M1 Garand in 35 Whelen

[lancem]

Just got an email from AmmoGarand and they say they have 35 Whelen barrels coming soon for the M1 Garand. I have another M1 to build and 35 Whelen would be the icing on the cake for me. Anyone have any knowledge about this caliber in an M1? Is there going to be more to it than just a rebarrel? Thanks in advance! :mrgreen:

[historicfirearms]

I have been thinking of one of these for a long time. Tim Shuff's website has a little info on them as he does a conversion. Most people say they can only fit three or four rounds in an en bloc clip and insert them in the rifle.

[lancem]

3-4 rounds would be fine, just like a bolt action. I'll have to check Shuff's website, I knew he makes that short Garand, didn't know he did a 35.

[John Allen]

That would be a pretty neat idea.

[Beagle333]

Interested!! and subscribed.

[lefty o]

35whelen is on a 30-06 case, if you cant get eight in the clip your doing something wrong.

[lancem]

35whelen is on a 30-06 case, if you cant get eight in the clip your doing something wrong.-

I was thinking the same thing but wanted to look up the specs for both before I said anything.

[mwells72774]

Now that's just awesome!

[Reverend Recoil]

You will need a pull-through type chambering reamer in 35 Whelen for this M1 project. Such a reamer will likely have to be special ordered for a special price.

[LAGS]

I am wondering if the Garand would suffer the same problem as a Mauser in 30-06 that is rebarreled to 35 Whelen.
The Bullet is wider, and that changes the angle that the cartridges feed along the guide or rails.
I have often had to reshape some Mauser feed rails to shoot or should I say Feed 35 Whelen.
But no fitting was required when I convert them from 8mm to 30-06 except for extending the front of the Magazine Box by 1/8" if I intend on shooting the longer bullets like 180 or better.
But the magazine worked unmodified if you only shoot the 150's loaded to standard length.
In the Mauser, the 35 whelen cartridge wants to walk sideways more an will hit the side of the chamber opening, especially if you shoot something like the Cast 358009 bullet.

[historicfirearms]

35whelen is on a 30-06 case, if you cant get eight in the clip your doing something wrong.

Thanks for the insight lefty. You are right that eight rounds will fit in the clip. The problem is that you can't fit the fully loaded clip into the M1 because of the wider bullets.

Here's a decent discussion on Tim's forum.
http://forum.shuffsparkerizing.com/showthread.php?4943-35-Whelen

[376Steyr]

You might have to limit loads with jacketed to only medium burning rate powders (e.g. IMR 3031 to 4064) to avoid excessive gas pressure at the gas port. I'd read the "cast in the M1A" sticky http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?3558-7-62x51-NATO-(-308-WCF)-in-the-Springfield-M1A for more information on the subject before I bought a barrel.

[dilly]

In a very similar conversion, goodsteel made an M1A (Scout Squad, I think) in 358 winchester.

Pretty neat conversion.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Thanks for the insight lefty. You are right that eight rounds will fit in the clip. The problem is that you can't fit the fully loaded clip into the M1 because of the wider bullets.

Here's a decent discussion on Tim's forum.
http://forum.shuffsparkerizing.com/showthread.php?4943-35-Whelen

Probably wouldn`t have a too wide bullet feeding problem if the chambering was in 338/06.Robert

[Combat Diver]

It would pay to get the Schuster adjustable gas plug.

http://picturearchive.gunauction.com/759150444/7779467/3fefa91186e9faf4e5a0c199d515cd20.jpg


CD

[xringshutr]

Then how about 338-06? I am a HUGE 35 Whelen fan, but the 338-06 might be a bit better cartridge......as a whole. And 8 rnds might fit in the enbloc of Garand with less issues! Something to think about.

[historicfirearms]

Long shot, but does anyone have some 338-06 ammo they could load up in an enbloc clip and see how many will fit in a Garand? I'm seriously debating whether to go 338 or 35 whelen with my Mini G. If a full clip will fit in 338, that's probably what I will have Jes rebore my barrel.

