Help me decide. Over the next few years, I'm going to get down to for or five rifles. I'm done reducing the shotguns, down to four. Getting hard to decide which one needs to go next. I'm getting down to the family guns and my favorite fifteen.
Here is some background. I'm hitting 66 this year. No one else in my near family is seriously into hunting and shooting. Had a bunch of financial and physical set backs over the last couple years. My opportunities for going on any more hunting trips is dwindling fast. I'm moving to SE VA, soon. I've been there off and on for quite a few years. There is not much of a gun culture there, so there are very few shooting and hunting opportunities.
I'm trying to decide which one these goes first, my Whelen or my 9.3x62. I have a Chapuis in 9.3x74 and a drilling (which is for sale). The 9.3 is the Ruger African. In my opinion, one of the slickest handling and shooting rifles I've ever handled. The Whelen is a tang safety 77RS, which matches a set of tang safety RS's that run from 22 250,250, 257, 30/06, 35W,and 416T. It took me thirty years to put that set together. I really like both of them. Both are good shooters. Which one would you part with?
Whitetails are small in VA, and where you can shoot rifles, you can only shoot rifles from treestands. There are no ranges that I've been able to find that are over 100 yards within two hours drive. So neither one really has any field use. Thoughts?
Bfly

Ruger African 9.3x62.

Sell everything 30 caliber and over. roger roger

4 0r 5 rifles

Keep the Ruger African 9.3x62. This rifle, in my hands, feels better than any rifle I own, including my Dakotas (and my Ruger Mark II 35 Whelen). Sounds like you feel the same.

Ruger does not make the 9.3 anymore and they made very few of them. The two calibers are very close, but I like the 9.3 better, and as has been said many times before, it's legal in some African countries (if you can make it over there).

Wow! Hate to break up that 30 year collection though...

Sell everything 30 caliber and UNDER (including the 35W) and KEEP the 9.3 Ruger.

I'd keep both as you love both. The Ruger tang safety set might have some value. I would make sure I leave clear instructions to my estate about the guns and their value.

Biggest fear is my wife realised the real value of my tools and I am not there to defend it

quote:

I'm moving to SE VA, soon. I've been there off and on for quite a few years. There is not much of a gun culture there, so there are very few shooting and hunting opportunities.

Not sure where in VA you've been, but I've spent a lot of the last 2 decades in SE VA and I've never had a problem finding a lot of hunting and shooting opportunities. As to the "gun culture", get away from the cities and VA is full of good old country boys and girls that love guns and hunting.

As to your question, I'd go with the 9.3x62. I don't have a 35 W but I do have a 350 Rem Mag and I'll probably be selling it since I got a 9.3. I can get heavier bullets in the 9.3 and since neither is a long range rig, heavier bullets make the difference for me.

I agree...keep the 9.3x62....unless you like the physical feel of the .35W better when you are actually using it in the field.

As neither of them are what you would call common "target shooting" rounds, keep the GUN which you like best...the whole gun, not just the cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
I agree...keep the 9.3x62....unless you like the physical feel of the .35W better when you are actually using it in the field.

As neither of them are what you would call common "target shooting" rounds, keep the GUN which you like best...the whole gun, not just the cartridge.

I beg to differ. The 35 W is well suited for cast bullet and reduced velocity jacketed bullet loads (think Trail Boss). Scrap the 9.3!!!

A no brainer in my opinion. good one Muskegman! 35 Whelen Rules!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MuskegMan:

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
I agree...keep the 9.3x62....unless you like the physical feel of the .35W better when you are actually using it in the field.

As neither of them are what you would call common "target shooting" rounds, keep the GUN which you like best...the whole gun, not just the cartridge.

I beg to differ. The 35 W is well suited for cast bullet and reduced velocity jacketed bullet loads (think Trail Boss). Scrap the 9.3!!!

I would keep the 9.3.

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
I would keep the 9.3.

So would I.

quote:

Originally posted by Norwegianwoods:

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
I would keep the 9.3.

