quote:

Originally posted by boilerroom:
I'm starting this project. I'm going to order my Boyds JRS Pepper Laminate Monday. I have my barrel maker and smith decided. Just have to wait for the stock to arrive. I've almost 100% decided on the chambering with only considerations to the other four but I'll see what the consensus is on AR.

Which should I choose as my Moose and Grizzly bear round? I won't be using it for the big big coastals but for interrior Mountain Griz.

Minor alterations to the bolt are not a concern.

Just my own preference BR, but I stopped reading after 9.3x64. Quite possibly the best calibre ever designed.

I voted for the 35 Whelen but think about the 375 Whelen too.

411 hawk

Personaly, I would go for the Whelen improved but the 9.3X62 would be a good choice also, I say this mostly beacuse I just finished shooting my standard whelen, and I liked it!
I just blew hell out of a stup that i put my target on shooting 250 grain speers, and My buddie was amazed at the big chunks of wood flying of the stump, It was hitting harder than my .338, I,was checking the zero for an elk hunt I leave on in 3 days, (also taking my 45/70) I am pumped !!! tj3006

Good luck on your hunt Thomas!

Ok guys, I know its hard to resist but keep it to my choices above.

I know this is going to sound silly, but. If you want a 9.3 x 62 build a Mauser. If your building on an American action build the American cartridge.

They just match better that way in my overly conservative head, some things are just supposed to be that way, and it has zip to do with logic.

With the parameters that you have set, I would go with the 35 Whelen. Plenty to get those jobs done comfortably.

Whitey

I have been thinking about the same. I am having a nice Enfield mannlicher stocked sporter re-bored to 9.3x62 and am considering having my old M-70 done into a 9.3x64.

The Whelen improved will with 24 inch barrel give you 2800+fps with 225gr bullets, and 2650+fps with 250gr bullets. I cannot tell any recoil differance between my whelen and a 30-06. This can mean fast second and third shots a real consideration. At distances of 250yds or less, it just plain gets the job done. Plus you can use 30-06 brass to make yours = cheap. And again it is just plain cool.

Since it's your money, I voted 9.3x64. Just this side of magnum.
But dies and brass aren't cheap. If it were my dough, it would be a 25" Whelen all the way. But then I also wouldn't use it for grizz. I've never hunted anything that would hunt me, but if I did, I'd use my 358-404 wildcat with a 280g going 2900 fps.
Oh, and I had it built on a M70 '06.

The poll is looking good guys. No real surprises though. I had a feeling the 9.3X66 SAKO would get little votes being the new kid on the block.

I faced the same question in the Spring. A saddle rifle for Moose, Elk, Deer and Grizzly if needed. Brownies a possibility. My choices were the 35 Whelan and the 9.3 x 62. Not much difference ballistically but the 9.3 has more options at the top end, including the wonderful Woodleigh 320 grain Soft.

Their are also some solids if you need to put an old Dodge out of it's misery.

I voted for the 9.3x62 but I am a little biased I suppose.

Mickey

I was just up to Likely this weekend to see how the muley migration is coming along. Went up and stayed at Wolverine Lake. Not enough snow on the mountain tops yet but seen some big sign anyways. Friggin windier than all hell.

For off the shelf big game performance I'd go with the 9.3x62. But if I wanted the flexibility to load economical pistol bullet plinkers or sensible whitetail loads or premium bullet bear medicine I'd go with a Whelen. Good hunting!

quote:

But if I wanted the flexibility to load economical pistol bullet plinkers or sensible whitetail loads or premium bullet bear medicine I'd go with a Whelen. Good hunting!

I have plenty of rifles to cover plinking and deer.

I would take the 9.3x62. It makes a perfect moose/bear rifle. Why is it that the shooters on this forum seem to be the only people that know that it exists.

I guess mostly diehards participate on these forums. Its the same on Canadiangunnutz.com. The 9.3x62 threads get quite a response. You then talk to other hunters out there and even guys at the gun shops and they seem puzzled. I guess because you pretty much have to be a handloader for this round in North America and they see little in the way of customers asking about ammo for it or rifles chambred for it.

