Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Help me decide - 35 Whelen, 9.3x62 or350 Rem Mag??

I've decided I need a new medium bore rifle, primarily for elk, but I'll use it for black bear, hogs and who-knows-what-else. I have a 338wm in a stainless Ruger 77 with laminated stock but I'd prefer something with a little more 'cool factor' and I rarely shoot anything over 250 yds. ( I once shot a bull elk with the 338 at 328 yds but I was sitting with a bipod and had plenty of time to wait for the perfect shot- like shooting from a bench).

I tend to lean towards unusual stuff so I was considering the 9.3x62 but it looks like there are more loads available for the Whelen. I've always wanted a 350 too for some reason.

I know there's not too much difference between any of these, so I thought someone might be able to help out with some insight and real-world experience. Thanks!

As an aside, I do have a 375 H&H so the heavier bullets in the 9.3 aren't really a deciding factor. 250 gr. is probably the heaviest I'd be using.

Since I'm sitting here, recovering from a hip replacement, I'll give my .02. I have owned all 3 calibers. I started in '95 with a Mod 700 Classic in 35 Whelen, had it rechambered to the 35 Whelan Ackley Improved. I fireformed my Ackley brass with a warm load in 35W new brass and the Speer 220fn jammed into the rifling. Made perfect brass. I loaded the 250X and went to South Africa. I was running it close to 2600fps ( 9.3x62 territory) and killed zebra, red hartebeest, kudu, gemsbuck and blue wildebeest with it. Perfection. I cam home, thinking I was going to go back for a cull cape buffalo hunt, so I had that rfile rebarreled/converted to 416 Taylor. Bad choice, rifle too light/brake too loud, off it went. I then had a Mod 70 FWT rebarreld to 9.3x62. Components were hard to find then ('97) but I played with the 286 Nosler. Gave the rifle to a young family man who killed elk with it. I went through a .375 H&H & 375W,340W, 300WM (South Africa/Namibia), then a 338WM, then another copy of my first Mod 700 Classic. I took it to South Africa in 2002 but with the 200X ( it was going 2970fps from the 35 Whelen Ackley Improved) I killed a Black wildebeest at 347yds and another zebra at 250yds, perfection. I played with a Mod 750 in standard 35 Whelen, an excellent shooter and 100% reliable. A like new Browning BLR 358W shot well with 200X, both too pretty to hunt with and the 35 WAI Mod 700 was too jealous to stay at home on hunts. Off they went. I bought my SIL a CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62 as a welcome home from Iraq present. its a good shooter. I tried a Mod 77 African 9.3x62, but it had headspace issues and I was pressed for time/money, so sold it. Took the 35WAI that Fall too. I tried a Mod 700 Classic in 350RM. To "me" it was just a 35 Whelen that kicked hard, about as much as the 35 WAI. I was also limited to the short action. Off it went.

I then had that wonderful Model 700 classic rebarreled/converted to the 358 Norma Magnum. I would have loved using that rifle, but Obammacare taxed Ministers on their benefits and by the time that all got sorted out, with penalities, etc, I had to sell off everything, everything, to pay my ransom!
So...while I have gained a few rifle back, none are in 35 nor 9.3 caliber. My hunts are fewer apart and no more Africa for me.

I would suggest two options (neither include the 350RM) (a) The Nostalgic Route = A 9.3x62 in a CZ 550 FS, or a Mod 77 African. More American fix up an old 1903A3 in a standard 35 Whelen. Go with a 14 inch twist. 1x5 scope (Option 2) Set up a good action of your choice ina synthetic stock with a stainless ( maybe add cerakoting) 24 inch in 35 Whelen standard ( with the newer powders we have no need for the Ackley version) or 9.3x62. Put no more than a 2.5x8 or 3x9. With a 200 TTSX in the Whelen you cover the same ground as a 300WM and with a 250 in either 35W or 9.3 you cover the 338WM and the 375. Your choice. figure out how you want to hunt, and where and match the rifle/bullet to that. Excellent rounds, no matter what you choose. (psst, I would still do a 35 Ackley just to be different! ha) Have a ball pard.

