I have a few 1909 Argentines, and have been thinking about an elk rifle. I know my 7x57 or .270 would work just fine, maybe this is just an excuse for another rifle! I owned a Whelen years ago and was impressed with the big bullet/med. velocity on large hogs. I keep hearing good stuff about the 9.3x62, so I would appreciate some opinions....

Thanks,

Ed

Flip a coin. They are darn close. The 9.3 has a new appeal here in the states. It will handle a heavier bullet better. It also has a touch more capacity.

I've used the .35 Whelen for twenty years on moose, elk and bear and never felt undergunned. The 9.3's appeal is lost on me frankly.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
Flip a coin. They are darn close.

If I already had a Whelen, I'd probably stick with it. If I was deciding on one or the other I'd go 9.3, which I did. Really nothing wrong with either, the 286gr Partitions in the 9.3 I'm testing are doing just fine, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

Having used both, I prefer the 9,3mm.

If you hunt only in the USA then .35 Whelen is the more common choice. If you hunt the rest of the world, 9.3x62.

I use a 9.3x62.

If I wanted another rifle I would take .325WSM necked up to .35 caliber.

Both are very similar in performance, but the 9.2x62 has a slight edge because of its ability to handle heavier bullets. Also, it's one of my pet cartridges.

9.3x62, I can't give you a rationalization, just personal preference.

I have had both and find the 9.3 easier to reload and come up with great accuracy with almost any load. Also dropping a bull moose at 300 yards with one shot helps.

quote:

Originally posted by derf9.3:
I have had both and find the 9.3 easier to reload and come up with great accuracy with almost any load. Also dropping a bull moose at 300 yards with one shot helps.

I've found the 9,3x62 to be one of the easiest cartridges to reload, ever. I've built four over the last year and have two of my own at the moment. Finding a load that will shoot is about as easy as throwing a dart at the reloading manual.

I also feel the bullet selection in 9,3 is better. At least it suits my needs better.

Used to own a 9,3x62 and currently own a 35 Whelen. Sold the 9,3 and now am thinking of building another. For some reason the 9,3 is very accurate and easy to reload for.
Can't explain why, but simply like the 9,3 more than my Whelen.
However, Jamison just produced a run of 9,3x64 brass and now that has me thinking..........

Like has already been said, it is pretty much a crap shoot between the two calibers.

My experience with a 9.3x62 has been the same as others on here. I have a Blaser R-93 and Sauer 202 chambered in 9.3x62, and both are just plain boring. They shoot any and every load into little tiny groups and have literally turned the lights out on everything I have shot with them.

quote:

If I already had a Whelen, I'd probably stick with it. If I was deciding on one or the other I'd go 9.3, which I did.

+1!

quote:

I've found the 9,3x62 to be one of the easiest cartridges to reload, ever. I've built four over the last year and have two of my own at the moment. Finding a load that will shoot is about as easy as throwing a dart at the reloading manual.

+2!

quote:

Originally posted by SingleShotGuy:
maybe this is just an excuse for another rifle! I owned a Whelen years ago and was impressed with the big bullet/med. velocity on large hogs. I keep hearing good stuff about the 9.3x62, so I would appreciate some opinions....

Thanks,

Ed

Ed,

1) It's just an excuse
2) Go the 9.3x62 since you have already owned a 35 Whelen.

Lee Christianson of Baldwin, WI got my Pacnor #3 barrel last week. I just mailed him my Pre 64 M70 action and D'Arcy Echols Legend stock yesterday. When he's done with it, off it goes to Charley Santoni of CS Sports

http://www.riflestockpainting.com

for total metal Cerakoting, stock painting and recoil pad attachment.

Oh, yeah! 9.3x62!!!! For Utah elk and Alaska Moose and Grizzly.

Alan

quote:

Originally posted by SingleShotGuy:
I have a few 1909 Argentines,
Ed

Both -- which is the correct answer to "Ginger or Marriane?" as well

I have been using the .35 Whelen for over 10 years now and love that caliber. I have had great luck with it, both in N.A. and on a African safari. I am sure the 9.3 is good too, just my preference.

quote:

Marriane

Make both. Best of both worlds.
Paul B.

I like the 9.3.

Owned a 35 Whelen, now have a 9.3x62. Both work.

Brass: Whelen, neck up 30-06, works fine.
9.3 the cheap stuff from Graf's works fine. (A friend gave me 200 rounds of Norma brass , also works fine.)

Bullets: Whelen might have had an edge a few years ago. (Still might according to some.) 9.3, the cheap Prvi's from Graf's shoot great. Noslers Partitions are amazing in either.

Loading: Either one is a handloading only issue due to whimpy loads (Rem factory 35's) or Wow cost (Nosler factory 9.3's) Either one is easy to load, numerous powders give excellent results with bullets of all flavors. (Ramshot Big Game is a standout in the 9.3)

Accuracy: Both rifles I have worked with were more than acceptable at under 300 for big stuff, neither are gopher rifles...

