Author Topic: Start of a Stevens 200 Action into a 358 Winchester. Udated 2/04/2012 (Read 7032 times)

JesterGrin · « **Reply #30 on:** February 04, 2012, 11:28:27 AM »

Quote from: mo_bio on February 03, 2012, 04:23:51 PM

I had the same idea. Mine started life as a stevens 200 in .270 that was just not working. Here is what it turned into. 338-06 and love it. I hope yours does as well as this one. It is a true 1 holer at 100.

Your Rifle looks Nice.

You know the Choice Between the 338-06 and the 35 Whelen Drove me Flat NUTS. But I went with a 35 whelen. It sure SMACKS

But you know how things are I just had to build a Shorter Version so it is the .358 Winchester lol.

RevJim · « **Reply #31 on:** February 06, 2012, 06:18:27 AM »

Well, you should be able to load up to Weatherby power levels ( 74,000) as that long handle can certainly lever out any sticky cases, ha. I just had to tease you! Nice looking rifle.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #32 on:** February 06, 2012, 10:39:34 AM »

Quote from: RevJim on February 06, 2012, 06:18:27 AM

Well, you should be able to load up to Weatherby power levels ( 74,000) as that long handle can certainly lever out any sticky cases, ha. I just had to tease you! Nice looking rifle.

I know I know and it is Ok. And thank you for the compliment.

I have a strong feeling that the .358 Winchester may end up being my main hunting rifle.

That is not to say I do not like the 35 Whelen I do very much.

mo_bio · « **Reply #33 on:** February 07, 2012, 03:23:41 PM »

Thanks for the comments about my 338. I scratched the 35 whelen itch this week when I bought a barrel for my Handi. I now get to play with both "bigger" 06s. Life is good!

JesterGrin · « **Reply #34 on:** February 07, 2012, 06:58:15 PM »

A 35 Whelen in a Handy Rifle. I would look for a very good recoil pad lol. Limb Saver might be the way to go on that one. And stay with the 200-225Gr Bullets.

JWP58 · « **Reply #35 on:** February 08, 2012, 09:40:02 AM »

Great looking rifle. But whats with the bolt knob?

mo_bio · « **Reply #36 on:** February 08, 2012, 01:59:15 PM »

Quote from: JesterGrin on February 07, 2012, 06:58:15 PM

A 35 Whelen in a Handy Rifle. I would look for a very good recoil pad lol. Limb Saver might be the way to go on that one. And stay with the 200-225Gr Bullets.

I haven't shot it yet but suspect you are right. I expect I will know that I have pulled the trigger on it. I think the 45-70 handi may have a bit more. I shot it today and it has a bite to it.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #37 on:** February 08, 2012, 06:18:35 PM »

Quote from: JesterGrin on February 04, 2012, 10:03:58 AM

Quote from: RevJim on February 04, 2012, 04:14:14 AM
Hey Jestergrin, I'm curious about your choice of bolt handle? It sure seems long to me. The way I use a bolt gun, I like the knob in my palm and a shorter bolt seems a little more natural. I also would not want to try and slide that long bolt handle in and out of a tight scabbard or gun case. I am not knocking your choice, just curious.

RevJim I am also not sure about it. It is the first Bolt Handle that I have made. I wished it to be larger in case of cold hands or gloves.

And you are right in a case of probably any sort I will have to remove the bolt handle and pack it. But I will see how it works out. I can always make another one lol.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #38 on:** February 08, 2012, 06:20:20 PM »

Quote from: mo_bio on February 08, 2012, 01:59:15 PM

Quote from: JesterGrin on February 07, 2012, 06:58:15 PM
A 35 Whelen in a Handy Rifle. I would look for a very good recoil pad lol. Limb Saver might be the way to go on that one. And stay with the 200-225Gr Bullets.

I haven't shot it yet but suspect you are right. I expect I will know that I have pulled the trigger on it. I think the 45-70 handi may have a bit more. I shot it today and it has a bite to it.

The Handy would not be my first choice for a 45-70 lol. But with trapdoor level loads it should work fine.

You did not mention which one you shot that had the bite to it?

rickt300 · « **Reply #39 on:** February 12, 2012, 04:35:39 AM »

That is a pretty neat looking 358. Hope it shoots as good as my Whelen.

tacklebury · « **Reply #40 on:** February 12, 2012, 03:02:00 PM »

Quote from: JesterGrin on February 08, 2012, 06:20:20 PM

Quote from: mo_bio on February 08, 2012, 01:59:15 PM
Quote from: JesterGrin on February 07, 2012, 06:58:15 PM
A 35 Whelen in a Handy Rifle. I would look for a very good recoil pad lol. Limb Saver might be the way to go on that one. And stay with the 200-225Gr Bullets.

I haven't shot it yet but suspect you are right. I expect I will know that I have pulled the trigger on it. I think the 45-70 handi may have a bit more. I shot it today and it has a bite to it.

The Handy would not be my first choice for a 45-70 lol. But with trapdoor level loads it should work fine.

You did not mention which one you shot that had the bite to it?

