Ok guys...help me decide which caliber. I'm sitting here with an Interarms Mark X action(standard bolt face) and can't decide what to do with it. I want a lightweight sporter(not a featherweight) and have narrowed my caliber choices to the following in no sepecific order 270 Win., 7x57mm, 35 Whelen and 9.3x62. If this was your project which of these calibers would you choose and why? The only other caliber I am considering that would need a bolt face mod would be a 9.3x64.

Craig

I had a lightweight .35 Whelen once, quite a thumper, I'd expect the same from a light 9.3. Now the 7X57 is another story. I had one built last year on a mauser VZ 24 action with a 24" barrel and it's quickly becoming my favorite rifle. Almost no recoil and very accurate with both the 139 gr. SST's and the 154 gr. SP's. I just got a few boxes of the S&B 172 gr. SPCE's but haven't tried them yet.

Craig

Your caliber choices are sort of scattered. With the 270 and 7x57 you have limetations on the type of game but with the 35 and 9.3 theres no game limetations(to a point) but on range, that's a different story. That 35 should kick pretty hard on a light rifle also.

If it's game up to the size of elk, go with that 270 or 7x57. If moose and larger bears are on the menue go with the 35 or 9.3. If it's just deer you'll be hunting then that 7x57 is a great choice.

Hope that helped a bit.

How about a 280Rem or 280Improved? Best characteristics of the 270 & 7x57 and more. Of the larger bores you mentioned, I'd select the 9.3x62 but not in a lightweight rifle. 8mm-06 or 338-06 are also nice larger bore cartridges on the standard bolt face.

Craig P after using a 9.3x74R double for several years I would recommend without a doubt that you build a 9.3x62. Recoil is not bad [my double weighs 7.25 lbs with out scope]. The 9.3x62 and the 9.3x74R [similar ballistics] may just be some of the best rounds on the planet. Build your rifle along the lines of a 30-06 sized rifle, not a magnum.

I supose my answer depends on what you want to do with it.... What do you want to do with it? What do you want to hunt with it?

CraigP, I've had a .35 Whelen and they are a lot of fun...but, in an eight pound rifle they are not too bad. In a light rifle you may get more than you bargained for. If I was going after big stuff all the time I'd probably go with the 9.3x62 with 286 grain bullets. Tough to argue with a 95 year track record.

Boiler,

You are 100% correct that my caliber choices are sort of scattered. I was looking at these calibers because I haven't really played with them. The 270 Win. is the exception. I used a Husky in 270 for years, but the older I get the steeper the hills get and the heavier that rifle gets. I already own guns that would cover for evrything from varmints to Cape Buffalo. I guess this rifle is just going to be a new toy.

Craig

Since you've allready played with the 270 and you wan't a light rifle then my answer would be the 7x57.

Keep the .270, and add a .338WM of standard weight (about 8 lbs.) That's all you will ever need in the US. Later, you could add a .416REM (or Rigby).

CraigP: Go with the 7x57mm Mauser. Put a PacNor barrel on it with a long=thoat in the chamber in a 1x8.66 twist. Have it fitted to a nice piece of French Walnut, some good checkering, a nice oil finish, a Leupold Scope if you like Leupold's and enjoy life.

Another vote for the 7x57.

I would go with the 7x57 also. I have a 270 in a fairly light rifly, an open sighted Sears rifle (FN action). And have shot my step-brothers 7x57 featherweight winchester, the 7x57 was by far a more pleasant level of recoil.

I have a 35 whelen AI, excellent shooter, no problem on range, as get 2800+ with 225grain bullets, but have 26" of barrel. In a light weight rifle though I think it would be more than I would want.

I would do the 7x57, probably do an Ackley Improved (I have the dies already ;-) with a lighter contoured barrel, full 24", cut the weight out int he stock and there ya go!

Red

I would go with the 9.3x62 as you can shoot 232 gr at 2600 fps and then step up to 320 gr wooodleigh's if you so desire. I think to normal ranges of shooting the 9.3 could be very versatile that is why I am getting one.

If I were you,I would go with the 30-06,the 30-06 can and will do it all.30-06 ammo can be found, in any sporting goods stores in the U.S.A.As for reloading,the loads and bullet weights,are just about endless.

Thanks to everyone who posted replies. I've decided to build a 7x57 more for sentimental reasons than any other reason. My father's favorite deer rifle was his 7x57 built on a Mark X action with a McGowan barrel. I still have his rifle, however it is very heavy and doesn't fit me very well. I would never dream of altering his gun in any way, so I've decided to build my own. I'm going to use my Mark X action but with a Lothar Walther #1100 or #1200 barrel in classic style walnut stock. With a 2-7 Leupold mounted in Leupold bases and rings, it should make for a nice fun rifle. Again thanks to all who posted.

Craig

If you decide to go with a larger calibre (9.3) I would suggest you go to the 9.3x64. Cases are not difficult to find. If you want to load it down to 9.3x62 ballistics you can but in full throttle loads you have 375 H&H performance out of a non belted std length case. If you go with a smaller calibre go with a 280!

In a light rifle my vote would be the 7x57.
Andy

For my vote I would go with the 270 win.

I had a Mauser M98 rebarreled to .35Whelen, then later rebored an M-700 to Whelen as well. I also have a .280 (a .270 in remington clothing) and shoot the Whelen far more.
Unless shots exceed 250 or 300 yards, the Whelen has good hittability and a satisfying amount of power. I think the .35 is a good balance of frontal area and velocity. It will do most things a slightly smaller caliber will do withing that range, the reverse is not necessarily true.

Speer's 180 FN, designed for smaller cases, works great for whitetails when loaded down to @ 2,600 FPS. This load is also quite mild to shoot.
Nosler now makes a 225 grain ballistic tip which shoots as well as their other caliber ballistic tips. The 225 partition makes a fine companion for heavier applications.

I had a very nice custom .35 When AI. But it had a short barrel and it never really did anything for me. With a .300 H&H Mag, .338 Win and a .375, I decided to sell the action to my dad. I'm going to replace it's spot in my safe with a featherweight .270.