thinking of buying a new rifle. these are my choices (the rifle will be used for deer hunting up north in the UP and plinking).

9x57
9.3x57
356 winchester

which one should i go with? what are the pro's and cons to each one?

Each of those cartridges are quite rare and unusual. Whats up with your question? Do you have rifles in view for each of those choices?

None of them are 'easy' for plinking in terms of availability.

yeah, i know they are not your run of the mill 308 or 30-06, but i never was one to be like everyone else. as far as rifle choice, the mauser cartridges i have seen in bolt action husquavarna rifles, and the winchester is in a 94 lever action. just wanted something new. i dont get to shoot rifles a lot anymore, cause illinois sucks with gun laws and rifle ranges are a rare bird, more so than the supposed availability of these cartridges. just trying to get some peoples opinion on one of these vs. the other.

Just me but I would look for a Win 94 or Marlin in 356. Alternatives would be:

Browning BLR in 358 Win
Savage 99 in 358
Win M88 in 358
Ruger Hawkeye in 358

The power range for these short, neat Whumpers is my idea of a good time.....

but the 9x57's gonna be the most unusual to cope with in the way of logistics......

the 9.3x57 next but....at least there's plenty of bullets floating around and the brass easily ginned up.

My choice would be just like Doc Lou says: a Winchester lever in .356 Winchester. A Buddy has one in South Africa and I've tugged the trigger on it a few times - it sure gets your attention when you do in a light lever rifle! I could easily live without the safety buttom on one of those though. There are some nice ways of getting rid of it!

Since I'm partial to bolt-actions the easiest for a Right-Hander in a spiffy short action with a Medium weight tube would be the .358 Winchester in a Ruger or Remington short action.

That could be made up into a real neat "little" Thumper.

That would be a nice woods rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by byf42:
yeah, i know they are not your run of the mill 308 or 30-06, but i never was one to be like everyone else.

For a rifle, time to depart from this habit. Get a 30-06 and fill that Freezer!

i already have a 30-06, 8x57, and several others. i didnt know it was offensive or illegal to have rifles of different calibers...

I´d get the 9.3x57 as it´s a great load for thin skinned game at moderate ranges. I love all 9.3 calibers (except the 9.3x66 as it´s a bastard load) and I personally own and shoot the 9.3x57, x62 and x64.

I´m seriously thinking of building a 9.3x70 someday!

Go for it!

quote:

Originally posted by byf42:
i already have a 30-06, 8x57, and several others. i didnt know it was offensive or illegal to have rifles of different calibers...

Not offensive or illegal. Severally impractical and wasteful of money.

The 9.3x57 is a grand wee round. If you can get your hands on an Husqvarna in the 9.3x57 you won't regret buying it. Cases can be easily formed from in one pass from 8x57 brass
I think I'm right in saying that some barrel lands diameters in the 9x57 are less than .358 and might prove problematic.
What is a 356?