The Accurate Reloading Forums
Best medium bore cartridge ever
27 September 2019, 12:36
boom stickBest medium bore cartridge ever
Ok, How about the 6.8x57 Chinese Mauser? Over 100 years old and can shoot bullets ranging from 85-180 grains? A most obscure cartridge with an interesting pedigree that has the advantage of some fine bullets thanks to the 6.8 SPC and 270. Not a lot of high BC bullets but tons of good hunting bullets.
quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
Why isn’t the 6.5x57 more popular here?
Maybe because the 7x57, 7-08 and 270 already exist and because the 6.5mm is starting to get a little skinny for best medium bore, 1 1/3 caliber below 270.
27 September 2019, 14:51
416Tanzanquote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
Ok, How about the 6.8x57 Chinese Mauser? Over 100 years old and can shoot bullets ranging from 85-180 grains? A most obscure cartridge with an interesting pedigree that has the advantage of some fine bullets thanks to the 6.8 SPC and 270. Not a lot of high BC bullets but tons of good hunting bullets.
quote:
Originally posted by 416Tanzan:
quote:
Originally posted by boom stick:
Why isn’t the 6.5x57 more popular here?
Maybe because the 7x57, 7-08 and 270 already exist and because the 6.5mm is starting to get a little skinny for best medium bore, 1 1/3 caliber below 270.
Nice one, Boomy. Yes, that would be a good cartridge and I would recommend an 8" twist so that it could use the 156gn Hammer Hunter among many hunting bullets. The 8" twist would justify it over the widely appreciated 7x57, but other than a custom twist, it's like choosing between a 270 and a 280, 0.007" difference.
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"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
28 September 2019, 01:27
AtkinsonI agree with Tanzan the .338 is in the running, and for the one rifle man and in fact is the best medium bore out ther, and for the one rifle man it would sure work if the recoil didn't bother him....
I like the 30-06 and the .338 and would hate to nix either one, but if push came to shove?, oh hell, who knows..both have worked so well for so many years and I will always own at least one of each. I promise that ain't gonna change unless I run across a neat Mauser in 375 H&H!!
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
29 September 2019, 01:57
AtkinsonNOrman,
What do you want to do that for? your just incredibly correct, for the person that can stand the recoil, most think they can, some of the most cannot and don't know it, and some just can't..If push came to shove guess Id go with your post...but damn..
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
29 September 2019, 22:02
Fury0135 Whelen for me. “Eurotrash” 9.3x62 for my metric cousins. Thanks to the Shoemaker family for that label.
I moved the unimpeachable 30-06 to the smallbore category.
"The liberty enjoyed by the people of these states of worshiping Almighty God agreeably to their conscience, is not only among the choicest of their blessings, but also of their rights."
~George Washington - 1789
29 September 2019, 22:43
Ray Alaskaquote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
I agree with Tanzan the .338 is in the running, and for the one rifle man and in fact is the best medium bore out ther, and for the one rifle man it would sure work if the recoil didn't bother him....
I like the 30-06 and the .338 and would hate to nix either one, but if push came to shove?, oh hell, who knows..both have worked so well for so many years and I will always own at least one of each. I promise that ain't gonna change.
The .338WM is all I use for all my hunting in Alaska where shots can be taken up close and far depending on the location (interior Alaska, for example). The .338WM falls in the middle of the .300WM and the .375 H&H, and what keeps it going is the great number of bullet- designs/weights one can choose from (from 165 to 300 grains).
When berry picking I usually carry a .45-70, or a .454 Casull, and lately a Glock-29 loaded with hard-cast ammo (a 15-round magazine). But when hunting my all around .338 is it.
30 September 2019, 11:44
416TanzanIt looks like we have a 338 Win Mag as the picture at the top of this forum section.
Prescient.
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"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
01 October 2019, 17:07
7x579.3x62 in the Ruger African.
01 October 2019, 17:19
Beretta682E9.3x74r or 30/06 in K95.
Have the 30/06 barrel just delivered at home and having a K95 attaché built in 9.3x74r.
Mike
02 October 2019, 10:39
CougarzWell .30-06 of course.
It shoots flat enough with light bullets and hits hard enough with heavier bullets do take care of anything a medium bore needs to do. Plus it can be had in a fairly light rifle without loosening your fillings and ammo is cheap and available world wide. The rest just fill niches in the lineup.
Roger
___________________________
I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along.
*we band of 45-70ers*
02 October 2019, 11:22
Beretta682Equote:
Originally posted by Cougarz:
Well .30-06 of course.
It shoots flat enough with light bullets and hits hard enough with heavier bullets do take care of anything a medium bore needs to do. Plus it can be had in a fairly light rifle without loosening your fillings and ammo is cheap and available world wide. The rest just fill niches in the lineup.
