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OK here is the idea - you want to buy a custom pair of rifles for your gal, matching, same measurement, same glass etc.

She hunts Europe (similar to USA) deer, predators, up to red stags and then Africa - including big and sometimes DG.

Now the question - what two calibers would you go for ?

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7x57 and 9.3x62

If you (or she) reload, I’d choose differently…

But varmints to red deer, a 6.5, either Swede (assuming ammo is easily available) or Creedmoor. Light enough for varmint use, yet enough power to stop red stag/elk.

The larger would be a .375 H&H. Meets minimums for DG, yet not a horrible recoiling rifle. While 9.3 ammo may be common in Europe, it’s not in Africa.

My choices being both effective, yet readily available factory ammo.

.308 might also be a good light rifle choice for the non reloader, but I think some European jurisdictions don’t allow it as a military caliber. I do think it’s a might overkill for varmint shooting, but if you are limiting to 2…

very boring choices but effective. 30-06 and 375 either Ruger or H&H

A lot depends on what she can handle.

So here is my two cents.

For the light/European rifle it would choose one of the following.

6.5x55
7x57
30/06

For the large game/DG my choice would be 9.3x62. She will shoot a lot more big game than she ever will DG and if it comes to a place where the 9.3 isn’t legal she can shoot my rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by squeezenhope:
7x57 and 9.3x62

My choice...

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I should have said at the start that she is good on recoil and has often shot my .375. But the idea of a 9,3x62 has appeal!

Appreciate the inputs thus far!

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300H&H and 375H&H

308 and 375 H&H , these two calibre will take care of almost all animals on this earth

Since Europe
7x64B and 9.3x62.

quote:

Originally posted by Ongwe:
300H&H and 375H&H

That was the pair that came to mind for me too

Winchester 1895 in 30-06 and 405. Skip the glass.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by squeezenhope:
7x57 and 9.3x62

My choice...

+3

1) A lady 2) she hunts Europe & Africa. US not mentioned.

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Looking at a pair of Sauer 505s with additions and upgraded wood topped with either Swaro or Zeiss glasses. Not exactly custom as in custom build but an excellent rifle and workmanship!

Still undecided on calibers .....

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Love the 9.3x62 but the 375 h&h is legal for dg where the 9.3 may not be. So the 375 and 7x57 would be good choices. A 260rem 708rem 308 win and others would easily do the same as the 7x57 as well.

As to the 7mm, if i saw a 7x 57 i liked i would buy it. If I was having one made I would go with 280 remington. AI or not , your choice. As to 9.3 vs a 375, it will really depend on the rifles weight and fit. A bad fitting 9.3 will be worse than a good fitting 375.
Females tend to need a bit more drop at heel than men as well a s a bit more pitch. Also, grip needs to be such that she can reach the trigger without having to roll her hand around too far. the tell is where is her thumb. Is it over the top of grip or along the side right of center if she's right handed visa versa left.

Just my observations fitting a few ladies with a stock.

Winchester 70 featherweight in 25-06 and a Winchester 70 Alaskan in 375 H + H both with Leupold 3 x 9 x 40 glass.

The versatility of the 25-06 is often overlooked.

Don't most of our gals come with a matching pair.

Perry

7x57 and .375 H&H would be my choice.

In fact, I’m halfway there…my wife’s rifle is a Merkel K3 in 7x57r.

She’s not likely to ever hunt DG (*I know they say to never say “never” but…) so I figure my job is done.

quote:

Originally posted by squeezenhope:
7x57 and 9.3x62

+4

Where legal for the game hunted, I think the 9.3x62 makes more sense here than the 375H&H mag. It should come with a lighter action with shorter bolt throw and, burning less powder, have fractionally less recoil relative to its ballistics.

The lighter calibre? Maybe 7x57 or 7mm08.

Some really great suggestions here of really good caliber/cartridges.

The reason I and a few others voted for the 7x57 and 9.3x62, besides being good at what they do, plus being mild in the recoil dept., is that the ammo is easily available in both Africa and Europe for the lady.

While I have taken the 25-06, 35 Whelen, and will be taking a 338-06 on my next safari, I do so knowing full well if my ammo doesn’t show up, I will not get to use the rifle I brought. One can always use the ‘camp rifle’, if your PH has one on hand, but it may not fit you very well. Women are more at risk in this situation, as most rifles are stocked for men, and tend to have too long of a ‘length of pull’ for smaller women. The 25-06, 35 Whelen, 338-06, 7mm-08, etc. are not common at all outside of the US. You may run into one over there, but not likely.

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I think for the bigger of the two it will be the 9,3x62. That will cover driven boar, "big" Africa, reds and the likes.

I am still thinking what to get for the medium rifle. Tending to 7x64 or 30 odd six, the latter because that is what she has shot the last 20 plus years and is very comfortable with the caliber plus it covers all European and most Africa small and mid game......