Welcome fellow AZ member! I would stay away from the 350 mag, no ammo or brass available. The 9.3x62 has the best quality brass availability and should be devastating. I used to shoot elk with a Whelen, 338-06, 338 Fed, 338 RUM, 7 STW, and 300 mag. After downing a fat cow last fall with a 155 gr Scenar with excellent results, I'll be shooting elk 500 yards and under with a 308 Win. Going to try the 200 gr ELD-X at 2550 fps this year. That bullet was a hammer out of the 300 win mag at 2950 fps.

Thanks for that Jim! Exactly the info I was looking for. And probably will be my approach too! Try’em all and let them sort themselves out- haha. I was hoping for some help to start out though and you sure gave a lot to think about. Same goes for Peeshooter, thanks.

I’ve shot elk with 300 H&H, .338, 30-06, 45-70, and the last one with a 7-08 (don’t think I’ll do that again..no problem but just didn’t feel right). I do want to use the 375 at some point and, of course, the new one.

I’ll probably rule out the 350 and may have to get a Whelen and a 9.3 just because.

No bad choices there, all impressively effective on game. In the event you want to complicate things even further, consider a 358. Seems that many tend to way underestimate just how effective the 358 can be, and it is a little easier on your shoulder. Within typical ranges, you give up nothing.
In recent years, I have begun to appreciate many "under estimated" calibers such as the 7x57, 6.5x55, and 300 Savage. It has occurred to me that much of the newer stuff, often created for AR's and marketing foo-foo, do nothing but offer ballistics similar to some of the old dogs. It is difficult to find someone who has actually used any of these, or a 358, who was disappointed in the results.

I've always thought a .35 Whelen is a most excellent round but, I've never owned one. Why? Because I started down the .35 road with a .358 Winchester and it has never failed me. Have owned Savage 99, BLR, and now a rebarreled M.70 and have taken deer through elk with my M.70 with just a single shot for each. Now I have this old 1903 sporter that is just begging to become a .35 Whelen but, I have a .358 already....it really has saved me a lot of money.

I did the 358 win path, and then moved up to the 9.3x62, both did well.

In fact I have a Sako 85 9.3x62 take off barrel I would part with ... that is if anyone has a Sako and wants to try the 9.3

Yeah, I’ve considered other 358’s also. (356 and 348, et al) I do like the 358 win a lot too. I’m just over the whole Magnum thing. Not necessary for the way I do things any more. I’ll probably get whatever presents itself first and end up with a few more interesting rifles!

And, yes, a buddy and I were just having the conversation the other day about how there really are no new cartridges - everything has been done before in some way under several different names. It’s all marketing.

I'm a Whelen fan.

9.3x62

1:12" twist Whelen gets the nod from me. On a Win M70 Classic or Ruger 77 MkII action.

i got a couple of BLR`s that are to pretty to use too , i kinda wish Browning made a dull finished ugly stock rifle in a BLR SS too ? my choice on those 3 cartridges would be a 35 Whelen just because its a neat name . good luck,Pete53

I can't say I didn't regret selling the BLR 358W, because I did. I had sold it to Cabela's as I was in a hurry to leave for the UP for one of those Eurasian hogs. I took the 35WAI/Woodleigh 310sn which worked great, ha. When I got back I went to buy the BLR back and it was already sold, . I really have no use for one anymore as I just use what I have in my hands, which will be a CA Mesa 300WM this year! Yep, goning to use the barnes 150TTSX on cow elk. Nice/trim/lw yet handy weatherproof rifle.

