ga.
J.P. Sauer & Sohn Type B- 9.3x64mm
ArmaLite AR-10A4- 7.62x51mm
Franchi Highlander- 12 Ga.
Marlin 1894 CB Limited- .41 Magnum
Remington 722- .244 Rem.
and many, many more.

An honest man learns to keep his horse saddled.

09 October 2005, 08:31

LE270

Very good work.

I don't myself like butterknife bolt handles, but that's personal preference -- not any indictment of the work on this gun.

09 October 2005, 08:51

ElCaballero

quote:
Originally posted by LE270:
Very good work.

I don't myself like butterknife bolt handles.

I have never had one. I like the way the old euro rifles looked and tried to copy them. I don't know if I'll like it after I use it on a couple of hunts put that is one thing about bolt handles you can always change them!

09 October 2005, 09:00

craigster

Wes,

"The Extreme Whelen Makeover" turned out very nice. It's nice to know that the rifle has a good home, and I'm glad you're happy with it. Now get out there and kill something with it.

Craig

09 October 2005, 09:08

ElCaballero

quote:
Originally posted by craigster:
Wes,

"The Extreme Whelen Makeover" turned out very nice. It's nice to know that the rifle has a good home, and I'm glad you're happy with it. Now get out there and kill something with it.

Craig

Leaving on one week to kill Mr. Piggy!

09 October 2005, 13:44

TC1

Nice job! I never liked the butter knifle handles either till I used one.
You have something to be proud of.

Terry

09 October 2005, 13:59

malcolm56

good stuff, I like the sling swivel on the barrel. Are they 250 Speers in the ammo pouch?
malcolm56

09 October 2005, 18:15

Rusty

Looks like you have a rifle to be very proud of! Well done sir!

Rusty
We Band of Brothers!
DRSS, NRA & SCI Life Member
"I am rejoiced at my fate. Do not be uneasy about me, for I am with my friends."
----- David Crockett in his last letter (to his children), January 9th, 1836
"I will never forsake Texas and her cause. I am her son." ----- Jose Antonio Navarro, from Mexican Prison in 1841
"for I have sworn upon the altar of god eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Arbroath April 6, 1320-“. . .It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”

10 October 2005, 02:23

Thats very nice I like it !!

10 October 2005, 06:30

ElCaballero

quote:
Originally posted by malcolm56:
good stuff, I like the sling swivel on the barrel. Are they 250 Speers in the ammo pouch?
malcolm56

Actually it is 250gr Remington Corelocks. I just bought some factory stuff to get started. I have dies and will be working up a load with 225 and 250 grain bullets. I am a fan of Nosler Partitions but I have some Seirra Game Kings on hand. We'll just have to see what she likes.

Thanks for all of the kind words!

11 October 2005, 03:50

Barstooler

Nice rifle.

My next project is to take my 1903 Springfield Mk I, in 35 Whelen [with a 24" Douglas 1 in 12 barrel and a simple stock I made myself (in 1965), and upgrade it.

Bottom line, my eyes are getting so bad that I can no longer use the Lyman peep sight. So I figure to reblue the rifle, turn the bolt handle, and tap it for a scope -- probably a Leupold 1.75 X 6 -- and will need to add a Timney trigger.

As is, this rifle has taken 21 deer, 4 elk, and 2 bear, but I just can't use the peep sight any more so have to make some changes.

My "standard" load in the 35 Whelen for years has been a Speer 250 gr spitzer over 53 gr of IMR4895. This is a tack driver!\

Barstooler

11 October 2005, 20:40

mehulkamdar

El Caballero,

That is a very beautiful rifle. Congratulations and good hunting!

Mehul Kamdar

"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."-- Patrick Henry

12 October 2005, 21:22

Riodot

You did a beautiful job !!

Nice lookin' stock !

14 October 2005, 01:12

Wstrnhuntr

Very nice makeover ElCabelerro!

Do you know what the original purpose of the butterknife design was? For use with a scabbard. I like them myself because I think they add a touch of nostalgia to a good Mauser and I think they just look better than the typical ball knob.

What scope did you go with for your Whelen?

Be sure to try some Rlr-15 behind some 225 BT's. I think youll like it for them hogs.

Happy hunting!