Been kicking around putting together a carbine-size 35 caliber since earlier this September after this year’s season.
I had to hunt some new areas due to fires around me and I found my current setups to be unsuited for these new places.
Specifically, I spent my season in some very heavy timber and the river bottom foothills rather than my typical high alpine where stops can be far and fairly open.
My go to rifle the past several seasons has been a little 7mm wildcat set up for chasing bear/bucks in these areas around me. It has a 4-20x Tract which was actually a step down from the 6-24 it wore last season.
4x is still too much for the areas I found myself locating critters this season so I opted for my little ultralight 6 ARC which wears a 2-10x36 Credo HX. Excellent scope! Sadly, I just didn't have the confidence to send a round on a monster bear at 150 yards which left me wanting more. A lot more! Like .338+
I considered creating a wildcat or rechambering my ARC for one of the AR rounds that are fairly new to the industry before my practical took control and pushed me towards the 338 RCM. I thought I successfully had one purchased only to have the sale fall through which sent me back to the drawing board.
This deal fall through the day before Lipseys announced their limited run of the Alaska Bish Rifle in 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 and try as I might, I could not find one anywhere but gunbroker with a massive price bump attached. I also looked into ordering myself the new 16” 358 Hawkeye Hunter. It would seem this has also been a very popular choice because neither of my dealers could obtain one and put me on a wait list.
After trying my best to find/buy a damn Ruger through a few dealers constantly failing I started cruising GB this past week…
I picked up a stainless Montana Rifles 300WSM and will finally have myself a 35 caliber carbine!
I’m currently debating sending to JES as soon as I pick it up this week to get bored out and rechambered to 35-300 WSM or just buying a new Douglas #4 and having my gunsmith install and true and tune the barreled action up for me while it’s there.
I also ordered a Bansner Miller stock to drop this barreled action into once it’s all finished up. I’m hoping for a rifle in the 7.5-8.5lbs range scoped and loaded and figure this will be an excellent everything rifle going forward.
The ARC, 7mm Moses and 30 Nosler may get jealous as I imagine they might be left sitting a lot going forward with this new 35 and my custom 30-30AI getting most of the attention.
I had to hunt some new areas due to fires around me and I found my current setups to be unsuited for these new places.
Specifically, I spent my season in some very heavy timber and the river bottom foothills rather than my typical high alpine where stops can be far and fairly open.
My go to rifle the past several seasons has been a little 7mm wildcat set up for chasing bear/bucks in these areas around me. It has a 4-20x Tract which was actually a step down from the 6-24 it wore last season.
4x is still too much for the areas I found myself locating critters this season so I opted for my little ultralight 6 ARC which wears a 2-10x36 Credo HX. Excellent scope! Sadly, I just didn't have the confidence to send a round on a monster bear at 150 yards which left me wanting more. A lot more! Like .338+
I considered creating a wildcat or rechambering my ARC for one of the AR rounds that are fairly new to the industry before my practical took control and pushed me towards the 338 RCM. I thought I successfully had one purchased only to have the sale fall through which sent me back to the drawing board.
This deal fall through the day before Lipseys announced their limited run of the Alaska Bish Rifle in 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 and try as I might, I could not find one anywhere but gunbroker with a massive price bump attached. I also looked into ordering myself the new 16” 358 Hawkeye Hunter. It would seem this has also been a very popular choice because neither of my dealers could obtain one and put me on a wait list.
After trying my best to find/buy a damn Ruger through a few dealers constantly failing I started cruising GB this past week…
I picked up a stainless Montana Rifles 300WSM and will finally have myself a 35 caliber carbine!
I’m currently debating sending to JES as soon as I pick it up this week to get bored out and rechambered to 35-300 WSM or just buying a new Douglas #4 and having my gunsmith install and true and tune the barreled action up for me while it’s there.
I also ordered a Bansner Miller stock to drop this barreled action into once it’s all finished up. I’m hoping for a rifle in the 7.5-8.5lbs range scoped and loaded and figure this will be an excellent everything rifle going forward.
The ARC, 7mm Moses and 30 Nosler may get jealous as I imagine they might be left sitting a lot going forward with this new 35 and my custom 30-30AI getting most of the attention.
