I seek some advice from you gentlemen, before I am going to invest in a custom build rifle.
I am looking for a calilber that can be used for the european "big game" as well as most game in Africa (excluding buffalo and above).
I am reloading my own cartridges so components are also an issue.
I have my eye on a Mauser 03 or Schultz & Larsen. (Any other suggestions) ofcourse I have to consult my wallet as I do not have "unlimited" funds.
Hope you can give me some advice / suggestions.
I am now using a 6.5 x 55 for scandinavian game (not Elk & Moose).

// M

I’m not clear whether you’re looking for rifle recommendations, or cartridge advice (or maybe both?). There are any number of possibilities but of course a 30-06 or 300 Winchester Magnum will do for anything you’ve described, and can be found chambered in most factory rifles. If you want European, why not a 9.3x62, or 8x68S? Your choices really are very broad indeed.

As for rifles, I rather like older Sakos. I’ve not seen the Schultz & Larsen.

- stu

The 9.3x62 or 9.3x64 are great and will also be good for Buffalo and above when the time comes.
By then you will be a master with it.
OZHUNTER

Stu C just nailed it - exactly my thoughts - greater bullet selection in .30 - tho I have a 8x68S and 9,3x62 but lately 8x68S is picking up the dust...

9.3x64 gets my vote.

If you didn't already have a 6.5x55 I'd recommend the classic 7x57 (aka 275 Rigby). Your battery will be well-rounded and easy to shop for if you choose a 9.3x62.

The 9.3x62 sounds better every day for Europe and Africa. Check the thread in the European forum that concerns legal calibers for France if hunting there figures into your plans.


Okie John

quote:

Originally posted by VKG10:
I am looking for a calilber that can be used for the european "big game" as well as most game in Africa (excluding buffalo and above).
I have my eye on a Mauser 03 or Schultz & Larsen.

The usual, trite and proven choices:

8x68
9,3x62
9,3x64

And a ton of less common cartridges...

Carcano

Ditto Carcano's suggestions. Personally, I'd pick either the 9.3x62 or 9.3x64. Hard to go wrong with either one. A 6.5x55 and a 9.3x62 would make a great pair.

-Bob F.

VKG 10,
Have a close look at next issue of Vapentidningens article of "Doctari" about the .400 Tembo -that caliber could be what you vant.

Else go for a Mauser 98 ( Hva 146 or 640) in 9,3x62

Husky

VKG 10.
I´d opt for a 9.3x62 or something similar -very Scandinavian and mine did good service in Namibia.

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
VKG 10.
I´d opt for a 9.3x62 or something similar -very Scandinavian and mine did good service in Namibia.

Ho,ho,ho....the 9.3x62 Scandinavian?????

Not scandinavian, but very very popular her in the Scandinavia. In particular Sweeden.

But I agree, 6.5x55 and 9.3x62 would be a nice pair.

You scandanavians are fun to read.....

I'd suggest that if you can find a VZ-24 Mauser the 9.3 X 62 will fit it nicely.

As to the Schultz and Larson, I've only seen one in my life and I was impressed. It was chambered to 7 X 61 S&H and a sweet package. I'm not sure if the .375 Taylor would fit in it or not.....maybe...

You can´t go wrong using the 9.3 but if you decide on anything +40 cal. make sure that you have a chance to fire something in a similar caliber -going from a 6.5 to a +40 cal. can be quite a surprise.

quote:

Originally posted by McFox:
Ho,ho,ho....the 9.3x62 Scandinavian?????

Didn't you know that Herr Otto Bock's father was from the Swedish city Härnösand? Born in 1804?

I obviously didn´t mean that the 9.3x62 was developed in Scandinavia -is someone out there very blond?

But husky saved the day!

I keep looking at this thread hoping someone will tell a Sven and Olie story.....or even Olie and Lena!!!!

8x68 is my option for Red Stag in Patagonia, (long range shoot), and all the antelopes, including Eland in Afrika.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I keep looking at this thread hoping someone will tell a Sven and Olie story.....or even Olie and Lena!!!!

This might be hijacking but I´ll ask anyway: Anyone used the 8x68 at shorter ranges, lets say under 100 meters?

I´ll be using mine for longer ranges but one never nows when something might pop up close by -risk of bullet failure?

quote:

Originally posted by carcano91:

quote:

Originally posted by VKG10:
I am looking for a calilber that can be used for the european "big game" as well as most game in Africa (excluding buffalo and above).
I have my eye on a Mauser 03 or Schultz & Larsen.

The usual, trite and proven choices:

8x68
9,3x62
9,3x64

And a ton of less common cartridges...

Carcano

That would be my choice, too.

quote:

Originally posted by cewe:
This might be hijacking but I´ll ask anyway: Anyone used the 8x68 at shorter ranges, lets say under 100 meters?

I´ll be using mine for longer ranges but one never nows when something might pop up close by -risk of bullet failure?

No Problem, if you use bullets like CDP, A-Frame, or KJG, Partition, TSX...

No one seems to have mentioned the venerable 375 H+H.
Its great for everything and if you are reloading then a 220 gn FP is good for small deer in the UK, 270 gn for wild boar and red deer. I have also shot all manner of African plains game. All you need to do is vary the bullet velocity. Download by 100-200 fps.
Remember if you have difficulties with ammunition in Africa such as it being damaged, lost etc then keep clear of exotic calibres that can't be sourced in that country. For example trying to get hold of 7x64 is difficult in the US but easy in Europe.
100 years on and the 375 is still the finest hunting calibre ever, every serious hunter should have one

Thank you very much for all your comments.
As I would like to look in other directions too, what about 338WM and the 8x68 as mentioned in your replies.
I have no experience with 338 or the 8x68, are there a practical difference between the two.?
What about reloading components.
//M

I´m in the process of building an 8x68, it´s not a very common cartridge for our part of the world but can be found used in Germany. I´ll be building mine starting from a Husky 640 action using a Lothar-Walther barrel. One of my friends who knows something of ballistics says that the 8mm (.323) is in his opinion the largest bullet one should use for higher speeds.

