Short Barrel Short Action

I'm getting the itch to build another rifle.  I'm looking to combine the handiness of my 45-70 Guide Gun, the bolt action of my 788 Carbine for accuracy and the long range effectiveness of the 35 Whelen in something built on a R700 short action with an 18.5" tube.  My 788 is in 7-08Rem which has been a good performer over the years, but I'd like a cartridge that makes a bigger hole.  Even with a solid heart/lung shot, deer seem to want to run for a bit with the 7-08.

I'm leery of just shortening the tube on the Whelen from it's current 22".

I figure you guys might have a few thoughts?  I considered .358 Win.

What do you guys think?

Thanks, 788

.358 win is a very good round.

     I have one in a savage 99. I would expect it to perfom well in a short barrel. My savage is 20 inch and works quite well.There are many good bullets available , I like to start at 200 grain.

     if you just want to hunt deer i think the lighter bullets will do great. And for black bear too.

       you can get reasonable trajectory with the .358 200 yard shots should be no problem. and with practice i would think 250 ad 300 would be quite doable.

     If you want to do a full custom thats cool, but an easy way to go might be to get a ruger hawkey , (it can be had in .358) and have the barrel cut and crowned at what ever length you want, and personaly I would add a set of sights to the rifle.

     You could have it restocked if you want,  But this sounds like a worthy project however you choose to aproach it.

    ...tj3006

Bear what round do you shoot in a #1.

     Mine are a 22 inch 7X57 and a 20 inch 30,06. You are right about tham being excelent woods guns. But my 7X57 is a tack driver.

      I would take it after antilope in a hart beat...tj3006

416 Turner

I will see if Turner will give me the specs on his wildcat, but it is a mean little booger! I think if memory seves me he is getting 2200-2400Fps with a 400gr bullet out of a short action.

MM

BEAR wrote: MM that would kick out of a short light carbine.  OUCH I also think the 350 r mag kicks out of light rifles.

Probably does kick but you can at least build your tolerance up to full house loads if you are a reloader.  I've can honestly say that I've never shot a rifle in .350 Rem Mag, but I do have the .35 Whelen and .358 Win and there is quite a bit of difference between the two IMO with the winner in recoil going to the Whelen.