Hi AZtwins. greetings from Tucson. That's sure a fine ram in your avatar.
Are you looking to buy a factory rifle or are you going to build it? Mine is a 35 Whelen AI on a commercial LR 98 Husqvarna action, 23" barrel, old McMillan fiberglass stock, and a 1.5x5 Vari-X III. I wouldn't change a thing. (except I am going to give it an English walnut stock after this hunting season is over that will add a pound to the weight - at 7.6 pounds full up now, it really gives a beating off the bench).
I have been doing some work with Power Pro 2000-MR powder lately and it really takes the Whelen up a notch in performance (not that it needs it!) I am kind of blogging the weekly range results in another thread here and on the Shooter's Forum.
If you are not planning to shoot >250 grains I'd sure go with the Whelen - regular or AI, as you like. Here are a couple of the 2000-MR loads and results.
Best of luck!
Rex

That's how my old 35 WAI shot too, with everything. I'm sure a lot of my Ackley loads were way up there in pressure, but I always used new fireformed brass. Never shot a case more than a few times. The newer powders sure are sweet!

Jim, I agree, and I was the same as you when I was first loading for my Whelen AI back when the rifle was new in the early 90's. I mostly used AA2520 and got poor case life, just treading on the edge (or beyond?) of too much. BUT, I am taking very careful case head expansion measurements and carefully tracking the results of this PP 2000-MR work up and I can tell you the two loads above are actually quite mild even though they match or exceed the results I used to get with AA2520 - it's kind of hard to believe. The 225 NAB at 2800+ FPS gave an initial CHE of .0004" in a new case, and then no additional CHE after 4 more firings of the same cases; the primer pockets are still as tight as new. The 250 Partition at 2650 FPS gave a CHE of only .0002" - barely even measurable. (most proponents of this method figure .0005 to .0006 initial CHE is approaching a max load)
For any reading this, again note my rifle is a 35 Whelen Ackley Improved, not the standard. But that said, the actual published 2000-MR maximums (by Speer and Sierra) for their 250 and 225 respectively in the STANDARD .35 Whelen are 66.2 (I'm using 65) for the 250 Speer at 2709 FPS and 71.6 (I'm using 69) for the 225 SGK at 2900 FPS. So the loads I showed above are not even at max for the standard Whelen. I do note the 225 NAB is getting more pressure out of a given load than indicated for the 225 SGK (it also generated more pressure than the 225 TSX, with the same charge - so be aware of this). I have found at least in my rifle that the 250 Speer HotCor and the 250 Partition behave almost identically pressure and velocity-wise, so I use the 250 Speer for basic work-up and then switch to the much more expensive 250 partition to fine tune.

Soooo, back to the OP - AZtwins, now that I have invested so much typing in this you have to get a 35 Whelen!
P.S. I drew the "Early-Any" rifle elk tag this year in AZ after 8 bonus points. I'll be using this rifle during the rut!

Cheers,
Rex

I'm jealous Rex, I get a cow elk tag about every 4 or 5 years it seems.🙄 I've about given up on bull tags. I'll probably start applying for bulls again when my sons start elk hunting - they just turned 11 so it won't be long before they can fill the freezer!

I shot that sheep SE of Alpine a few years back. I must have used up all of my luck in the drawing with that tag, I can't hardly get a deer tag these days!

I have wanted a 35 Whelen for a lot of years so that's probably my first choice. I'm sure they'll all get the job done. I used to reload but just haven't had the time for the last few years, so I end up buying factory ammo. Luckily there are a lot of good choices these days, including heavy loads from Buffalo Bore if I feel the need (not likely). I love big bores and am also keeping an eye out for a 405 Win or even a 450/400 #1 if I run across something reasonable. I have a particular spot that I'm waiting to get an elk tag for where I plan to use a 460 S&W X-frame...every time I've been there I have had multiple elk at less than 50 yards. I have pics of cows within 20 feet! No doubt it will be an entirely different story if I actually have a tag in my pocket...haha.

Thanks for all of your help guys!

.35 Whelen

.35 Whelen since 1989.

I'd likely go with the Whelen in this case but you've only got to please you.
I'm partial to the 225 TTSX in mine.

