I think this is probably like a lot of other questions but since I only have experience with one of these calibers I need some input from those with more experience.

I am looking to build or purchase a new rifle in one of the these calibers. The purpose of this rifle is for use in heavy timber/brush, swamp, close corner use on various game from hogs to bears.

First choice is to rebarrel/rechamber a Mod 70 to 35 Whelen,
Second is buying one of the new Ruger 9.3x62 rifles.
Third is a new Winchester Model 70's in 338 Win.

I like to use heavy bullets, 225 gr and up, and get one that works for me and quit fooliing around with a lot of this or that. I'm thinking 20 to 22 in barrel with open/peep sights. Maybe low power scope like a 2.5x.

Would like to hear suggestions/opinions and reasons for from those that work/used these calibers. Don't bother with 375 H&H, I already have one. I want something in between my 30-06 and my 375.

Thanks
Aaron

I would recommend a Mod 70 rebarrelled to 9.3X62. It would be better choice than a 35 Whelan if you wanted to go to Africa. If you want really heavy bullets, you can also load 320 gr Woodleigh bullets to 2200 fps or the new Norma 320 grs. You still have the options of 232gr to 286gr for the more conventional loads.

Good luck & please post some pictures of your project.

quote:

First choice is to rebarrel/rechamber a Mod 70 to 35 Whelen,
Second is buying one of the new Ruger 9.3x62 rifles.
Third is a new Winchester Model 70's in 338 Win.

You really can't go wrong with any of these......especially the first two. I'd prefer them over the Magnum and I would use the M-70 over the Ruger any day for with the .35 Whelen or the 9.3 X 62

Internationally, the 9.3 is a lot easier to feed than the .35 Whelen. That's almost exclusively an American cartridge so if you wanted to do elg (moose) in Scandinavia, brown bear or boar in Europe proper or anywhere in Africa the 9.2x62 is the winner hands down. It will do anything with heavy bullets the .338 will do and you should get an extra round in the magazine because there is no silly, useless belt. And I'd definitely go the M70 in order to assure myself that I have a striker block safety and not a trigger block.

That Ruger African chambered for 9.3 x 62 would be a good bet. But since I don't shoot a 9.3 x 62 its a moot point. I do shoot and hunt with a 338 Winchester, and for Americans you can pretty much find 338's anywhere, not that it matters a whole lot it really dose not. Buy the M-70 put a good scope on it, my sako 75 has a 3x-9x Ziess on it and it has not given me a bit of trouble in the 17 years I had the rife.

quote:

And I'd definitely go the M70 in order to assure myself that I have a striker block safety and not a trigger block.

The Ruger has a stiker block safety that is externally visible.

David

For "hogs to bear" you don't need a 9.3X62 or 338 Win Mag. Think about rebarreling a Model 70 to 338-06. I built one and really like it with 225 grain bullets. If you don't handload though, the 338-06 is not for you.

Definitely a 9.3x62. Pre 64 M70, D'Arcy Echols Legend stock, Pacnor #3 barrel, Leupold QR rings/bases, Leupold VX3 1.75-6, midnight purple Cerakote (looks like blue).



250 Accubonds @ 2600 with Varget or 286 Partitions @ 2500 with Big Game.

Alan

From your criteria:
Caliber
1. 9.3x62
2. 338 WM
3. 35 Whelen

Rifle
1. Model 70
2. Ruger

My personal choice: Model 70 in 338-06

Alan,
Could you post a picture of the other side of your rifle. A very nice rifle. It is about what I am planning for my own. Just which caliber I don't know yet.

Aaron

ForrestB & SDhunter,
Two of you brought up the 338-06. What does this caliber offer over the 35 Whelen or the 9.3x62?

I do handload and have done case forming so that part is not a problem. And the 338-06 has been around a long time. But, I do know that wildcats, no matter how good they may be are hard to resell if I ever wanted too.

Aaron

may i suggest you look at the Tikka T3 as well
as one of the options.

Of the calibres, 9.3 or 338 will more than do you.

.

You cannot fault the M70 in 338 Win. There are more choices for bullets in .338 and good brass is cheap and readily available. Since you handload it will be easy to develop reduced loads with heavy bullets for close in work and still have a gun that can reach out and touch them if the need arises.
The Winchester will retain its value better also which is always a plus.
I know this caliber is not on your list but I know an older gentleman who hunts black bears and hogs with a 450 Marlin and loves the power and quick handling. He hunts hogs in thick cutover areas where a scope is of little use.
I am not a big lever action fan and currently do not own one but its hard to argue with his sucess.