[Beagle333]

Did they ever get the barrels in for the .35 Whelen? I don't see them? :confused:

[lancem]

Did they ever get the barrels in for the .35 Whelen? I don't see them? :confused:

I haven't heard anymore, I think they were coming from Criterion. I see they are carrying .270 barrels so maybe soon.

[pacomdiver]

a few shows back, a guy had a brand new 270 garand barrel on his table, I almost grabbed it, now since ive got another orphan receiver, wished I did

[nekshot]

How much mulla would you get in one of these starting with no gun(gun and barrel and what is needed for the conversion)?

[lancem]

CMP service grade M1's are running $730, barrel probably around $250. You'd need a finish reamer, $100+ if you bought it, barrel vice and action wrench probably another $100, head space gauges $50

[Reverend Recoil]

$100 may not be enough for a 35 Whelen pull-through chamber reamer. This reamer must be turned from the barrel muzzle. A standard reamer turned from the breach end will not work with the M1 rifle.

[historicfirearms]

Just send it to JES reboring, it only cost $250.

[richbug]

$100 may not be enough for a 35 Whelen pull-through chamber reamer. This reamer must be turned from the barrel muzzle. A standard reamer turned from the breach end will not work with the M1 rifle.


There is no need for a pull through on a Garand, though it does make it easy. All you need is just some basic mathematics, careful measuring, and maybe taking it apart an extra time or two if you don't get it right the first time(aim for too tight and figure on pulling the barrel back out).

[historicfirearms]

Long shot, but does anyone have some 338-06 ammo they could load up in an enbloc clip and see how many will fit in a Garand? I'm seriously debating whether to go 338 or 35 whelen with my Mini G. If a full clip will fit in 338, that's probably what I will have Jes rebore my barrel.

Finally rounded up some 338-06 rounds. Five of them fit in the rifle. Just to clarify, this is not a feeding problem. They physically will not fit in the rifle. Load 8 into an enbloc clip no problem, but insert the loaded clip in the rifle and you can not push the clip in all the way.

[centurion20000]

I have one of those Garands in 35 Whelen. I had him do the MiniG and stick the 35 whelen barrel on it at 18". It's a beaut and you have to do a little file work on the guide rails of the receiver to get the 8 round en bloc clip loaded with 35 to fit.
With 8 rounds you have to use jacketed 200 or 225 spire point / HP rounds to get them to fit (ogive is the limiting factor.)
The 228 XCB bullets will load as 7 round clips which are still fairly tight.

If I opened the left side top feel rail guide just a bit I could get more but I'm in the middle of varnishing a few Garand stocks at the moment.

I'll try to post some pics if there is interest.

[M-Tecs]

Would love pics. Question would you do this build again?

[historicfirearms]

Same question as M-Tecs, would you do it again. I'm seriously considering converting my Mini-G over to 35 Whelen. I'm probably just going to send it to JES for a rebore, instead of Shuff's for his new 35 barrel.

[centurion20000]

Would love pics. Question would you do this build again?

In a heartbeat!! I've got 5 Garands. 2 more of them will be going for conversion (35 Whelen) and and restoration at some point.
So I'll have
2 Garands in 30-06
3 Garands in 35 Whelen (1 tanker so far and probably 2 full size)

I'll work up some pics later today. (Working) [EDIT: Found some]

As far as the rebore vs Shuff's ... send it to Shuff's. The rebore works but I'd rather have a new barrel (350-400) and then you add some extra ($175) for a nice trigger job and full reparkerization or one of his specials. The guy is GOOD and his customer service is literally the best I have ever run across.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/Centurion20000/1%20%20%20Garand/35%20Whelen_zpsyiaklqin.jpg

8 shot clip of Hornady Superperformance 200gr 35 Whelen rounds. That nose profile is almost exactly the same as the 228gr XCB cast .358 bullet

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v236/Centurion20000/1%20%20%20Garand/35%20Whelen%208%20shot_zpsbegq1fu2.jpg

As you can see, I need to play around with that upper left guide (filework) if I want to load out 310 thumpers or 280gr RN cast OR I just load 7 in the clip instead of 8.

If you want more detailed pics I'll take more.