i have a sporterized 98 mauser in 8x57 and next year i'm either going to rebore or rebarrel to the 400 whelen. (read https://web.archive.org/web/20101203...pace_myth.htm# to headspace it). i was going to do the 375 whelen but i already have a 9.3x57(.366"). and i can say that 4-something something!



since 150 lbs whitetails will be its main course, i'll only go 1600-1800fps in 350-400gr fn gc. i hunt in close cover, so 60+ yards is a loooong shot, 25-35 yards is more likely.


1944 98 mauser 8x57mm

i've been thinking of taking it to JES(i like that peep sight) but i might rebarrel it to 24"(it has a 22" barrel). i doubt that extra 2" is a make or break situation, but i like the 24" over the 22". the 98 mauser NEEDS a timney trigger and i'll go with richard's stock( Richards Microfit Gunstocks ), it will be a wolverine style and either a blue coral or black walnut stock.


i doubt highly that i'll get the chance to hunt elk or moose, but my sons' might and i'll just happen to have a rifle that they can use....it sounds good, don't it!!!

Nice project and choice for a conversion.

If you want/need a quality 6.5mm, there is one more cartridge to consider on the other end of the spectrum based on the 8x87 Mauser, rimmed and rimless. The 6.5x57 is a great performing cartridge. Commercial ammo is available by Sellier and Bellot, quality brass by RWS, loads of bullet options, and modern powders really give it a new level of performance. Bolt face and magazine feed do not need modifications.

 

Met a fellow at the Safari Rifle Shoot in Montana earlier this summer who was using a 400 Whelen, built on a Springfield action. He really liked his rifle, and said that it worked flawlessly.

The 400 isn't needed for anything in North America, but if you want it, why not?

I think that if it was my project, I'd just go with a JES re-bore of the existing barrel.

Guy

 

400 Whelen was noted as having a small shoulder (almost a "ghost shoulder") and headspace issues were the result. According to some, the .375 is about as much as the modified 30-06 case can handle and still have enough shoulder to prevent the headspace issues of the 400 Whelen. Before you take the leap, consider the .411 AI, or better yet the .411 Hawk. Both have a minimum body taper (the .411 Hawk more so) and they eliminate the headspace issues of the original 400 Whelen.

 

Just start with a 35Whelen AI AND neck that up to 400.
Plenty of great articles about the 400 whelen on the African hunting forum
A 400gn at 2,200 fps is just about right for those pesky little deer

 

Do a bit of research and buy a reamer for the original spec. .400. Supposedly has less taper and therefore a sharper shoulder, IIRC. I've often considered such a build, having a barrel cut with .410 grooves, which then gives me the flexibility to use the many .41 cal moulds I use for the 41 magnum. the heavier moulds would be a useable choice for deer, 260, 280, and 290 gr. Personally, I'd go with a new barrel, 24" as you're all ready thinking, and have it turned with a Rigby style contour, then a band ramp front from NECG with a sourdough blade. Makes a great, fast, accurate sight, especially in dark heavy cover.

 

I have been studying on straight case cartridges from a different angle. I'm stuck with 38cal minimum and am looking for the most velocity I can get. With straight case limitations and cases available there is only so much you can get as far as velocity. When you are up in 38cal and larger light bullets are blunt and are a handi cap at longer ranges. I'm trying to stay away from cartridges that headspace on case mouth. Belted mags are going to be to large a caliber to achieve velocity. I don't think you can go over 40 cal before it becomes a lost cause. I'm looking for a cartridge that will be used on deer only. That will make the best offhand hunting rifle that is capable of 300+ yds without rediculous hold over. Most shots are under 100yds but I want capability for the occasional shot that always pops up. In Ohio several times a season you will get to watch a trophy buck in a clearing or field that is out off range . Since we have rifle it has extended practical range to 200yds. I'm looking for more.

 

With a straight case you're only headspace options are on the case mouth, on a belt, or on a rim. Ruling out the case mouth and a magnum belt leaves you with a rimmed cartridge and the challenges that brings to a standard bolt rifle. One exception to your criteria would be a wildcat based on the .24o Weatherby Magnum. The .240 Wby uses a belt similar to the belt of magnum cartridges. However, the 240 Wby belt is the same diameter at the rim and base as a standart 30-06 or 308 cartridge.

There has been some discussion along these lines on another forum. A poster there named 375Carp designed a straight wall .375 caliber using the .240 Weatherby case. Another poster, crooked creek, came up with a 405-2" (.411" caliber) wildcat based on the Weatherby case. Further, crooked creek forms his cases from .308 brass using a .240 Wby die and it creates the belt in the process.

Here is crooked creek's 405-2" Belted below. He says, "Bullet used: Hornady 350 Grain Flat Point .411" marketed as for 405 Winchester."

I see no reason the same couldn't be done to create a 405 (.411") cartridge on the full length 240 Weatherby case or an altered 30-06 case. The process, I suppose, could be used to make a cartridge for whatever length action you have - .308 length (2.8"), 7x57 length (3.0"), 8x57 length (3.25"), or 30-06 length (3.36").