If you insist on Lapua brass, then your choice gets a whole lot easier.

As never having owned or shot any of the above mentioned cartridges, my uneducated “opinion” would be......35 Whelen! Just because! memtb

You nailed it, 35 Whelen. Lots of folks are into the 9.3 craze just so they can be "continental" but the Whelen just makes life simpler.

Dunno? But of those three cartridges, I’ve only taken an elk with the 9.3 x 62. With S&B factory ammo



(I’ve killed two other elk with another .35 calibre ctg. The .35 WCF).

Nice elk kaywoodie! And the 35 Winchester is a cool round.

Would also consider a trade/partial trade for another rifle in 35 Whelen, 358 Win, or a Marlin 336 in 35 Rem (for my son). I can add $ for the right one. I'm kinda into any big bores really - whatcha got??

I would refer you to a thread I started in June of '16:

.35 Whelen Rifle Question

There's a lot of good information on the Whelen in this thread.

- High_Noon

they are all basically the same....Just with a different headstamp. Either, Or, Don't matter.

Everything in that picture is beautiful and perfect! Looks like you have yourself and old Husvarna. Very nice. That's the same action that was the donner for my 35 WAI, but my Husky started out as a 30-06.

This is a great thread because there are no wrong answers. I still vote for the Whelen if 250 grain is the highest desired bullet weight, but by all means get your "Continental" on if you want one of those metric things...
I hear they can kill stuff too.

Thank you TRex. That was one of my most memorable hunts! 2010. Second rifle Colorado. Yes sir, old Husqvarna 146. Very nice bore. It started out as. 9.3 x 57. And one slow day at the shop a coworker and I took a brand new chamber reamer and in a couple of hours I had me a new 9.3x 62. I’ve taken elk, nilgai, deer, and hogs with it.

I enjoy hunting elk with a wide eclectic choice of firearms. Old son and I decided just yesterday that we are going to head up to the family ranch in Colorado for first rifle. This year I’ll probably take my other Husqvarna 146 still in 9.3 x 57 and my .62 custom flintlock Jäger rifle. We’ll see what happens!

Edit
I think old son is taking a BLR in .358 Win he picked up used this past summer. And maybe his Shiloh Sharps.

The ol’ .35 is a bit dated. But I do love my 1895’s. Old son worked up a really nice load using old Hornady 200 gn RN and IMR 4064. Very easy on my bad right shoulder. Was able to take a very nice cow with it last year, (trotting shot) at about 35-40 yards in the light timber.

Oops, wrong thread...🙄

I guess I’ll be the odd man out, and toss in my vote for the 350 Rem Mag. Someone has to defend its honor! I love mine, and brass and Ammo can be found if you’re patient. I’ve got a couple hundred rounds of Remington 200gr factory Ammo, and about 400pc of new RP brass. So I’m set for life. My rifle is a 700 classic that I bedded into a 1st gen 700 titanium stock. It’s got a shilen trigger, and wears a Kahles 1.5-6x42 scope. It’ll shoot 225gr partitions into 3/4 of an inch at 2675fps, Speer 220gr hotcores and 200gr ftx into under 3/4. And I’ve never run into anyone around here that has one, or even knows what it is. That’s the most appealing aspect of it to me, it’s not something everyone has, and it knocks the snot out of critters. Obviously it won’t do anything the other two won’t do just as well. But I think it has the edge in “cool factor”.

Borden811 et. al.
Though I have cast my vote for the Whelen in this fun discussion, like I said, there's really no wrong answer. So, in defense of the "hard to find brass" argument against the 350 RM, can't you just make brass out of any belted case, just by running it into the die and then cutting to length (maybe not necessarily in that order). I would think .338 WM would be good to start. I reckon you might have to turn the necks afterward if they got too thick, but otherwise I can't see why brass wouldn't be easy to make.

