|
Post by schoolmaster on Oct 31, 2009 7:17:44 GMT -5
Any body have a 358 wildcat rifle designed for Indiana deer hunting? I know there are several versions out there. I am interested in finding a gunsmith to build a rifle like this or maybe find a good rebore man who could ream a barrel out to 358 caliber. Any insight or information wouldbe appreciated.
|
|
|
Post by drs on Oct 31, 2009 7:36:47 GMT -5
There are many good gunsmiths out there that could do the job. However, be prepared to spend $500 or more for rebarreling or reboring & chambering to one of these calibers. I was interested in reboring one of my .308 rifle to .338 Federal. But with the costs involved like reboring and the possibility I might have to have another stock built, it would be cheaper just to buy a new rifle in that caliber. If you're still interested, a lot of guys are using the .25 WSSM cartridge necked up to .358". A good action would be one already chambered for this .25 WSSM like the Browning A-Bolt which you can have rebored & rechambered.
|
|
|
Post by HuntMeister on Oct 31, 2009 7:56:23 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by danf on Oct 31, 2009 9:20:40 GMT -5
If you have a suitable donor action, it would probably be cheaper to have the rifle re-barreled rather than rebored. You'll certainly have a much better chance at decent accuracy too. Especially if you go with a good quality barrel blank- Lilja, Krieger, Douglas, Shilen, etc, etc, etc. Your cheapest and probably easiest route is to go with a T/C Encore action and a custom MGM barrel.
|
|
|
Post by single_shooter on Nov 1, 2009 7:35:58 GMT -5
As I have said before...just buy an Encore!!!!!
You can have a custom barrel made by MGM for $350 and have it in a 4-6 weeks.
And ANY time you want to try a new caliber it is a phone call and $200 away in a factory barrel from Ed's TC's or do like I do and buy used barrels and get a new caliber for about $150 delivered to your door.
|
|
fireball168
Junior Member
WSSM Wildcat Aficionado
Posts: 29
|
Post by fireball168 on Nov 1, 2009 9:13:10 GMT -5
If you could happen across an original WSSM rifle with a varmint contour barrel (the sporter contours are all too small for reboring to .358 groove diameter), for $425 you could rebore, set the barrel back a couple of threads and have a complete new chamber cut. www.deltagunshop.com/clearwater_reboring/rebore_prices.htmlThere aren't many gunsmiths you will find that will supply a barrel and install it for that kind of money. Clearwater bought Cliff LaBounty's equipment and he trained them on its use, I wouldn't hesitate to use them. For the same money, as previously mentioned - you could get into an Encore barrel - which would probably be cheaper in the long run based on what you can find a donor WSSM action for right now. Last time I talked to PTG, there were 17 different 358 WSSM reamer variations out there. Be careful if you don't know exactly what you've got, and be extra-extra careful in using any load data that might be floating around. For well known, reputable Indiana gunsmiths: AJ Brown has a .358 BR reamer and has been hunting with it with very good success. He's built at least one WSSM, as he bought the die set for it from me. Mark Penrod has his own 358 WSSM variant. I generally keep formed brass and dies in stock and usually at least one 358 BFG Encore barrel in the off season.
|
|
|
Post by cedarthicket on Nov 1, 2009 12:59:15 GMT -5
Fireball168, could you supply contact information for the Indiana gunsmiths noted (AJ Brown and Mark Penrod)? Are there any others in Indiana or adjacent states that you would care to suggest for good quality barreling, chambering, and rechambering work for such wildcats? Thanks.
|
|
fireball168
Junior Member
WSSM Wildcat Aficionado
Posts: 29
|
Post by fireball168 on Nov 1, 2009 13:46:37 GMT -5
Mark Penrod (260) 982-8385 Penrod Precision 312 College Ave N Manchester, IN 46962
Alan Brown (812) 384-1056 A.J. Brown Arms Co. 709 North Washington St. Bloomfield, IN 47424-1043
|
|
|
Post by steiny on Nov 2, 2009 18:55:15 GMT -5
I hear some dudes in the lafayette area have come up with a .35 IDC (Indiana deer cartridge) Don't know much other, than my buddy says they are getting very good results.
|
|
|
Post by drs on Nov 4, 2009 12:54:14 GMT -5
Mark Penrod (260) 982-8385 Penrod Precision 312 College Ave N Manchester, IN 46962[/quotte] Doesn't this business deal with "Subcalibers"?
|
|
|
Post by swilk on Nov 5, 2009 12:56:03 GMT -5
The easiest path from point "A" to point "B" is to just contact BFG cartridges.
Buy an encore barrel, dies and brass from him and be done with it.
|
|
|
Post by mbogo on Nov 7, 2009 10:11:13 GMT -5
If you prefer a repeater, you could build one on a Savage action or go all out with .358 WSSM AR-15 upper. I'm pretty sure you can get high quality drop in Savage barrels from BFG for less than the Encore barrel and Savage now offers unbarrelded WSM actions. If you already own an AR lower then the .358 WSSM upper may actually be the cheaper route overall. www.dtechsuperstore.com/WSSM%20page.htm
|
|
fireball168
Junior Member
WSSM Wildcat Aficionado
Posts: 29
|
Post by fireball168 on Nov 8, 2009 20:40:25 GMT -5
Mark Penrod (260) 982-8385 Penrod Precision 312 College Ave N Manchester, IN 46962[/quotte] Doesn't this business deal with "Subcalibers"? Every time I've been there - he's been working on a big stick .375 or larger. He is well known for his varmint and benchrest rifles though.
|
|
|
Post by danf on Nov 10, 2009 20:22:14 GMT -5
I *think* he's also done work on an Anshutz pistol for a silhouette shooter I know too.
|
|
dsg69
Full Member
Posts: 50
|
Post by dsg69 on Nov 10, 2009 21:01:36 GMT -5
He is one of the best gun smiths and man you will meet!! He has built 1- Anschutz 22 LR ,1- 221 Fireball, 2- 223 AI's, 2- 6MM AI's, 1- 25/06 AI, 3-6.5x284's, and 3- 358 GRANT's on 700 action's and working on a 358 GRANT Ruger #1 now. We have used 3 other smiths before we found him.
|
|