I would suggest a 350 Rem mag. Short action, short barrel, short rifle, light weight, what is there not to like for a close quarters/heavy timber hunting rifle. It is also what I use for such circumstances. With a 22" barrel, like mine, it is no problem getting 2550fps with 250gr bullets.

I have a M700KS in 35 whelen & a M70 Super Grade in 338m the 35 is a deer rifle & the 338 is an elk killer. You can use a 215 bullet in the 338 & make it a 300 Win mag. You can't do that with a Whelen. You can load the 338 with 250/275 gr bullets and make it almost a 375 H&H @ a 30'06 weight.

I hunt deer 45+ days a year and use the Whelen a lot the 338 spends its life on the wall because it just doesn't seam right to kill deer with a 338.

I don't have a 9.3x62, although I have thought of buying a CZ. I haven't because the cases are hard to get and the 9.3 less choice in bullets than the Whelen.

Aaron,

Not as nice pics.

Alan

I would go with the new 338. Larger range and better selection of bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by tom ga hunter:
""9.3x62"" I haven't because the cases are hard to get and the 9.3 less choice in bullets than the Whelen.

Well let me rectify that for you.

Grafs

http://www.grafs.com/retail/ca...gory/categoryId/823?

Midway

http://www.midwayusa.com/brows...*652***670***9013***

Midsouth

http://www.midsouthshooterssup...3=%39%2E%33%58%36%32

Sinclair

http://www.sinclairintl.com/.a...ss___9_3x62__100_ct_

Add to that fired brass from Remington, Nosler, Federal and Vortex loaded ammo.

and bullets

Grafs

22 qty for 9.3 vs 25 qty for 35

MidwayUSA

30 qte for 9.3 vs 40 qty for 35

Yep, you're right. More selection of 35 vs 9.3 but WHAT A GREAT selection of 9.3 bullets.

Alan

quote:

Originally posted by Carolina Man:
ForrestB & SDhunter,
Two of you brought up the 338-06. What does this caliber offer over the 35 Whelen or the 9.3x62?

I do handload and have done case forming so that part is not a problem. And the 338-06 has been around a long time. But, I do know that wildcats, no matter how good they may be are hard to resell if I ever wanted too.

Aaron

Id love to have a 338-06. They are basicaly the same thing as a Whelen with much better bullet selection available to reloaders. That is coming from a guy who has a Whelen and no 338..

The Whelen is a great round and fits nicley between the 375 and 06, and there are some good bullets available like the 225 partition and 250 gn Hornady. I like the 338 selections better though.

As Ray Atkinson often points out, the 9.3X62 is ballisticaly very near to the 375 H&H.

The 338 WM is a great round, personally I like the 06 version though as it is more than enough for Elk and such. The WM might be a better choice if Africa is in the mix.

quote:

Second first is buying one of the new Ruger 9.3x62 rifles.

Aaron,

I think you need to re-prioritize; the above should be #1 - Violá, you've arrived; right where you want to be based on your criteria.

Have fun with your decision and ultimate choice.

Of the one's you picked I'd go with the .35 Whelen, but would prefer a .338-06

Take a Win 70 or Ruger in .375H&H - I prefer mine much more over shooting with a 9,3x62 - as this one kicks hard while the .375H&H just pushes you far away...

Just my 2 cents...

Klaus

The .338/06 is a great round, the son of the .333 OKH and the grandson of the legendary .318 Westley Richards. I doubt that there is a gnat's eyelash in practical difference among the three but the newer round is easier to feed.

However, the 9.3x62 is a step up the ladder, a Class I dangerous game rifle, something I would very much hesitate to call the other three or the .338 WM, for that matter. Do you need the extra power? Do you want to go to Africa? if so you should seriously think about the 9.3. If not, then either the Whelen or the .338/06 is ample.

I am a nostalgic kind of guy and hence I got the classic 9.3X62 in my Simson Mauser 98 & Oberndorf stock.

I am sure that the 338-06 or the 35 Whelan or the 338 mag will do the job too. The question really is for your to decide if you want to travel overseas with rifle and if you want to hunt buffalo with it. Then the 9.3X62 is the only choice unless you go up to a 375 H&H. On the other hand, if you decide to hunt only in the US, then you can buy or build what ever you fancy.

I wish I can get a Winchester mod 70 classic action or a 300 RUM rifle so that I can rebarrel it to a 404 Jeffery!

quote:

I want something in between my 30-06 and my 375.

The 338 caliber is right between your 375 and 30-06.
Choices are 338 super magnums, Win Mag, 338-06, or 338 Federal.

quote:

The purpose of this rifle is for use in heavy timber/brush, swamp, close corner use on various game from hogs to bears.