+1 says it all
Mike
04 October 2019, 04:37
376 steyrIt's got to be the 30-06, the do everything cartridge. There's a lot of great ones out there but it has always sold really well and is in worldwide use.
05 October 2019, 09:02
AtkinsonIve always been at wits end between the 9.3x62 and the .338 Win..I know in my heart the .338 Win is best for long and close, but I just love the 9.3x62 and its never failed me on deer or Cape buffalo for that matter..This picking sucks If I like a caliber I'll buy it, and hunt with it, I won't bite on this hook..and yes I could get by with a 30-06 anywhere in the world if I had to..
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
05 October 2019, 11:00
416TanzanEver had brass problems with the .476" of the 9.3x62 and the "standard" .470"--.473" cases?
+-+-+-+-+-+-+
"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
10 October 2019, 15:31
PD999Something between the 308Win and the 300WM ie the 30-06
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“A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition” ― Rudyard Kipling
10 October 2019, 15:49
Mike McGuire270 Winchester.
10 October 2019, 18:45
wildmansixI would mention what I consider bore sizes 30cal and down are small bore. 8mm-375 Med bore, 40-50cal big bore and 577up is large bore. so based on that the 9.3x62 or 375 H&H get my vote
10 October 2019, 21:33
surefire7So, my heart says 35 Whelen.
My head says 338WM.
But, for me at least, there's Africa to consider as well.
So, my heart says 9.3x62.
My head says 375 H&H.
Life is complicated, but I usually go with my heart.
Sometimes...
11 October 2019, 01:32
Jim KnightPM sent big guy...
11 October 2019, 01:33
Jim Knightto you surefire, ha
11 October 2019, 01:52
Mike McGuirequote:
Originally posted by wildmansix:
I would mention what I consider bore sizes 30cal and down are small bore. 8mm-375 Med bore, 40-50cal big bore and 577up is large bore. so based on that the 9.3x62 or 375 H&H get my vote
From a practical point of view it would be 375 where big bore starts. just look at how rifles change at 375. Consider the M70. With Weatherby you can't buy the 378, 416 or 460 in any of thier cheaoer rifles.
338 (one of its advantages) somes in the same rifles as 7mm Rem and 300 Winchester. A 338/378 Accumark is the same rifle as a 270 Wby or 300 Wby Accumark. Want a fibreglass stock 378 and up go the dollars, way up and the DGR.
09 February 2020, 20:46
svehellaquote:
Originally posted by 460 wby shooter:
quote:
Originally posted by svehella:
Well, I am with the 358 Norma Magnum. It works for me.
Works for me also, shoots as flat as a 270 and hits like a 375 what's not to like!
You can load it with the old 225 Barnes X to 2887 f/s, or even faster with the new Barnes TSX with Vihtavuori N160 in a 24 inch barrel. You can also load the 280 gr Swift A-frame to 2615 f/s with Norma MRP/Rel 22. That will give you a god margin and you don’t have do stretch you’re loads.
09 February 2020, 21:34
martFour pages of talk about the best medium bore ever and not one single reference to the 318 Westley Richards. How can a discussion on this subject be considered conclusive without mention of the 318.
"...I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprize, and independance to the mind. Games played with the ball and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks." Thomas Jefferson
09 February 2020, 22:21
boom stickQuantify!
quote:
Originally posted by mart:
Four pages of talk about the best medium bore ever and not one single reference to the 318 Westley Richards. How can a discussion on this subject be considered conclusive without mention of the 318.
09 February 2020, 23:12
JonPI would have to vote for the 9.3x62 when I think it over. Beyond 400 yds is not in my future....and I can load 180 to 320 grains which about covers it all.
10 February 2020, 11:34
Cougarzquote:
Originally posted by mart:
Four pages of talk about the best medium bore ever and not one single reference to the 318 Westley Richards. How can a discussion on this subject be considered conclusive without mention of the 318.
Well that's because correct answer is the .30-06 of course!
Roger
___________________________
I'm a trophy hunter - until something better comes along.
*we band of 45-70ers*
10 February 2020, 13:41
416TanzanThe middle of the mediums would seem to be on a cline between the 30-06 and the 338WinMag.
That "middle of the mediums" would be fairly large and could include the 318 as well as 300's, 8x57, 338-06, and even recent financial dead-ends like the 325 WSM and 338RCM. Somewhere around 7.5 to 8.5 mm with appropriate powder capacities may be the ideal medium for most shooters.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+
"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
14 February 2020, 18:33
packrattusnongratusI love a question like this. It is all general opinion unless the OP establishes what medium means. How about a thought of 35 to 40 cal. That sounds pretty medium bore to me. And then what to decide on for THE ONE? Maybe 375 H&H for the best all around medium bore. My preference today would be the 358 Winchester. I really don't think there will be many in agreement here. Be Well, Packy.
