tddeangelo
Handloader
- May 18, 2011
- 2,024
- 21
I got my 35 Whelen to the range tonight. A quick version of the rifle's back-story:
This rifle started life as a Model 70 DBM-S (Detachable Box Magazine-Synthetic) rifle in 30-06. It came in an injection molded plastic stock. For several years, it was a great shooter with Hornady Light Mag ammo, then it kinda stopped shooting well. I tore my hair out reloading trying to get it back, to no avail. So I pillared and bedded the crappy stock. Then it shot 0.5-0.8" at 100. But I knew I wanted to get it in a new stock eventually.
Summer 2012, I bought a "user grade" pre64 30-06 with the intent to make a Whelen from it. Problem was, I liked it too much! So the Classic got the nod.
This summer I sent it to JES Reboring and Jess worked his magic. I bought parts from Winchester's part dept to replace the mag setup with a standard floorplate (1-piece bottom metal), and an internal setup. Then I bought a McMillan off 24HCF for it. Problem was, it didn't fit the stock. McMillan had me send it back, and after some negotiations, they fixed it free of charge.
I received the completed rifle on Wed. and mounted up the Swaro Z3 3-10x42 I've had waiting for it.
Tonight I shot it with three loads.... 55.0gr, 56.0gr, and 57.0gr of IMR4320 under a 250gr Speer HotCor.
Here are the results:
55.0gr
57.0gr
The POI is higher because I had to use a center hold (had to use that dot to zero, so I wanted to make sure shots didn't run together from the sighters). I used a 6 o'clock hold for the 55.0gr load.
Both measure about 0.95". Tonight I put 12 rds down the tube. Aside from whatever JES put through it to test fire it, that's all the rounds in the barrel since it was redone.
To say I'm happy is an understatement!
This rifle started life as a Model 70 DBM-S (Detachable Box Magazine-Synthetic) rifle in 30-06. It came in an injection molded plastic stock. For several years, it was a great shooter with Hornady Light Mag ammo, then it kinda stopped shooting well. I tore my hair out reloading trying to get it back, to no avail. So I pillared and bedded the crappy stock. Then it shot 0.5-0.8" at 100. But I knew I wanted to get it in a new stock eventually.
Summer 2012, I bought a "user grade" pre64 30-06 with the intent to make a Whelen from it. Problem was, I liked it too much! So the Classic got the nod.
This summer I sent it to JES Reboring and Jess worked his magic. I bought parts from Winchester's part dept to replace the mag setup with a standard floorplate (1-piece bottom metal), and an internal setup. Then I bought a McMillan off 24HCF for it. Problem was, it didn't fit the stock. McMillan had me send it back, and after some negotiations, they fixed it free of charge.
I received the completed rifle on Wed. and mounted up the Swaro Z3 3-10x42 I've had waiting for it.
Tonight I shot it with three loads.... 55.0gr, 56.0gr, and 57.0gr of IMR4320 under a 250gr Speer HotCor.
Here are the results:
55.0gr
57.0gr
The POI is higher because I had to use a center hold (had to use that dot to zero, so I wanted to make sure shots didn't run together from the sighters). I used a 6 o'clock hold for the 55.0gr load.
Both measure about 0.95". Tonight I put 12 rds down the tube. Aside from whatever JES put through it to test fire it, that's all the rounds in the barrel since it was redone.
To say I'm happy is an understatement!