As I said in his opinion.

I´ll be using 220gr quality bullets for handloading which shoudl make it adequate for most game at longer ranges.

I have seen prices on some double rifles in Europe that are very close to the prices for a fine bolt gun.

I'd choose a 9.3x74 double rifle if I were in your position. If I were very flush, I'd get a side by side, and if I were counting my Euros, I'd get an O/U. Kudude

Wow - I was somewhat surprised at all the metric calibers recommended. Even more surprised that noone mentioned a caliber for which ammunition is readily available, able to take the game in question, and has proven itself in game fields for oh .... about 100 years now.

Not sexy, not flashy, but it works.

.30-06

The rifle? Whatever floats your boat, cuz'
they all chamber it.

Hey NY, read reply no. 1 again

VKG10,

Why do you want a custom rifle when standard production rifles cost so much less? Do you have any other centerfire rifles now as you mention moose? That means to me that the 6.5X55 does not meet some criteria in your homeland for large game.

So is it the case that you don't hunt moose now or borrow a rifle?

Without the above information and knowing that most of us, including myself, have limited funds I would suggest a factory rifle in 30-06. That will cover all of your local hunting and even replace the 6.5.

If and when you get the funds for a trip out of your area then a more powerful rifle will be a small but enjoyable purchase. That to me means a 375 H&H. To each his own.

Stu, read your reply, and I decided to offer an opinion that actually took a stand.

quote:

Originally posted by MarkH:
No one seems to have mentioned the venerable 375 H+H.
Its great for everything and if you are reloading then a 220 gn FP is good for small deer in the UK,

I think you have put your finger on why no one mentioned the 375 H&H. Not many of us think of the UK as being in Europe. From what I understand quite a few English people don't think so either!

SAVAGE99

You are right about the issue; standard production rifle.
The reason I used the "Custom" word is I was thinking off buying a rifle with interchangeable barrels.

The suggestion 30-06 sounds fine and the components for that caliber are cheap.
My concern is; will the 30-06 be legal / practical for all antelopes in africa??

Ref my 6.5x55. It is a very good caliber for deers and so, but I find it too small for moose, it may be legal for moose, but.......

// M

savage99

Regarding Moose, last time I borrowed a 358 Norma on the moose hunt.
A rather powerful cartridge, but a rare caliber, I believe ???

// M

The 9.3 x 62 is a fine calibre but it has some range limitations. The 9.3 x64 will be effective at greater ranges and virtually duplicates the performance of the 375 H&H. That my friend is not faint praise.

quote:

Originally posted by snowman:
The 9.3 x 62 is a fine calibre but it has some range limitations. The 9.3 x64 will be effective at greater ranges and virtually duplicates the performance of the 375 H&H. That my friend is not faint praise.

That's always been my opinion too Snowman. I'm surprised it doesn't get mentioned here more often.

VKG10,

Sorry it took so long to get back to you. Perhaps you should take the rifle selection over to another forum or ask the moderator to transfer this one to European Big Game Hunting.

I now appreciate the law in some countries that limits the number of guns or rifles perhaps but not the number of barrels of different calibers.

I looked up the Mauser 03 and found that indeed it's a switch barrel rifle but I don't know it's price but I suspect it's very expensive. I don't know which S&L your looking at? I have handled the Sauer 202 and that also features interchageable barrels and the price here used to be reasonable. In fact if the 202 imported here was offered in 9.3 X 62 and some other cartridge of the same magazine size I may own one now. There is the Blaser too but I am not attracted to that design.

If just building a battery I would hold back on blowing my whole budget on a switch barrel yet unless your already up to the maximum guns. The thing is, like I may have said before, that whenn you can afford Africa then you can afford another gun.

You might also ask over on the African Hunting forum if they consider the 30-06 good for all African antelope. I would say that it has to be good for most game world wide and if one had a 30-06 in Africa along with a bigger bore thats all one would need.



Mauser 03

Metric calibers, Yes! The 9.3x62mm seems to be the old stand by, but if I really wanted a thumper I'd go with a 9.3x64mm. Watched a friend use one in Africa on all sorts of plains game with total success. Does not get any better than that. As for a light rifle, the 6.5x55mm or 7x64mm will fill the bill perfectly.
LLS
Mannlicher Collector

quote:

Originally posted by VKG10:
I seek some advice from you gentlemen, before I am going to invest in a custom build rifle.
I am looking for a calilber that can be used for the european "big game" as well as most game in Africa (excluding buffalo and above).
I am reloading my own cartridges so components are also an issue.
I have my eye on a Mauser 03 or Schultz & Larsen. (Any other suggestions) ofcourse I have to consult my wallet as I do not have "unlimited" funds.
Hope you can give me some advice / suggestions.
I am now using a 6.5 x 55 for scandinavian game (not Elk & Moose).

In a bolt action, I'd go for an 8X68S. In a double or combination gun, I'd choose the 8X75RS. I'd use Nosler 200-grain Partition or Accubond bullets in these calibers for all non-dangerous African species, and for everything in Europe including moose and boar.

I today received my first two boxes of 8x68S ammo -RWS H-frames.

Very nice.

Now all I need is the gun...