I have a R93 in .375 and I�m contemplating getting another barrel. I have another rifle in 7RM and will get a 6,5x55 sometime soon, so what I�m looking for now is something inbetween the. 375 and the 7RM, for deer hunting/plains game maybe and for practising a little more with the R93.
I have narrowed it down to either 8x68S or .300 Weatherby, but I cannot seem to decide. Any opinions? Alternatives among the faster medium/large game category I haven�t thought about?
I�m absolutely not open for a .30-06 (everyones got one, besides I want more speed for the heavy bullets)
.300 WM is of course an option, though I reckon the weatherby is slightly more flexible? But again, I have no experience with the weatherbys and worry if it would be accurate enough.
The bullets selection in the .30 calibers tempt me, but the design of the 8x68S is definitely more interesting. Does anyone have an opinion about differencies in performance between these calibers? Do they perform the same or does the 8mm have an advantage? (Probably purely theoretical anyway..)
I will give you a great advice a 300 wby, it has by far a bigger selection of bullets and ammo is easier to find. 8X68 is not alvays soo easy to find in Sweden or Norway and I guess it's much worse in USA.
35 Wheelen, 358 Norma Magnum or 9,3x62. Is what I would go for. Speedy calibers do nothing, but damage meat. Weatherby's and their likes are for shooting Looong range, not for ranges within 300 meters. But what do I know..
Posts: 389 | Location: Denmark | Registered: 05 May 2002
Niels, as I mentioned I have a .375 HH and the .300 barrels is meant for lighter game/a little practising. I think its easier to shoot a lighter caliber well, important if the range is a little longer. I agree that trajectory and speed is not that important. Basically I dont�t need another caliber, I just want it!
I have a .300 Weatherby, but my advice would be to get a .300 Winchester mag. Ammo and brass for the Win. mag. is less expensive and more widely available, at least in the US. Although this will depend on the individual rifle, the Winchester mag is also likely to be a bit more accurate. If you handload, you can get perhaps as much as 200 feet per second greater velocity for any bullet weight with the Weatherby, but do you really need it?
[ 04-02-2003, 08:31: Message edited by: LE270 ]
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
trb it sounds like a 308NormaMagnum will fit the bill. 300WinMag speed and a longer neck than the Winchester (=long bullets will not trespass the burning room).
[ 04-05-2003, 03:48: Message edited by: Jamt ]
Posts: 92 | Location: Jamtland, Sweden | Registered: 26 March 2003
A .308 Norma is probably not an option, since its not on Blasers program of calibers. Avaialbility of brass and ammo is of some interest too, since I hope to use it abroad at some point. The idea of a .300 WM is growing on me...
quote:Originally posted by trb: A .308 Norma is probably not an option, since its not on Blasers program of calibers. Avaialbility of brass and ammo is of some interest too, since I hope to use it abroad at some point. The idea of a .300 WM is growing on me...
I've never even seen one, much less shot or handled one, but I've read that the .308 Norma Mag. tends to be very accurate. I understand that at one time, before the advent of the 300 Win. mag., many conversions were made for the 308 Norma from 30-06 rifles because the Norma is short enough to work through standard '06-length actions and magazines. But the caliber is extremely obscure now, at least here in the US, and you'd have a difficult time getting brass, let alone loaded ammo, for it. Thus, I'd rule that one out.
[ 04-03-2003, 02:55: Message edited by: LE270 ]
Posts: 5883 | Location: People's Republic of Maryland | Registered: 11 March 2001
I have 300 Win Mag, 308 Norma Mag, and 300 Wby rifles. For pure power and speed, the Wby wins hands down. It is expensive to feed, however, and due to the long throat (free-bore) accuracy is a sometimes thing. The 300 win Mag has a larger choice of factory ammo at much better prices. As to the 308 Norma, it IS a very accurate round, but ammo selection is limited from the factory, and at least on this side of the pond, ammo costs just about as much as Wby. The 8 X 68S while a good caliber (I'm putting one together right now), doesn't equal the Wby in power or speed, and over here ammo is extremely difficult to find. I would have to say, for most hunters, the 300 Win Mag wins almost by default. FWIW - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
trb I have a 300 Win Mag bbl for my Blaser. It shoots real well. I have done quite a bit of hunting with a 300 WBY in the past. There is not that much difference in performance. If you are going to use it for practice and shoot it a lot I would prefer the 300 Win Mag.
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002
Johan, the 8x68S seems to me like more fun too, no logic behind that, its just different.
I think I will go for a .300WM anyway, so I don�t have to change bolt heads when I switch barrels and because of availability of cases and ammunition. Seems like the vote from the other members is undividedly in favour of the Win. compared to the Wheaterby, thanks for the replies!
I have 2 R93 rifles: one in 300WM and the other in 9.3x62. I have used both in Africa for plains game (and the 9.3 in Europe for wild boar and both have always perfomed well.They are realy very accurate. If your aim is to have a bbl for practicing I believe you would do better with the 300WM: less expensive ammo even if you handload.
B.Martins
Posts: 538 | Location: Lisboa,Portugal | Registered: 16 August 2001
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