Gentlemen... look for opinions on these two cartridges. Am in the early phases of putting together a semi-custom rig on a M77 MkII action. Already have a 25.06 and 7mm Rem and looking for elk/moose medicine.

Your thoughts please on accuracy, bullet selection, etc...

Thank You,

this battle has been done many times here...do a search.

either or you will not go wrong.

good luck

I'm a big fan of the 35's. My thought is the 35 cal bullet selection is both vast, from 110 gr pistol bullets to 310 gr softs and solids and more imporantly are designed around the impact velocities of the whelen, vs 338 pills being designed around the 338 win mag and 340 Wetherby. Eventhough the bullet selection is huge, I wouldn't feel the least hindered by settling on a 225 tsx @ 2700 fps.

As far as accuracy, I currently don't have a whelen, but both my 350 rem mag and 350 Rigby will print sub moa groups day in day out with hunting loads.

On the other hand, the 338-06 sounds sexier, and in all honesty either will kill all NA as it can be killed out to reasonable ranges.

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
this battle has been done many times here...do a search.

either or you will not go wrong.

good luck

I went with the 338-06 but either will do anything you want in N.A. or on Plains Game.

I couldn't decide so I did one of each. My son shoots the .338 and I get the .35.

9.3 x 62 trumps both.

I went .338-06. When I had mine made, good 35caliber bullets were few. Today, it makes little diff. down range. I like the higher SD of the .338 bullets & since I don't use pistol bullets for plinking, sexy or not, the .338-06 gets my vote.
BTW, most .338 bullets may be designed around the .338wm vel. but that means a std. cup-core bullet @ 200fps less performs quite well w/o having to go to a "premium". I confess though, the 210grNP was made for the .338-06.

I went with the .338-06 Mainly because I already had a 9.3 and there is a little less overlap

Jeez, I am agreeing 100% with Dangerous Dan again. Either he's starting to make sense more often here, or I am losing it. Prof's to 500 Grains! I look at a standard 30-06 for bullet weights up to 200gr.
If I want a heavier bullet on that case, the 9,3x62 (.366-06) makes the most sense. 286gr bullet at up to 2500fps runs right up the backside of a 300gr 375H&H. I am liking mine more and more each trip to the range.
A super battery (non-magnum) for all things in NA from antelope up. 165 and 180gr in the '06 and 250 and 286gr for anything elk size and up. You could even turn the '06 into a casual varmint hunting rifle with 125gr BT's from Nosler.

Rich
DRSS

quote:

Originally posted by 500grains:
9.3 x 62 trumps both.

No it doesn't! The 35 is the only logical choice!

Whats all this bullet selection, heavy bullet crap. Most shooters find a load combination that groups well, and they stick with it. That argument is for guys who have only one rifle, or are gun writers. As to heavier bullets if you need to shoot a bullet heavier than 250 grains, the ONLY logical choice, becomes the 375 H&H, etc. I have both of these rifles, and I prefer the 35 Whelen. Go with history and tradition, (35 Whelen), or go with the upstart, 338-06.

Jerry

quote:

looking for elk/moose medicine

Honestly, Either will do quite well.

quote:

9.3 x 62 trumps both

quote:

338-06 Vs. 35 Whelen

I didn't see 9.3 in the title.
Yeah and 375 trumps a 9.3. My Dad can beat up your Dad.

I went with the 338-06 because on paper it has a slight ballistic advantage over the Whelen.
Field experience has reinforced my choice.

I am shooting 210gr NP's @ 2750fps & 210gr TSX's @ approx 2800fps for elk. Flat enough to easily make 300 yards shots. I have only recovered one bullet, and that was a NP that penetrated the chest cavity and lodged in the offside lower leg bone.

The 180/200gr bullets do a great job on deer without undue meat loss.

If you want to get real serious, Swift makes a 275gr A-Frame. Not needed for elk/moose IMO, but if you ever decide to go bigger it's available.

My two cents and that is what it is.

I went with a 338/06 'cos I felt like it. End result is a lovely rifle. I'm sure it would have been just as nice if I'd gone for the Whelan.

I don't think there's anything in it.

As I said somewhere:

338-06, 35 Whelen, & 9.3 arguments are like bald men fighting over a comb.

Rejoice in what you select - you are a small buch anyway - and quit wasting electrons running down the other guy's choice.

Barstooler

If you can only have one, then the .35 is it, with all the bullets available the .35 has to be the right choice. You are a reloader right? If not then any will do. Bill439

Come-on bill, tell them the truth. It has to be the 338-06.

