I'm sitting here pondering what to build on my commericial FN action. I thought baout going the full custom route and going with an ER Shaw barrel chambered for the classic Mauser round 264 Winchester Mag. and stocking it an an extra fancy grade Ram Line synthetic stock, with an appropriate Tasco Golden Antler scope. Ok...now to be serious. I know I'm going to use a Lothar Walther barrel. I am thinking along the lines of a 7x57 or 9.3x62(or 338-06 or 35 Whelen). I am primarily a whitetail hunter with occasional excursions for bear...usually over bait. I know either of these rounds is more than adequate. What would you build and why? My primary rifles now are a pre-64 model 70 30-06, Rugger 77 in 257 Roberts, a Husqvarna 270 Win. and Mauser actioned 416 Taylor. I also have a 375/338(Chatfield-Taylor) in the works. Looking at my battery what would you build. I know I have a some overlap there but that's fine with me.


Craig

CraigP,

Good post Craig as you state what your battery is and what your hunting now. For what your doing you already have everything covered of course.

So perhaps you might consider other types of shooting. You don't have an ideal varmint rifle or target rifle.

What are the specifics of your FN action? I have seen some without CRF even! Is it a large ring or small?

if you don't mind a little overlap with your 257, i would build exactly what I'M presently building. i have a 98/22 action and the lothar walther barrel in 6.5x57 should be here any day. i chose the 6.5x57 because...1) it's different...2)and it needs minimun if any feed rail and bolt face work. also(3) i can get bullets a lot heavier than the 25 cal family of bullets. since you already have about everything covered, just pick whatever seems the most fun...that's what i did. good luck with your project...bud

You're lucky, Jim cobert, Jack O'c and W.D.M. Belll and I say; 275 Rigby(7x57). capt david

Craig, you kind of have all the bases covered, so this one has to be for fun. My 1st thought is a .338-06, my favorite, as a 300yds deer/blackbear/elk rig, hard to beat. If you think you might get to Africa, have a 9.3x62 done w/ nice wood, 1/4 rib & express sights. So many decisions, so little time & money.

Craig Craig no wonder you are having a hard time, you have taken a few bad roads. You need change your battery up. Keep the 257, the 270, and the 30-06... turn the 416 taylor into a 404, skip the 375/338 and turn that into a 35 wheelen, and use the FN for a 375 H&H if you can. Now your set and have plenty of work set out for you.

Nice rpoblem to have
I would go for the 275 Rigby.
It is classic and comfertable to shoot.

Cheers,

Andr�

If all else fails...

Write 6.0, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0 (35 cal), and 9.3 on slips of paper. Put in one hat. Then write lengths from 55mm to 62 or 64 on slips of paper. Then draw one from each!

Just imagine, 6.5x62 or a 9.3x55!

can i vote twice? a 7x57 with the barrel marked ".275 Rigby" is almost irresistable

From a "fill in the blank" perspective, Id say your 270/30-06 guns have the 7mm thing covered, Id place a 338/06 between that 375 and 30-06.

You have NO gaps and that dang 375 Taylor covers that 338 to 416 gap too well. A 338 winnie is never wrong, and would give you a lot of Taylor brass to play with.

It does look like you don't really need to fill gaps there, the 338 is a great choice, a Whelen is always a great cartridge. What are the regulations there on hunting minimum calibers? what about a 224 clark (7x57 necked down), you could push 85grain pills in it and have a long range rig, is it flat and open where you hunt?

The 275 Rigby is something I want some day. I would have to do it with an octagon barrel though, it just seems right that way. With the 270 though you really don't need it (not that you have to need it, but I know I like to look at "needs" before doing "just for funs". maybe you look at it that way too).

The 375 Taylor with the 416 is a great higher end combo, but the 30-375 gap is the most noticeable in your lineup. You could fill it, or go bigger. hmmmm.....you have a hard choice.

Red

35 whelen, everybody needs one

Another option not mentioned, and since you plan to use LW barrels is the 500 Jeffrey. You definately need something on the bigger end

You are sort of overloaded in the mid-caliber range. The .257/.270/'06 don't really have much variation. I'd ditch two of them though the problem of which one to keep is Hell. I love the .257 caliber but I also love the pre-64 M70. Still, if you keep the .257, you have an almost ideal whitetail rifle and can take it West for pronghorn as well. Then, you fill the gap between it and the .375 Taylor with a .338/06 (unless you're kinky enough to go whole hog and build up a .318 Westley Richards which is the proper version, don'tcherknow) and then you can flatten the biggest blackbear in Pennsylvania and take it elk hunting once you've got the pronghorn on the wall. Alternatively, you could ditch the Taylor and make a 9.3x62 which would cover both the .338 and the .375 equally well. Decisions, decisions, decisions . . .

Guys,

Thank for the great advice. Fredj338 hit the nail on the head when he said this gun was going to be for fun. I do have all my bases covered with the 30-06 and 416 Taylor. The guns I listed in the original post are my primary rifles, meaning the ones I carry and shoot most. I do own others such as a 220 Swift, 25-06, 7mm Mag, 30-30 and my shotguns. Most of these rifles were my fathers so there is absolutely no chance of me getting rid of any of them. I have pretty much decided to build the 9.3x62 for no other reason than I want one and I think it would be fun to shoot, hunt with and load for. Of course a guy at work thinks I'm nuts for wanting a 9.3x62, as he doesn't think its a classic. This is the same guy that made his own classic rifle....he took a mauser action and color case hardened it, used a helically fluted barrel in 300 win mag, and had it stocked in a laminated thumbhole stock. Yeah...that gun is a real classic. As you can see I don't take alot of stock in his opinion. Anyway, I appreciate evryone's input and I'll let you know how the project comes along.



Craig

Mike,

I am with you. Just look at what he built. This guy also says he ahs a H&H Double Rifle in 375 H&H that is thinks is worth over $150,000. He told me he has turned down $125,000 for it. This for a gun he paid $10,000 for a few years ago.




Craig

Craig a good choice. VERY classic especially if you go all the way w/ 1/4 rib, exp. sight, banded front, etc. Someday I may build one just because I like to have rifles others don't (my .338-06 is getting too popular). I like Paul's desc. of your buddy's rifle, nothing classy about his "pimp" rifle, either caliber or choice of Tupperware.

I would make a suggestion for the .35 Whelen. It would seem to fit into your current battery quite nicely. I have one and it is my favorite rifle. Although I do like my .257 Rbts as well.

A 9.3X62 would indeed be a great choice for a "just for fun classic". Id like to build one with express sights and a oberndorf style stock. Would be lots of fun to shoot too.

Im currently waiting for a 35 Whelen bbl. If I ever get lucky enough to draw for Moose or Bison, it will accompany me there.