Cheers,
Rex

The 350M I had (also a Classic) shot very well with the 200-225 bullets that I played with. I can't say it wasn't a fine round, because it is. It took me awhile too to find brass, etc, but its out there. If one "likes" the idea/looks of it, it certainly is in the company of dragon slayers!

This is very true!!!

Me too!

I believe they have a die just for that purpose, and 7mm rem mag, 300 win, etc. will work. Not entirely sure, as I’ve never had a need to go that route, so never looked into it.

I had in itch for a thumper. went with 9.3 as I figured If I ever do a safari. It’s a proven killing machine and the lighter loads in the 9.3 Are the heavy loads for 35w.
Unfortunately I came to the conclusion that I’m a little recoil shy with the bigger bores.
So now I’m down sizing
For what it’s worth , I’m Selling my sauer 100 here on the fire

If I didn't have a 375 H&H I would be getting a 9.3x62, hands down. And if I could bring myself to get rid of my Whitworth I would probably ditch of it in favor of a 9.3.

I'm definitely leaning towards a 358 Win or a Whelen at this point. I don't doubt that I'll have them all at some point - I'm kinda weak like that...

My first elk was a scrub bull taken at 301 yards....(Leica measured).....All it took was one shot from my .35 Whelen and a 225 grain partition bullet. Since then I have killed elk with a .280 Remington, a .30-06, and a .300 H&H......all one shot kills.....all worked nicely.....all with premium bullets (accubond, partition, and TTSX)

To say one is better than another is pure poppycock.....having said that, if I was to own a single elk rifle it would be a .338-06 simply as a "middle of the road" gun.....and it does have some "cool" factor which is worth very little in actual practice.

I used that 35 Whelen AI for a tad over 20yrs. I had many adventures with it, successful ones too! Now I'm back full circle from 20 yrs ago....300 win mag, but will the Barnes 150TTSX. I used the older Barnes 180 XBT back then and myself and several friends used it to kill many head of Plains Game.

How about a 338-06 on a commercial FN m98 action and McMillan (?) Stock, Timney trigger.

Very high "cool factor."

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/14093369/1

Too Late...SOLD. Nice rifle too.

I’m very firmly entrenched in the 35 Whelen camp. Run 250 gr Partitions or my favorite the 275 Woodleigh RN. If you have a faster twist try the 310 Woodleighs.

That being said if I were to do it over...9.3x62.

Have fun and good luck! Tom

I went Whelen. I am seriously enamored by the 35 cals, for some reason. After working up many loads that would be quite effective for elk and bigger, using cast and jacketed bullets from 200 to 315 grains, I don't think there is even a hair's difference between a Whelen and its metric cousin. If I needed to own another 30+ cal, it would likely be a 45 cal something. I'm sure the Whelen would do anything I would need or want to do on any continent I found myself on (likely just North America, but a guy can dream). To outdo it in ability to kill really big things at hunting ranges, I suspect one would need to step up quite a ways in powder capacity and bore diameter.

It's a coin toss between the 35 Whelen and the 9.3X62 unless Africa or possible the killing of American Bison is on the agenda. The 9.3 has a better selection of really tough bullets available, but the 35 has a better selection of "less tough bullets" which makes expansion a bit easier on elk size game, or anything smaller.

Now to be honest, having one bullet that does it all is really all anyone needs and in the .358 diameter you have that with both the Accubonds and the Partition. In the .366" size you also have the Accubond and the partitions.

I have made a lot of 35 Whelens for many hunters over the last 40 years or so, and thus far I have never has anyone say anything bad about how they killed game. Lately the 9.3X62 has gained a LOT of traction in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, and the same thing is true, ---- no bad reports. Even the old 9.3X57 has gained a bit of a following around here, but that may be a local following. I have seen little written about that round from other places in the USA.

PPU makes correct head-stamped 9.3X62 brass and Graf and sons sells it. The price is about the same as 30-06.
For head stamped 36 Whelen, I believe all that is available is Remington, but I don't really think it's a problem to get nay. And you can neck up a standard 30-06 if you want to.

