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Okay All,

I have one 700 standard long action to make a new rifle. Want to make something over 30 cal. to use for deer, moose and elk out to 300-400 yards, no longer barrel than 24 inches. Give me your suggestions.
 
Posts: 173 | Registered: 21 August 2004Reply With Quote
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Well depends on what you already have but a .338 Win Mag is pretty decent. Mine shoots very well with 225 grain handloads.
What voids in your arsenal are you trying to fill?
 
Posts: 5604 | Location: Eastern plains of Colorado | Registered: 31 October 2005Reply With Quote
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This is a standard bolt face, not a magnum. I do not have any firearms over 30cal. except for a 44 mag. so I am open to suggestions. I have many firearms under 30 cal. from .223-7mm mag.
 
Posts: 173 | Registered: 21 August 2004Reply With Quote
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35 Whelen, 338-06, 375 Whelen?


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Posts: 487 | Location: Wichita, ks. | Registered: 28 January 2007Reply With Quote
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mad_jack02

Is this the order of preference?

I have thought of the 35 Whelen and 338-06, not sure which one to do and possibly making them into AI's.
 
Posts: 173 | Registered: 21 August 2004Reply With Quote
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i had a hard time trying to decide which ( .338-06 or .35 whelen) to build also, that decision can delay a project for months! bewildered
i chose the whelen as i have a couple '06's and can get close enough to .338 bullet weights that it doesn't matter much with those, so i figured the bigger step up in bore dia. will allow more thump for the buck coverage
with either one though, the ackley isn't much of a boost and not needed for better headspace control, as one thought.
have fun deciding! one thought.... on paper, there is some evidence that the .338 might do a bit better out at 300-400 yds due to smaller frontal area compared to bullet weight, but again, it's so close that it's hard to actually make a concrete bias towords one or the other.
pick one and build!!, you know you're gonna smile the same when it's done.
 
Posts: 415 | Location: no-central wisconsin | Registered: 21 October 2008Reply With Quote
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9,3x62...
 
Posts: 10220 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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I think the 338-06 very neatly meets what you are looking for.
 
Posts: 1282 | Registered: 17 September 2004Reply With Quote
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As suggested, 9.3x62 caliber. Will work well in your action, and plenty of punch to hunt what you are after and beyond.
 
Posts: 1328 | Location: West Virginia | Registered: 19 January 2009Reply With Quote
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i'd open the bolt face up a little(.511) and put on a 8x68S barrel.


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Posts: 1213 | Location: new braunfels, tx | Registered: 04 December 2001Reply With Quote
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1) 9.3x62
2) 35 Whelen


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Posts: 3318 | Location: USA | Registered: 15 November 2001Reply With Quote
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All,

Thanks thus far for the replies, so any one have a 35 Wehlen AI or .338-06AI that can tell me if they like it or not worth doing. I have a .250AI and a 280AI that perform very well, just not sure of the se bigger bores if it is worth doing.
 
Posts: 173 | Registered: 21 August 2004Reply With Quote
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338'06, 35 Whelen, 9.3x62, or 375 Whelen all do roughly the same work. Since all but the 9.3 are handloading propositions there's no reason not to play with the AIs I guess. I'd use a 26 inch tube on a 338'06 - AI or not - but that's just me. Have fun deciding.
 
Posts: 1733 | Registered: 31 January 2006Reply With Quote
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If you already have a 7 rem mag why you don't go after a 8mm rem mag ?

For those distances and for the game you mentioned will be perfect.

L
 
Posts: 3085 | Location: Uruguay - South America | Registered: 10 December 2001Reply With Quote
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35 or 375 Whelen. Just depends how big you really want. Both are simply hard to beat.


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Posts: 1652 | Location: Deer Park, Texas | Registered: 08 June 2005Reply With Quote
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Lorenzo,

The action is a non magnum bolt.
 
Posts: 173 | Registered: 21 August 2004Reply With Quote
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Forget the AI option as it's a dead end street.

In all seriousness the 9.3 X 62 is a excellent choice and factory ammo is available. It should feed nicely in you M-700 standard long action and a lot of fine bullets are available for handloading if one chooses. That M-700 action will wring out the most of the 9.3 XZ 62s capability and you'll be impressed with it's range and power.

Further, it's a legal DG round in most African countries should you ever go!@
 
Posts: 908 | Location: Western Colorado | Registered: 21 June 2006Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by TheBigGuy:
I think the 338-06 very neatly meets what you are looking for.


Yes the 06 A-Square.

Ballistic co-efficient's are less going to .358 diameter.

Barnes has great selection in .338
 
Posts: 1274 | Location: Saskatchewan, Canada.  | Registered: 22 August 2006Reply With Quote
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I have the 338-06AI and it is a pleasure to shoot and performs very well with the Barnes and Nosler Accubond bullets. My dad has a 35 Whelen AI and he loves that gun. When we shoot together it is hard to tell the difference. We went with the AI just to have something different and have no regrets. We both just got back from Namibia from our first safari and both rifles were quite lethal.
 
Posts: 103 | Location: southern wisconsin | Registered: 12 December 2005Reply With Quote
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338-06, 35 Whelen. 9.3x62, and 375 Whelen are all very good non belted magnum choices. For using factory ammo 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 are easy to come by. My next bigger bore rifle will be either 375 Whelen, or 416 Taylor, or 416 Express-( 350 rem mag necked up to 416 ), good luck and let us know what you decide on.


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Posts: 487 | Location: Wichita, ks. | Registered: 28 January 2007Reply With Quote
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With a standard bolt face action, I would go straight to a 338-06, or a 9,3x62, and a 300 WSM would be in the mix for consideration too. I've shot the 300 WSM and think it's the only WSM I'd ever buy. It is GOOD.