Hey now, they are all great rounds.

I was in the same boat 338-06 or 35-W. Back in forth, so I fliped a coin, it came up 338-06. I have been very happy with it. Shoots great.

Since the Whelen has been loaded to lower preassures, balliastical datas are wrong and not interesting. A sertain weight bullet will go faster at same preassure in the Whelen than in the .338-08, and even faster in the 9,3x62 and faster still in the .375 Hawk.

.338-06 250 grs = 2450 f/s
.35 Whelen 250 grs = 2550 f/s
9,3x62 250 grs = 2600 f/s
.375 Hawk 250 grs = 2650 f/s

What should decide your choise is your favoured bullet tweight and their SD.
180-225 makes most sence in a .338-06.
225-275 makes most sence in a .35 whelen.
275-300 makes most sence in a 9,3x62 and .375 Hawk.

quote:

Originally posted by SDhunter:
My two cents and that is what it is.

no comment. hehehe........

Ok, Hammerdown, here is the truth- for every .338 bullet available there are 10 for the .35, and the 9.3 will only have half as many as the .338. So just from bullet selection the .35 is a 20-1 on the 9.3 and 10-1 on the .338. Bullet mold selection has to be the same odds. So if you are a reloader, that's what we are, aren't we? then you will have a much better chance to find a bullet load combo to do what you want with the .35. and think of all the fun you'll have loading, from 88gr. to over 300grs. after saying all this what am I doing with a .338-06 and a 9.3x62? how about drawing straws, you can't go wrong with any of these calibers. Bill439

I have a 338-06imp and a 35 Brown/whelen (similar to the Hawk)

There are oodles of 338 cal "real" hunting bullets available out there, and maybe half as many 358, and if you look really hard you can probalby find 10-12 9.3 bullets to chose from. I suppose you could put the 358 pistol bullets and cast bullets into the mix the 35 cal wins, but I'm not going hunting with them and have yet to waste my time playing with them so they're out. Most bullet manufacturers make 2-4 358 bullets if that. With the 338 you will have at least 4 or more weight choices as well as diffrent types produced by pretty much every bullet manufactuer. If I had to take an educated guess, I'd say that the 338cal bullets were about #4 as far as selection goes. (behind 22ca, .284, and .308) If bullet choice is what you're worried about get the 338, if not... flip a coin.

I think I'll be building a 9.3 or 375Hawk in the near future.

quote:

Originally posted by LA7mm:
Gentlemen... look for opinions on these two cartridges. Am in the early phases of putting together a semi-custom rig on a M77 MkII action. Already have a 25.06 and 7mm Rem and looking for elk/moose medicine.

Your thoughts please on accuracy, bullet selection, etc... Thank You,

Accuracy depends on the precision with which a rifle is built, and the quality of the bullets used, not on the cartridge case per se, particularly if the cases are the same except for the neck diameter.

I personally consider the .338/'06 superior to the .35 Whelen, because it will fire bullets of similar or like weight at about the same MV as the Whelen, but the ballistic properties of the .338" size are superior. But now that heavy premium bullets are available in .358" there's very little difference between the two sizes.

I have a question concerning the 338-06 vs 35 Whelen argument. Why is the SD advantage held by the 338 bore always used to its favor in these comparisons yet the advantage of a larger bore which the 358 has is never used.
When I consider these two cartridges,their effective range limits, and the most common game they would be used for, bore diameter seems equally important if not more important than SD.

My whelen is one of my favorites. But I would be real happy to get a nice .338,06 too.
I like the whelen. For the game you mention I think its the one to take. If you wanted to use this rifle for deer to, I might go with the .338.
I say whelen. And FYI, my whelen puts 250 grain bullets out at 2600 with a publised load...tj3006

I shoot a 35 Whelen AI- I have shot bullets from 158grs to 250. So far I have not been lucky enough to hunt anything that the 250(2700fps) would not handle. I use either a 200(2900fps) or a 225(2850fps) for deer and have found that the cartridge is very effective and seems to defy the predicted drop figures.

I have a 35 Whelen and I love it. Their is hardly any recoil with it either which also makes it a sweet shooter.

I have 9.3, 358, and 338 rifles and what did I use for white tail this year? To carry in rough Ozark hills? An original 86 Winchester in 33 WCF. Isn't that a .338? It carried fairly well except for the tang sight in the way and that is off now. Waiting for a receiver sight to install. I say use what you wish. I'm going to use the 9.3X57 and the 9.3X74 double next year for my hunting. A few days with each, maybe a DRSS meeting, piggies, ... Packy

quote:

I personally consider the .338/'06 superior to the .35 Whelen, because it will fire bullets of similar or like weight at about the same MV as the Whelen, but the ballistic properties of the .338" size are superior. But now that heavy premium bullets are available in .358" there's very little difference between the two sizes.