Killers? You bet ya! That's why they're still around, especially the 9.3x62. The thing about my 9.3 I love is that if you know where the heart/lung area is a 286gr Partition will get there, from absolutely any angle.

Go 9.3 on a Mauser action, go 35 Whelen if you are using a Springfield or Winchester action.
Either one will thump Elk pretty hard and no one will be able to tell the difference in the field by their performance.

Flip a coin, I own two Whelen's right now but would have to be realistic and give the edge to the 9.3. Bullet selection is about the same, limited but that is really changing with the current rising popularity of both cartridges. You can go wrong either way.

Best reply I've read so far has been regarding where you will hunt with it. If in the USA, go with the Whelen. If around the world, go with the 9.3.

On game they are equal.

Gentlemen, I appreciate all the feedback......it definitely looks like a toss-up!
Ed

Can you buy a new rifle in 35 Whelen?

quote:

Originally posted by Mikelravy:
Can you buy a new rifle in 35 Whelen?

Yes Remington and Ruger have them in current production.
Look on Gunbroker they outnumbered 9.3's last time I looked.

Both are great cartridges. Have owned both. No favorite. CZ in 9.3 is a REALLY nice rig though.

If "almost as good" is good enough for you, go Whelen. The 9,3 arrived before the .30-06, and has "been there, done that" in places the Whelen can only imagine.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
If "almost as good" is good enough for you, go Whelen. The 9,3 arrived before the .30-06, and has "been there, done that" in places the Whelen can only imagine.

.35 caliber bullets are available from 180 (and less if you want to shoot pistol bullets) to 310 grains which makes the .35 Whelen a bit more favorable as a woods rifle for deer.

The 9.3 X 62 on the other hand seems to have it's least heavy bullet in .250 grains.....making it more serious cartridge for truly big game.

It seems this favors the .35 Whelen as a more versatile cartridge.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
.35 caliber bullets are available from 180 (and less if you want to shoot pistol bullets) to 310 grains which makes the .35 Whelen a bit more favorable as a woods rifle for deer.

The 9.3 X 62 on the other hand seems to have it's least heavy bullet in .250 grains.....making it more serious cartridge for truly big game.

It seems this favors the .35 Whelen as a more versatile cartridge.

The range of weights available in 9,3mm ranges from 232 to 320 grains in factory loads which beat the .35 Whelen hands down. There are far more factory loads for the 9,3x62. Grafs lists 11 different factory loads for the 9,3x62 vs 2 for the Whelen. Component 9,3mm bullets range from 220 up to at least 325 grains. I know there are some 190 something grain 9,3's available, just can't remember which.

quote:

Originally posted by z1r:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
.35 caliber bullets are available from 180 (and less if you want to shoot pistol bullets) to 310 grains which makes the .35 Whelen a bit more favorable as a woods rifle for deer.

The 9.3 X 62 on the other hand seems to have it's least heavy bullet in .250 grains.....making it more serious cartridge for truly big game.

It seems this favors the .35 Whelen as a more versatile cartridge.

The range of weights available in 9,3mm ranges from 232 to 320 grains in factory loads which beat the .35 Whelen hands down. There are far more factory loads for the 9,3x62. Grafs lists 11 different factory loads for the 9,3x62 vs 2 for the Whelen. Component 9,3mm bullets range from 220 up to at least 325 grains. I know there are some 190 something grain 9,3's available, just can't remember which.

Could be.....I only checked Midway's selection of bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:


Could be.....I only checked Midway's selection of bullets.

Is.

Nice of you to not post as rem721 anymore

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
Nice of you to not post as rem721 anymore

While one can argue all day long about which is better, as far as factory loads go, the Whelen is darn near a handload only proposition. While the 9,3x62 has a broad range of factory loads with more on the way.

talking about the lighter weights, GScustom make 180gnHV.35cal and 195gnHV.366cal expanding monometals,
in their unbanded[non HV] expanding monometal range, they list .366cal, but no .35cal,
.. they also offer 250 & 260gn FNs .366cal....but do not list FNs for .35cal

IMHO, the thing about being able to use light weight bullets, pistol bullets, etc, is mostly bull.
A 180gr 358 bullet is nearly round, with a BC to match. I have a four cavity mould for my X62. two at 270gr and two at 320gr. both GC. Those are plinking bullets.

Match the rifle to the game. The X62 is light years ahead there.

Rich
DRSS
the rifle in the picture is a Chapuis 9,3x74R
The perfect 9,3mm cartridge.

Both rounds are absolute winners, but the 9.3x62 brings a real sense of adventure and history to me when I hunt with it (or simply hold it). Certain cartridges do this to me - especially classic metric cartridges like the 7x57 and most of the European designed 6.5's. This is just my opinion and I'm sure that the .35 Whelen has the same effect on others.