Don




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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I'd build a .425 Westley Richards thumb thumb Cool
 
Posts: 2627 | Location: Where the pine trees touch the sky | Registered: 06 December 2006Reply With Quote
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9,3x62...

416 Taylor


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Posts: 3870 | Location: Cheyenne, WYOMING, USA | Registered: 13 June 2000Reply With Quote
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338/06, there is a diffrence between the 06 and the 338/06. (I know .03 Roll Eyes) but what it does on game cant be told until you trip the trigger on one!


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Posts: 1641 | Location: Green Country Oklahoma | Registered: 03 August 2007Reply With Quote
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9,3x62 +1!

Rich
 
Posts: 23062 | Location: SW Idaho | Registered: 19 December 2005Reply With Quote
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I'd go 338-06ai in a heart beat.

Can load it gentle or full tilt and handle game in your mentioned category with aplomb.


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Posts: 268 | Location: So. Oregon | Registered: 11 June 2004Reply With Quote
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I'd go for the 9.3x62....really great round with lots of bullets and ammo available.
 
Posts: 510 | Location: Iceland | Registered: 15 May 2006Reply With Quote
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The 338 WinMag would be my choice for the longer shots. Much better at longer range than the 338-06 or the 9.3 x 62


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Posts: 2759 | Location: Northern Minnesota | Registered: 22 September 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Mohunt:
Okay All,

I have one 700 standard long action to make a new rifle. Want to make something over 30 cal. to use for deer, moose and elk out to 300-400 yards, no longer barrel than 24 inches. Give me your suggestions.


I have several different calibers I like, and a 358 is one of them. It will do ya good out to 400 yards too.




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Blacktail53:
I'd go 338-06ai in a heart beat.

Can load it gentle or full tilt and handle game in your mentioned category with aplomb.


Good posting. I had a couple of rifles built by the late Lowell Manley, here in Michigan, about 25 years ago. He, and his wife both shot 338-06 rifles for Elk hunting annually. He swore by them...




 
Posts: 5798 | Registered: 10 July 2004Reply With Quote
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Mohunt- I would think that any smith that could barrel your rifle to a different caliber would be able to open the bolt face for a magnum caliber. Something to consider.


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Posts: 2759 | Location: Northern Minnesota | Registered: 22 September 2005Reply With Quote
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338-06AI is my recommendation. My Smith, Randall Kenner of SD loves hunting Elk and SWEARS by the 338-06AI. Loves it more than 338WinMag.

Once I wear out my 30-06AI I strongly feel like a 338-06AI will be next.
 
Posts: 969 | Registered: 13 October 2009Reply With Quote
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Thanks for all the responses I may look into the 9.3x62 and compare the ballistics.
 
Posts: 173 | Registered: 21 August 2004Reply With Quote
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I am a smith and I wouldn't go to the effort of opening the bolt face on a 700. The 338-06 is one of the best. It is accurate and will drop anything in N.A., so will the Whelen. I have found the 338-06 to be accurate with nore than enough energy. Go with the 338-06 and you won't regret it......Tom


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Posts: 654 | Location: Denver, Iowa | Registered: 10 June 2009Reply With Quote
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I'd go with the 338 'O6 either improved or std. I have a 338 win mag. There is a difference but its quite small with the lighter bullets. I like the 210's from Barnes It is devastating on gane. I think the .030 inch difference is huge on game where it doesn't sound like that big of a deal on paper. If I hadn't found the deal I got on the 338 win, I probably would have a 338 06ai. DW
 
Posts: 1016 | Location: Happy Valley, Utah | Registered: 13 October 2006Reply With Quote
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i would think the diametrical increase would only be a detractor in flight, but as far as it's difference on game goes, the advantage in diameter comes from the gain in weight of projectile and that's about it. as diameter goes up, generally BC goes down, and in the equation, the factor of weight helps to pushes it back up. somewhat of a trade off. one of the reasons that the 7mm. bore are asgood as they are is that evidently, the bore diameter is at a median where it's weights strike a balance of mostly positive attributes in the equation.
 
Posts: 415 | Location: no-central wisconsin | Registered: 21 October 2008Reply With Quote
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Coin toss between 9.3x92 or 338-06 AI
 
Posts: 655 | Location: Oregon Monsoon Central | Registered: 06 March 2004Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Mohunt:
Okay All,

I have one 700 standard long action to make a new rifle.
Want to make something over 30 cal. to use for deer, moose and elk out to 300-400 yards, no longer barrel than 24 inches. --
This is a standard bolt face , not a magnum. I do not have any firearms over 30cal. except for a 44 mag. so I am open to suggestions. I have many firearms under 30 cal. from .223-7mm mag.-- Give me your suggestions.



1.) 338/06 or 8mm/06
2.) 9.3 X 62 or 35 Whelen
3.).411 Hawk or .375 Scovill/ Hawk


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Posts: 4598 | Location: TX | Registered: 03 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Here's another vote for the .338-06 and you don't need it AI either.

I built my first one in the 70's, and since then i've harvested everything from brown bears and moose, on down to deer and coyotes.

Use the proper weight of bullet for what your hunting and it will do the job on anything in NA.

DM
 
Posts: 696 | Location: Upper Midwest, USA | Registered: 07 February 2007Reply With Quote
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Mohunt- Just on a whim, where ever you live go into the nearest sporting goods store and ask for a box of 9.3 X 62 ammo or even a box of 338-06. Check your choices.


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Posts: 2759 | Location: Northern Minnesota | Registered: 22 September 2005Reply With Quote
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