I chose the .338-06 after testing them both on big game and it's worked perfectly for me, but that was long ago before there were "good" 35 cal. bullets available... For today, the above poster has said it all...

My custom .338-06 is in the pict..

DM

I have used a 30-06 for Elk(5 or 6) and it has not let me down yet. I load a 165 Rem Corelokt at 2730 fps. Only one needed a second shot. I think the moderate velocities help to keep the bullets intact. So like was mentioned before, you could use regular 338 bullets and get premium performance.
I'd say get the 338-06 this year and a 35 Whelen next year. Regular priced loading dies are available for the 338-06 so there is no real cost saveings going either way.
I really like the looks of the 375 Hawk, but reloading dies will be much more.

lar45...dont you have a 7mag you could sell

how about doing a 375 whelen a.i....they are not expensive

Nope, no 7mags for me. I had one once and gave it away.

375 Whelen AI, not expensive. Pretty much a barrel price will be about the same as long as you're not doing something way out there. So for reloading, where do you get dies that aren't expensive? I looked at Midway and they have RCBS listed around $130, checked Z-hat.com and they want around $180. I bought a set of dies for my 470NE from CH-4d and they buggered up my cast bullets while trying to seat and crimp(I emailed them about the problem and got no responce, twice) So until I get setup to make custom loading and form dies, I don't see an affordable alternative. Am I not checking the right places?

quote:

Nope, no 7mags for me. I had one once and gave it away.

wow! someone took it

hmmmm...post in the classifides thread...you might get lucky with the law of degrees of separation

When I had a surplus of 30/06s in my possession, I had intentions of rebarreling one to 338/06, and another to 35 Whelan, so that I had one of each....

Well I did a 338/06... and after using that one... the other got rebarreled to a 6mm Rem instead...

using H 380 powder, I get 2650 fps with a 250 grain bullet from a 24 inch barrel... 2750 with a 225 grain bullet and 2900 with a 200 grain bullet...

Been building rifles many yrs & my favorite (my vote) for elk, bear, moose rifle goes to the 338/06 with 210 nosler partitions. The whelen is good too, but either way, stick with the std case & not the so called "improved" versions. They feed better, IME.

quote:

Originally posted by brayhaven:
The whelen is good too, but either way, stick with the std case & not the so called "improved" versions. They feed better, IME.

After shooting my Whelen for some time, I had Z-Hat rebarrel it to the 375 Hawk based on the 9.3x62 case and have had no feeding problems shooting 250 gr bullets @ 2,700 fps. The 9.3 case is an improved case.

No regrets and would do it again. The .375 dia bullet makes an impression on game. Brass is easy to make from Whelen brass. I'm using Dave Scovill's load of 59 gr of H4895 w/250 gr bullet. SD = 8. A very accurate, consistant load.

OK, I did miss my Whelen and picked up another Whelen for the safe.

338/06, 35 Whelen, 9.3X62. Flip a coin! You will be happy with the result no matter which wins.

465H&H

465,

you can't flip a coin, you have to play "scissors, paper, rock" on a three way deal!


Rich
DRSS

PS: aren't you about ready to head back to your spring home in Zimbabwe ?

I haven't seen the 375 Hawk, Snapper, but based on the parent case, I imagine it doesn't have a lot of shoulder to rattle around the feed ramp ). Some actions have less feeding hassles than others with the sharp shoulders.

quote:

Originally posted by Snapper:

quote:

Originally posted by brayhaven:
The whelen is good too, but either way, stick with the std case & not the so called "improved" versions. They feed better, IME.

After shooting my Whelen for some time, I had Z-Hat rebarrel it to the 375 Hawk based on the 9.3x62 case and have had no feeding problems shooting 250 gr bullets @ 2,700 fps. The 9.3 case is an improved case.

No regrets and would do it again. The .375 dia bullet makes an impression on game. Brass is easy to make from Whelen brass. I'm using Dave Scovill's load of 59 gr of H4895 w/250 gr bullet. SD = 8. A very accurate, consistant load.

OK, I did miss my Whelen and picked up another Whelen for the safe.

It's a tough choice. They're both excellent calibers. If push came to shove, I guess I would choose the .35 Whelen.

You really can't go wrong with either: out to 300 yards you can take anything in North America.