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[Thedoveshooter]

I picked up this NOS Sako AIII action a couple years ago at a local gun show. Got it for $450. Still kicking myself for not buying the other AIII and the two AIIs he had. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm about to start planning things out for my new build on it. 95% sure I want a .35 Whelen.

The main thing I can't decide is if I want a standard stock or a Mannlicher style. I've always liked the full length stocks, but it'll probably cost a good amount more. I already have a nice myrtle blank I could use if I stick with a standard stock, but maybe I could trade it too.

Also, what twist would be the most universal for a .35 Whelen?

- thedoveshooter

 

[mdwest]

My whelen sports a 1:14 twist.. shoots very accurately with 200 and 225 grain projectiles.. I haven't tried 250's yet.. but I would imagine it will shoot them just fine as well..

FWIW both Shilen and ER Shaw use 1:14 as the standard for their whelen barrels.. when Green Mountain was still making barrels for M98's they were using a 1:14 for 35 whelen as well (not sure about other manufacturers..)...

 

[cash_tx]

I don't have a 35 Whelen, but i do have two rifles with full-length (Stutzen style) stocks. I think your choice of stock length would depend somewhat on barrel length. Most full-length stocks look good with a 20 or 21 inch barrel, but might look awkward if much longer. I think a regular stock with a schnabel forend looks great with a 22" barrel, or an ebony forend with a 24" or longer.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I picked up this NOS Sako AIII action a couple years ago at a local gun show. Got it for $450. Still kicking myself for not buying the other AIII and the two AIIs he had. Oh well.

Anyway, I'm about to start planning things out for my new build on it. 95% sure I want a .35 Whelen.

The main thing I can't decide is if I want a standard stock or a Mannlicher style. I've always liked the full length stocks, but it'll probably cost a good amount more. I already have a nice myrtle blank I could use if I stick with a standard stock, but maybe I could trade it too.

Also, what twist would be the most universal for a .35 Whelen?

- thedoveshooter

View attachment 514223View attachment 514224

@Thedoveshooter
Get a 1:12 twist barrel mate. Depending on your magazine length you could look into getting the chamber long throated to seat the projectiles out to 3.5 inches. This will allow tmyou to get even more out of the Whelen. I can load the accubond to a bit over 3.4". Also a lows the big 310s to be seated out a bit so you can get 2,400 plus fps. With the 1:12 you can stabilize any bullet without problems even the big 310gn Woodleigh RNSP.
I have found the best all round bullets to be the 225gn Woodleigh PPSP and the 225gn accubond. These launched at 2,900fps make a hard hitting, flat shooting 400yrds game cartridge.
There's plenty of articles on this forum on the 35 Whelen if you need load data. I have found Hogdon CFE223 to be the best powder for the Whelen but H4350 really makes the 310s talk.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My whelen sports a 1:14 twist.. shoots very accurately with 200 and 225 grain projectiles.. I haven't tried 250's yet.. but I would imagine it will shoot them just fine as well..

FWIW both Shilen and ER Shaw use 1:14 as the standard for their whelen barrels.. when Green Mountain was still making barrels for M98's they were using a 1:14 for 35 whelen as well (not sure about other manufacturers..)...

@mdwest
Try the 250gr speer hotcore or Woodleigh PPSP with 64gn of CFE223 for around 2,700fps. The old 250gr Hornady round nose at the same speed really puts a big hurt on game out 200 yards.
Recoil is getting up there but still very manageable.
Bob

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

The main thing I can't decide is if I want a standard stock or a Mannlicher style. I've always liked the full length stocks, but it'll probably cost a good amount more. I already have a nice myrtle blank I could use if I stick with a standard stock, but maybe I could trade it too.

The full stocked carbine is a stutzen.

Not all Mannlichers were full stocked and not all stutzen were Mannlichers.

Mauser stutzen from 1939 Stoeger:

Though full stocks were generally used on carbines, note the MS 'special order' options below.

Mannlicher Schoenauer:

 

[Kraut]

Just for thoughts: a Stutzen is something special. If done tasteful, it's just beautiful! Slim, handy, short and a joy to handle. My Mauser66 Stutzen has a length of 38,5", daughters Model 98 Stutzen is at 40" (98 cm, 104 cm). Your 35 Whelen could be a very nice Stutzen! In Europe, quite a lot 9,3x62s (very similar to the Whelen) are in use.

 

[BeeMaa]

35W is a fine cartridge and you will not go wrong with it, but I would like to point out that this is Africa Hunting and the option to go bigger is always out there.

Any consideration of going with a 375RUGER? Same OAL as the 35W but now it will be legal to hunt DG with your new rifle.

 

[mdwest]

35W is a fine cartridge and you will not go wrong with it, but I would like to point out that this is Africa Hunting and the option to go bigger is always out there.

Any consideration of going with a 375RUGER? Same OAL as the 35W but now it will be legal to hunt DG with your new rifle.

If we’re going to go DG, let’s go 416!

A 416 Taylor or 416 Ruger will fit in that action!

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

If we’re going to go DG, let’s go 416!

A 416 Taylor or 416 Ruger will fit in that action!

 

[Kraut]

A .416 Stutzen maybe?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Just for thoughts: a Stutzen is something special. If done tasteful, it's just beautiful! Slim, handy, short and a joy to handle. My Mauser66 Stutzen has a length of 38,5", daughters Model 98 Stutzen is at 40" (98 cm, 104 cm). Your 35 Whelen could be a very nice Stutzen! In Europe, quite a lot 9,3x62s (very similar to the Whelen) are in use.

@Kraut
A shutzen in 35Whelen would look beautiful but with full power loads (read 310gn at 2,455fps or a 250gr at 2,700fps ) would be a handful in the recoil department.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

35W is a fine cartridge and you will not go wrong with it, but I would like to point out that this is Africa Hunting and the option to go bigger is always out there.

Any consideration of going with a 375RUGER? Same OAL as the 35W but now it will be legal to hunt DG with your new rifle.

@BeeMaa
The 35 Whelen is a fine cartridge. It may not be legal for dg in a lot of areas but is legal for cape buffalo in some areas. I'm not advocating it's use on dg but under the right conditions I would have no problems using it on them.
Th OP was asking about the Whelen not other cartridges. For any pg including eland it is a fine cartridge.
Bob

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

The full stocked carbine is a stutzen.

Not all Mannlichers were full stocked and not all stutzen were Mannlichers.

Mauser stutzen from 1939 Stoeger:
View attachment 514519

Though full stocks were generally used on carbines, note the MS 'special order' options below.

Mannlicher Schoenauer:
View attachment 514520

I’d love to have one of the half stocked high velocity rifles with the single trigger in 9.3x62 one day. In factory original configuration that is. Hopefully there’s one out there somewhere. Maybe even in takedown configuration as well. One can dream..

 

[yumastepside]

.....so why not a 35W ?

Roger

 

[Thedoveshooter]

The full stocked carbine is a stutzen.

Not all Mannlichers were full stocked and not all stutzen were Mannlichers.

Mauser stutzen from 1939 Stoeger:
View attachment 514519

Interesting. I've never heard of the 8x51mm that's listed in the calibers.

 

[Brian Rothhammer]

Interesting. I've never heard of the 8x51mm that's listed in the calibers.

1939 Stoeger: