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.35 Whelen Barrel Length

Posted on 1/26/25 at 8:26 am
Posted by MarshMan
Ponchatoula
Member since May 2015
650 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 8:26 am
Need some input from the OB gun fanatics.

I have a CVA scout 35 Whelen with a 1:14 twist 25” barrel. I run a can on it that is 8” long. The gun is off balance, flips over backwards when on my shoulder and is a pain when carrying in thick brush due to its length.

I shoot 180gr Barnes TTSX-FB that has a velocity of 2589fps at 100yrds. The gun is zeroed at 100yrds.

What is the shortest length I could cut the barrel to without loosing accuracy? Of course I know I will lose some velocity

Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
6734 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 8:31 am to
Put a thread protector on it and put the suppressor in your pack until you get to the stand.

I would think you could cut down to 22” without any problem at all.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69086 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 8:32 am to
quote:

gun is off balance, flips over backwards when on my shoulder and is a pain


That's going to happen unless you cut the barrel down to 6"

The barrel is super heavy and the stock weighs next to nothing. The only not awesome thing about those rifles is that stupid heavyweight barrel profile.

quote:

What is the shortest length I could cut the barrel to without loosing accuracy?


Id cut it as short as the stock allowed me to. Shorter barrel in theory helps with accuracy.
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17859 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 9:29 am to
I don’t think you’re going to struggle to stabilize going down to something more manageable like 20” with 180s.

Berger twist rate calculator

There’s no place to put barrel length in there, you adjust muzzle velocity down. I would use -50 fps per inch just to be sure but the actual loss is probably less than that.
Posted by MarshMan
Ponchatoula
Member since May 2015
650 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 10:22 am to
I had 20” in mind but would really like it to be around 18”.
Posted by MarshMan
Ponchatoula
Member since May 2015
650 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 10:25 am to
Wonder how noticeable that would be or have much affect losing 250fps if I cut 5” off. Seems like a lot.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69086 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 10:39 am to
quote:

Wonder how noticeable that would be or have much affect losing 250fps if I cut 5” off.


You're shooting deer with a cannon. It won't matter one little tiny bit. Cut it down as short as you want.
Posted by TheDrunkenTigah
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2011
17859 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 1:01 pm to
What he said
Posted by A_bear
baton rouge
Member since Sep 2013
2275 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 2:25 pm to
I’m about to build a 35 whelen lever action, and I’ll be going with a 20” barrel. I probably wouldn’t go shorter than that.
Posted by MarshMan
Ponchatoula
Member since May 2015
650 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 3:56 pm to
It felt and sounded like a cannon till I suppressed it. It’s amazing the difference it makes.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
69086 posts
Posted on 1/26/25 at 4:23 pm to
The only reason to leave the barrel long is to get the muzzle away from your face, and you've solved that problem with the supressor. Cut that SOB short short.
Posted by 257WBY
Member since Feb 2014
6734 posts
Posted on 1/27/25 at 4:14 am to
A Bear, go with a BLR in .358 and you won’t have to build anything.
Posted by Cypressknee
Member since Jul 2017
1411 posts
Posted on 1/27/25 at 9:43 am to
Someone posted here the other day saying they cut theirs down to 16” or 18” to run a can and didn’t have complaints. Didn't speak on velocity, though.
Posted by SlowurRole
Arabi
Member since Dec 2011
822 posts
Posted on 1/31/25 at 11:41 am to
I'd cut it to 20 inches, the balance will be way better and you'll still get good velocity. I cut mine down to 19in but I run a suppressor so it is a little front heavy. I added a big scope, which balances it a little better. My gun shoots 200 gr Hornady Superformance 2830fps

This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 11:53 am
Posted by SlowurRole
Arabi
Member since Dec 2011
822 posts
Posted on 1/31/25 at 11:54 am to
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 11:55 am
Posted by Theduckhunter
South Louisiana
Member since May 2022
1146 posts
Posted on 1/31/25 at 11:56 am to
Is that an omega 36m?
Posted by TigerOnThe Hill
Springhill, LA
Member since Sep 2008
7171 posts
Posted on 1/31/25 at 12:00 pm to
quote:

I shoot 180gr Barnes TTSX-FB that has a velocity of 2589fps at 100yrds.

2589 fps is the actual velocity at 100 yards, not at the muzzle, correct? If so, is that a calculated MV or did you shoot through chrono at 100 yds? Just curious. My first barrel for deer hunting w/ my TC Contender was a 14" 35 Remington. I shot a 180 gr pistol bullet at 2300 fps, IIRC. It was a good deer harvester, but when I planned a handgun antelope hunting trip to WY, I got a flatter cartridge w/ less recoil, the 6.5 JDJ. Unfortunately, I've not shot the 35 Rem since. Your 35 Whelen will still have plenty juice to kill deer at reasonable distances if you bob the barrel. I'd think 18-20" would be good, but maybe 16"? It's hard to know how it's going to handle w/ the shorter barrel. How heavy is the suppressor and how long is it??
Posted by Megasaurus
Member since Dec 2017
965 posts
Posted on 1/31/25 at 12:07 pm to
the deer wont notice at all...lol...

You could go down to 16 and likely lose ~300-400fps at 100 coupled with slight a zero shift , could also be less, youll have to shoot it and chrono that particular round as different bullets are effected differently through barrel length reduction...cut it, re-zero and enjoy..
This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 12:13 pm
Posted by SlowurRole
Arabi
Member since Dec 2011
822 posts
Posted on 1/31/25 at 12:19 pm to
quote:


Is that an omega 36m?



Yes it is...I love it! Sounds great on the whelen.
This post was edited on 1/31/25 at 12:21 pm
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