14 February 2020, 18:40
Mike_Dettorre325 wsm, hands down.
What is the knock on the 30-06? - sometimes not big enough.
What is the know on the the 338 WM? to big for every day use
What does a 325 WSM do - splits the difference.
Mike Never under estimate the internet community to use any opportunity to reply to a post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence problem.
What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
14 February 2020, 21:50
tdoykai used to say the 9.3x57 but i'll go with the winchester m94 in 35/30-30. i'm shooting a 200gr fn gc with 2400 and some dacron that goes 1726fps. its a dream for deer. since i don't hunt elk and moose, i would load up either 250gr saeco fn gc or a 270gr bullshop stomper. (the 35/30 was done by JES Reboring)
i was sighting the win 94 in, 2 shots, then move the peep, 2 shots, move the peep, 2.....
“All that was great in the past was ridiculed, condemned, combated, suppressed — only to emerge all the more powerfully, all the more triumphantly from the struggle.”
― Nikola Tesla
14 February 2020, 22:16
boom stickI love the 35-30-30, 35/30-30. It should be more popular especially considering the straight wall cartridge restrictions. Congratulations on good taste.
16 February 2020, 00:42
tdoykathank you!!!
i'd should sent her out years ago.
35/30 vs 30-30
“All that was great in the past was ridiculed, condemned, combated, suppressed — only to emerge all the more powerfully, all the more triumphantly from the struggle.”
― Nikola Tesla
16 February 2020, 18:53
DoublegunWho cares what the velocity is at 200-yards or the ability to shoot 1/2” groups at 500-yards if you can’t find ammo in a pinch. Availability needs to be taken into consideration when discussing what’s best. If you can’t walk into a gas station/sporting goods store in the middle of East Bumfuk then to me that’s an automatic disqualified. I’ll stick with my 30-06. As a wise man once said “it’s not the arrow, it’s the Indian.” If you can’t do it with a 30-06 then maybe you should take up golf.
16 February 2020, 21:35
tdoykai have shot many deer with the '06 and 180gr rem rn factory loads. it got boring. i like my old cartridges. i don't go a sporting goods store. gas stations don't sell ammo, at least where i hunt. if you do hunt with an '06 and factory loads, fine. i don't and i don't do golf either.
“All that was great in the past was ridiculed, condemned, combated, suppressed — only to emerge all the more powerfully, all the more triumphantly from the struggle.”
― Nikola Tesla
29 February 2020, 21:12
Atkinson4 pages on a subject that brings to mind, opinnions are like assholes, everybody has one!
Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120
rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
01 March 2020, 02:21
Jerry FiskNow Ray, if you keep talking the truth here there is no telling what will happen.
. I shoot what is my favorite or I would not shoot it. That's my view. Yall have a good weekend.
01 March 2020, 03:36
Use Enough Gunquote:
325 wsm, hands down.
What is the knock on the 30-06? - sometimes not big enough.
What is the know on the the 338 WM? to big for every day use
What does a 325 WSM do - splits the difference.
Mike
Yes indeed!
I've hunted Africa, Mexico, Alaska and the Western U.S. with it, and it does the job on everything from Eland on down, Grizz, mule deer, coues deer. . . . Well, you get the drift.
The last time I hunted Namibia, my PH dubbed it the "Hammer of Thor"; my Alaskan PH had three of them.
01 March 2020, 15:53
416Tanzanquote:
Originally posted by Jerry Fisk:
Now Ray, if you keep talking the truth here there is no telling what will happen.
. I shoot what is my favorite or I would not shoot it. That's my view. Yall have a good weekend.
I shoot little California deer with a 338 Win Mag. Great caliber. I've walked the forest in Africa with a 338 Win Mag. Great caliber.
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"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.
03 March 2020, 01:15
Ray Alaskaquote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
4 pages on a subject that brings to mind, opinnions are like
assholes, everybody has one!
in "my opinion," everyone of those "a....'s" should have a .338WM
Sorry, Ray. I could not pass that one.
03 March 2020, 18:28
416Tanzanquote:
Originally posted by Ray Alaska:
quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
4 pages on a subject that brings to mind, opinnions are like
assholes, everybody has one!
in "my opinion," everyone of those "a....'s" should have a .338WM
Sorry, Ray. I could not pass that one.
Delightful.
And I'm sure that Ray agrees.
+-+-+-+-+-+-+
"A well-rounded hunting battery might include:
500 AccRel Nyati, 416 Rigby or 416 Ruger, 375Ruger or 338WM, 308 or 270, 243, 223" --
Conserving creation, hunting the harvest.