Budget Large Wildcat Varminter

[stinkitup]

Well this is my budget build not so much for the cute and fluffy but the larger species or our country and well just about any.

I have enjoyed reading about wildcats and investigated way too many while I was meant to be studying

The 35 cals always interested me 358 win but more so the 35 Whelen in particular.

From reading I found that the same case necked up with a similar weight projectile usually meant higher velocities etc.

I have plenty of experience with the swede case and having my own swede improved reamer decided this would be my wildcat.

358 Swede Improved - should push whelen or better velocities and with less/same powder.

A cheap 358 barrel was procured from Johno, MAB #4 about 22 inches long.
I found late last year thanks to Bimbo that stevens were on sale so picked up a new 25 06 stevens for a donor action - pulled the barrel.

For the smithing and components so far I have spent less than $700 which I think is pretty good.

While in Toowoomba for UNI for the last time I dropped off the barrel and reamer and some dummy rounds no action at this stage to Jim at Buffalo Gunsmithing.

Sent the action up middle of January and 3 weeks later this turns up in mail

Was amazed at the turn around, Jim reblued the barrel as it looked shite before hand I think it has come up a treat.

Will be refitting to the stevens stock this is a budget build after all but have already sanded half the mould lines etc off and will give it a lick of paint, should do the job to at least get me started.

Now to loads, I have to check some 6.5x55AI that are neck turned and necked up to check capacity but I am thinking I should be safe with Whelen starting loads. I have discussed it a bit with Ted Mitchel after reading about his 358 which is only a smidge longer.

Hopefully get it in the stock this week and start necking up cases.

Thanks to Ted I have a few different pills but I must say the hole in the acp pills looks like a .172 would disappear

Thanks for reading and will post how it goes.
Ryan

[Glenn]

Nice job Stink!

I will be interested to how it goes!

Do you have any pictures of the loaded rounds to show us?
A side by side comparison with a 6.5x55AI would be awesome!

What projectile are you going to us?

I like it!

Glenn

[Camel]

Good to hear its finally coming together Ryan, you will be getting lots of fun out of that one. Will be interesting to see how the Stevens action works out for you. Its nice when you can get hold of cheap bits and pieces to make up what you want, just a matter of having a bit of time to wait for the right bits to come up at the right time.

[stinkitup]

Nice job Stink!

I will be interested to how it goes!

Do you have any pictures of the loaded rounds to show us?
A side by side comparison with a 6.5x55AI would be awesome!

What projectile are you going to us?

I like it!

Glenn

Thanks Glenn

Yes it should be interesting.

Still deciding on pills but looking at the ACP's they look nasty but also just a normal 180 or 200 should knock most deer, pigs and goats over.

Pictures of some AI and NON AI cases with a 308 in the middle to compare and below that some non AI cases with 180 Flat nose, 225 Accubond and I think a 250 partition or similar.

Some Non and Some AI cases with a 308 in middle

358x55_group_small2.jpg (146.36 KiB) Viewed 1760 times

NON AI necked up with original swede.

358x55_pills.jpg (241.02 KiB) Viewed 1760 times

[stinkitup]

Good to hear its finally coming together Ryan, you will be getting lots of fun out of that one. Will be interesting to see how the Stevens action works out for you. Its nice when you can get hold of cheap bits and pieces to make up what you want, just a matter of having a bit of time to wait for the right bits to come up at the right time.

So far my necked up AI cases don't fit but non AI ones do, think the necks are a little funny due to being thin from turning on the formed cases but both the AI and non AI cases feed from the mag just fine. It is a blind mag staggerfeed think I can fit four in and maybe one on top but plenty of length in the mag so should work well.

I was thinking of getting some QD rings and using the 2-7 from the old swede on both but finding a weaver/picc rail for the swede is not easy.

Ryan

[Glenn]

Ryan

I like them, a lot!

Nice job!

I don't think you will have any trouble knocking anything over!

Glenn

[bimbo]

Great stuff Ryan. If it of any use to you, you can borrow my blue boyds thumbhole stock which is sitting in the safe doing nothing at the moment and have no use for at least 6 months. Just a thought - it was on my LA stevens 7 rem mag so same action screws.

[stinkitup]

Great stuff Ryan. If it of any use to you, you can borrow my blue boyds thumbhole stock which is sitting in the safe doing nothing at the moment and have no use for at least 6 months. Just a thought - it was on my LA stevens 7 rem mag so same action screws.

Hmmmm now there is an offer but not sure it will come home

But seriously I was thinking of a boyds Prairie hunter and in the blue/grey so at least I would know how it looks

Did you pull that barrel yet? Better come round and sort it out.

Ryan

[bimbo]

Barrel is still firmly attached, will have to organise a time to bring the stock round and separate the barrel and action. This stock is the varmint thumb hole but at least give you an idea of what it will look like.

[stinkitup]

Yes even a test fit, is that for a bull or sporter?

Yes you need to drop in the vise is permanently on the bench at the moment. I think i will pretty up the original I know why bother hmmm better than nothing and it is a budget build

[mick_762]

Looking good Ryan,
I would have thought it would be called the .358x55AI though, not a .358x6.5AI as marked on the barrel?

However - whatever you call it, it well be absoloutly magical on all sorts of "vermin" that it will encounter!

Mick

[stinkitup]

Looking good Ryan,
I would have thought it would be called the .358x55AI though, not a .358x6.5AI as marked on the barrel?

However - whatever you call it, it well be absoloutly magical on all sorts of "vermin" that it will encounter!

Mick

I think I said a 358-6.5x55AI or like yours 358x55 but anyhooo I know what it is

Yes I agree it should snot most things.

Checked the case capacity vs Ted's 358 Mitchel Express based on the 8x57 case neck up and mine is only 2.4 grains smaller in H2O capacity at 65 grains or so, thats a lapua case formed in my 6.5x55AI and then necked up.

[stinkitup]

So slowly but surely getting this thing ready to shoot.

Parts turned up to convert my Lee collet and seater to suit 358 last week.

I thought I do hate the stevens stock but not wanting to spend the money with boyds yet I would invest a very small amount of time on it, quick sand to take out the barrel channel as the #4 profile didn't fit. WHile I was there gave the whole thing a touch up and it got rid of all the hasch moulding lines that can be felt etc. A squirt of some krylon flat olive and I think when fully set it will look good all together.

Ryan

[mick_762]

Looking good Ryan.
Not sure if i missed it, but did you find either glass for it or a rail for your Swede?

Mick

[stinkitup]

Looking good Ryan.
Not sure if i missed it, but did you find either glass for it or a rail for your Swede?

Mick

Hey Mick

Couldn't find a rail easy for the swede so ordered some DNZ 2 piece rings for this today from Natchez and hoping to find some old cheap glass.