JES does it again with Handi

[Toolmaker TN]

I got the barrel for my Handi-Rifle back from JES late last week. 2-1/2 week total turn-around. It was a .243, now back in .358 Winchester. Mounted the scope, grabbed a box of ammo I had loaded up for my other .358 (also a JES rebore), and off to the range I went.
Bore sighted the scope and the first three rounds were a cloverleaf at 50 yards. Scope adjustment and fired two rounds to confirm, then to 100 yards to see what it will do.
Results for next 15 rounds was a series of 1 1/2" - 1 3/4" groups. This was with a load for another rifle using a 200gr RCBS FNGC.
I've got to form some brass for this rifle, and cast up another batch of boolits, as I'm running a little low. I'm thinking this rifle will be another winner.
This is the third rifle JES has done for me, and I can't say enough good things about his work. He's great to talk to, does amazing work, and prices are more than fair. Just a no-lose proposition IMO.
The other two rifles he did for me were a Stevens 200 also in .358, and a Ruger #1 in .35 Whelen.

[Shawlerbrook]

I couldn’t agree more. JES created my 356 W Trapper out of a Marlin 30AS. His work is timely, reasonable and flawless.

[Green Frog]

How about contact info for JES, please?
Froggie

[kungfustyle]

http://35caliber.com/

[Fitz]

Yes I had him do a Garand barrel in 35 whelen and it shoots better than any other M1 Garand I own or have seen shot which is a few to say the least.

[Texas by God]

Was it a varmint or standard .243 barrel?
Does it shoot better as a .358?
JES did a .358 for me that did.(.243 Remington 700)


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[Toolmaker TN]

Was it a varmint or standard .243 barrel?
Does it shoot better as a .358?
JES did a .358 for me that did.(.243 Remington 700)


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It was a standard .243 barrel.
It most definitely shoots better as a .358. As a .243 I could never get consistent groups, and POI varied from day to day, sometimes group to group. Haven't had that kind of trouble with any of my other barrels, not to the extent I had with this one.
Granted, I only tried one load so far, for another .358 I have. But three five shot groups with consistent group size and all impacting in the same place on the target seems to be a good start.
Going to form some brass for this rifle and try some different loads that perform well in my other .358, and see what happens.
The other .358 that JES did for me was originally a .22-250 Stevens 200. The first three shots out of it were a cloverleaf at 75 yards. I've only used the 200gr RCBS in it, but with powders including Red Dot, Blue Dot, Unique, 2400, IMR and H-4198, IMR and H-4895, it's been an awesome shooting rifle.
He does great work, for a more than fair price, and he's a great guy to talk to.

[siamese4570]

I just got back my handi rifle barrel from JES. It started life as a 223 and was rebored to 38-55. Just getting started with it but it's showing real promise. Ii would highly recommend JES to anyone wanting this type of work done.
Siamese4570

[pietro]

.

He's a good dude, just don't expect him to answer his phone - he's too busy to waste time doing that.

I always just sent him the gun with a check included, and was never disappointed.

.

[white eagle]

Yes I also agree about JES and his work
I had a Super Grade in 06 I had redone by Jess to 35 Whelen, love it
and I had another from 22 cal to 444 Marlin a Encore barrel
just love it when a plan comes together

[Toolmaker TN]

I just got back my handi rifle barrel from JES. It started life as a 223 and was rebored to 38-55. Just getting started with it but it's showing real promise. Ii would highly recommend JES to anyone wanting this type of work done.
Siamese4570

That's an awesome rebore. I've got another handi barrel in 270 that I'm thinking of having him do. Just not sure what caliber yet. I've also got a M94 in .30-30 that I'm considering either 38-55 or 35/30-30

[siamese4570]

Toolmaker TN, I thought about the 35/30-30 until I priced the dies (ouch). That's one of the reasons that I went the 38-55 route. Lee makes dies. Also more load data. I also had a 35 whelen handi so it would have been a little redundant. Still a cool caliber, especially with cast bullets.

Siamese4570

[CBH]

[QUOTE=Toolmaker TN;5709995]I got the barrel for my Handi-Rifle back from JES late last week. 2-1/2 week total turn-around. It was a .243, now back in .358 Winchester. Mounted the scope, grabbed a box of ammo I had loaded up for my other .358 (also a JES rebore), and off to the range I went.
Bore sighted the scope and the first three rounds were a cloverleaf at 50 yards. Scope adjustment and fired two rounds to confirm, then to 100 yards to see what it will do.
Results for next 15 rounds was a series of 1 1/2" - 1 3/4" groups. This was with a load for another rifle using a 200gr RCBS FNGC.
I've got to form some brass for this rifle, and cast up another batch of boolits, as I'm running a little low. I'm thinking this rifle will be another winner.
This is the third rifle JES has done for me, and I can't say enough good things about his work. He's great to talk to, does amazing work, and prices are more than fair. Just a no-lose proposition IMO.
The other two rifles he did for me were a Stevens 200 also in .358, and a Ruger #1 in .35 Whelen.[/QUOTEGrafs has .358 Win in stock. FTW

[Nobade]

Toolmaker TN, I thought about the 35/30-30 until I priced the dies (ouch). That's one of the reasons that I went the 38-55 route. Lee makes dies. Also more load data. I also had a 35 whelen handi so it would have been a little redundant. Still a cool caliber, especially with cast bullets.

