or zombies...

But they were already dead. So I guess that'd make em deader?

Way to tighten that up Frank. I'll have to remember the scope ring factor. I grew up larnin' with open sights.

I learned to shoot with open sights too, Marge - and I prefer them for hunting at point blank range. I started shooting with aperture sights when I was on the Clemson rifle team. I liked those for target shooting, but a scope is now better for my old eyes.

The question I have now is whether this rifle will be able to repeat (or improve) the last group pictured. Bruce may have been on the right track when he suggested re-setting the bullet further forward in the case. The longer Hornady SST bullets are making me think there may be a problem in the barrel throat - either erosion or extended freebore (or both). It's taking a lot of rounds after a barrel cleaning before it settles into a groove - maybe from throat erosion and needing some copper deposits before the throat smooths out. The longer SST bullet is closer to the rifling and probably doesn't get misaligned as much when it jumps to the rifling. If that's an issue, the result would be what Curtis suggested - the bullet exits the barrel off-axis and takes too long to stabilize. I wish I had a borescope.

I'm glad to see the improvement, but I'd like to see it shoot an old-fashioned lead bullet better. The SST round is ok at close range when velocity is high, but I've read that it makes a very small exit wound and tends to lose expansion as velocity decreases downrange.

I might try fire-lapping with a few abrasive rounds to see if it helps, but if it won't settle into a groove when clean, I might go ahead and rebore it to .35 Whelen. Then, I'd have an excuse to visit you and go bear hunting. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Well, I didn't have any proof to show that this friendly challenge to my manhood was unfounded <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />, so I let it slide until I could show that my shooting skills are still good enough to remind me that the time I spent shooting rifles as a kid were not something I would likely forget - and that I'm a better shooter than this rifle.

So, suspecting that throat erosion might be the reason I was getting those annoying and unpredictable groups that led to Eddy pointing at my shooting skills <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> - and continuing the sickness of "making it better" - I ordered some of David Tubbs' "Final Finish" abrasive-imbedded rounds to see if a fire-lapped, smoothed bore and throat would result in a better group. After firing the 20 rounds of abrasive stuff, I fired 2 shots to move the ~ 2" vertical point-of-impact change a little closer to the target center - but without trying to get it dead-on and then fired this 5-shot string fairly quickly:



Eddy, you'll have to sit for a long time at the range to see a better group than 4 of those 5 from a .30cal sporter rifle at 100yds. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

The problem is the outlier. That was the 3rd shot in the string and the rifle jumped up on the bags on that shot. I changed to cheaper ammo and the same thing happened on 1 round out of 5, but with a larger overall group. I "think" I know now that the rounds with more recoil are the result of a pressure spike - maybe caused by throat erosion, which is allowing some rounds to cock as they jump to the lands. Maybe, maybe not, but I decided to trust my gut feelings and once again try to "make it better". <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

The barrel is now being rebored to .35 Whelen, 3-groove, 1:14" twist rate. It might shoot better when I get it back - or it might shoot worse..... dunno, because I've never had a barrel rebored. I did have the itch for a Whelenator anyway, though. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Frank

Heck, Frank, my whole strategy was to get you mad so you'd go ahead and finish the damn thing. It's making me serious jealous already. Maybe if I make you mad enough, you'll make me take it and see if I can do better...

When I get the barrel back next week, I'll shoot a few rounds to sight it in and see how it does - and how I do with the recoil. Then, something brown is going down..... deer season in NC is upon us.

Frank

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> Sorry I thought that was funny.

Ha. That is funny.


Neat that you're gonna bore it to 35 whelen. Supposedly that is an absolute fantastic round. I'm curious to see what happens, and I hope it does well for you. This is a good thread Frank. I enjoy it.

Thanks, Curtis -

I've been hearing folklore about Col. Whelen's bang/flop .35 rifles since I started shooting sometime in the '50s. They were legendary custom classics, even then - many turned out on Mauser or Springfield platforms with the same Rheinhardt Fajen stock I have on this one. - and considered a poor man's .375 H&H Magnum. Today, some of those early rifles bring unbelievable prices. I always wanted one, but couldn't afford the .35 Whelen custom, much less a .375 H&H.

So, I'll build my own crude version that I won't be afraid to take in the field - and I hope it'll shoot well enough that I can enjoy it a bit.

I just ordered some black manganese phosphate concentrate. When the barrel and bolt are returned, I'll treat the metal parts to a blasting and black parkerized finish instead of the Rust-oleum paint over zinc phoshate parkerizing that's on it now. Hopefully, it'll look good AND shoot well.

I'm intrigued by the ballistics of some of the factory ammo for it. When you can airmail a 200-250gr round at 2900-2600fps, that's quite a wallop. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I'm not so sure I want to try the Woodleigh 310gr round, though - it probably would be painful to shoot. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Frank

From what I was reading after you decided to go .35whelen, you need to choose the bullet weight range you'll be shooting before you select the twist on the rifling. I can't remember if you want 1 in 12 or 1 in 16 for the heavier bullets and vicey versey for the lighter stuff.