35 Whelen Copper Fowling
#1
03-23-13, 03:28 PM
35 Whelen Copper Fowling
I have a couple Ruger No. 1's in 35 Whelen that get extremely heavy copper fowling when firing Barnes TSX bullets. Both have traditional steel blued barrels. I can not explain why they fowl so badly and hoping someone has some insight or hidden knowledge.
I have a Ruger No. 1 in 35 Whelen in stainless steel that does not have the fowling problem that the blued barrels do. I also have a lot of experience with No. 1's and Barnes bullets in other calibers and have not had this problem in any other caliber. I can spend hours getting a absolutely pristine barrel and with one shot half the lands at the muzzle look like a shiny copper penny.
I have done most of the no, no's with Barnes bullets in other calibers and not able to cause fowling like this. Unfortunately all my 35 Whelen rifles are Ruger No. 1's so I don't have another manufacturer's barrel to compare. I do know that Barnes TSX in other calibers has never had this problem. .223, 7mm Rem Mag, .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag have not exhibited this problem and many of them have also been Ruger No. 1's without issue. I'm really stumped what it is with these 35 Whelen barrels and how to fix it. The guns are accurate so I don't want to re-barrel without a good reason.
I have a Ruger No. 1 in 35 Whelen in stainless steel that does not have the fowling problem that the blued barrels do. I also have a lot of experience with No. 1's and Barnes bullets in other calibers and have not had this problem in any other caliber. I can spend hours getting a absolutely pristine barrel and with one shot half the lands at the muzzle look like a shiny copper penny.
I have done most of the no, no's with Barnes bullets in other calibers and not able to cause fowling like this. Unfortunately all my 35 Whelen rifles are Ruger No. 1's so I don't have another manufacturer's barrel to compare. I do know that Barnes TSX in other calibers has never had this problem. .223, 7mm Rem Mag, .308, .30-06, .300 Win Mag have not exhibited this problem and many of them have also been Ruger No. 1's without issue. I'm really stumped what it is with these 35 Whelen barrels and how to fix it. The guns are accurate so I don't want to re-barrel without a good reason.
#2
06-18-13, 05:30 PM
Well, I broke down had the barrel scoped and slugged (to check interior diameter and straightness). It appears the forward sling mount is the culprit. It's a metal ring slid over the barrel and is held in place by how far up the tapering barrel it's driven. Apparently mine was installed a bit too far forming a restriction in the bore.
Next is trying to move the ring closer to the muzzle and hope the barrel returns to shape. I'm pretty sure it's not blued under the ring so that will be a separate issue.
Next is trying to move the ring closer to the muzzle and hope the barrel returns to shape. I'm pretty sure it's not blued under the ring so that will be a separate issue.
#3
06-19-13, 08:03 AM
Ahhh so you have one of those rare Ruger No. 1's in 35 Whelen, Modified Choke.
Kidding aside--I never would have imagined that a relatively thin barrel ring could constrict the barrel.
Kidding aside--I never would have imagined that a relatively thin barrel ring could constrict the barrel.
#4
06-19-13, 09:24 AM
Yea, we were joking if it was a modified or improved. The bullet still fit through so it didn't seem right to call it a full choke.
