I'm thinking of reboring or rebarreling a Model 70 Stainless Classic Featherweight in 30-06 that I have to a bit larger bore cartridge in search of a really good all-around medium bore for Alaska, and the rest of N.A., that will still be light weight, fairly flat shooting (to 300-350 yards), and maintain magazine capacity.

For big bears, I've already got a .375 H&H, Model 70 Classic Stainless.

Question:
Which one of these and why or why not?

Choices:
.338-06 A-Square
.338 Hawk
9.3x62 mm
.35 Whelen
None of the above.

 

You've already got a great combination with the .30-06 and .375. The only change I would make in that for me personally is the .338 WM instead of the .375.

Cobra's got it right. There's not an animal on North America the the good old .338 Win Mag cant handle.

Is there anything wrong w/ your 06 ? If not, why alter it ? You already have your "medium" in the 375. If you want another rifle, just get one. I do it all the time. It's good for you ! Just remember, as long as it's not homosexuality or hard drugs, more is better.

338 win mag or 358 norma (they should have marketed at the 358 Alaskan)

Get one of each on your list and keep the 30/06!
Have you ever shot an animal with the '06 and felt like it lacked something?
It hasn't happened to me.
You do have a great combo 30/06 and .375 but if you "need" something else just get it.

quote:

.338 WM

+1

338 WM or 340 WBY...but I wouldn't sell either the 30-06 or 375.

No flies on a 30-06, but I voted for the 338/06. I just had a Ruger 30-06 rebarreled to 338/06 and it has quickly become my new favorite cartridge. I would not hesitate to shoot anything in NA with it at the ranges you mention.

I too voted "None of the above". I don't understand why you didn't include the .338 WM and your .30-06. My 2 "go-to" rifles are my .338 WM and trusty .270 Win. I am planning on going to my .270 WSM just to see what it could do. There are no flies on your .30-06 chambering for Ak. game tho for me personally, I'd prefer something larger for a BB.
'Spose any of the chamberings you listed would work fine assuming you were curious just to see what it could do.
Just my thoughts.
Bear in Fairbanks

Before I saw the choices to vote on I would have unequivocally said .338 Win.

Since that wasn't there, I said .338-06.

The .338 Hawk-Scovill is just a .338-06 Imp.

quote:

Originally posted by aliveincc:
Is there anything wrong w/ your 06 ? If not, why alter it ? You already have your "medium" in the 375. If you want another rifle, just get one. .

+1

.338wm for me.

quote:

Originally posted by temmi:

quote:

.338 WM

+1

+ 2. or +3. or +5, or wherever we are now.

You didn't give us a choice to vote for two, and I would have gone with both the .338/06 and the 9.3x62. After all, you did ask. But as many others have asked, why bother? If you have a .375, what are the others even for? It will do anything you want out to the ranges you are talking about. No sense in restricting it to big bears. Whenever I'm in the Arctic, that's all I carry.

You've got a great pair in the 30-06 and .375. One in the middle would be nice.

I actually have rifles in 30-06, .338-06, .338 Win Mag, 9,3x62 and .375 H&H.

For hunting in North America the 9,3x62 is pretty close to as good as the .375 but the rifles are handlier because of the shorter action. I personally do not find the recoil of the .338-06 to be dramatically less than the .338 Win Mag with the same weight projectile.

I build the .338-06 as a practical rifle that I wouldn't feel badly abt using in the rain and snow and mud and crud as my .338 WM is a very nice rifle.

The key issue here is how flat do you want the trajectory to be. I would also choose the .338 Win Mag for the middler if trajectory is important.

I have a M70 stainless in 9.3x62 that started life as 270. Great conversion!! I found a nice, original Winlite (McMillan) stock for it and I couldn't be happier.

Personally I have a M70 '06 and a M70 .375 H&H and can't complain. However, if I wanted a little more than the '06 the 35 Whelen is my choice.

Larry Gibson

I voted 338=06 in spite of the fact that I have a 35 Whelen and love it. The reason is that I think there are better (tougher, higher sd) bullets available in 338 then the 35's. I think bullet manufacturers have recently given that caliber more attention than the 35's, still love my Whelen though. Of corse there are exceptions, but the 2 rounds are very similar.

The 9.3X62 wont do anything your 375 wont do, but the 338-06 is different enough that its not the same thing in a different package. A considerably lighter rifle than the H&H Mag, but will handle bears in a pinch better than the 30-06..

quote:

Originally posted by Redlander:
I'm thinking of reboring or rebarreling a Model 70 Stainless Classic Featherweight in 30-06

For the calibers you mention in your poll, I hope the choice will fall on "rebarreling" as opposed to "reboring". I personally couldn't see myself reboring a featherweight barrel to a caliber between .338 and .366". The result would be light, alright, but you would not have much left in terms of barrel...

- mike

of the choices, .338-06
and while your at it, re-barrel the .375H&H to .416 Rem Mag....
or not

mho, in fact I voted 338-06 and did bore out a fwt pre 64 30-06 to get there. It comes in ready to hunt at just over 7 1/2 lb and shoots lights out. Took caribou and moose with 225 nosler partition in NWT with one shot, brown bear in Alaska with 250 A-Frame and six African animals with 210 TTSX all one shot kills and four died where hit. Only bullet recovered was from a sable. Wonderful rifle and wears a mickey stock Leo 1.75x6 with Talley bases.