Siamese4570

I had a 35x30-30 for a while. the deal with dies is to use a 38-55 to size the body when needed and a 357 mag to size the neck. Can seat bullets with a 358 seater.
Sorry for the thread hijack here...

[Toolmaker TN]

Toolmaker TN, I thought about the 35/30-30 until I priced the dies (ouch). That's one of the reasons that I went the 38-55 route. Lee makes dies. Also more load data. I also had a 35 whelen handi so it would have been a little redundant. Still a cool caliber, especially with cast bullets.

Siamese4570

I agree, the price of dies is what gives me pause with the 35/30-30. I have dies and brass for 38-55, so it would be the least expensive option.

How's the 35 Whelen in the handi? I considered turning my 270 handi barrel into a whelen, but was wondering if that might be a little two much of a good thing in a rifle that light.

[Toolmaker TN]

I had a 35x30-30 for a while. the deal with dies is to use a 38-55 to size the body when needed and a 357 mag to size the neck. Can seat bullets with a 358 seater.
Sorry for the thread hijack here...

Nobade, good info as always. That's certainly one way around the die issue. I've got 38-55, 375 win, 357mag and 358 dies, so that would certainly be a solution.

[Texas by God]

I’ve wondered if the 35-30 could be loaded using .35 Remington dies- neck sized only- but still.
I don’t have a 35-30 rifle or .35 Remington dies- so I’ll keep wondering.


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[Toolmaker TN]

I’ve wondered if the 35-30 could be loaded using .35 Remington dies- neck sized only- but still.
I don’t have a 35-30 rifle or .35 Remington dies- so I’ll keep wondering.


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Possibly.
I neck size my 358 win cases with a 35 rem lee collet die with a spacer between the shellholder and the die.

[Shawlerbrook]

I went with the 356 Winchester. Scored a lifetime supply of brass which is the hardest part of feeding the 356.

[jdgabbard]

Anyone know if JES is willing to do Stub Jobs? I have a 12ga stub I'm looking at having a barrel fitted to at the very least, but probably also chambered, and drilled for rings/picatinny rail. Would be nice to find someone that actually does that type of work being as I do not have a lathe.

[Shawlerbrook]

Don’t know about JES but John Taylor does that and does it well.

[jdgabbard]

Don’t know about JES but John Taylor does that and does it well.

I actually had his name scribbled down as a possibility, having seen some of his posts. Thanks!

[siamese4570]

Tool maker TN: I like my 35 whelen with cast. Only made the mistake of shooting jacketed factory equivalent loads once
You're right, it will loosen your fillings
I shoot a 230 gc cast bullet at about 2000 fps. Not bad at all.
Siamese4570

[Toolmaker TN]

I went with the 356 Winchester. Scored a lifetime supply of brass which is the hardest part of feeding the 356.

356 would be awesome. I've only seen one for sale ever, a Marlin. Either they didn't make very many of them, or the people who have them aren't giving them up. JES would be an awesome way to go. Brass issue, but I understand some of the factory guns will function ok with 308 based brass.

[Toolmaker TN]

Tool maker TN: I like my 35 whelen with cast. Only made the mistake of shooting jacketed factory equivalent loads once
You're right, it will loosen your fillings
I shoot a 230 gc cast bullet at about 2000 fps. Not bad at all.
Siamese4570

I would think it would, for sure. But if it's ok with cast at that level, might be an option to have JES rebore that one too. Wouldn't be like plinking with a 22, certainly, but would be effective. A 230gr @ 2000fps isn't going to bounce off of much....
I'm also considering maybe doing a stub on the 270 barrel, maybe a .38-55 or 375 winchester.

[AnthonyB]

356 would be awesome. I've only seen one for sale ever, a Marlin. Either they didn't make very many of them, or the people who have them aren't giving them up. JES would be an awesome way to go. Brass issue, but I understand some of the factory guns will function ok with 308 based brass.

I have both Winchester and Marlin rifles in 356 Win and they both work fine with 308 brass.
Tony

[Nobade]

356 would be awesome. I've only seen one for sale ever, a Marlin. Either they didn't make very many of them, or the people who have them aren't giving them up. JES would be an awesome way to go. Brass issue, but I understand some of the factory guns will function ok with 308 based brass.

I bought a 336 chambered for 35 Remington that had a gouge in the chamber and wouldn't extract a fired case. I rechambered it to 358 Win, and opened up the bolt face slightly to fit. It runs 308 based cases just fine and shoots way more accurately than it did as a 35 rem. I just hold the velocity down to a reasonable level and don't try firing any factory 358 ammo in it.

[Shawlerbrook]

I have read somewhere that JES no longer will do the 356W rebore because of some “reckless” reloading by customers. He still has it listed on his website the last time I looked and I haven’t talked to him , so not sure if it’s the case or not.

[murf205]

JES did a Browning BAR 30-06 to 338-06 for me and it shoots 250 gr RN Hornady's into 1 1/4" as long as you want to sit there and do it. I called one of the big name reborers and he told me that the Browning had too much chrome in the barrel and he would not do it. I called JES's brother and he said, he had done several and no problem. It had been abused to the point of being un-shootable and now it is a sweet gun. You cannot beat his work, period.