Short Barreled 35 Whelen or clamp on??

[Ross1147]

So I've really taken a liking to my grandpas old M70 I inherited. I had it bored out to 35 Whelen and it's a great brush gun for down here in the south. Well, after I picked up my first suppressor, I really want to shoot this gun suppressed now.

Here's the dilemma. It has a factor 21.5"barrel. For a .358 cal it looks like the smallest thread I can get safely us 5/8x24. Which is what every other gun is that I have. But, from looking online the minimum diameter for 5/8x24 is .685". So, I grab the calipers and start measuring. At the muzzle it measures .620". So I start measuring back and finally get to .685" diameter 5.5" back. Quick math that would leave me right at a 16" barrel. No room to spare before it ventures into the SBR category.

First, how concerned should I be about concentricity with a re-bored barrel? Also this is an almost 50 year old barrel. Would chopping and threading it be too much stress for it after already being re-bored?

Second, 16" Whelen…seems a little short? But with a suppressor on the end may be just right?

Lastly, should I forgo the chopping/threading and just go with one of the Witt machine clamp on threads? From searching around I'm seeing mixed reviews on these. Not looking for a baffle strike.

Thanks for the input!

Ryan

 

[central iowa couple]

I have 2 clamp on device from witt. I have had 0 problems with them. I move my suppressors back and forth. My whelen is suppressed.....love that thing. My suppressor is a hybrid 46 from silencer central. As long as you measure the way witt suggests....you will not have any problems. I also have a muzzle brake for my whelen. I use that when i put the suppressor on my 450 bushmaster when someone needs to shoot it. That brake also came from witt. It tames recoil way better than the suppressor. Just a lot louder . Wear ear protection. Good luck. Any questions....just ask

 

[central iowa couple]

Also id keep the barrel long. I rebarreled an old 30-06 savage to 35 whelen. I put a 24 in barrel on it. I run 200 gr interlocks out at 2950.....oh baby. Its so fun. Deer hate it. Lol. Really considering it for an elk hunt next fall. The shilen match select barrel i put on shoots 1/2 moa all day. I have to build 3 more for my friends who have shot it. My next fun it to try 176, 200 and 220 grain hammers in it. I should be way over 3000 with the 176 for sure and i believe the 200 also. Guessing 3100 with the 176's. Find out.

 

[Ross1147]

Thanks for the info! I ended up ordering one of the Witt's. I sent an email to SPR (bugholes) and asked them about cutting/threading. They advised against it because they like to see a .725" diameter for 5/8x24. At this time I have no desire to rebarrel it, so I figured my only option was the Witt. I'll just make sure it's concentric prior to shooting it.
I was kicking around the 176s. Currently I'm shooting the 245 SH over RL15. In RP brass I was getting 2600 fps (pretty hot) but in my new Lapua brass same load is only hitting 2430 fps (no pressure). I did shoot a doe on Sunday with it. Hit her like a freight train.
Again thanks!

Ryan

 

[central iowa couple]

Nice....how much r15 under the 245? It might be something that I'd like to ay with.

 

[Ross1147]

Both loads are using 54 grn RL15 with a 245 grn Shock Hammer seated at the same COAL.

R-P 30-06 brass, WLR primer, FL sized 3rd firing on brass, no crimp - 2613fps (hot)

Lapua 30-06 brass, F210M primer, 1st firing on brass, Lee FCD - 2433fps.

Here's the entrance and exit on the doe I shot. Hit her a little far back because it was super thick and I only had a small window. Impact velocity was around 2260ish.

 

[central iowa couple]

That looks like the doe went down quickly. Looks like possibly the petals exited too? What was the range?

 

[Ross1147]

It was only 80 yds. I had a small V to shoot through between 2 trees. It does look like a pedal exited as well. She went straight down when hit. I like this Whelen where I'm hunting because it's thick and high possibility of hitting small branches and briars. I'm much more confident in the big heavy bullet not being deflected as much. Just punch her through!

 

[Lefty Hunter]

I'm not sure where you got 5/8x24 is the minimum but my 358 Winchester and my 35 whelen are both threaded 9/16x24 and I run my omega 36m on them without issue. Direct thread

 

[Ross1147]

It was really a question on minimum not statement. Never even thought about 9/16? I just looked at silencer central and what they thread too when I wrote this. The smith I normally use (SPR) did mention a minimum for their safety was .725, not sure that was for the .358 cal or 5/8x24 threading though? I think the thinnest barrel I have that's threaded to 5/8x24 is a 257 Wtby that's .700". What's the diameter of your barrel at the muzzle?

 

[central iowa couple]

My barrel measured 0.684. It's the same threads as the ruger bushmaster. 9/16 i believe. It interchanges back and forth. Same as the muzzle brake

 

[Lefty Hunter]

.685 for my 35 whelen and .664 for my 358 Winchester

 

[Ross1147]

Not to revive an older thread but finally have the rifle set up for hunting this fall. I ended up buying the Witt clamp on, but honestly didn't like the way it looked or how long it made the gun. So I had the barrel cut down to 16.5" and threaded to 5/8-24. I initially requested 9/16-24, but the smith called and said he'd feel more comfortable with 5/8 and there was plenty of shoulder for that. I was good with it considering I was going to have to buy a 9/16 to 5/8 adapter anyway.

Need to sight the gun in again (shooting 6" high now at 100) but average velocity is now 2330fps with my lapua brass loads. I lost right at 20fps per inch. Gun is still pretty handy. With the 46m in long configuration barrel length is 23.75", in short it's 21.75". Pretty much right back to factory length.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Ryan

 

[Hoss50]

I have a 338 threaded 1/2x28 that hasn't been an issue with the brake or suppressor. It was a factory Ruger barrel that was to small to cut 5/8x24.

The rifle looks good. It should be super handy even with the can on it.