I used the 35 Whelen Ackley Improved for around 20yrs. I killed a Black wildebeest in S.A. at 347 yds. (behind the shoulder) with the 200X ( pre TTSX) and a zebra (base of neck) on the same hunt at 250yds. I killed even more PG with the 250X @ 2600 on my first trip, out to 150yds, the rest were 40-100yds away. I killed a Eurasian hog at 30 steps with the 310gr Woodleigh RN going 2400fps, ha, it worked perfectly! Love those Woodleigh's! The standard Whelen will certainly feed better, and your speed goals are easily reached with it. If you ever want to "stretch your range" I heartily recommend the 200gr Barnes or 225s, but...nothing wrong with those heavy Woodleigh's. I personally like round nose Mediums from 250 to 310gr. I recently picked up a Kimber 84L Classic ( wood stock) in .270 Win and it is a sweetheart! I then found a Kimber 8400 Classic in 300WSM, metal is stainless in a beautiful wood stock! It too handles very nice. My first 9.3x62 was back in the late 90's. I had my smith rebarreled a Mod 70 Fwt Push Feed that was a 30-06 with a Lothar Walther at 24". I'm tall so 24 inch feels better to me. It handles very well, recoil was fine. I gave it to a young family man who used it ( and my loads) and the Nosler 286 Partition and shot an elk that same year with it. He likes it!
Good luck to you pard, and let us know how it shoots for you later? My Dad fought the Japanese with McArthur's Army, he loved the Aussies ( I suspect it was the Sheila's)
He did say the Aussies were fearless fighters though!
I have read much on the 35Whelen AI, in fact, there is a famous Sambar man here that has hunted the Victorian Alps with it for years.
Back in the day..., the 35Whelen & 9.3x62 were not ready available, hence his build I think - PF Model 70 in a synthetic stock of some type.
He ran it close to 62 specs from memory. He took the biggest Sambar deer one year as well.
I hunt in fairy heavy timber into mountain regions. The normal shot is usually 30-80m, with many on the run...& as you blokes say “Texas heart shot” is needed on that big fella that is facing south at times...
I feel the bigger 250 grain onwards are better for this type of stalking. The 9.3/286gn combo at 2300fps is great here as well.
I feel the 35Whelen/250gn combo at 2300-2400fps will be equally as good, especially given the weight of this Kimber Hunter with the less than ideal footwork I usually find myself in contouring a mountain... then taking the shot. But, I’m sure the 225gn woody would be a slayer too.
My first 9.3x62 was about 2000, a CZ550 Battue, nice trim little rifle which I foolishly sold
. Since then I had a several more... My latest - ZG47 from Canada...CM Lothar Walther 20.5” barrel screwed in with a custom kevlar carbon fibre stock. The fella that is building the stock is a retired X Aerospace Tech. I had him shorten the forend to the way I shoulder my rifles. The forend length matches my old Blaser R93 & R8, with a good palm-swell & 14 1/8” LOP. This rifle is just about complete
As I write this, I am about to pack my favourite 9.3x62 rifle on a four day Sambar trip with my son. I purchased this rifle some five years back after recommendation from a mate from Rhodesia.
Tikka T3 Battue with a 20” tube, Z6 1.6-10x42 on top in steel warnes holding it. 286gn woody RNSN at 2298fps. 3.3kg(7.26lbs) all up with 4 in. Sweetheart of a rifle & it points great. Every now & then a factory rifle just gels....
My 22YO son hunts with a Tikka T3x SS/VX2 2-7x33 combo with the same bullet recipe.
The Australia & USA have worked together for years & will for years to come I’m certain.
I have been to the USA twice & I have found people there to be very kind & friendly. I really like your country!
haha the “sheilas”
