35 Whelen AI build for Dad's Christmas gift

[codyadams]

So about 12 years ago, my dad got a 1917 Eddystone Enfield action rebarreled with a Douglas premium chambered in 35 Whelen Ackley Improved from a friend as a gift. Though I know this is not a long range caliber, within 300-400 yards it has the power to kill everything in North America, and most things in Africa. Though I don't recall the twist, the barrel was built around the 225-250 weight bullets.

Well other rifle builds came up, 8mm06 in a 98 small ring mauser, 6.5x55 swed on the another mauser, along with life in general, so it got put on the back burner. Then, about 8 years ago, my brother in law bought him a stock from Richards Microfit, which many of you know, send you a partially inletted 2x4. Though it was a nice piece of AA grade english black walnut with rosewood grip and end caps, the stock was ROUGH. Needless to say, that didn't exactly inspire my dad to start the build.

While rummaging through the garage earlier this week, I saw this stock leaned up in the corner, and thought It would be a perfect gift to my father to finish the stock, and get the gun ready to shoot. He has 50 rounds of military WRA brass fireformed, as well as the 225 grain and 250 grain load data that this barrel liked, ready to load up and smash some elk this next season. So the time limited project began....Ill post a few pics and update as it comes along.

 

[codyadams]

Here is some pics of getting the action into the stock (about 4 hours of work) and pillar bedding, then fully floated the barrel and started some stock shaping, and some initial sanding. I used some steel pipe fittings for the pillars, and JB weld to epoxy them in place. looks good, but the inletting done from the factory was WAY too much in some places, and I had to take a half inch of wood out in other areas. A LOT of work here, and it doesn't even look like it...

 

[codyadams]

And here is the worst part...they inletted for the wrong floorplate, it is about 3/8" too deep and WAY too long in the front. And it isn't even round....hopefully some wood filler and bedding epoxy should give it a better fit. Again...LOTS of work in a Richards Microfit stock.

 

[codyadams]

Here is with a little more sanding and shaping...starting to see some figure

 

[mountainman56]

Coming along nice. Your Dad will be surprised! Richards stocks are certainly rough but you can get some nice wood for a very reasonable price if you're willing to put in the elbow grease. 35 Whelen is a great cartridge for sure and the Ackley version can only be better.

I built one for a friend quite a few years ago for a moose hunt in Canada, also on a P17 he had. Rifle went bang and moose died...........under 100 yards but he was happy.

Be sure and post pics of finished project. gun)

 

[TOM H]

Bet your dad like it and work you put into it. Great present. I've been shooting 35 WhelenAI about 5 yrs now and made one elk and bear hunt with it.. I'm down in Co and if you need few extra new Rem 35 Whelen cases i have about 30 I can send you ( free) just PM your address.

It's Christmas after all.

 

[codyadams]

Progress in the stock!! Got it shaped how I want, Sanded to 600 grit, 1" Pachmayr Decelerator installed and fitted, and this is after the second coat of sealer (4 to 1 mix of mineral spirits and tung oil) Had to trim about 1" of wood off the butt of the stock to keep the length of pull right, the factory cut on the butt was NOT EVEN CLOSE to strait, it was tilted and not even strait...but I cut it with a chop saw and the help of my good friend, and wrapped it SUPER tight with tape on the cut to prevent chipping, and it worked well. Sanded it down with some 60 grit on a sanding block, and it's good and strait now.

On the to do list:

A 3rd or 4th coat of sealer

Glass bed the action and bottom metal with Acraglas

Fill the wood pores using hand rubbed technique

Get the bottom metal parts and install them

Give Dad his new rifle!!!

Im going to fill the gaps in the bottom metal with bedding so it doesn't stick out so bad. I'm hoping the brown die that comes with it will match the color well, the wood filler I put it doesn't match so I ended up taking it out and just gonna fill the gaps in the floorplate with bedding compound.

It's finally starting to look like a gun and not a rough cut 2x4 ha ha, I'm really excited to get this gun together and give it to my Dad. He still has no clue I'm working on this...should be a good surprise.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Looks like its coming along. I've been shooting a 35 whelen imp for about 10 years. Shot a lot of critters with it when I lived in Alaska. Everything from grouse up to moose. LOTS of black bears died because of it.

Aaron

 

[codyadams]

Couple more pics after a 3rd sealing coat

 

[codyadams]

Ok, so the grain is filled by use of wet sanding with tung oil, down to 600 grit. All blemishes are polished out, and I glass bedded it with brownells acraglas last night. Came out pretty good, but there is still a couple voids I need to fill in the bedding. I have 4 coats of 50/50 mix tung oil and mineral spirits, which is going to be the outer coat. Have been applying with a rag, rubbing in with the grain and wiping off to make the coats really thin so they will build up to a good sheen. Going to try and get at least 2 more coats on before Christmas morning, but I may only get 1. I'll try to post some pictures of my progress tonight

 

[carnyman]

I can't thi of a better gift. Merry Christmas

 

[codyadams]

So here it is, trigger, magazine and bolt release aren't installed because it's getting it's final bedding. I'll post pictures of that tomorrow when I pull the action out of the stock. Got the sling studs installed with white spacers, I thing it looks pretty good. I think he has bases for it laying around somewhere, we got tons of scope rings, and I think we have a scope we can use, all we need to get this project burning powder is a set of redding dies, 100 bucks from midway for 35 whelen ackley improved dies...pretty excited to see his reaction Christmas morning!! I really think he is gonna think this is a new rifle for a minute, I'm sure he has forgot about this old barreled action, and the stock that looked like a 2x4 ha ha

 

[codyadams]

And here is the other side.

 

[TOM H]

You did a good job. Bet he be happy.