 

If the 400 Whelen is as good as the 35 Whelen, that should be a big animal dropper.

 

For some good info on the .400 Whelen check out the Gun Digest 2018, 72nd edition, page 149. " The .400 Whelen" by Bob Woodfill. Discusses the original specs of the round, where to get the reamer,etc. A good read for info. Also, if you are thinking about "a" variant of the .400 check out the Gun Digest 2006, 60th edition. Page 10, "Magnificent Maverick: The .400 Brown Whelen" by William V. Woodward. Again, an excellent read on the cartridge and variants. Some years ago in Rifle or Handloader there was another good article on the .400. I recall the gent used a Ruger 77, just to show a push feed action could work with the minimally shouldered .400. You'll have to look that one up yourself, it's in my archives, but too many things to get done right now to look.
The .400 should be a wonderful medium large bore rifle for cast slugs. The reason I've been eyeing up my large box of actions lately.

 

The .400 Whelen Story Pt.1
400 Whelen (Petrov) - 4D Reamer Rentals
The .400 Whelen Story Pt.2

.400-.416 Caliber Rifle Brass

this is what i want.

 

As a big bore fan I can say that a 400 Whelen is very interesting. Having such a short shoulder could create headspace problems. That was the same issue with the Desert Eagle 440 Corbon which they fixed with it's replacement: Desert Eagle 429. I personally have a 35 Whelen built on an old K98 action and stocked by me. I do have a Timney Sportsman trigger on it and it is way better. Other than that the only other mod was a low profile aftermarket safety for scope clearance.

 

There is a lot of misinformation about the 400 Whelen. It is not a straight case and it does have enough shoulder to properly headspace. Anyone who opts to comment on the 400 Whelen ought to read Michael Petrov's articles on the 400 Whelen that were linked earlier in this thread. I was friends with Michael and he was the inspiration to build mine. Michael is gone now and we are poorer for it. I miss him. I used to stop by his gun room and we would discuss all things Whelen and he'd show me his incredible collection of custom and historic Springfields.

The 400 Whelen, in its original form, was one of our first improved wildcat cases. It never was the 30-06 simply necked up to 40 caliber. The 30-06 has a shoulder diameter of .441 and the 400 in its original design has a shoulder diameter of .458. The Brown-Whelen has a shoulder diameter of .461. I don't have a Hawk drawing in front of me to know its diameter. I do know there is less than a 5% difference in case capacity between all three.

I have over 1200 rounds through my 400 in load development, practice and hunting. I love to shoot mine. It has two caribou to its credit and one moose. In all that shooting there has never been a failure to fire, no headspace issues and none of the supposed problems commonly extolled by those who read about it in an old article somewhere and regurgitated what they read. I have even super annealed case necks and shoulders, placed the case in front of the extractor and tried to drive the shoulder back to create a headspace problem. The extractor just snapped over the rim and the case dimensions remained unchanged. I tried several times with several cases.

I am in contact with several devoted fans of the 400 Whelen and none of them have ever reported headspace issues with any of their rifles. It's odd. The guys who actually own and shoot 400 Whelens never have any of the issues reported by the guys who have never owned or shot a 400 Whelen.

 

I have some experience with the 25 06, 30 06, 338-06 and 35 Whelen. After reading the above about the 400 W, somebody must have done a 375 Whelen . Anybody have any information on it ?

 

I have a 375 Whelen Ackley Improved.
With a case full of RL-17 I can push a 270 Hornady SP at over 2500 fps.
Got the barrel and dies for a good price with a package deal.
If it wasn't for that, I would have built a 9.3x62

 

I was looking into doing a jess re-bore 375 whelen in a Remington 7600 but couldn't find reloading dies that didn't cost a small fortune. Always been a huge whelen fan and wanted to build a 375 or 400.

 

I had JES rebore a Sedgley Springfield to 375 Whelen. It had a rough bore and I thought the rebore would be a good way to revive the old classic. It shot really well with bullets from 235-300 grains. I truly regret selling it but at the time thought it redundant to have a 35 Whelen, 375 Whelen and a 400 Whelen. I keep looking for another Sedgley in need of some love for another 375 rebore.

CH4D has dies for the 375W that won't break the bank. It wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on eBay for a set of dies. I've found some great deals on odd dies there over the years.

Your 7600 in 375 Whelen with a Hornady 270 RN would make a big game stomper. It would certainly be adequate for anything in North America.

 

well, i can't do 400 whelen just yet. i have to do a 93 spanish mauser for my son. it will be a douglas barrel in 7x57, bolt bent to take a scope, d&t for scope mounts for my gunsmith. i'll be doing a dayton traister trigger kit and safety. it stock will be a richard's wolverine or a mannlicher stock. it will take me about 1 year or so. i have a sporterized 91 mauser in 7.65 argentine and i'll' be taking it to my gunsmith to d&t a redfield peep sight.

on the 98 mauser i have stripped the bore clean and the boring is great. its about 90-95% good. i'm going to try a 215gr karabiner boolit and either 4895 or 2400. i figure that the boring is great, i may as well give her a try.