quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
I don't know why so many people advocate the 9.3 when bullet selection for loading is so poor in North America and ammo even worse.

What would make far more sense for a 98 action is a 9x57.

358 bullets suitable for 35Rem and 358Win are easily available

At this point I suspect there are as many good bullets available in .366 as in .358. Certainly there are enough for any game suitable for the caliber.

quote:

Originally posted by Allan DeGroot:
I don't know why so many people advocate the 9.3 when bullet selection for loading is so poor in North America and ammo even worse.

What would make far more sense for a 98 action is a 9x57.

358 bullets suitable for 35Rem and 358Win are easily available

The Primary argument I hear when people advocate the .35 Rem and .358 is the ability to shoot handgun bullets through them. Why? I have never been a fan of light for caliber bullets.

A modern interpretation of the 9x57 would use a barrel with .358 grooves to match todays .358" bullets.

A quick peek at Midway's website shows 38 bullet choices in .358" and 29 in 9.3mm. If you can't find a bullet in 29+ choices......

I have both the 9x57 and 9,3x57. Have had several of each. If I had to pick one it would be the 9,3x57. The reality is, they are both very similar and in most situations could be considered interchangable. Heck, one of my old 9x57's came to me by a guy who sold it as a 9,3x57. He'd been firing 9,3x57 ammo through it for years. It was in fact a 9x57 with .356" grooves. The chamber neck was loose enough to allow 9,3x57's to chamber. It is now a .35 Whelen. That took care of the loose neck.

Living in Europe I have a 9.3 x 62 as my piggie rifle and a 7x64 as my "go to" deer rifle.

Since France has rolled back the restrictions on .30-'06 I would be tempted to use that.

Sadly America still believe teh 8x57 needs to be loaded to the same preassures as the .30-30. Loaded to modern standards it is pure Magic. 180 grs BarnesX at 2800 fs With noticeably lower recoil than the 06. I will never part With mine.

I agree with Bent. 8X57 would be my first choice, followed by anything else that ends in 57, or 62. I shoot the 8X57 a good bit. Felled 7 deer this season with it. Who needs a big bullet selection when you have the 180TSX,200 Accubond, and the 200 grain partition. Plus I am told we will have a 190 grain Sirocco from Swift by years end. Yes, good factory ammo is elusive in the US, but that can be overcome with a bit of persistence.

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
8x57 cannot match 30-06 when loaded to equal pressures, period. Not at their normal OALs, though both could be loaded long.

Ryan, it is the greater diameter of the .323 bore that allows the 8x57 to outdo the 30-06 at the same pressures.

SAAMI standard for 8x57JS is only 35,000psi compared to 60,000psi for the 30-06.
But CIP standard for the 8x57JS is 57,000psi compared to 59,000psi CIP for the 30-06.

That's why, even though still loaded to lower pressures than the 30-06, --
Sellier and Bellot offers a 196gr 8x57 load that has a MV of 2591fps and an ME of 2922ft.lbs.
RWS offers a 8x57 load with a 198gr bullet at 2625fps and an ME of 3021ft.lbs.
RWS offers another 8x57 load sending a 187gr bullet at 2730fps and an ME of 3089ft.lbs.