I voted for the 9,3x62 because I have had such great resul;ts with my 9,3x74R double. However the 338 Win Mag is also a great calibre.
It makes a lot of sense for an American hunter.

I voted for the 9,3x62 as I did use one on plains game in 2004 and it performed flawlessly using 286 gr Nosler Partitions at 2425 fps. Took Impala, Warthog, Blue Wildebeast, Kudu, and Zebra with it.

I'd not feel in anyway undergunned with a .338 Win Mag though. That was the caliber of the rifle I had planned to take but changed to the 9,3x62 when the scope on the .338 Win Mag died less than a week before leaving.

I voted 9.3x62, but if I had two votes the second one was for 338-06

My vote also goes to the 9.3 as this is my favorite plains game caliber and most of the areas that I have hunted plains game have some big or dangerous game around.
Also some opportunities or deals can come up which may require a large caliber.
ozhunter

I voted for the 9.3. Iown a CZ 550 in 9.3X62.
I've only cut paper with it so far, however I am impressed with the rifle and round!

I voted for the .338WM. I bought one because it was the most capable cartridge Ruger had in a stainless rifle. I was hunting deer and caribou a lot at the time so I wanted something that was also able to deal with bears.

At the time Ruger gave deal to U.S. servicemen stationed overseas. We put together a group buy and had our CO sign off on it.

Any of the cartridges mentioned in the poll will do the job. What it will boil down to is the rifle.

The 35 Whelen gets a vote from me. I have used it on the last three plains game hunts with complete satisfaction. Like stated earlier, though any of these cartridges will work very well. Find a rifle in one of these calibers that fit you well and you will be ready.

Wait one. Out of curiousity I checked my files. We bought the firearms through a distributor and not directly from Ruger. I don't know if they still offer a cut rate deal to members of the U.S. military stationed outside the U.S., but if anyone reading this is serving overseas and wants to check I have their address and a copy of the letter we sent. PM me for details.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled thread.

My apologies, but I did not vote for any of those. I would select a .300 win mag based on my experience on two plains game hunts. The calibers you listed are great, but I like the .300 better.... IMO

Having used a 300 H&H on the specified game I can assure you that all the choices will work well for you.

I just happen to like the old 30-06 case and the 338-06, 35 Whelen and 9.3 X 62 fill the interest well.

My pick of the 338-06 is based on being able to get that caliber in a lighter contour barrel than the others.....a slightly lighter rifle!!!

Power is totally adequate so the weight is my prime consideration.

You're probably splitting hairs choosing between these. I would choose the 338-06 (because I have one) but if I were starting from scratch would probably argue with myself between the 9.3 and 338 WM.

I think I would have to have one of each.

quote:

Originally posted by Dr B:
.... I will be using a standard FN Mauser action. ....

9.3x62; it's a natural for that action.

-Bob F.

All will work very well as a medium but why did you leave out the 375H&H which is THE king of mediums?

465H&H

My 338/06 has accounted for 9 of the large African antelope, two elk, a moose, a few reindeer and some deer. Most were one shot kills made with the Barnes 200gr X bullet. Moose was shot with a nosler 210gr bullet. The 338/06 kills better than one would think with not too much recoil.

i voted for .358 since its all of the other plus the .375 in one package.

Either the 9.3 x 62 or 375 H&H renders all other medium bore choices irrelevant.

500grains - tell us what you "really" think...

You seem to be choosing from '06 length cartridges which may explain why you have not already made the obvious choice, the 375 H&H. Perhaps that's why you didn't list 358 Winchester or 350 Rem Mag either. If you are actually going to hunt in the great wide open (plains, desert, mountains) maybe a fast 30 or the 338 Win Mag might be better. But if you are looking for a general purpose cartridge, other than the 375, for use on game small to large, from close to medium/reasonable range, then the 9.3x62 would be a classic choice. And it's trendy to boot. I've been trying to choose a '06 length medium for some time now. I picked up a 375 H&H until I decide.

500 grains,

I normally don't find too much to disagree with you on, but this is one of those things. If the rifle is to be used only in Africa then the .375 is the top choice. But if someone wants a good medium bore rifle to be used on PG in Africa as well as other types of hunting then other cartridges are definitely relevant. When considering the intent of the hunter, selection of the rifle is just as important as the cartridge.

If someone is restricted to off the shelf rifles you may not be able to find .375 in the exact format you require. In which case the other cartridges are definitely relevant.

I have nothing against the .375H&H. The first deer I shot in Alaska was with a M70 in that caliber. I liked the rifle and cartridge a lot but it required a lot of attention on Kodiak. If I could have found a stainless CRF .375 I'd have bought it, but in 1993 the closest I could get was the Ruger I mentioned. I don't consider it second best, though, because it is entirely appropriate for Alaska and will serve superbly for African PG. Since then alternatives have become available but I have no desire to hunt up a stainless .375. When it became time to get a rifle that was legal for DG in Africa I skipped over the .375 and went up to a .416

If I wanted a lightweight rifle for mountain hunting I'd consider a .338-06 more appropriate than a .375. And having one I would not believe I needed another medium bore just for Africa.