I voted for the .35 Whelen but only because you didn't have the 338-06 as an option! LoL

The 9.3X62 is indeed a great cartridge but in truth the extra .008" in bullet diameter means very little in the real world. Both cartridges chuck similar weights of bullets at similar velocities but the .35 calibre bullets are going to be a lot easier to find, especially close to home.

My vote was for the .35 Whelen as well. What many people do not realize, and Remington and Ruger do not help the situation is the .35 Whelen was intended for heavy big game. It was developed with a 1 in 12" twist rate in the barrel to handle bullets from 250 to 300 gr. for elk, moose and tghe great bears.
Why in bloody pluperfect hell Remington and Ruger decided on a 1 in 16" twist rate is beyond me.
Then again, Remington has not loaded the .35 Whelen to it's full potetial, probably due to all the old Winchester model 1895s and Springfield 1903s floating around that were either rebarreled or rebored to the Whelen. Guess I can't fault them for that. Still, this does make it a reloader's cartridge It's too bad Hornady dropped their 275 gr. round nose for the .35 back in 1967. The sucker loaded to about 2300 FPS would put a hurt on just about any big bear with proper bullet placement.
I have three rifles in .35 Whelen, the Ruger and Remington mentioned above and a custom Oberndorf Mauser I picked up at an estate sale. The Mauser has a 1 in 14" twist. Better, but no cigar. I'm thinking the Remington and Ruger will be going down to road to finance a proper Whelen with a proer twist rate in the barrel.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by Cariboo:
I voted for the .35 Whelen but only because you didn't have the 338-06 as an option! LoL

The 9.3X62 is indeed a great cartridge but in truth the extra .008" in bullet diameter means very little in the real world. Both cartridges chuck similar weights of bullets at similar velocities but the .35 calibre bullets are going to be a lot easier to find, especially close to home.

I've done my homework on bullets. Rolph can order any of the bullets in 9.3 that I would want. Nosler and Barnes no problem and I can get A-Frames from Russell's. Theres now 2 TSX's in 9.3. I see the 9.3 is catching wind. Theres more and more interest in it lately.

The 9.3 holds an edge over the 35 Whelen. Its the 35 cal that is limited in available bullet weights unless you get into pistol bullets and other oddballs. I've seen this debate many times. I don't think any of the problems people have pointed out to me really matters. If I forgot my ammo at home, I guess I'll just go home and get it. Its not like I'm going to be on a guided hunt in Alaska. If its a fly in, theres a backup coming anyways.

quote:

Originally posted by boilerroom:
[I've done my homework on bullets. Rolph can order any of the bullets in 9.3 that I would want.

Order them yes,but can he actually get put them in your hands in a reasonable amount of time??

In any case it seems your project is going to be a 9.3 and that is great as it is only yourself you have to please.

So the only question is are you going to use the .9.3 at the next shoot at Lone Butte?

BTW: Whose barrel are you going to use?

Rolph's bullet supplier usually has my bullets in my hands same week, 3 to 4 days tops and sometimes 2 days. They stock 9.3

Bits of Pieces has Heym Barrels. They just ran out of 9.3 but they have Montana barrels. Either or will be fine for me.

I'll probably bring it. It will be a no frills rifle. Nothing to brag about. My M70 260 AI on the other hand...

quote:

Originally posted by Cariboo:
I voted for the .35 Whelen but only because you didn't have the 338-06 as an option! LoL

The 9.3X62 is indeed a great cartridge but in truth the extra .008" in bullet diameter means very little in the real world. Both cartridges chuck similar weights of bullets at similar velocities but the .35 calibre bullets are going to be a lot easier to find, especially close to home.

This must have been a typographical error or a software glitch that left out the 338/06 which would be the best choice.....

however, I'd also consider the 9.3 x 62 over the Whelan, strictly because it is an even more eclectic cartridge than a Whelan.....

You will come across far less guys with the 9.3 x 62 than the Whelan.... just so to be even more individual than the Whelan crowd go with the 9.3!

cheers
seafire

ps: actually I see no down side to anyone of the choices....but when I did this program, the 338/06 is the one that got built!