7mm Gibbs to 35 Whelen

[jackstrawIII]

Hey guys,

Question for you. I'm considering buying an older gun chambered in 7mm Gibbs. Mostly buying it for the wonderful walnut stock.

I have no interest in loading for the Gibbs... but a 35 Whelen would be great.

I know the shoulder on the Gibbs is blown forward, about .2" longer than the Whelen, meaning I'd have to set the barrel back at least .2" to make it work.

Will that much of a setback mess up the stock/barrel fit? This is a very nice looking gun and I'd hate to have a big gap around the barrel.

Am I looking at this the right way? Thanks!

[Mike Irwin]

"Will that much of a setback mess up the stock/barrel fit? "

I can't see that it wouldn't end up leaving a gap, unless everything is perfectly cylindrical and one diameter from the receiver to the muzzle.

[Jim Watson]

Sure it would.

You might see if a .35 Brown Whelen would clean up the 7mm Gibbs chamber.
Or just have it made a .35 Gibbs.

Or deal with a shop that would copy the profile of the Gibbs barrel on a new .35 blank.

[jackstrawIII]

You might see if a .35 Brown Whelen would clean up the 7mm Gibbs chamber.

It's closer, but not quite.

Look like I'd have to have a new barrel made.

[Nathan]

How will you get the 35 cal bullets down the 7mm barrel.

Sounds like you need to rebarrel.

[taylorce1]

There are quite a few places that will rebore a barrel.

[jackstrawIII]

There are quite a few places that will rebore a barrel.

For sure. The issue is finding a cartridge that will "clean up" the old chamber. The problem with the Gibbs cartridges is that the shoulder is blown way forward. The standard 06-based cartridges are .2" shorter in the shoulder... which is a mile in chamber dimensions. Even the Brown-Whelen is over .1" short.

[taylorce1]

I was answering Nathan's question. If it's a nice rifle with a weird chamber, it makes more sense to rebarrel IMO. Pick your barrel company and be prepared to wait, .35 caliber barrels are not high on the list for most manufacturers.

[Mike Irwin]

"How will you get the 35 cal bullets down the 7mm barrel."

Axel grease...

[eastbank]

i was thinking crisco.

[Jim Watson]

I am sure you are aware that by the time you have a barrel turned to contour, chambered, headspaced, and blued, you will have a lot sunk in that pretty stock.

A set of Gibbs dies would be a lot less expensive.

[jackstrawIII]

A set of Gibbs dies would be a lot less expensive.

This is quite true, but I’ve just never been crazy about the 7mm cartridges. No real reason, they just don’t tickle my fancy.

Anyone with experience with the 7mm Gibbs? Maybe this will win me over?

[Hawg]

Either shoot it and let it impress you or get another barrel. If the barrel has any taper in it setting it back 2 inches will definitely leave a gap.

[Nathan]

Why not rebarrel it?

[Mike Irwin]

"Either shoot it and let it impress you or get another barrel. If the barrel has any taper in it setting it back 2 inches will definitely leave a gap."

2 inches?

The difference in cartridge length is actually .2 inches.

By the time the barrel would be set back far enough to cover the rechamber you'd be talking under an inch.

But that would still leave a gap at the stock. I've seen rifles where the barrel has been set back, and it's pretty unsightly.

[Mike Irwin]

"This is quite true, but I’ve just never been crazy about the 7mm cartridges. No real reason, they just don’t tickle my fancy.

Anyone with experience with the 7mm Gibbs? Maybe this will win me over? "


How about just opening the barrel up to .30 Gibbs?

I believe the cartridge dimensions are identical except for the neck diameter.


If you're not happy with what would basically be a slightly longer .30-06, jump up to the .35 Gibbs.

I can't find a dimensioned drawing of the .35, but again, I believe it's the same basic case, but here's a discussion on it: https://www.go2gbo.com/threads/35-gibbs.295466/

[jackstrawIII]

I've seen rifles where the barrel has been set back, and it's pretty unsightly.

That is the bottom line I needed to know, thanks.

At this point I guess I’d lean towards keeping it as a 7mm Gibbs and then someday rebarrelling if need be.

With that said, any hot tips on making Gibbs brass?

[taylorce1]

Originally Posted by jackstrawIII

With that said, any hot tips on making Gibbs brass?

I'd see how close by a chamber drawing or chamber cast to .280 AI and see if you can fire form from that. You can also purchase a Hydraulic Form Die Set to form your brass. Quality Cartridge Company makes 7mm Gibbs brass if you have a large enough order.

[ligonierbill]

I had to see if Quickload includes this wildcat, and they do. As a wildcat, they list MAP as 4,050 bar/58,740 psi. According to QL, you can drive a 160 Accubond to nearly 2,900 fps with a near full case of Re-19 within that limit. Not too shabby. It's a case forming custom die deal, of course, but it sounds interesting.

I agree that you should rebarrel if you are set on the Whelen. I know Shaw will match some barrel profiles; they did an older Sako for me. Good luck!

[Jim Watson]

There is a .35 Gibbs, too.

How tapered is the 7 G barrel? Reboring to .35 might leave you with a featherweight kicker.

[stagpanther]

It may take a while--but Quality Cartridge makes very good good obscure brass, I used them for my 7mm STW but I had to wait a few months (and made some from 375 H&H in the meantime). Worth the wait though. Like the STW, I would expect the gibbs in 284 to be a bore roaster--but don't know based on experience. I do love the 35 whelen.

[HiBC]

I used to have a 35 Whelen. It shot well, it had a good,practical 300 yd plus hunting trajectory,and I loved the feeling of "flinging a chunk" . I shot 250 gr bullets.
I won't trash the Whelen.

But it came from the time if relatively unsophisticated bullets. If you needed dependable penetration,big bore,heavy,and reasonable velocity made sense.

With today's bullets, a 2900 fps 160 gr 7mm bullet of proper construction will do what needs to be done.(In North America). It will kill elk just fine.

Both cartridges can serve well as an example of a "Rifleman's Rifle". They are equally cool.

If you are buying it as a "Pretty Stock" .......I'd respect it as an example of the Gunsmith Art. I'd leave it a 7mm Gibbs. (Thats me. You do you)

By the time you buy that rifle,the bbl custom contour bbl blank,pay your smith to fit and chamber it, then to get the blue to match the whole rifle may need a reblue.. You are spending enough money to buy another rifle.

I suggest "Let it be what it is"

[reynolds357]

Originally Posted by jackstrawIII

This is quite true, but I’ve just never been crazy about the 7mm cartridges. No real reason, they just don’t tickle my fancy.

Anyone with experience with the 7mm Gibbs? Maybe this will win me over?

It's basically another way of building a 280AI.
280 A.I. pretty much impresses everyone.

[stagpanther]

It's basically another way of building a 280AI.
280 A.I. pretty much impresses everyone.

I was under the impression that it had a cavernous case like the bigger gibbs. As long as you can seat modern 284 bullets long and it really is similar to the 280 AI--yeah, I'd keep it.

[jackstrawIII]

I was under the impression that it had a cavernous case like the bigger gibbs. As long as you can seat modern 284 bullets long and it really is similar to the 280 AI--yeah, I'd keep it.

On paper, the cartridge is a good idea, but there are problems. The first problem is brass availability, which is zero. Fireforming is something I've done a bit, but I didn't have spectacular results and my confidence level is not high.

The other problem is that, being a wildcat, there's no real "standard" chamber. So even if I ordered some dies, there's no way to be sure that they would match my chamber. I guess I could have a chamber cast done and custom dies made, but at that point why not just rebarrel it?