35 whelen?

[stuffy]

I'm wanting to buy a new rifle in 35 whelen. Being a left hander I have pretty well settled on a remington 7600 (Available again 2009). My question is, is it safe to rechamber one of these to 35 brown-whelen? The main reason to rechamber is to get a sharper shoulder (less cartrige trimming)
Thanks in advance for your consideration
Stuart

[Lastmohecken]

Well, I am no expert, but it just seems to me, that a pump 7600 is an odd gun to rechamber and reload for in general, but it will probably work out just fine.

I'am a lefty also, and the only 35 Whelen I have ever owned was a Ruger 77, which was an accurate gun with my handloads, but it had other issues I gave up on and sold it. I then ended up with a Remington 700 Classic in 350 Rem mag and I much prefer that combination over the Ruger77 in 35 Whelen.

If I was to try another Whelen, I would take an older Browning 95 leveraction, in 30-06 and rebarrel it for 35 Brown Whelen. Or take a Winchester Model 70 and rebarrel it to 35 Whelen.

I am sorry but I am not a big fan of the Remington Pump, for several reasons. Here is something else you should consider. Why not buy a Browning BLR in 358 Winchester. It's a great cartridge to handload for, and would be great for a lefty. And you won't have to do anything but scope it if you want to.

Remember also, that pump will require a safety change to be friendly for a lefty, but that is no problem, just another nusance.

Being a fellow lefty, I have used the older steel framed BLR's a lot over the last 20 yrs or so, and have found them to be about the best all-around rifles for a lefty that has ever been made.

I also shoot right hand boltactions, and have my whole life, but the BLR's have been responsible for forcing a lot of my boltactions to stand unmolested in the back of my gunsafe for extended periods of time. It's funny though, as I say this, I have just ordered a brand new Winchester Model 70 Featherweight boltaction in 30-06, that I will be getting next week. I needed another boltaction like I needed another hole in my head. Oh well.

[O.S.O.K.]

I don't see the need to rechamber. If you simply partially size (kinda like neck sizing but partially sizing the body) you will reduce the stretching and also get better accuracy in your rifle. I wouldn't want to rechamber a pump remington either - they are set up to cycle the round that they are chambered for and can have problems with improved cases.

[stuffy]

Thanks for the replies sort of what I thought. I've had a hankering for a whelen for years but can't get a lefty bolt to fit the bubget. I used a steel framed blr for a couple of years but we didn't really get on. Now don't get me wrong I've had or used lvers in22lr,22wmr,32/20, 357mag,44mag,12gauge and 30/30 that I loved but the blr just didn't carry or swing right for me.

[dr walker]

Stuffy have you given any thought to buying a left handed Savage bolt gun and rebarreling it. I have only rebarreled 1 Savage, but it was very easy and cheap.

[1886]

I had a 7600 .35 Whelen re chambered to .35 Whelen A.I. No alterations were made to the mag. It fed just fine. 1886.

[stuffy]

Stuffy have you given any thought to buying a left handed Savage bolt gun and rebarreling it. I have only rebarreled 1 Savage, but it was very easy and cheap.

Yes I have . As savages are one of the two guns my local gunshops always have in lefty I tried to scource a barrel but neither of the local barrel makers make 35cal as a standard caliber, one just said no they wouldn't make one. So its special order from the other or importing one one from the states . But the savage is still my fall back position

[Lefty Dude]

If you want an inprovement over the 35 Whelen the 338/06 is a much better choice than a 35 Whelen inproved. It is a 30-06 cartridge neck up to 338. The prefered brass for this wildcat is the 35 Whelen brass. Only requires a barrel change. And re-loading dies are made by RCBS.

My Nephew has one that my Brother re-barreled a 77 Ruger 25-06 to the 338/06. He wanted a cartridge that would be good for Elk, etc. That was 20 years ago, the young Man still has the piece and it is his very favorite Elk Rifle. I have witnessed several one shot kills on large Bulls he has shot. I believe he shoots a 210 gr. Nosler partition bullet.

[1886]

If you want an inprovement over the 35 Whelen the 338/06 is a much better choice than a 35 Whelen inproved. It is a 30-06 cartridge neck up to 338. The prefered brass for this wildcat is the 35 Whelen brass. Only requires a barrel change. And re-loading dies are made by RCBS.

My Nephew has one that my Brother re-barreled a 77 Ruger 25-06 to the 338/06. He wanted a cartridge that would be good for Elk, etc. That was 20 years ago, the young Man still has the piece and it is his very favorite Elk Rifle. I have witnessed several one shot kills on large Bulls he has shot. I believe he shoots a 210 gr. Nosler partition bullet.

Why is the .338/06 a better choice other than bullet selection? Still the .35 bore has plenty of great bullets. B.C. favors the .338 bore with comparable S.D./bullet weights but inside 300yrds it is not even worth discussing. I have owned both a .338-06 A.I. and the .35 Whelen A.I. The Whelen would produce consistently produce 50-75fps more velocity with equal barrel lengths. This by no means a scientific sample and these are only two rifles but the larger bore diameter would suggest an advantage for the Whelen improved. Not much but to suggest that the .338-06 is a much better choice....Well lots of fellas may take issue with that statement. Regards, 1886.