Thanks to all who replied.
All of your posts were great, and gave me exactly what I was looking for.
As I suspected, the margin is small, but real.
Since I already have a 35 Whelen, I guess it only makes sense to build a 9.3x62 on the M70 action I just bought.
Unlike some guys who can't see the need for anything but a 30-06, I think it's great to have options.
Of course the best choice is to own BOTH a .35 Whelen AND a 9.3x62!!! Who cares if the two cartridges are similar... More toys to play with!!
I just thought I'd mention an idea... Since I own both, and they are so close in power ballisticaly, I decided to set them up to be a little different from each other in regard to their respective loads and uses.
Since my Rem 700 CDL in .35 Whelen has a 1-16" twist, I decided to use 225 gr bullets in it. As my CZ 550 in 9.3x62 has a 1-14" twist, I decided to make the 286 gr bullet its standard load.
.35 Whelen -- 225 gr bullet at 2600-2650 fps
9.3x62 -- 286 gr bullet at 2400 fps
The .35 Whelen 225 gr load duplicates the original ballistics of the .350 Rigby Magnum. (See the table I posted earlier in the thread.) A 225 gr Nosler Partition or Accubond should be perfect. It should make a fine load for deer and feral hogs here in Texas. And 2600-2650 fps is fairly flat shooting; that's approximately the same velocity that a .308 Win shoots a 180 gr bullet.
The 9.3x62 with the 286 gr bullet is the heavy bullet at moderate velocity load for larger game (though it certainly works on smaller game too). A 286 gr Nosler Partition or 286 gr Woodleigh should do the trick. (The 286 gr Woodleigh worked great me for on 2 Kudu, a Gemsbok and a few Impala and Warthogs.)
So, I've got one rifle with a lighter bullet at a little higher velocity for deer and hogs and the other with a heavier bullet for larger game. Both rifles stay sighted in for their respective loads. Works for me....
Just my two cents....
-Bob F.