Now the 350 Rem mag is a cool little shell, but I think it's a cartridge looking for a market. It does nothing the 35 Whelen or the 9.3X62 won't do better. The "short action" argument is all hype in my opinion. I think it's is a concept "trying to justify itself" in most cases and in ALL cases with the 350 mag. Even if you could prove to me the short action was stiffer "and therefore more accurate", the small degree of improvement is only going to be seen with match bullets and high magnification scopes with fine cross hairs, none of which is done with a 350. And as a gunsmith with over 1/2 a century of experience behind me, I have yet to see any real evidence that a short action is "more accurate". Keep in mind that today long range shooting is the new fad, and all the new uber-super-duper high accuracy 1000+ yard guns use long or very long actions and are setting new records. However coming back to the point, the 350 is not a round you'd use for 700 to 1200 yard shooting anyway, so even if I were wrong about "accuracy" it would be 100% irrelevant.

The argument that the short action is "faster to work" seems logical, but a simple test with a 30-06 length action, a 375H&H length action and a 308 length action using a stop watch proves it's simply not true.

And getting 350 mag brass is a bit of a problem.

Of of the 3 you list, I would say to reject the 350, but you could probably flip a coin over the other two and be happy no matter how the coin fell.

.358 WSM for no earthly good reason other than it hadn't been mentioned in this thread yet.

No wrong answers. Find a rifle you like and have at it.

I owned a Rem 673 in 350RM, Rem 700 Classic in 35 Whelen, and a Model 70 in 9.3x62. Of the three, I really like the the way the 673 handled. The Whelen was brutal to shoot, and the Model 70 is getting turned into a suppressed 338-06.

They are all gone in favor of 338-06's and a 375 H&H.

THIS ^^^^^^^

Simply looking at the factory selection at Midway USA shows 10 each good load for the 35 Whelen and the 9.3x62, though I don't see the Barnes offerings in 9.3. When I had Redneck (here on the CF) build at 9.3x62 on a pre 64 M70 action, #3 Pacnor barrel all sitting in a D'Arcy Echols Legend stock, I was thinking Alaska. It's a tack driver, giving either one hole or near one hold groups with 250 Accubonds and TTSX along with 286 partitions. Since I reload, it was a simple choice since i'm a Lapua brass whore. The larger bore and larger case capacity push it past the 35 Whelen too.

Alan

I love my 350 Rem Mag. I wanted something nobody else had. The only other person I know that has one is my gun smith that built it for me. Mine shoots 200gr and 225gr barnes TSX in 1/2 inch groups. It will take care of anything on this continent. When he told me about the bull elk he shot I knew I had to have one. He said the first thing to hit the ground was the bull's face.

No question 9.3x62 is the way to go. I am a long time 35 fan and have been using the35 Whelen, 350 Rem Mag and a 358 Norma for many years. In equal barrel lengths the 350 Rem Mag will beat a 35 Whelen with light bullets and equal it with heavy. The 350 Rem Mag has a little more capacity than the Whelen though loaded in a short Remington action loses this edge with deep seating of heavy bullets. For whatever reason I have had superb accuracy out of every 350 Rem Mag I have ever owned. It has a similar expansion ratio to a .308 and really lays those Speer 250 grain bullets into the same hole with the right load.

The 9.3x62 due to a bit better expansion ratio will beat both. It is generally set up to handle heavy bullets well, and the extra bullet weight in standard bullets is very handy.

It's just a great, great world class round, though I love them all.

I have been shooting a 9.3 x 62 for several years. It has the cool factor if that is important to you. Easy to reload and it is a hammer on everything. I have shot hogs, deer, and elk with this caliber and Barnes bullets. I had 1 animal go 30 yards. All the rest dropped straight down. Accuracy is great and honestly the recoil is not bad. I have shot some calibers that got my attention and exceeded my pain threshold on the bench. I could shoot 20 rounds off the bench and still not be in flinch mode. The only thing I would say is this- use this or the other calibers to hunt. This is not one for ultra long range stuff. I have shot out to 300 yards and dropped elk. I wouldn't go much further than that and that is about my personal limit anyway.

