I always wanted a Winchester 70 Super Grade in 35 Whelen and toyed with the idea for years but things just never quite worked out. Then the 700CDL came out and that settled that, sort of - I bought one immediately. Love the cartridge and rifle. But I still wanted a Super Grade.

I've since gotten a 9.3x74R and have a 9.3x62 en route, after really being pleased with the 74R's game-taking ability at moderate ranges. The 62's a bolt and the 74's a single, so I figured I "needed" the extra cartridges in the mag and the 100 fps or so it would give.

But the problem is I also finally found a really good deal on a Classic Super Grade and bought it. The problems are it's a 300 Win Mag, which I like but already have one of (26" 70 Classic), and I had the barrel cut down to 24 inches because I think the 24" is just handier.

So, long prelude: I've got my Super Grade in a common caliber, already ruined the value of the rifle, and think the 9.3 is an absolutely great caliber. What to do?

A 9.3-338 struck me as a natural. Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks. -WSJ

At a glance, seems like it ought to do about anything a 9.3x64 Brenneke would do... As much horsepower as a 375 likely, and be able to loft 286s a fair bit faster, 300s with a bit more pizzaz than the 62.
338 brass should be more common than 9,3x64, which might be a mixed bag of blessings, for the next little bit...

Why not a 9.3 X 300,,

I wasn't as aware of wildcats and what has been done and what you can do when I had my 358 Norma built. If I was it would have been on the 300 win mag case! My 425 Express on the 300 case is like a 416 Taylor Improved.

I've got the first 9.3 Sisk that Charlie built. It is a Win Model 70 action, blueprinted, Timney trigger, Lilja Match barrel, Ceratoated metalwork, and set in a cool red & black McSwirly stock. The 9.3 Sisk is an 8mm Rem Mag necked to 9.3, with no other changes. Just take a .366 expander to 8mm Rem Mag brass and you're good to go. Charlie was getting about 2,800 fps with a 286 Partition...about like a 375 Wby. I'll be listing it shortly.

I've also got the first 9.3 BS...designed by writer John Barsness and Charlie Sisk. It is a 350 Rem Mag necked up to 9.3, with no other changes. It's like a 9.3 Short Mag. John Barsness wrote about it. They made one for John on a Rem 700, and this one for Charlie on a Win Model 70.

Yep, read about those and considered them, although the 8 Mag would be too long for this action. Very cool that you actually have both!

I'm thinking this should be a 'standard short magnum' based on a cartridge this rifle's already set up for (7mm RM, 300 WM, 338 WM, et.) and that of those the 338 is the best balance of case capacity and neck length. Hard to believe nobody's got one already, at least that I can locate.

quote:

A 9.3-338 struck me as a natural. Thoughts? Suggestions?

It is a natural. And before my 9.3 B&M came along, I had two of these built, 9.3X338 Winchester. Wonderful cartridge, both mine of course are Winchester M70s, or were, I did sell one of them, still have one. Both mine I went with 22 inch barrels. I never ran them to max, or even hooked up for pressures, but could easy run 250s at 2700 fps and 286s at 2550 without issues. I understand some folks are running much more than that.

Easy to load for, easy to shoot. Dies by Hornady. Maybe others I am not sure.

Michael

Michael,

Thanks. Did SSK do the chambering for your 9.-338? Seems like finding somone who has the reamer and can chamber or chamber and fit the barrel to my rifle would be the next step to look into.

I also found this thread that mentions the same wildcat, only called the 366 Alaskan, which is very appropriate: http://forums.accuratereloadin...=762109237#762109237

Thanks. -WSJ

WSJ

Yes, SSK has reamers and can do a really good job for you on this. Easy conversion. I sold the second rifle some months ago, and I let the fellow have my one and only die set. Hornady makes dies for this, as I am sure RCBS probably does as well. If you want to call SSK just speak to Brian, tell him I sent you.

I like, always have liked 338 caliber, and still have several 338 Winchesters, but the 9.3 conversion is far superior to 338, and a pretty decent jump in caliber.

Michael

Excellent! Thanks. I emailed an inquiry to RCBS yesterday about dies; I'll check Hornady today.

Now, off to some yard work . . . -WS

It has been around for years as the 9.3 USA. 9.3x64 holds 83.7gr h2o the 9.3 USA is 88.3grs or 5.4% more. 338 Win brass is $67@ 100 at Midway. 9.3x64 will run about that much for 20 if you can find it.

Yep, exactly what I was thinking, although I confess I had not heard of the 9.3 USA. Is it just a straight 338 WM-to-9.3mm proposition or are there any oher dimensional changes to it?

Thanks. -WSJ

Cut the barrel off on a Super Grade ? CRIMINAL !
By the time you rebore, rechamber, address feeding etc etc, you could have sold the Super Grade (to someone who would have valued it) bought a 375 H&H or even a 375 Ruger and had more gun, with FACTORY ammo available should you need it. Owning three 9.3x62 rifles (and two 35 Whelens and two 375 H&Hs) I am fond of all 3 cartridges. Amusing that after being ignored forever, the 9.3s are now enjoying cult status for no really factual reason. It won't do a thing the Whelen or H&H cannot (with proper bullets).
Build what you want, but don't think it fills a gap or will be any reasale when you get tired of it.
In the interest of honesty, I do own one crazy wildcat, a 22-06 that with H869 (and nothing else) will push a 70 gr TSX at 3600+fps and shoot sub MOA to at least 600 yards. The modern wildcat, the 22/244 IMP is about all that will equal it and has been shot (see Handloader) out to 1000 with the 80 gr SMK with excellent results.

A couple of years ago we met a guy with a rifle chambered for a 50-110 case necked down for a .375 bullet. He said it was for cross-canyon shooting, looks like a cross-county rig...

quote:

Cut the barrel off on a Super Grade ? CRIMINAL !

Ouch! I didn't say somebody gave me a Super Grade and I couldn't think of anything better to do with it than lop the barrel off!

I always wanted a Super Grade (and do appreciate this one), just not in one of the standard calibers. And I looked for a long time, waiting to stumble on a 30-06 or 270 that could turn into a 35 Wnelen. But when I fnally found one, it was a 300 WM, and I already had a Whelen and 9.3x62. So what's a body to do with a Super Grade but figure out what caliber it should be chambered for?

I'll admit I maybe should have just put the factory 26" 300 WM barrel aside to preserve the sanctity of the rifle, but I didn't. Mea culpa.

I just like the look and fit of the Super Grades (for me, not some future owner)and want to shoot and hunt with this one, but in an interesting caliber, hence the 9.3-338 WM concept.

-WSJ

That would be a hard to beat combo..The 9.3x64 would be a factory round and the 9.3x64 case is a .338 case with no belt btw..9.3x64 brass is easy to come by these days but that may not be forever..The .338 case is a grand case and proven. It has been necked up and down and it always performs..A 320 gr. Woodleigh or 300 gr. Swift at probably 2500 FPS would be awesome on moose or Brown Bear.

Good choice...