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> True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrels
True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrels
@ 07:45 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterHi Guys, I know there are other threads running but I wanted to put this in its own thread for posterity.True-Flite are now up and running with .358 caliber barrels. Grant put together a rifle over the past few days, a Winchester Model 70, rebarreled to .35 Whelen AI with a 24" barrel. Twist rate 1:12. Initial load work was performed yesterday 5/3/2016- just preliminary tests. The rifle gave up to 2730fps with the 225gr Sierra without fuss. Grant reports that the recoil of this load was fairly hefty but after running the barrel in, was able to get the rifle down to MOA without any serious load work. I will most likely have a play with this rifle in due course and experiment further. As it is, this rifle will be good to 300 yards and in the right hands (wind and drop etc), could be used to shoot somewhat further. |
Replies
@ 09:41 pm (GMT) |
Paul LevermanRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsYou lucky dog! You get all the new toys!Congratulations to Grant and his crew. |
@ 05:10 am (GMT) |
Bryan WebsterRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsHad that stock been bedded yet Nathan? |
@ 07:36 pm (GMT) |
Thomas KitchenRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsGreat stuff and well grant and the team.Nathan is it only the one twist rate? I'll try and put in order in later in the week to get the ball rolling on the 35/303 project |
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@ 09:10 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsHi Thomas, yes it is just the 12 twist at the moment. Should suit your rifle quite well. The barrels of old that we had here in NZ were 12 twist (when Din Collings was making rifles) and I found these shot well across the velocity spectrum so this is what I put to Grant. Note that the .358 Norma was always 1:12 twist. Layne Simspon also settled on 12 twist when developing the wonderful .358 STA. |
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@ 09:20 pm (GMT) |
Nathan FosterRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsSorry Bryan- unbedded (there is old bedding relieved around the sides and bottom of the recoil lug to ensure no jam ups).Load development was very much preliminary, Grant has not hunted right through the sweet spots and used 2206H (H4895). There is room for experimentation with 2208 (Varget) to see how its bulk density effects ES and accuracy- though 2206h did produce a string with less than 10fps ES. |
@ 11:03 pm (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsHey guys,This 35 barrel is in a wood stocked Winchester M70..... I done no accurising to the action as it looked like both lugs were bearing nicely.... and I opted not to bed it to start with..... only because I was like a kid with a new toy and wanted to get out and test it..... in hind sight I think bedding will be beneficial due to the slightly stiff recoil factor (40 rounds of 225 grain pills at around 2700fps was enough) So after some lighter loads at 53-55 grains today I will now bed the rifle in and fit aluminium pillars. 53 grains was giving about 2570 fps with nice triangular groups bordering on 1" .... I will aim for around the 2600 mark with 53.5 and 54 grain loads after bedding and concentrate on some seating depth variations. I got 3 reloads from the 30-06 Winchester brass using Neck sizing dies.... but feel the case was getting a little tight last time.... so FL dies next. |
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@ 11:12 pm (GMT) |
Thomas KitchenRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsThank you Nathan and Grant I guessed that you guys would hit the nail on the head with picking a twist rate but thought I better check before placing order.Sounds like ordering a Boyd Lee enfield butt stock might be a wise idea as I can't imagine the original with brass butt is going to be pleasant |
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@ 11:49 pm (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsThomas that butt pad is a wise idea......I had to laugh as I have a habit of shooting off a carpeted concrete shooting bench for testing.... over a bipod...... but usually with suppressed or braked rifles..... Nathan looked at my initial tests and asked straight away if I was shooting on a sandbag...... knowing I had been caught out I had to admit that it was a bipod set up...... I messaged Nathan saying I could hear him muttering from here.... I am sure he may smack a rifle butt up the side of my head one day..... hes been trying to break that habit of mine for years now..... Anyway for Nathans benefit I am shooting it off my F class front rest now with a 3"ali plate mounted under the fore-end. |
@ 08:46 am (GMT) |
Warwick MarflittRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsHey Grant. What's the rifles weight? And any chance of a picture for the lads? We'll done. |
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@ 08:28 pm (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsPhotos will have to wait..... currently bedding it.weight?...... not heavy enough.....hahaha |
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@ 05:21 am (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsOk people...... here's where we are at now....... This Rifle probably wasnt the cleverest choice for testing a new barrel, as it is relatively light weight at 4kg including the scope..... this caused me some issues due to the technique I was using....(3" horizontal groups) but after some careful tuition from the master himself (Nathan) I have it shooting reasonable groups now..... over sand bags and using a sling.Today I shot a 21mm group of 3 shots at 100 yards with the 225 gamekings doing 2620fps, and a 19mm 3 shot group with 200 FTX pills... no speed on them, as chrony was elsewhere. Given some more careful load development I'm sure it can do better. I'll try and get out to shoot an animal soon..... then probably ship it of to Nath for him to trial it. Just trying to load some photos...... |
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@ 07:57 pm (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrels
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@ 08:03 pm (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelshttp://postimg.org/image/c36uqtrun/30-06 case sized up to 358....... 35 Wheelen AI fireformed......308win case for reference |
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@ 08:04 pm (GMT) |
Grant LovelockRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrels
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@ 08:10 pm (GMT) |
Paul LevermanRe: True-Flite 35 Whelen / 358 barrelsNice looking rig, Grant. |
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