Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Help me chamber 2 rifles

Building a personal rifle is an emotional decision! I can't imagine building a rifle on anyone else's emotions... only my own.

A lot of folks talk about going to Africa... But few actually go...

If I were serious, I'd go with the 7x57 for the lighter of the two, and the 9.3x62 for the heavier... But that's just me...

You really only have to please yourself...

GH

You had it at the outset

.25-06 and 8mm Mauser. got 75 grains to 230 grains covered.

Few things mooter than "grains"...............

So true.

The mythical rifle for "everything up to grizzly bears and Africa", for guys that will never get farther than Kansas for whitetails....

I'm about to send off the deposit for my second trip, so I took the OP at his word. I will tromp around here with my 280 AI, but it is not coming across the pond.

Besides, since the OP has the money for a matched pair of Gene's guns, he has the scratch for Africa.

That would be a pretty good clue wouldn't it?

Thank you all for your recommendations.

I never thought about a 9.3x62 but since so many of you suggest it I am going to discuss that caliber with Gene. The 9.3x62 and a 270 may be the calibers of choice.

I have never used Gene before and never built off a pre-64, but have handled his rifles and felt they were extraordinary.

What are your opinions on Gene and/or opinions on the model 70 pre-64 action.

Thank you for your comments.

I think they will be magnificent rifles. The only downside to using a pre-64 is that parts availability for repair is at some point going to become a hassle/expense. But they are the gold standard for fine sporting rifles, with a fine M98 as their only credible peer.

Will these be wood or fiberglass stocked?

It wasn't directed at the OP, or anybody in particular, just a general observation.

Coming in late in the day with my response but I'll throw it in anyway. 25-06 and 35 Whelen.

Gene is a great guy and a very talented rifle builder.I enjoyed working with him on the 7Mashburn Super he built for me last year,which turned out great,and exactly what I wanted.This of course is a wildcat so maybe a bit trickier.I wanted the whole rifle built by one person in charge.

In explaining what I was looking for, he was way ahead of me; he "got it",understood what I wanted and "why".

Delivery time was spot on.If I were building another custom, Gene is the first person I'd call.

I'd have no problem building on a pre 64 myself,but no longer will tear up the great old rifles just for an action....in many cases,you aren't really improving much on a pre 64 anyway just by sticking a new barrel on it.

Seeing the job Gene did on a M70 Classic for me (a lot different when he gets done),if I had him build another rifle,I'd use the Classic action myself.All the booboo's are gone when you get it back

If I were you I'd ask Gene about doing a 270 Win paired with the wonderful 9.3x64 Brenneke- it's even better than the 9.3x62.

Rifles will be fiberglass. I hate to baby a rifle more than I love the looks and feel of a fine wood stock. This statement is not yet confirmed in my mind.

I don't understand all the love for the 9.3 caliber??? Am I missing something? 2200-2400 fps with a 250 grain bullet - what's so special about that? Much lower BC than a .338 caliber in the same weight, but at those speeds it's going to drop off the face of the planet a few hundred yards from the muzzle anyway. Sounds kinda like a souped up .30-30...

Back to the original question - If I was limiting myself to 2, and both were long actions with standard bolt faces, I don't think there is anything wrong with .270 and .30-06. Since the .270 can do almost anything the .30-06 can do, I'd give the .338-06 some thought depending on what type of hunting I was planning.

I've never been to Africa but I've heard (may be rumor only) the 9.3X62 is the minimum caliber for dangerous game in some areas, and it fits well in standard length actions.

For the U.S. 25.06, 338-06 or 270, 35Whelan make nice pairs so I have them all.
For Africa, .270,9.3X62 sound Perfect to me.

Thanks - that makes some sense now.

I like all the posts that mention availability of ammo. That's one of those things that I've always laughed at. I've never known anyone who went hunting and either forgot or lost their bullets and had to go buy replacements in some small town. It's amusing that so many people think it will happen to them that they actually take it into consideration when choosing a caliber. If you forsee yourself forgetting your bullets on a long planned hunting trip, then maybe guns just aren't for you...grin...

Laugh at ME then.

A few years back, I moved to a new home four states away, shortly before a planned out of state hunt.

In the inevitable confusion associated with moving, I couldn't locate my 7mm-08 handloads when I looked for them to check the zero on my rifle shortly before leaving on the hunt. No-go. Even less chance of getting all of my reloading stuff unpacked, organized, and running, to load more.

Off to the local gun shop in a one light town to grab something from the shelf. On their recommendation, I bought some Federal Fusions, checked my zero (and again after arriving at the hunting location), then proceeded to drive one through a nice mule deer.

Equal to being in Africa minus ammo? No. But I was sure glad to get my hands on some good ammo and have a successful hunt.

Do I choose my rifles based on that? Not really, or I'd probably have nothing but a 30-06 to be safe. But it can be a factor for some guys, running some obscure chambering.

Proper Prior Planning and Preparation Prevents Pizz Poor Performance.

8 P's

7x57 (Lilja Octagon 25") and 338-06 (23" #4)

120 TSXs from the 7 and 210 TTSXs from the 338. You can kill most anything that breathes....anywhere.

Bruz