I agree that many .375 rifles are too long and heavy. They do not need to be made that way, but unfortunately many of them are. A custom rifle solves the problem, but not all guys want to go through the headache of having a custom rifle built. And that is where the 9.3 x 62 comes in. It provides a lightweight rifle with nearly 375 H&H power. If a flat trajectory is needed, 250 grain bullets will pull it off. If DG is hunted, 320 grain bullets offer excellent penetration. It is hard for me to find a medium bore which offers an advantage compared to the 9.3 x 62. For those who want an affordable 9.3, the CZ is an option, or a 30-06 can be rebarreled for a reasonable price.

True, but what about ammo availability for the non-handloaders amongs us? I realize that it's possible to order just about anything online these days, but I can foresee circumstances where it's handy to be able to buy a box off the shelf.

I'm not disagreeing the the two cartridges you favor aren't excellent choices. It's just that other factors weigh in as well.

If ammo availability is an issue, then I would definitely go with a 30-06 rather than anything on the list.

I voted for the 9.3, but you have to be a reloader. Over the counter ammo is not happening and the choices via mailorder/internet are slim.

That being said, I love my old Husqvarna Mauser in 9.3x62. Shooting long range, 300 meters, is not out of the question if you know your rifle and practice.

I can hit the 18 inch gong at my range with open sights almost every time(from the bench). I found out that the open sights were set for 300 meters from the factory.
It also means that it shoots 2 feet high at 100 yards with those same sights.

I've added a scope and I really love it. I am thankful to the members here for making me aware of a caliber that I would never have thought of and now is my favorite.

I must be extaordinarily lucky, but I've never had any trouble finding .338 WinMag ammo anywhere that factory ammo is available. .35 Whelen wasn't always on the shelf, and I've yet to see any of the others on the list there either.

Of course, you've hunted Africa and I haven't. I've been told I shouldn't count on being able to get any factory ammo any place in Africa. So I mentioned ammo availability only in the context of what uses a medium bore rifle may also be put to outside of Africa as well as there for PG.

If being able to buy ammo in Africa were the overarching concern, then yes, I probably would just bring my .30-06 as my medium. But that wasn't my plan when I reserved a last minute buffalo hunt last year (unfortunately, the owners of the Save Conservancy closed it down after I was told I was booked). My plan was to borrow rifles if my guns or ammo didn't make it through.

My partner in crime wasn't planning to bring rifles at all. Ganyana offered him the loan of his personal .458 Lott and his 9.3x62. Of course, he also the one who told me no ammo was available locally, so trust his reloads or bring ammo.

If absolutely no ammo is available, then you're SOL no matter what chambering. If a limited selection is available, the .338 WinMag is more likely to be found than the others on the list. I see that as an advantage.

How much of an advantage depends on one's location and personal circumstances. When I was on active duty and living in the BOQ handloading, or even keeping the rifle, in my quarters wasn't a legal option. I liked being able to get my rifle out of the armory and go somewhere confident that I could buy ammo just about anywhere it was sold.

I agree that a .338 WinMag offers no performance advantage over the 9.3x62. But I don't see where a .338 WinMag puts a hunter at a performance disadvantage compared to anything else on this list, either. I'm not married to the choice because all the chamberings listed will work on PG. Do you think a kudu would fall if hit with a 9.3x62mm and but refuse to acknowledge a hit from a 9.09x63mm? Relevance aside, are there any cartridges on the list that won't work?

If Dr. B wishes to use the rifle outside of Africa then he may want to factor those uses in when selecting his cartridge.

I actually managed to purchase 4 boxes of 9.3 ammo in Zim last trip. Probably a fluke, or maybe it was still available because few people have a rifle in that caliber. Of course 7.62 x 51 mm NATO and 7.62 x 39 mm ammo is available in every police station in Zim.

I also voted for the great .338-06. It has & will do anything you want for general hunting especially w/ the 210grNP @ 2700fps+. The 9.3x62 would be my next choice but only if I planned on it as a backup to my DG rifle.

quote:

True, but what about ammo availability for the non-handloaders amongs us?

If one finds himself in Elk City Idaho "without a paddle" the only cartridge on that list that might be there is the 338 Win Mag.......and a slight chance the 35 Whelen...

Grains nailed it again.....and that's the reason that the 30-06 still sits in my safe. Besides.....load a 180 or 200 grain Northfork in it and you have a helluvalotta power in it.

500 grains,

That's great. I'm glad to hear 9.3x62mm ammo is widely available in Zim. So Ganyana isn't a reliable POC, and you're saying I should listen to you and not a resident of the country.

In any case, what's your point?

A strong case can be made for a .375H&H as your medium rifle. You generally can not import two rifles of the same caliber. While you can use your heavy for smaller game, for DG your medium has to be at least .375 or larger to be legal. I know several hunters who use a .375 and .416 when they go to Africa. The .416 offers a little more killing power than the .375 and while not a long range cartridge is fairly easy to hit with out to 250 yards. The .375 can be used on duiker to elephant, has a useful range, and is adequately powerful for a client. If anything goes wrong with one you're still in business with the other.

