9.3x62 vs .35 Whelen et al
Everything I read about the 9.3 is about Africa. The .35 Whelen was the poor man's .375 H&H back in the day, as I understand it, since the .375 had to be built on an expensive magnum action and the Whelen, of course, did not. I have a couple of Whelens, a .338/06, and a .350 Rem. Mag. I am wondering what the 9.3x62 offers that these cartridges don't--other than heavier bullets. Ordinary .35 cal. bullets run to 250 gr. and 9.3 bullets start there. Hornady used to make a 275 gr. in .35 caliber and there are still 275 gr. .338's. There appears to be a little more case capacity in the 9.3 since at the head it's .005" larger, at the shoulder; .010" larger and the shoulder is pushed forward .091". My loading manuals list very similiar speeds for equal bullet weights for all 4 of the mentioned cartridges. I guess I am looking for some one to tell me why I need a 9.3x62 (or don't). Yeah; like I NEED the ones I already have!
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For all intent and purpose, there isn't a dimes worth of difference. 0 -
The reason heavy for caliber bullets are available for the 338cal is because of the several popular magnum cartridges offered. The reason I sometimes tempt myself with the 9.3x62 is because there are old classic rifles, often in excellent shape, available for very reasonable money. The 9.3cal has never caught on here in the USA and so these fine old rifles don't command the big bucks that some other do. I saw a 50+ year old comercial Mauser 9.3x62 sporter at a gun show last year and have been kicking myself since for not picking it up. It is also a good excuse to buy a brand new CZ550 if you are looking for an excuse that way. 0 -
Because it was the "everymans rifle" back in the day. And it still packs a lot of wallop! Just like the 30-06 here in the U.S. It's always been, and for the most part still is, the standard that everything is judged by here. So, the 9.3 was in Africa. That's the nostalgia part.
For actual power and speed the two are very close except you can get 286 gr. and 300 gr. bullets (even 320 gr.) for it. You take a velocity drop when doing so but for pure energy that's the advantage.
What it boils down to is I can launch a 286 gr. Partition at 2280 fps from a 24" barrel in 9.3x62 and I can only get 2180 from a 250 gr. Nosler or Hornady.0 -
About thirty-five years ago, I rebored a Remington M742 in .30-06 to .358 caliber, rechambered it to .35 Brown-Whelen and pushed 250 grain Speer spitzer bullets to about 2350 fps. It has been my elk gun since then. 0 -
"why I need a 9.3x62"..............beause you don't have one (yet) 0
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