35 Whelan

Deans · January 23, 2000, 08:28 AM

Just picked up a Czech CZ24 8mm and will be
converting it to 35 Whelan AI. Would appreciate any advice and info that would help this project. Thanks in advance.

Deans

George Stringer · January 23, 2000, 02:18 PM

Deans, you can get a pre-threaded, pre-chambered barrel but it will have to be headspaced to your bolt. That will require a lathe. And while you're at it you should true the reciever, bolt face and lugs. I've seen a couple that required work (opening the feed rails slightly) to feed properly. The mag box will need to be lengthend. That's about all of the work for the basic conversion. You'll probably want to drill & tap for scope mounts, forge or weld on a new bolt handle and install a low scope safety. Dayton-Traister makes a nice inexpensive trigger for the 98 as well as the safety. If there is any of this work that you are not equipped to do yourself, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be happy to give you a quote on all or any of the work. George

HankL · January 23, 2000, 02:31 PM

George, Would you specify one barrel over another? I have been wanting to rebarrel a
post 64 Winchester Mod. 70 to 35 Whelen and am trying to decide on whose barrel to use.
Seems like over 30 cal drops out some quality barrel makers or at least puts them into a custom catagory. Ever worked with Pac-Nor ?
Regards,
Hank Lampe

George Stringer · January 23, 2000, 11:21 PM

Hank, I haven't used a Pac-Nor. I have yet to have anyone specify that brand. You are right in that the less expensive barrel makers don't usually offer air gaged bbls bigger than .308. If left to my own devices I will always install a Douglas XX. I've had real good results from the Douglas bbls. I'll toot my own horn a little and say that I believe that the work done installing a barrel is more important to the accuracy than the barrel itself. I would almost go as far to say that if installed properly any barrel on the market is more than capable of sub MOA groups. A case in point is a 6mm Douglas XX I recently rebarreled a Remington with. The owner's handloads gave him a .137" center to center 3 shot group at 108 yds. That barrel wasn't air gaged. I'm not saying that you will get that from factory loads but what you get from factory ammo from ANY barrel would be anybody's guess. George

wildcat · January 24, 2000, 07:01 PM

Amen to the installation thing George.Last year I bought a used barrel chambered for 257 roberts imp. I only paid $20.00 for it. It was all threaded for a M98,so I figured it was worth a shot.I screwed it into a action checked the headspace and shot it. I got a solid 2 inch group at 100 yds.After trueing the action face lapping the bolt lugs and glass bedding it consistantly puts 3 shots in a one inch circle at 100 yds.I think I could better that some if I replaced the military trigger.

HankL · January 24, 2000, 07:45 PM

George and Cat I agree wholeheartedly on the care installation and I agree that a Douglas XX is a good barrel. Just looking for someone to throw a little fuel on the flame as it were!

I think I'll try to catch up with the folks at Pac-Nor and see what the deal is.
Hank

Cris · January 26, 2000, 10:31 PM

You might want to look into the Adams & Bennet barrels from Midway. They come short chambered and threaded for the 98's. We have used several in a variety of calibers and they have been good shooters. They are not the quality of the premium market barrels, but then they don't carry the premium price either. For a hunting and shooting rifle, they seem to work great.

January 23, 2000, 08:28 AM	#1
Deans Junior Member Join Date: September 6, 1999 Posts: 13	Just picked up a Czech CZ24 8mm and will be converting it to 35 Whelan AI. Would appreciate any advice and info that would help this project. Thanks in advance. Deans

January 23, 2000, 02:18 PM	#2
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Deans, you can get a pre-threaded, pre-chambered barrel but it will have to be headspaced to your bolt. That will require a lathe. And while you're at it you should true the reciever, bolt face and lugs. I've seen a couple that required work (opening the feed rails slightly) to feed properly. The mag box will need to be lengthend. That's about all of the work for the basic conversion. You'll probably want to drill & tap for scope mounts, forge or weld on a new bolt handle and install a low scope safety. Dayton-Traister makes a nice inexpensive trigger for the 98 as well as the safety. If there is any of this work that you are not equipped to do yourself, feel free to e-mail me. I'd be happy to give you a quote on all or any of the work. George

January 23, 2000, 02:31 PM	#3
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	George, Would you specify one barrel over another? I have been wanting to rebarrel a post 64 Winchester Mod. 70 to 35 Whelen and am trying to decide on whose barrel to use. Seems like over 30 cal drops out some quality barrel makers or at least puts them into a custom catagory. Ever worked with Pac-Nor ? Regards, Hank Lampe

January 23, 2000, 11:21 PM	#4
George Stringer Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 12, 1998 Location: Earlington KY Posts: 2,299	Hank, I haven't used a Pac-Nor. I have yet to have anyone specify that brand. You are right in that the less expensive barrel makers don't usually offer air gaged bbls bigger than .308. If left to my own devices I will always install a Douglas XX. I've had real good results from the Douglas bbls. I'll toot my own horn a little and say that I believe that the work done installing a barrel is more important to the accuracy than the barrel itself. I would almost go as far to say that if installed properly any barrel on the market is more than capable of sub MOA groups. A case in point is a 6mm Douglas XX I recently rebarreled a Remington with. The owner's handloads gave him a .137" center to center 3 shot group at 108 yds. That barrel wasn't air gaged. I'm not saying that you will get that from factory loads but what you get from factory ammo from ANY barrel would be anybody's guess. George

January 24, 2000, 07:01 PM	#5
wildcat Member Join Date: December 20, 1999 Location: Northeast Kingdom of Vermont Posts: 88	Amen to the installation thing George.Last year I bought a used barrel chambered for 257 roberts imp. I only paid $20.00 for it. It was all threaded for a M98,so I figured it was worth a shot.I screwed it into a action checked the headspace and shot it. I got a solid 2 inch group at 100 yds.After trueing the action face lapping the bolt lugs and glass bedding it consistantly puts 3 shots in a one inch circle at 100 yds.I think I could better that some if I replaced the military trigger.

January 24, 2000, 07:45 PM	#6
HankL Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 1999 Location: The Sunny South Posts: 2,174	George and Cat I agree wholeheartedly on the care installation and I agree that a Douglas XX is a good barrel. Just looking for someone to throw a little fuel on the flame as it were! I think I'll try to catch up with the folks at Pac-Nor and see what the deal is. Hank

January 26, 2000, 10:31 PM	#7
Cris Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2000 Location: Red River Valley Posts: 127	You might want to look into the Adams & Bennet barrels from Midway. They come short chambered and threaded for the 98's. We have used several in a variety of calibers and they have been good shooters. They are not the quality of the premium market barrels, but then they don't carry the premium price either. For a hunting and shooting rifle, they seem to work great.