How to get a 35 Cal Rifle

[Hannibal]

One option would be to pick up a Savage 110 and get a 35 Whelen or 358 barrel for it. A barrel nut wrench and a headspace gage and you are in business.

I went this route. I like the .308 family and I have multiple barrels for the same action and stock. It's not perfect for everyone but it sure works well for me.

I have 4 different barrels in 4 different chamberings and the same bolt face and headspace gauge set works for them all.

[openbook]

Look at the .35 Whelen single shots on gunbroker. I saw one at a LGS for a little over $300

I'd be $300 poorer.

[rbuck351]

I have a M8 Rem in 35 Rem as well as a 350 Rem mag and a 358 Norma. All shoot the RCBS 35 200 well.

[brasshog]

I have both a 35 Whelen and a 358 Win. I love them both but the 358 Win holds a special place in my cabinet. My next project will be a 350 Rem Mag or 358 Norma Mag. As many have suggested I would rebore an existing rifle by JES for the cost savings. Don't forget the 356 Win on a Marlin 336 ! You could also do a 35-30/30.

[cwlongshot]

I have both a 35 Whelen and a 358 Win. I love them both but the 358 Win holds a special place in my cabinet. My next project will be a 350 Rem Mag or 358 Norma Mag. As many have suggested I would rebore an existing rifle by JES for the cost savings. Don't forget the 356 Win on a Marlin 336 ! You could also do a 35-30/30.

I lusted after the Big Lady 358 Norma. Until I read the story from Lane Simpson about the 358 STW. Full length H&H case minimum body taper and a sharper Shoulder. Ballistics damn impressive pushing a 250g to 3000fps.

Move forward fifteen years or so I ran across a 358 NM but the deal fell thru at last minutes. Literally going to pickup. I was smitten so close wanting for so long... A friend on line got ahold of me with a name and a number and I called and made a new friend. That man had a nice JES re bored Winchester 70, 7 Mag in to 358 Norma. He had shot a little. Worked up a load and had a passle of brass dies bullets and loaded ammo. We struck a deal and within a week my dealer had that gun for me to go pick up. That rifle shoots very well. I re worked his load and agree with his numbers. A 250g Norma Oryx leaves the muzzle moving @ 2865 @ 15'. Printing right @ a tight 1". Thats darn impressive!! I have found my 310 Cast @ 2175 shoots right @ 1" @ 50 yards. 275g Hornadys are 2735 ish and print 1+" 100yard groups.

After over twenty five years wanting I had my Big Lady. Dont wait. Its a wonderful caliber thats under realised.

CW

[murf205]

IF....you run across a Big Mama (358 Norma) don't hesitate to shoot cast boolits in it and the bad press about the boolit base being below the neck is not a deal breaker. Mine is built on a Tang Safety Ruger 77 and it shoots 220g GC boolits in the 1900 fs range very accurately with now discontinued 4759 but Shooters World Buffalo Rifle is a twin to 5744 and you can actually find it. I use 338 Win brass necked up and it works like a charm. My barrel is a 22" Douglas duplicate tapered to the original 7 mag Ruger contour. I've had a 358 Win and I'm not bashing it either as they make a super 35 cal that is easy to load to comfy levels and still get the whoomp factor of a 35. But if you run across a Norma, better grab it. My gun smith was Jimmy McCollough and I made a dummy round with a 250 gr Nosler Part for him to throat the chamber.

[Hannibal]

I have both a 35 Whelen and a 358 Win. I love them both but the 358 Win holds a special place in my cabinet. My next project will be a 350 Rem Mag or 358 Norma Mag. As many have suggested I would rebore an existing rifle by JES for the cost savings. Don't forget the 356 Win on a Marlin 336 ! You could also do a 35-30/30.

A 35/30? What does that cartridge look like? Nevermind. I see now.

[brasshog]

@Hannibal The 35-30/30 is nearly identical to the 35 Rem in performance if I remember correctly but you don't have to hunt down the elusive 35 Rem brass.

[Jungle Dave]

I just want a 9.3x62 One of these days, maybe. I was going to get the one that CZ offered with the Mannlicher stock but I waited too long, thinking they would still have them. Seems like all the companies fell off a cliff all of a sudden. I'd build one now from the ground up, but working on a Jones Underlever barreled set that's gonna take me probably 2 years to finish. That, and I shake my head at the price of barrel blanks and actions these days. Maybe I'm just a cheapo....but I'll find a bargain

[missionary5155]

The 9.3x62 is a fine cartridge.
But it is far easier to send JES Reboring most any bolt rifle and have a .375-06 in 3 weeks.
A 275+grain .375 FNGC chugging along at 2200+ fps will easily take care of most critters our nation still has roaming about. Have loaded the same cast to 2350 fps powder coated and under 3 inches at 100 yards.
But I do understand the desire to have one of those CZ Mannlicher carbines. CZ makes a fine bolt rifle.

[Shawlerbrook]

Another vote for JES. I love the 356 Winchester Trapper he made for me out of a Marlin 30AS.

[justindad]

What’s it like buying brass for the .356 Win? Starline doesn’t offer it. A lever action would be more fun than a bolt.

[cwlongshot]

My Big Norma likes the cast 310g with N140 and 3031. Both hover 1950-2000 and shoot nearly touching groups.

CW

[trails4u]

Why not go the most fun route.....and find yourself a Win 1895 in 35 Win.

[curiousgeorge]

I had a shot-out 8mm Mauser barrel that I started to send to JES for a 358 x 57 re-bore, but chickened out at the last minute. I currently have a NEF 357 magnum, an H&R 357 Max, a Marlin 1884C 357 Magnum, a Marlin 336C 35 Remington, and a custom Mauser action 35 Whelen. I thought the 358 x 57 would fill the 358 Win slot and be able to shoot my existing cast and jacketed bullets. A wildcat that doesn't get much mention, but would be a close to medium range thumper on anything that walks. Still wish I had gone through with it.

[singleshot]

Used to be somebody around that made 35 rem brass out of 308 win. Got some a few years back. Good stuff!