So would I.

Me too.

Seeing as the 35 cal 280gr Swift is my favorite bullet,,my vote is for the Whelen!

I would keep the 9.3...

I would keep the 77 tang safety gun in .35 Whelen. I have a set on those Rugers too and they are my favorite bolt actions.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
A no brainer in my opinion. good one Muskegman! 35 Whelen Rules!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MuskegMan:

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
I agree...keep the 9.3x62....unless you like the physical feel of the .35W better when you are actually using it in the field.

As neither of them are what you would call common "target shooting" rounds, keep the GUN which you like best...the whole gun, not just the cartridge.

I beg to differ. The 35 W is well suited for cast bullet and reduced velocity jacketed bullet loads (think Trail Boss). Scrap the 9.3!!!

And you disagree with just what part of my recommendation (that he keep the GUN he likes the most, instead of trying to sort out the differences between two peas in a pod the .35W and the 9.3x62)?

The 9.3x62 can handle bullet weights from 232 to 320gr, but as Lloyd said, it's not the caliber, it's the rifle/caliber combination that feels right. Neither is so valuable that you're missing out on any big windfall if you kept both...that's what I'd do.

Thanks for all the advice, I have decided to keep them both for a while. I just can't part with either one.
I've had the Whelen for a long time. I got it in the early nineties. I shoot it quite a bit at the range and since I have all the other tang safeties that I shoot and hunt, it's just too good of an old friend.
The African, on the other hand, is just such a great rifle. I've had five Whitworths in a variety of calibers and the African is, to me, a step above them. It is an absolute pleasure to carry and shoot. It's amazingly accurate, right out of the box. It felt perfect from the first time I picked it up.
Thanks, again, for the advice. I'm just too attached to both of them.
Bfly

What Biebs said. Plus it is an easy cartridge to reload. Keep the 9.3!

quote:

Originally posted by Black Fly:
Thanks for all the advice, I have decided to keep them both for a while. I just can't part with either one.
I've had the Whelen for a long time. I got it in the early nineties. I shoot it quite a bit at the range and since I have all the other tang safeties that I shoot and hunt, it's just too good of an old friend.
The African, on the other hand, is just such a great rifle. I've had five Whitworths in a variety of calibers and the African is, to me, a step above them. It is an absolute pleasure to carry and shoot. It's amazingly accurate, right out of the box. It felt perfect from the first time I picked it up.
Thanks, again, for the advice. I'm just too attached to both of them.
Bfly

Best Choice! Even though they overlap I have both a Whelen and 9,3x62 and like em both for different reasons.

If I could only have one it would be the 9,3x62 but luckily I can keep both.

the best answer I have heard/read was in Van der Walts book, African DG cartridges "comparing the 9.3x62 to a 35 Whelen in power is like comparing cuss'en to dammit" the .9.3x62 should be compared to the .375 H&H within the 9.3x62 parimeters of range meaning up to a couple of hundred yards or so..I suspect thats pretty close..Keep the 9.3x62 it has a credible edge.

Tough choice. Do you intend to keep the rest of your matching set? Which one is more accurate?

At least for a while, I'm going to keep the set. It's a tough call on the most accurate. I've found some pretty accurate load for each of them. All of them will shoot five shot MOA when I do my part. The 416T is a bit over MOA, maybe 1 1/4 to 1 1/2. The 257R is an old smooth top RS. I bought it new in '72. With 75 grain Hornady's V Max and 4895 will shoot one hole groups at 100 and with the old blue Barnes 100 grain and H4350 will do the same. It's scratched up, rode hard and put up wet, so it looks pretty rough, but still accurate by my standards.
Bfly

Edit: Just for the record, I don't think I ever shot a five shot group with factory ammo that went smaller than 1.5 moa with the 257. Some brands don't get close to that.

