Hi Kevin,

Yeah......I'm home on a Tuesday morning too. I left my job in October last year (was night shift for years anyhow) and I'm currently helping with the care of my father (Alzheimer's). My wife and I are staying here until we can help my brother (who lives immediately next door) establish and set up home care assistance resources. (My wife and I got pretty good at that.....we cared for a son with Muscular Dystrophy.) Both my brother and his wife work, (I always have my military retirement to lean on), and my wife went to work about a year ago. So I am in a unique (for me) position of having a little leeway with my time. Thus.....the comments about being semi-retired. Haven't made it back to Alaska yet....though when we resolve some issues outstanding concerning our son.....we are going back to Alaska. My soul needs room to breath!

It'd be hard to go wrong with the .35 Whelen. It's a classic, very capable, and seldom gets the attention it deserves in a "velocity infatuated" world. Considering you have a .300 Magnum already you should have your extreme range shooting needs met. And I would think living in Maine would provide a perfect setting and opportunity to put a .35 Whelen to good use. Plus don't overlook the reduced velocity pistol bullet loads for year round plinking and small game hunting opportunities. And many good loads can be found for cast bullets with gas checks as well. These bullets reloaded are not only fun to work up and cheap.....but can be very effective at anything from small to medium game particularly. And with the right cast bullets and loads...large game as well. Though I usually save my cast bullet loads for things other than large game. Just my preference, (unless we are talking really large bores).

It sounds as though your stock is turning out nicely. I like the look and feel of a satin finished stock much better than a glossy finish. And nothing feels quite as good in the hands as an oil finished walnut stock. Sounds like you'll have a rifle to be proud of when you're finished!

Dave