Two commercial Mausers on hand. Poll question below.

Question:
A pair of rifles to be built up over time

Choices:
7x57 & 9.3x62
7x57 & 404 Jeffery
9.3x62 & 404 Jeffery
30 06 & 375 H&H
300 H&H & 375 H&H

 

For what purpose(s) ?



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just to hunt with. nothing specific other than to one day own a classic pair in blued steel and walnut.

I vote 7x57 and the 404 Jeffery. 7x57 can kill anything in NA and the 404 can handle anything larger than that.

Voted for the first choice. I also like the H&H combo, but not in standard length Mausers.

30-06 as it gives, good enough that won't you are shooting at won't know the difference, same performance as the other two medium bore calibres 7mm and 300 H & H but ONE EXTRA ROUND in the magazine.

And the large calibre option? .375 H & H as it is truly an all around calibre that has also long range performance (think two hundred yards) ability.

.300 H&H and .375 H&H in one rifle with interchangeable barrels.

I voted for the H&H combo among the choices we were given, with some trepidation. I too am not overly fond of opening standard actions to accept full-length magnum cartridges...based solely on "theory.

I chose the .300/.375 combo though for a couple of reasons.

1. I've owned London best guns which WERE chambered for the H&H cartridges on standard length Mauser actions (and still have a .375 H&H), and I never had a lick of trouble of any kind with them. So, for hunting, which means that at most the rifles will see maybe 5,000 rounds max during their lives, I think I'd just set theory aside.

2. If annoying ever turns into real crunch in our stupid anti-firearms/components laws, one can always make brass for the .300 H&H from the .375 H&H, and vice-versa.

Personally I'd probably choose something like a .280 Remington/9.3x62 combo though.

I would go for a 7x57 and call it a 275 Rigby. Will deal with just anything that walks save for big game and do it nice and efficiently. And pair it with the 375 h&h - flat enough shooting to take big deer / antelope out to 250 yds, but also has the punch for the big stuff. 404 poss not so good at reaching out as the 375.

I have all the combos you list; can't beat the 7mm (275) and the 375, BUT, lately, I have been shooting the 9.3 a lot more; it kicks far less than the 375 and has plenty of power unless you going for the big 5. Otherwise, go for the 7 and the 9.3 together.

interesting, I just got a beautiful barrel in 9.3 from a guy in these parts...

in fact, a companion barrel in 7 mm might just seal the deal.

7X57 and 404. The first will need little, if any, work on the action. The 404 is a true classic and seems like the Mauser and the 404 were made for each other. Two classic rounds that will take anything that walks on this planet.