I like the tang safety Rugers. I have a 358 Winchester in a 99 Savage too and always look for a tang safety gun while cruising the gunstores. I also have a couple of 9.3s and like them for different reasons. I think you should keep both guns and enjoy them as you can. Someone can deal with them after you leave this world. And give the new area some time. You will learn of shooting opportunities as you get around.

Given your circumstance I would keep the Whelen all else being equal. The whelen can use 357 pistol projectiles or cast bullets for closer settled area and go up to 300grains if needed.+ it is part of a matched set.
Both are fine calibres keep the one which handles best for you.
I disagree with Ray. The 9.3x62 is in no way a 375 but compares more with the 35's. If you start talking 9.3X64 then you can compare with the 375.

u either never shoot 9.3,or looking to much at balistic tables,in some loads 9.3 is better than 375,plus handier and lighter rifle,its not all about power,its how u are quick with rifle,precise and comfrtable,no animal will know difference being hit with 9.3 or 375,when u talk about 9.3x64 brenneke,i can with all my hear its better than 375,again,lets dont discuss this more and get into fight,whelen is behind 9.3,this is fat

If we're talking handload averages, the .375 H&H is a bit more powerful from the muzzle to about 250 yards. But in particular handloads, as in the 286 NP in the 9.3 X 62 vs. the 300 NP in the .375 H&H, with each started at 2550 fps there's little difference. Actually, the 286 has a much better BC so will hold its velocity down range better.

The 9.3 X 62, in my significant handloading experience with both, is a definite step ahead of the .35 Whelen. But I like both.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

quote:

But in particular handloads, as in the 286 NP in the 9.3 X 62 vs. the 300 NP in the .375 H&H, with each started at 2550 fps there's little difference. Actually, the 286 has a much better BC so will hold its velocity down range better.

That's called 'cherry-picking' the data.
Yes, the 9.3 is a great cartridge and Tikka makes a very handy lightweight, inexpensive, accurate rifle in the calibre. I'd get one for my wife BUT they won't write a buffalo license for it in Tanzania. For that, the functional equivalent is a lefty 375 Ruger in either laminate Alaskan or wood 23" African, both with contolled-feed.

To add injury to the comparison, I'd probably try out loading the 375 Ruger for her with 250 grain TTSX at 2600fp (or else new extended range raptor CEB), or whatever nearby node would shoot well in the rifle. The result would be down at published 338 and 9.3 loads. But the game officials wouldn't care or ask.

I have a 9.3x62 FN Commercial. Express sighted and regulated at 50 yds with 282gr RWS H-Mantels.

Awesome piggies round and doesn't beat up little roe deer.

Keep the 9.3...

ATB,

Scrummy

quote:

Originally posted by 416Tanzan:

quote:

But in particular handloads, as in the 286 NP in the 9.3 X 62 vs. the 300 NP in the .375 H&H, with each started at 2550 fps there's little difference. Actually, the 286 has a much better BC so will hold its velocity down range better.

That's called 'cherry-picking' the data.
Yes, the 9.3 is a great cartridge and Tikka makes a very handy lightweight, inexpensive, accurate rifle in the calibre. I'd get one for my wife BUT they won't write a buffalo license for it in Tanzania. For that, the functional equivalent is a lefty 375 Ruger in either laminate Alaskan or wood 23" African, both with contolled-feed.

To add injury to the comparison, I'd probably try out loading the 375 Ruger for her with 250 grain TTSX at 2600fp (or else new extended range raptor CEB), or whatever nearby node would shoot well in the rifle. The result would be down at published 338 and 9.3 loads. But the game officials wouldn't care or ask.

That's called "cherry picking the location".
My location isn't Tanzania! And I really don't care what you choose for your wife! That's none of my business, but for my locations I've chosen the 9.3 X 62 over BOTH the .338 WM AND a .375 H&H, all of which I've owned and loaded for except the Ruger, which I think is a pretty decent choice.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

If one rifle evokes memories of hunts past every time you pick it up, keep that one. Other wise I'd vote for the 9.3 as there are plenty of good bullets, brass and load data available for anything on the planet.