I haven't read all comments so may have been mentioned- go for a 358 Norma. Cheers NC I am so need company>

Have you decided yet AZ? I saw a guy sell a 35 Whelen Mod 7600 pump to Sportsmanswarehouse the other day. He said it "kicked like ####". Especially with the 250gr factory loads ( which are really pretty pedestrian!) ha I hefted it...sure was light!

I carried a whelen all year and never got to kill an elk with it. 250 npt’s at 2500. The whitetail came off his feet though.
I am always encouraging people to get another rifle.
So, your 350 Rem Mag is definitely a cool idea. 225 NPT’s or 200gr AB’s would be cool (i am not into barnes and be mindful of COAL). Get a full sized (short action 😍😍) rifle with 22” tube and you shouldn’t be much behind the whelen, in a shorter lighter package. I have been wanting to do that myself.

35 Whelen
1/12 twist
225-280 gr.
TBBC, NP, SAF, or NF

I've had all 3. The 9.3 is the better round. You have a better selection of bullets if you handload and a wider variety of factory ammo if you don't. The 9.3 has been very popular in Africa and Europe for more than a century. There is a reason for it.

9,3x62 it has a much higher CDI factor!

35 Whelen with 250gr Partitions at 2700 fps for 400 yard elk hunting all day any day.

I own two 350 Rem Mag’s.
One is a Remington 600 and the other is a 700 Classic. Those 350’s are accurate with several full power 250 grain bullet loads at 1/2 MOA.
I have another Rifle-cartridge which I like a lot. It’s a 375-06 AI.

Of the three you mentioned, maybe a 35 Whelen, just because.

I won’t argue the merits of any of the .358 or .366 cartridges, but the .35 Whelen with Federal 225 gr TBBC has bang-flopped more than a few elk for me. 2,723 fps MV has been about all I have wrung out of a 225 gr Partition with my 22” barreled M700. Very accurate load with CFE 223 using Speer data to start. That was the sweet spot for that rifle and load. I think most any 225 or 250 gr bullet started at 2,600 fps MV will get the job done at any sane range. Happy Trails

35 Whelen if you enjoy America.
9.3 if you enjoy Africa.

In practical terms, the middle ground of both is the same. But the 9.3 can be loaded truly "bigger" if you want, while the Whelen can more easily be loaded "smaller" if you chose.

The Whelen certainly has more of the cool Americana factor. Just read some of the stories by/about Townsend Whelen--it'll make you want one for sure. Stories about Otto Bock, not so much, as I don't know that there are any.

Or you could be practical and just use your existing 338.

Here's what it now looks like, actually stock thought to be an early B&C. I re-did the bedding, painted it. It really likes the 160 TTSX over Varget, 180 NAB and 210 NPT over H-380, all three loads MOA or better. It's wearing a Conquest 3-9x40 with retro fitted elevation turret. I'll get a ballistic tape when I settle on the best load. Here's an example on another rifle, same scope.

I traded a 9.3x62, too nice to use, an AHR full house custom CZ. The 9.3x62 is a great round. I never had a 35 Whelen, but it does sound like a nice round. Those that like it, really like it.

DF

I just got back from JES a Ruger SS Hawkeye that was an 06 but is now a 9.3.
I went with a 1-10 twist as i like to shoot 300+ in the 9.3.

Just today mounted a Meopta 6x42 4a on it.

Weighs 8lbs 3 0z.

I have the Ruger African in this cartridge too but want a SS 22" barrel.


Its going to be my AZ elk rifle shooting 250 ABs @ 2,700.

