35 whelen ackley improved

[ronben]

I am considering rebarreling a pre64 m70 to 35 whelen ackley improved.  I wonder if any of you would sell me 5 cartridges so I gan check the feeding from the magazine before I commit.  I have had a tough time finding a smith that wants to deal with it.  I figure that if there are problems, I want to know before I commit.  All I really need is sized cases with a bullet seated. No powder or primer necessary.  Thanks!

[nomosendero]

I have thought of building a 35 Whelen AI myself. I would not do it for the extra vel., which
I don't think would be alot with this round, but rather I think this would be great from the standpoint
of headspace & shoulder design, too bad the original is not that way. I load the 30-30AI, 25-06AI &
30-06AI. The 30-30 made a BIG gain, which is common as is documented with the 250 Sav. & Sierra
Bullets data with the 6mm Rem. The 25-06AI picks up 125-140fps or so with my rifle. My 30-06 gain
seems minimal to me, probably less than 100fps, again common with that round. I trully expect a small
gain, more like 75fps on average with the Whelen, but your milage may vary. Some way folks got
to thinking that an Ackley automatically means a 100fps gain, which makes zero sense since the
percent of added cap. varies with each round.

Here is a link that I think will get you on your way. I believe the fellows on this 35cal.com sitesite will
get you all the answers if you contact them. As you can see, this data provided looks good.

http://www.35cal.com/loading.html#vz24

[Dave in WV]

IMHO you would get more power with a 9.3X62 than a 35 Whelen IMP. and not have the possible headaches of a CRF with a IMP. case. Again, that's an opinion.

[roper]

I am considering rebarreling a pre64 m70 to 35 whelen ackley improved.  I wonder if any of you would sell me 5 cartridges so I gan check the feeding from the magazine before I commit.  I have had a tough time finding a smith that wants to deal with it.  I figure that if there are problems, I want to know before I commit.  All I really need is sized cases with a bullet seated. No powder or primer necessary.  Thanks!

I have a 35 WhelenAI and it's long throated and if you PM me with your address I'll send you couple cases and OAL be the same as a factory 35 Whelen @3.340".  The 35 WhelenAI and 30-06AI share the same body dia at the shoulders.

Manson made the reamer for my 35 WhelenAI and the 30-06AI I shot for afew years.
Since your lacking a gunsmith you might try this site and give them a call and they help you out on the 35 whelenAI
http://www.pac-nor.com/wildcat/

I may do the 35 Brown Whelen next alittle better case capacity than the Ackley got a friend with one.  Well good luck

[Sourdough]

The only gunsmith in Fairbanks refuses to to an AI conversion on either my .35 Whelen or my 30-06. 

[ronben]

Sourdough, Does he say why?

[nomosendero]

Is it for a bolt gun or Handi? If for a Handi, I understand, if for a bolt gun I don't.

[Dand]

A good friend of mine has a 35 Whelen improved. Someone back in the New Hampshire area built it years ago.  Its been a great gun. He's taken a number of caribou and several large moose with it - one nearly made the record book.  Most were 1 shot kills.  He's even won turkey shoots with it. I don't think he's ever had any trouble with the gun - the action is a modern Mauser - 2000 or 3000?? Something like that.

[quickdtoo]

The only gunsmith in Fairbanks refuses to to an AI conversion on either my .35 Whelen or my 30-06. 

Rog,

Send it to site sponsor Wayne York, he's done lots of rechambers for me including the Whelen "Improve-improved" as he calls it, he's done a boat load of em for Alaskan hunters, he doesn't set the barrel back on a lot of bolt guns at the owner's request much the same as doing a fixed barrel, results in a little more case capacity, but factory ammo can't be fired in it due to the excess head space, has to be fire formed first either with a false shoulder or seating long into the lands. I get 2650fps with the 250gr Hornady RN in the 22" Handi 35 Whelen Improved.

Tim

www.oregunsmithingllc.com

[nomosendero]

The only gunsmith in Fairbanks refuses to to an AI conversion on either my .35 Whelen or my 30-06.  

Rog,

Send it to site sponsor Wayne York, he's done lots of rechambers for me including the Whelen "Improve-improved" as he calls it, he's done a boat load of em for Alaskan hunters, he doesn't set the barrel back on a lot of bolt guns at the owner's request much the same as doing a fixed barrel, results in a little more case capacity, but factory ammo can't be fired in it due to the excess head space, has to be fire formed first either with a false shoulder or seating long into the lands. I get 2650fps with the 250gr Hornady RN in the 22" Handi 35 Whelen Improved.

Tim

www.oregunsmithingllc.com

And that would be necessary if we are talking about a Handi instead of a bolt gun which is why I asked Sourdough the question. It would sure be a very slim majority who would do their bolt gun that way, I know I wouldn't, as it kills your ability to fireform factory & the powder cap. gain from a AI to "improved-improved" would be near nothing in this chambering. it would be logical then to go to a Brown Whelen.

If you are going to send it out of State, there a tons of Gunsmiths to use for boltguns.

[quickdtoo]

Yup, the Brown-Whelen would be a better choice for increased return on performance, but it also require expensive dies or I'd would have gone that route, he's been doing the Whelen Improved conversions without the barrel setback for the Alaskan bolt crowd for a long time, he knows his business, when I inquired about it last year he suggested it since he does it all the time. 

Tim

[nomosendero]

Yup, the Brown-Whelen would be a better choice for increased return on performance, but it also require expensive dies or I'd would have gone that route, he's been doing the Whelen Improved conversions without the barrel setback for the Alaskan bolt crowd for a long time, he knows his business, when I inquired about it last year he suggested it since he does it all the time.  

Tim

Right, since the shoulder is moved forward, no logic or purpose whatsoever in setting the barrel back for a Brown Whelen, die cost is a non-issue compared to the price of 1 hunt.  

[ronben]

I have some cases on the way.  Thanks Roper!  I sent a message to Wayne at oregunsmithing and may do my boys handi too.  I appreciate all your input.

[nomosendero]

Good deal, nice of roper to send the cases.

Good luck.