Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Helping Solve The Medium Bore Conundrum

See how that 1917 handles 200gr NPT's or 220 gr RN's from Sierra, Hornady or Rem if available. It will give you the experimenting and bench time before you may screw up a good thing as is. I have a 35 Whelen, 338-06, 338 Win Mag and a 375 H& H so I base this from some actual shooting time with all. MB

I think I would go old school and do a .318 WR, or a 333 Jeffrey but with .338 bore or a 350 Nitro Express. Brass is available though expensive but it is a one time expense.
Anything from 8mm to .40 on the 06 case would be a good one. Probably go AI on the 400 Whelen just to get more shoulder. But I think the 9.3 or 35 Whelen would be the most practical. I would also go British express rifle for the stock like a Gibbs, H&H or Jeffrey with short stalking rifle fore end and Whelen or pancake cheek piece and then I would agonize on whether to Schnabel or not to Schnabel the fore end. The .375 Whelen is also a versatile choice.

I will probably do this before totally committing to the redo project.

I owned a 338-06. It's about the simplest round to form brass for out there. Sexy round, and one that works great with a 22" bbl.

I've had a few medium bores, 338-06, 338 WM, 35 Rem, 358 Win, 350 RM, and 375 H&H.

Though some will disagree, I just don't think most of the lesser mediums do that much more (or as much) as a 30-06 loaded "right."

But "want" is not the same as "need," and the real-world has little to do with want.

Were I considering a medium anymore I'd go right back to the 375 H&H, or perhaps the 9.3x62. To me those offering something real over the 30-06, unless you get into the 338 WBY, RUM, Lapua, and other high capacity, high velocity magnums (no thanks).

I've spent quality time with two 338-06's, two 35 Whelens, one 9.3x62, one 338 WM, one 375 H&H, and more 308's and 30-06's than I can count. Some of them hit harder (whatever that means) than others, but I think that if I need more than a 30-06, then I need a LOT more. That starts with the 375 and might actually be a 416. Frankly, I'm less concerned with terminal ballistics than I am with finding ammo if an airline loses mine for some reason. So If I were hunting North America, then I'd go 30-06, 338 WM, and 375 H&H in that order. If I were headed to Africa, then I'd still make sure that I had a good 30-06, then I'd get a Model 70 or CZ 550 in 375 H&H because they're cheaper than properly converting an 1917 Enfield.


Okie John

I agree on the big magnums like the RUM and Lapua. They are just too much of a good thing. But, I do have a soft spot for the .340 Wby.

WHAT??? That sounds way to practical.... Since your last visit I have gotten some trees down to open up a 400 Yard shooting lane. Stop by if you like, I'm sure both Jayne AND Max would love to see you....

Based on the size of that action, I would look at the 350 G&H. 375H&H necked to 35cal with no other changes. Easy as pie.

It will give you a 35cal, some extra FPS over the Whelen, be more suited to that action and offer a bit of cool to boot.

Max needs some Shake N Bake.

There is a very easy answer to this question. First, skip the .35 Whelen. I have never understood that one when you could have a .338 or 9.3 with a better selection of bullets. Secondly, turn your Enfield into a .338-06 because it is a great cartridge. Third, start searching for a 9.3x62 because everyone that has one will tell you how good it is and how you should have made your Enfield into a 9.3. Fourth, find a .375 because like a .30-06, every serious student of hunting rifles should always have one.

Alternatively, you could just turn your Enfield into a 9.3 or .375 and be done with it.

If anyone has a problem finding bullets for a 35cal, in any chamber, they have problems. The old bullet selection argument is a bit thin these days.

I've had all three, still have one 338-06 and one 9.3x62.

Since I settle on one bullet/one load for each rifle, having a wide variety of different bullet makes, styles, and weights isn't important to me as long as the specific bullet make, style, and weight that I want to shoot is available. I shoot the 210 grain Partitions in the 338-06 and the 286 grain Partitions in the 9.3x62. If I had to choose between the two, I'd probably go with the 338-06 if I was planning to shoot deer. If not, I'd pick the 9.3x62.

I would argue that the .35 has a better selection of bullets. If you are looking for premium hunting bullets, they are available in either caliber but you can buy heavier bullets for the .35. The .35 cal also gives you the ability to load down with softer 150 and 200 gr bullets designed for the .35 rem and to load even softer rounds with .357 pistol bullets for plinking or taking small game.

Most .338 bullets are designed to work at .338 win mag velocities. There are .35 cal bullets designed to work at a broad range of velocities.

.338/06 , 35 whelen or 9.3x62 would be a simple re-bore by Jess. .375 H&H or other belted magnum would require the bolt face to be opened and probably some work on the rails to get it to feed smoothly.

Maybe I should rephrase: .35s have generally been saddled with slower twists, which thereby limit bullet selection because of length. Though, you may be right, it seems Northfork or Swift or somebody is making some heavier weights.

There are plenty of .338 bullets that are designed for expansion at relatively lower speeds, such as the ones used with the .338 Sabi in Africa. For example, a regular NOS Partition (not the Gold), Woodleigh, Hornady, and Speer, all the way to 300 grains. One old have to choose the right bullet for the slower .33's, of course.

For example:
http://www.sabirifles.co.za/338sabi.htm

That is true about the slow twist .35's, but with a Jess rebore you can have him it twist it the way you want.

I've even got some .35 cal plastic shot cups (for 38 spec snake shot) that can be loaded in a .35 cal. for a make shift rat shot / snake shot / garden gun.

I just checked Midway and in .35 they have 36 bullet choices, but only two are above 250 grains (.279 sec density)-- a 280 grain Swift and a 300ish grain solid round nose from Woodleigh. Both are over .300 sec density. Alternatively, Midway has 86 .338 bullets with many 250 and heavier(greater than .300 Sectional Density) and 9.3 has 29 with a good many around 285 grains (.305 sectional density) and a much larger selection of premium makers in the heavier range.

For me a medium should use tough, heavy bullets. Otherwise, why not use a .300 Mag or .30-06? Tough, heavy bullets continues to be an area that seems limited for .35 caliber rifles.

The problem remains limited bullet selection for your fast twist because most bullets are made for traditional twists.