High velocity will not be needed because you will not be stretching the distances. Super magnums are too big.
I am thinking you will want a lighter, quick handling rifle. Most 338 Win Mags are not that. But you could certainly go that route and it is real easy to download a 338 WM.

A 338 Federal would also serve your purpose, but it is a little lacking powder capacity for the heavier bullets which you stated you preferred.

I will never own a Whelen, but there is nothing wrong it. Because I chose the 338-06, and it will do anything a Whelen will.

9.3x62 is a good cartridge, but I own two 9.3x64 Benneke's and you already have a 375.

Ultimatley you will have to go with your preference. Everything above is simply my opnion, nothing more, nothing less.

Personally, I am not worried about resale on my 338-06's. If you are concerned about that, then you should go with one of choices in your OP. I don't think I have to take less money because of that particualr cartidge. The real beating come from trying to sell semi-customs.

338 RCM would split the diference well. Basicaly a short action 338-06.
I think you can't go wrong with any if the choices.

Thanks boom stick, I forgot about that cartridge. From a practical standpoint, I think that is the answer. Especially if your are gun shy of the non mainstream 338-06.

When I built my first 338-06 ten plus years ago, it was not an option.

IMO the 338 RCM, is just an answer for the bean counters and for Ruger to have another of their own cartridges, but it has the same ballsitics as the 338-06, so it has to be good.

I think the 338-06 would probably have been adopted by one of the bigs had not Art Alphin been the person to SAAMI it. Art definitely put it behind the eight ball and Weatherby didn't help it much. Stigma and the high prices that go with it.

And unfortunately stigma counts among the lumpenproletariat. If I didn't already have a .318 a .338/06 would be on my shopping list. It's just too good a cartridge to snub.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-fs/

One a deeze in 9.3x62 would fit your ctiteria.

I had a Sako stainless synthetic rebarrelled to 9.3x62. Barrel length is 21 inches and I have a load for it using 250 grain Accubond bullets. It recoils much less than my 338 and has lots of punch. I built it for black bear hunting in Canada but in three weeks its going to Michigan after a big whitetail. Lots of brass, bullets and ammo available.

LJS, where are you going in Michigan to get a big whitetail in 3 weeks? I still recommend the 350 Rem mag.

First choice is to rebarrel/rechamber a Mod 70 to 9.3x62,
Second is buying one of the new Ruger 35 Whelen rifles.

Steph: At the risk of being shunned for life I am hunting on a private ranch near Vanderbilt, MI. It is what it is and I enjoy the hell out of it. Five days there then five days in northern Wisconsin. After 45 years of futility in Pennsylvania I find seeing nice bucks a joy!

LJS,

You will have to fill me in on the Michigan hunt after you have done it. By the way, I won't be shunning you for hunting a private ranch, where do you think I shot the bison in my avatar? Also shot my two water buffalo on private ranches.

Hope you have a great time/hunt.

One of each!!!

Kidding aside, I like the 35 Whelen a lot. IMHO good for anything walking in North America.

For the conditions you stated, I'd go in a completely different direction; a BLR in .358 Win.

35 Whelen (and you find them even in Scandinavia )

Mine is a M77 with 22" Shilen barrel.
Standard load is 250 grs Woodleigh RN, a honest 200 yards rifle that flatten both moose and deer.

Go with your first choice. They will all do the job, (as will most of the other rifle/cartridge combos that have been suggested in lieu of your carefully considered three options) but you will have less regret if you stick with the one that originally piqued your interest.

Rebarrel that M70 to 318 Westley Richards! 250 grains @ 2400 fps, and you can sell it to me when youre done with it!

Carolina Man:

I have another suggestion. If the purpose of the rifle is "heavy timber/brush, swamp, close corner use" I would suggest you take a long hard look at a .338 Stainless Ruger Compact Magnum. It will do everything you need to do and will be short, light, and handy. I have one with a 20 inch barrel and it will spit 225 Hornady Spire Points out at better than 2600 fps with no problem. If you want a bit more velocity, Ruger offers a stainless .338 Ruger Compact Magnum with a 22 inch barrel. My "go to" powder is Ramshot Big Game but there are lots of options. You can find a great two part article about the .338 Ruger Compact Magnum at RealGuns here:

http://www.realguns.com/archives/168.htm

There are a lot more choices in bullets for the .338 than either the .358 or .366 but there are superb bullets available in those calibers as well. My second choice would be a 9.3X62. I have a CZ in that caliber that I would sell you at a good price since I also have a Blaser 9.3X62 too.