If I were to have a medium purely for Africa that would be my choice. But everything's a compromise given limited funding and time. If there are any other considerations to be made regarding personal situation or potential use, well call me crazy but I think they should be considered. Are you a handloader or not? In all honesty will you use the rifle only for African game or most often for heavy North American game? If you are going to use it outside of Africa will the rifle/cartridge combination provide sufficient utility and convenience there as well?

I don't understand why you discount the utility of other calibers besides your darlings. In my blissful ignorance I will continue to use my "irrelevant" chamberings on game. I hope none of them become fans of AR or they will shrug off anything that isn't classic enough. Until then it will be our secret.

I'm with Dogcat. I didn't see anything I liked.

Point of order. I am familiar with use of concepts like kinetic enery, Taylor Knock Out values, Maximum Game Weight, and Momentum to determine the suitability of a particular chambering to a particular animal.

How does one quantify "relevance?"

The reason I ask is that my mounted caribou just took off. True, he was shot with a .30-06 and not one of the chamberings under discussion. But he was afflicted with the sin of pride in life and, apparently, in death. Apparently he learned to read over my shoulder and grew indignant at the ignoble way in which he was reduced to hand.

So if you are in the northern suburbs of Dallas and see an undead caribou wandering about, please dispatch it with a "relevant" cartridge as none of mine are chambered in such.

What was the question again? Now I remember.

I thought my 338-06AI worked great. But it was those Barnes X 225 grain bullets that knocked the pins out from under those big antelope. And zebra. And warthog.

So my suggestion would be to select the caliber with the best choice of Barnes X or the newest TSX bullets. Everything on your list has enough power to do the job.

My vote for the 9.3x62 was based on my vast experience of one trip to Zim. I listened to the learned gentlemen here and was not disappointed. Steenbok to eland, it worked just fine. I guess it's a case of experience breeds confidence. Other cartridges work fine too, it's just that this is the one I have had good luck with.

Several of you are asking why I didn't include several of your favorite calibers.
First .308 cal is simple I already have nine of these and I probly will get a few more before it's over but right now I want somthing I don't have. Second it's my understanding that the 375 H&H is to long for the standard FN action and that what I have to use for this rifle. Third the 358 win and 350 mag just do intrest me this just personal choice.
I also plan to use a wooden stock, for a more traditioal look. I'm thinking that a 9.3 X 68 will be a good match of function and style.
Dr B

Dr B

Plains game generally imply long-distance hunting. When your terrain requires 250 to 350 meter shots, one is better off with a 300 Win Mag or a 300 H&H. The longer 200 grain bullet in .30 caliber typically provides a better BC, through its higher SD, for a flatter trajectory. The very sleek 180 gr Barnes-X is also a very popular choice for the above calibers.

Whilst I am very fond of my 9,3 x 62, I do not use it in this role. I use it for larger game at bushveld ranges out to 150 m - it could be stretched but then with compromises.

The combination of a 210gr bullet in a 338 Win Mag also provides an ideal combination for those longer shots and is so close to a 200gr/.300 combo that you could flip a coin.

Plains game are soft and do not require high power. Range estimation, shot placement and the selection of a well performing bullet is my primary concern. For eg, shooting a Sierra Game King bullet would be your worst choice, a Nosler Partition is far better, and a premium bullet such as a NF and others even better.

Chris

Re: Ammo availability.
I have done a survey for about the last 35 years or so.
In "deer" country you can always find 243, 270, 30-30, 30-06, and since about 1976 308.
In "BIG" big game country you can add the 7MM Rem Mag, 300 Win Mag and the 338 Win Mag.
I am not talking about gunstores, but gas stations, hardware stores, feed stores, grocery stores etc.
Even in elk country, in small gunstores it can be hard to find 375 H&H, but they almost always have some 338.

it isnot strange thet the 9,3x62 works great in Africa, it was constructed for the african hunter and the veldt. originally it was the 9,3x57 but they wanted somthing that was more leathal on big game. i saw a article in a swedish magazine about a hunter who brought down his 9,3x62 and it was superb for his hunt.

For me it was flip a coin b/w 9.3x62 and the .338 win mag.....................the extra mag capcity of the 9.3 was the final sealer for myself, I do however have a growing a appreciation for the .338 win mag and it may be the better longer range round.

the 9.3x62 does not have much any problem with providing downrange thump:

http://gsgroup.co.za/9362.html

http://gsgroup.co.za/lindgren.html

Federal ballistics;
338-225tbbc2800......2107v/2218e(300yd)
338-225tsx2800.......2132/2270
338-225AB 2800.......2320/2689
338-250NP 2660.......2124/2503

9.3-230HV 2800.......2385/2906 ...........in something simple like this,

...

good bullets for longer ranges is 250 grs barnes, swift and other good pointed bullets. plus the 286 grs nosler works also well.