Factory 35 Whelen in improved chamber?

t1mpani

t1mpani

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Jun 6, 2002
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A few years back, I spotted a very pretty little Mauser sporter that was sitting all by its lonesome off in a gun shop corner and marked WAY down, and when I asked why they said it was because of the caliber. It is an 8mm-06 Ackley Improved, and of course you can't even buy non-improved factory ammo for it, hence the hanging around. Well, it was just too neat a little rifle to pass up, so I grabbed it and it's been taking up safe room ever since.

Here's the thing: I really, really don't like reloading. I have the stuff, I know how to do it, I despise it.
I do have a few rifles in calibers where there is just no other choice, but I got to thinking about this little guy, and was wondering about having Clearwater rebore it to .358 for me. Obviously, a rebarrel would be an option, except it wouldn't have the classic open sights, barrel bands, and other things that drew me to the gun in the first place.

Now, of course, there isn't a way I'm aware of to retroactively un-improve it, but I've always heard that one of the "great" things about AI chamberings is that you can shoot factory ammo in them "in a pinch." I guess my question is, what if it's not in a pinch but all the time? Am I going to run into issues of major loss of velocity or erratic accuracy? Any long-term negative effects for the gun? I greatly appreciate any advice you can give.
 
It should not heart anything to shoot factory bullets in an IMP. chamber if it was done correctly.

Have you ever shot it? If you have did it split the necks or anything. Who did the IMP.

was it P.O.Ackley? What does it say on the barrel?

A lot of times the 8mm-06 did not shoot to well unless Ackley or a very good gun smith did it.

I would shoot it and see how it grouped and inspect the brass.

Jeff
 
Rebore...re-rifle into the Whelen Imp and you should be just fine...I've done it quite a few times and shooting factory ammo will do it no harm...that 's how cases are fire-formed to reload and custom dies made. I have done this in 338/06-35 Whelen and a myriad of other 06 based rounds. You will run into velocity loss as you fire-form the cartridge...accuracy should remain un-affected. To restore the gun to un-improved status you would need to set the barrel back one full thread and re-chamber.
 
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Never shot it---always looked at buying dies and returned to not wanting to get into it. Thanks fellas. :)
 
How about finding a reliable handloader fellow and just buying a bunch of ammo all at once and not having to worry about it ?

1,000 rounds should be cheap compared to reboring or rebarreling.
 
Hmmmmm,
It's an option, but non-fmj 8mm bullets look to be starting at around $200 per thousand most places I find them, and by the time I add powder and primers (I do have lots of 30-06 brass) plus paying somebody for their time and expertise in doing a good job of reloading, I bet I'm in significantly deeper than paying Clearwater $225 to rebore it. Plus, I bet a hand-lapped new bore would be a significant improvement over the decades-old military job it currently has. I'll admit I'm also suddenly intrigued by the notion of having the barrel turned back and rechambering the thing to 9.3X62, which I like--if anything--even more than the Whelen as it returns it to a Mauser caliber, and gives a millimeter back in case length to make more room for long, heavy bullets in the magazine. I'll let things simmer for awhile before I decide; I am currently excited by too many possibilities and that's not necessarily a desirable mindset for decision making. ;)
 
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