I realise this question should be on the Wildcat section but I'll ask here to keep it local. I have a 35 Whelan that I'm happy with but I have always wanted a 9.3x62. I just cannot get the velocities the reloading books state. Why don't I just ream out the chamber to suit the 62mm case and have the best of both worlds. 35/62 would blitz the 35 Whelan Improved Does anyone know of a gunsmith here in Oz that may have a reamer that would do the job. For that matter I'm amazed someone hasn't tried different calibers on the 62mm case. I know these wildcats are very popular in the USA, especially the Hawk range, but no-one has done them hear in Australia.
Malcolm56

Malcolm
Think you will have to do the ring round to find a smith with body only reamer. try Peter at Pro-Cal (03) 5281 1380
PC should be able to provide Bob at Kudu's number.
What state are you in?

Have you thought about source for dies?

Last I checked, the Whelan/30.06 case was 63mm? Apart from spending lots of money for little gain, what do you hope to achieve?

Bob deVries' number is 03-9738 0366.
He's about to move shop but will advertise when that happens, not sure if he's keeping the old number.
If your not happy with the 35Whelen, upgrade to the 358Norma Magnum. Reamer will definately clean out the old chamber, and what you spend on opening the boltface and some magazine work, you will save on teh cost of the custom dies.
Cheers...
Con
Cheers...
Con

My thoughts exactly, go for the 358 norma, that will give the rifle a lot more grunt. I found my 35whelen to be adequate using 225gr and ADI 2208, not much got up again.

cheers cc

IMHO,

Bob De'Vries is the premier smith in this country for hunting styled rifles and is as least as good as the big names in the states if not better

I have a .35 Whelan, a 9.3x74R and a 9.3x62 (the later is under construction) but in reality they are all ballistic equals - I don't think you will ever be able to tell the difference in the field.

Stick with the Whelan or replace it will a 9.3x62 (if you really must have a change) but the wildcat you are proposing will give you nothing more than what you already have.

malcolm56,
What velocities are you trying to achieve? The capacity of the Whelen and 9.3x62 aren't that different. But...if you just want a funky cat then maybe the 9.3x64 is your case of choice? If you do go the 358Norma, let me know who has the reamer.
Cheers...
Con

Forgot to add, what action is your Whelen based on? If it's a Rem700 then open her up to magnum length and give Dennis Tobler a call. I hear he has a 358STA reamer that will surely impress...
Cheers...
Con

Gidday fellas, all the books say 2400fps with a 250gn pill. I cannot get this without serious pressure. Kieth from Sprinter Arms suggested 358 Norma 18 years ago when he rebarreled the rifle for me. I measured and weighed three different cases for internal capacity. A standard Whelan case, a 9.3x62 case and 30'06 imp case necked out to 35.The 9.3 case gave a 5% increase over the Whelan case. The imp case gave only 2.5%. If guys improve calibers for a lousy 2.5% increase which according to the books equate to only 50 fps gain, why not go for 5% gain which, again according to programs equate to over 100 fps gain. If one compares a 9.3x62 case to a Whelan case it's not hard to see the extra case capacity. I didn't want too much boot ( as in 358 Norma )as it is a light 98 actioned rifle in a plastic stock. It certainly does the job on fallow and ferals,I just thought a 358x62 had a good ring to it.
Thanks for the input fella's.
malcolm56

G'day,
Con, last I heard, Allen Swann up in Brisbane had a reamer for the .358 Norma Mag.
malcom56, most poeple I have spoken to improve the Whelen, not for capacity although every little bit helps, but to replace the sloping shoulder with the sharper one of the Improved, helps in cases of ignition problems and the like.
The case capacity thing, well the whelen is longer, but the 9.3x62's shoulder is further forward, giving more powder space.
Having used both the 9.3x62 and the whelen a fair bit, I feel that BwanaBob is right, most of us, and most critters, cannot tell the difference between them in the field.
358x62 does have a good ring to it, if you want one go for it!

Cheers, Dave.

Sambar9.3,
Cheers on the heads-up for the 358Norma reamer, supposed to be one closer to home in Victoria as well. Any ideas what Allan charges to rebarrel a rifle, just found a neat M70 that would make for a good donor action.
Cheers...
Con

Con. Sprinter's would be the boy's to see for the chambering Job.Also I'm lead to beleve that Bill Hambly -Clark jr is back at work and is in Broken-Hill but at this time I don't have a contact number

Another round to consider and it is a real screamer is a .416 Rigby necked down to 9.3, with 9.3 Nosler Ballistic tips it is supposed to shoot very flat and fast !!

This is if you want something different.

Malcolm,

Don't know if you've been successful at this yet or not, but you might like to try Allan Swan, Gunsmith in Brisbane, Queensland. He has a lot of odd stuff, particularly reamers. He can be contacted on (07) 3288 1880.

Cheers & God bless,
Magnum308

Hy boys
Long time ago I reading a post of a australian gunsmith who make .500 Jeffreys in bolt Mauser, not expensive. Do you remember who is?
Sorry for my bud English.
Regards.
Hector

Hector

The M98's in .500 Jeffrey would have been through Century Arms of Melbourne and John Saunders the owner. The gunsmith was .....? (I think Rolph Bachnick)

Century Arms still has a website but I believe the gunsmith has moved on. They closed up their shop some years ago.

I had a look at one of these in their shop when they were making them and they retailed for around A$2,000 to $3,000. Was sorely tempted at the time.

Nitro
Thanks you for your answer. 500 Jeffrey it's an old idea for a new rifle for me.
In Argentina it's not possible because do not have barrel in .50 caliber and do not have rechamber tools for it.
Regards.
Hector