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

With an 18.5 inch tube, your best bet would be the 358 or the 338 Federal; both based upon the 308 case.

Most other cartridges will not be able to burn that WSM powder capacity in an 18.5 inch barrel and end up going slower.

If you want a short handling gun with an OAL length of what you are talking about, I'd go with the Ruger #1 with a 22 inch tube.  It will have the same overall length as it has a very small action compared to a turn bolt gun.

they all weigh between 7-71/4 pounds regardless of the barrel length.  They have a fair variety of cartridges: including 405, 9.3 and 375.

They balance and carry superbly.  I have a 22 inch barrel model with sights and a Henry forend.  The balance is very close to directly between your arms.

Just thoughts

one doesn't need more that one shot for big game.

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

I have an old (first year of production) 7x57 and a 300 win mag (also a tack driver, 24 inch barrel.).

All of the #1 that I've shot were really great handling guns.  Sort of like a RSI with a 20 inch barrel but they don't make it in 358.

Ruger is funny, you would think they would make limited special runs of odd ball cartridges?????   like a #1  RSI in 44 mag.  or 218 bee, 219 zipper,  348 win. 222

What about the .350 Rem Mag?  They built them in pretty short barreled M600 18.5" and 660 rifles 20".  There supposed to be pretty close to .35 Whelen performance in a shot action. 

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

MM that would kick out of a short light carbine.  OUCH

I also think the 350 r mag kicks out of light rifles.

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. 

Ya it kicks like a mule, but after shooting his 416 Rigby the turner feels nice I'm told. But it is accurate and hits like a Mac truck.

I have not shot his Turner yet, but would love to build one of my own, and have plans to as soon as my wallet says OK. He is going to help me with the build. He builds stocks himself and is going to teach me on my own rifle when we get around to building a 416 for me. Still trying to figgure if I want a Rigby or a turner. Leaning Rigby.

MM