I use plenty of .45-70 loads that are in the upper levergun range with no issues. I don't quite go into #1 level loads, but if the recoil is kicking you too hard, get a limbsaver slip-on. I enjoy shooting mine a lot better with one on there. hehe

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #41 on:** March 05, 2012, 06:49:42 PM »

Very nice rifle Dan built for you! I'm going to be playing with the one he built for me this spring. I think it's going to be my "go to" bolt action. I'm sure it's going to shoot as good as it looks, Dangerous Dan does great work. What powder are you going to use for the 358? I've heard very good things about Ramshot TAC, and IMR3031 seems to be the old standby. Congrats on a beautiful rifle. DP

JesterGrin · « **Reply #42 on:** March 11, 2012, 10:39:07 PM »

A few updated pictures from Dan.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #43 on:** March 11, 2012, 10:40:45 PM »

And a little load work up with the Sierra 225Gr as that is what he had on hand.

I think I will have to name it Kick Stand for obvious Reasons lol. Dan had a good idea on that one lol.

Not sure on Powder as of yet. But I do have TAC, IMR-3031, H-322, IMR-4350 on hand.

rickt300 · « **Reply #44 on:** March 12, 2012, 05:43:01 AM »

Looks like she shoots plenty good. I haven't loaded any 225 Sierra's yet but I like the 220 Speer and the 250 Speer hotcors a lot. It is easy to load the 250 gr. bullets up past the point of pleasant recoil in a Whelen. The 220 gr. class of bullet at 2400 fps are just right for my shoulder.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #45 on:** March 12, 2012, 07:07:39 AM »

Quote from: rickt300 on March 12, 2012, 05:43:01 AM

Looks like she shoots plenty good. I haven't loaded any 225 Sierra's yet but I like the 220 Speer and the 250 Speer hotcors a lot. It is easy to load the 250 gr. bullets up past the point of pleasant recoil in a Whelen. The 220 gr. class of bullet at 2400 fps are just right for my shoulder.

Rick this one is a .358 Winchester not the Whelen

.

Dan just likes the Sierra 225Gr as he says they prove to be accurate.

I do not plan to use them since I hunt and have not read many good reports on the Sierra 225Gr.

But I did get some Hornady 200 Gr FTX to give a try and also have some Speer 250Gr Hot Core as well as 250Gr Grand Slams. Along with a couple of cast bullet molds to give a try.

That is when I get the rifle in my hands lol.

rickt300 · « **Reply #46 on:** March 12, 2012, 05:53:36 PM »

My 358 was a early BLR with the low combed stock and it was a bit buckish with 250 gr. bullets also. I tend to load my Whelen down to levels easy to reach with the 358 such as 2500 fps with 200 gr. bullets, 2400 fps with the 220's and 2200 fps with the 250's. I needed no more horsepower for many hogs and deer.

oneoldsap · « **Reply #47 on:** March 29, 2012, 11:19:06 AM »

It looks heavy !

JesterGrin · « **Reply #48 on:** March 29, 2012, 07:32:30 PM »

Quote from: oneoldsap on March 29, 2012, 11:19:06 AM

It looks heavy !

The Thumb Hole stock by Boyd's is pretty light with just a Savage Short Action. The only thing that might be heavy is the barrel which is a Heavy Mag Contour but it was cut from 24 inches down to 20 inches.

And the most important thing is I did not build this rifle for a child or a young boy. Along with it being a .358 Winchester it is no Pop Gun lol. Along with that fact that I will be sure to appreciate the extra barrel weight when I start shooting pills from 250Gr to 300Gr's. The 300's will be cast from the 358009.

I would like to add that I have a couple of Rem 600's in .243 Win and have fired the Rem 600 in .350 Mag of which the rifle I built here is pretty much the same in size except for the barrel weight of which I felt the Rem 600 was lacking in to make it a comfortable shooter. Along with a Thumb Hole stock of which helps in the ergonomics to even out recoil. Plus with the thicker barrel that is full floated I can if I so wish shoot longer strings much more consistent than one could with a thin barrel. Yes I know the only shot that really counts is the 1st one. But why not have something that has good handling characteristics along with consistent accuracy. That is what I was aiming for when I had this rifle built by Dangerous Dan and thus far I feel it has been accomplished very well indeed.

As you may or may not be able to notice that even though I am pretty much a novice at this stuff I thought long and hard about what I wanted from the completed rifle.

Which was a Handy Size along with a stable platform chambered in a great Ole Time all around good Hunting round the versatile .358 Winchester.

The only thing I am thinking on is that I might have made the Bolt Handle a tad long lol. But only some time will tell.

Not the 10th Man · « **Reply #49 on:** March 30, 2012, 01:47:25 PM »

That looks like a real fun rifle. I never would have thought it before I got one myself, but the .358 Winchester is just a by gosh fun gun to shoot.

I'm fairly certain that as much as I appreciate my Browning A-Bolt, my next rifle will be a Savage/ Stevens project, much like yours.

I like the bolt handle! Looks like a fantastic winter wolf/ coyote gun.

grizzlyadams1874 · « **Reply #50 on:** May 15, 2012, 10:16:45 AM »

i'm just starting on one thats starting from a mauser 98, that's going to be a 35 whelen or 35 whelen improved when i'm done. i thought about going with the 358 and building it up into a "scout" rifle also. not sure yet but probably going to go with the long cartridge and a 24 inch barrel. i have a leupold 2x7 sitting in my safe that will mate nicely with it.