Between me and my brother, the .350 has accounted for more than a few coastal rosies, a whole pile of bears, and his has taken it's share of African game and a couple muskox. And, you get the cool factor of owning a .350. that would be my vote. BTW, mine are both Ruger m77, he has a couple Remingtons, a couple rugers, a mrc, and a custom win m70. We both prefer the rugers for some reason

Between me and my brother, the .350 has accounted for more than a few coastal rosies, a whole pile of bears, and his has taken it's share of African game and a couple muskox. And, you get the cool factor of owning a .350. that would be my vote. BTW, mine are both Ruger m77, he has a couple Remingtons, a couple rugers, a mrc, and a custom win m70. We both prefer the rugers for some reason

You might think me prejudiced but I had lots of input when I built my 9.3x62 and I feel like it's the best of those three. It'll stretch its legs just a little bit more than the Whelen and it's a Bang Flop killer too, And should you need it you can load up 320 grain bullets and go kill Dumbo if you have a mind to.

After trying a number of the middle sized cartridges, I'm very firmly in favor of buying the one you love.
You'll smile more and hunt with confidence if your'e not second guessing the choice.

Real rifle loonies could also settle on the perfect combination of the two rounds, the 9.3 Barsness-Sisk--the .350 necked up to .36. It gets exactly the same velocities as a modern-pressure in a short action, which is SO important among many these days. Charlie Sisk has the reamer and still builds some, over 15 years after we brought it out....while freely admitting it was yet another redundant wildcat!

The one advantage mine has over either my 9.3x62 or the .35 Whelens I've owned is lighter weight, around 7-1/4 pounds scoped. This came in handy on an Alaskan grizzly hunt that required quite a bit of hiking over tundra, with a 30+ pound pack....

My vote would be 9.3
For no practical reason whatsoever.

Use your 338 winchester and load it to the performance level equal to 35 Whelan. It will save time and money and components are widely available.

No need to reinvent the wheel and put a different name of hubcap on it.

And yes the middlebores are great.

Both are right answers. One could buy either and sell off the 338s and 375s and be well supplied with a med bore w/o the weight and recoil of the magnums.

I've owned and extensively used several 375s as well as 338 Win, 35 Whelen and 358 Win.
A decade ago, I bought a CZ 550 Kevlar Carbine in 9.3x62 and this is the only one
of those I have left. A great round in a moderate weight rifle, Great brass is available.
I started and ended with JB's load with 250 TSX.

I like the looks of the 550 Kevlar Carbine, never handled one.

The 550 series being axed by CZ, that one becomes a keeper.

DF

I wish you guys wouldn't make me get on here and read about .35 Whelens. Now I want one and spent my funny money for the year.

Same here buddy. I bought a 30-06 BDL SS from early 2000’s to send to JES to rebore to 35 Whelen. Setting it in a B&C mountain stock black with grey webbing. Topping it with a VX3 2.5-8 Boone & Crockett in Talley LW. Once together then I’ll decide if I’m gonna chop the 24” pipe.

Not included in the three mentioned but I had a 375-06AI. Was forming cases from 30/06. I didn’t have any 35 Whelen cases.

Actually, today I would neck the 9.3 to .375. Call it the .375x62 or 9.5x62.

No dog in this fight.

But, how about a 358WSM or 9.3WSM on a Kimber 8400 Montana?

This would be my pick!

Hornady already came out with the perfect 375 it’s called the 376 Steyr. As a non magnum it’s ballistics out class all the others. Unfortunately it has fallen to the wayside. At only 3.110” COL it is a compact powerhouse with 225gr-300gr loads. On the bright side brass is still available from Hornady.

Yesterday, while moving some stuff around I came across some new Nosler .35 Whelen brass and some 225 Partitions loaded in nickel plated Federal cases and became reinfected with the whelenoma virus as I recalled that I needed to fine tune the zero on the M700! Happy Trails

I have one of each. I have yet to take an animal with them yet. They are awesome rounds. 9.3x62 seems to have a lot of authority when you touch it off. Not to complicate things, don't forget about the .338-06.