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Yes, and the 30-06 is everywhere in Africa, and I suppose Europe as well.
If she’s been shooting the 30-06 for a couple decades, I’d stick with it and the 9.3x62. Not a bad pairing at all!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by surefire7:
Yes, and the 30-06 is everywhere in Africa, and I suppose Europe as well.
If she’s been shooting the 30-06 for a couple decades, I’d stick with it and the 9.3x62. Not a bad pairing at all! 180 gr. for the ‘06, and 286gr. for the 9.3. Nice jump in bullet weight separating the two rounds.[QUOTE].

The 30/06 is all over Europe.

It is very popular.

That is my Observations from Britain, France, Austria, and Bulgaria.

My wife is 5’2” and in the 120’s (if any of you ever repeat this I will hunt you down), normal 375 H&H loads out of a M70 classic are tough on her. No problems with a 30-06 or my 300 RUM with brake. Handloading to down load may be required for shooting the larger bores for most ladies.

Hi Charlie

A bit late to this discussion however, given you're likely to go down the Sauer path, I reckon a 3 barrel option is the way to go.

A 7x64 to cover most European hunts, and provides flat shooting if longer shots are required.

A 30/06 will cover the above, and allow you to use a heavier projectile if required, perhaps in Africa.

And the 9.3x62 speaks for itself!

All available in an easy to use and proven platform...you can't go wrong with a Sauer!

If I had seen any 9.3x66 ammo anywhere in Europe, I would suggest 7x64B and 9.3x66.

Sadly, I have not. Thus, 7x64B and 9.3x62z

quote:

Originally posted by Charlie64:
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I think for the bigger of the two it will be the 9,3x62. That will cover driven boar, "big" Africa, reds and the likes.

I am still thinking what to get for the medium rifle. Tending to 7x64 or 30 odd six, the latter because that is what she has shot the last 20 plus years and is very comfortable with the caliber plus it covers all European and most Africa small and mid game......

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Having shot from duikers to eland with both the .30-06 and the 7x57, I don’t know that you would need the bigger rifle for anything short of legally mandated dangerous game.

While the 9.3 is reasonably understood to be capable for dangerous game, there are a few places where the letter of the law is .375. If you are going to get her a rifle to handle everything, I’d probably go there because a badly behaved game scout could be an issue, and the sole reason for the larger gun is that one issue…

I’d be happy shooting anything in North America with either of the two, and would be fine with them for everything except elephant, Rhino, and buffalo… and I know that plenty of those have been killed by these cartridges as well.

Certainly the 9.3 will work on smaller animals, and will have more energy for boar, although I’ve yet to see the pig that needs more than the 7 or .30… the Texas boys often seem to shoot huge hogs with a .223 (but that’s not a driven hunt…)

Just hunt places where the 9.3x62 is legal.

Such as Mozambique. Technically, you are not going to find a commercial 9.3 lx 62 load that meets Zimbabwe’s Joule requirement. However, no one seems to care.

7x64 and 9,3x64

it is a misconception that the 9,3x62 is th euro/legal version of the 375 - this is untrue - it is the 9,3x64 ...

and here's why
the 9,3x62 is a 366x.473 base diameter case, call it the 9,3x06 -- the 7x64 is the same .473 case head, and the major difference between the 280/7mm express and the 7x64 is the twist of the barrel, with the 7x64 intended for heavy for caliber bullets - in all of the above rounds, you can make the cases from 30-06 basic

HOWEVER
the 9,3x64 uses a different case all together. in the late 1900s, when the brass was unobtainable, we would turn off the belts to ~.510 from HH cases, SLIGHTLY rebate the rim, and load them up -

there is a HUGE difference in case capacity between the 9.3x62 and 9,3x64 -- which i can't get exact numbers, as my most handy guide, ammoguide, is experiencing technical difficulties at this time --

literally no one in the right mind would say a 338-6 and a 338 winchester are interchangable

MOSTLY PRETTY GOOD IDEAS, BUT I MIGHT MENTION THE 35 wHELEN IS FINE FOR MOST DG WHEN USED PROPERLY WITH GOOD BULLETS AND FELT RECOIL IS Substantially below that of the 9,3x62 ( one of my favorites) TO MOST! AND WOULD BE A GOOD SECONDARIRY CALIBER IMO..ASK ONLY THOSE THAT HAVE USED IT!! iF THE LADY OR YOUNGSTER IS INVOLVED OR EVEN AN ELDERLY GENTELMEN SUCH AS MYSELF

The 30/06 is never a bad choice. Any of the 375s will do for the second cartridge. In both cases tailoring bullet type and weight to the game adds versatility. For the 30/06, 150s for deer and the like, 180s and 200s for heavier game. I have used 235s in the 375 for deer, and 250s for Eland. For buffalo, use 300 grain premium bullets.