Yes, does not leave a lot of steel around the barrel but barely makes the cut. Love it.

I understand the desire but there is nothing in Alaska that EITHER a 30-06 or a 375 can't handle.

Ruger stainless in .338 Ruger Compact Magnum.

keep it as a 30-06. you easily have the bears covered with your 375. use the 06' for everything else.

I voted 338-06..I'm partial to it as I built an AI version couple yeras ago. 225gr AB's or TTSX's would be good medicine.

Next I would choose a 300WM with 180-200gr Accubonds or TTSX's. I know its not on your list but the300WM and 375HH would be a good combo. But since you have a 30-06, the 338-06 would be the way to go IMO !!!

I voted 9.3x62, have now had five rifles so chambered in just over five years and I am enamoured of it when loaded with 286 NPs and Hornady SPs, over Ramshot Big Game. I kept an original Oberndorf Type B, DTed it, slapped on EAWs and a Leupy 4x and this 74 year old gem shoots "lights out" and both to the same poi at 100M.

I found a very clean Brno ZG-47 original 9.3, had a Satterlee safety and Micky Edge stock installed by Martini's shop and have Talleys, Conquest 4x and a Recknagel peep for it. I consider this to be just a superb rifle fo BC's north, where things are much like Alaska.

However, my first choice since Jan.1968 has always been a CRF .338WM-250NPs at 2750+ and it don't get no better. I have .375s, have had several and can shoot it, but, just prefer the .338.

I interpreted the question to mean what one rifle and cartridge would I choose for general Alaskan use? I chose the .35 Whelen for two reasons. One I already have one and two, based on it's accuracy with the 225 gr. Barnes TSX bullet and it's reasonably decent velocity (2710 FPS at the muzzle) I figure it would do me just fine in the Alaskan bush. Any bullet thaty will pass through an elk from arsehole to appetite should be more than potent enough for any use I might want to use it for.
Paul B.

Thanks for all the responses. I may just stick with the 30-06 and .375 combo.

Good plan. That way you can spend the money you were going to use on the 'mid' for something else!

quote:

Originally posted by Redlander:
Thanks for all the responses. I may just stick with the 30-06 and .375 combo.

Tease!

quote:

Originally posted by Redlander:
Thanks for all the responses. I may just stick with the 30-06 and .375 combo.

I agree that makes the most sense. With the 375 you've got the 'high end' well covered. No need for something else as 'close' as 338.

.350 Remington Magnum
20" Carbine
200 grain Barnes TTSX
2950 fps


338 Win Mag requires 24 inch Barrel

You have 4 extra inches of steel to maneuver around

Sounds likek to me your set to go as is..An 06 and a 375 H&H is pretty hard to argue with..A 200 or 220 gr. Nosler at 2650 and 2500 respectively, in the 06 is capable of laying low the largest of big bears, buffalo or Lion if the shot is well placed, but that includes the 505 Gibbs also, you gotta stick it in the right spot..but if this does not suit you then go with the great .338 Win with 250 or 300 gr. bullets.

As to barrel length, I don't think 4 inches or even six inches of extra barrel makes any difference, even in the thickest of bush. I have used 18 to 26 inch barrels and they all work about the same..I have never been able to figure prior to shooting where that alleged and mythical interveneing bush will be that messes up my shot. I do think the 26 inch barrel is best for running shots and holds quicker for snap shooting..I have been able to duplicate that balance with 20 inch barrels by using a slightly heavier barrel. But mostly I find this to be folley and in the mind of the beholder, but if carbine gives one confidence, then its definately the way to go for that particular individual..

Man, hard to knock the 30-06. Can't see what you'd gain by a rebarrel in real world performance. Might be cool to chat it up here, and I would if I had it done! But, real world? Doubt you'd see much difference between a 30-06 with 200's and a 338-06, 35 Whelen or any of the others listed.

I went 'none of the above' due to your 300-350 yard criteria. I have a 9.3x62, shot a Kudu with it at 237yards and there is a lot of Kentucky elevation to get out that far, let alone 350.

I think your into magnum territory with that criteria.

338-06 would be the invious or the 340 PDK is pretty cool
If you want to get exotic Bent Fossdal made what he calls his FGC rounds based on the 9,3x74 case. Will get you win mag capacity but 06 casehead if you lengthen the mag to 3.6" more rounds down but same performance as the win mags.

Redlander,

I voted 9.3x62. I built one last year just for Alaska. It's a pre 64 M70 witha 24" Pacnor and shoots lights out. Sometimes folks, understandably won't pick a different caliber such as the 338/9.3 or 35 Whelen, stating if their ammo does not arrive, their SOL. Well, Graf's has next day UPS air shipping. They carry one 338-06, four 35 Whelen and 11 different 9.3x62 loads. Somehow, I believe a hunter from Texas, who arrives at their major drop of point, say, Bethel, King Salmon, Nome, etc will discover their ammo didn't arrive. He will be able to get either online or the phone call Grafs, or their favorite retailer, and get some much needed ammo sent overnight to save the day.

My 9.3x62 pushing the 250 Accubond 2600 fps is only 5" low @ 500 yds compared to a standard 180 gr 30-06. Seems pretty close to me.

Alan

Went with the 8mm/06 able to stabilize the heaviest bullets. Seems right to me. roger