Reloaders prespective on a medium bore.

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Kachok

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Doing research on medium bore cartridges, I have no hands on with any of them so I was hoping to get some input from fellow reloaders on the pros and cons of each.
Here is what I have come up with thus far.

338 Fed
Pros: Short action thumper, can be formed from 308 brass.
Cons: Seems to be dying off, less potent then other medium bores.

338-06 A-Square
Pros: Very well ballanced cartridge, brass can be easily formed from 30-06.
Cons: VERY hard to find rifles chambered.

338 Win Mag
Pros: Most sucessful medium bore in the states.
Cons: Useless belt on the brass, recoil is stout for it's class.

358 Win
Pros: Hardest hitting and most powerful member of the 308 family.
Cons: Speed may leave something to be desired. Little support nowadays despite is loyal following.

35 Whelen
Pros: Hard hitting medium bore, highly regarded by many hunters. Can be formed from 30-06
Cons: Hard to find factory rifles unless you buy a Remington :barf: some have complained about headspacing issues.

9.3x62 Mauser
Pros: Internationally respected big game/dangerous game hunting cartridge, offered in quality CZ and Sako rifles. Supposedly moderate recoil for it's power. Can be formed from 30-06 with a little work. Prvi offers quality ammo for cheap, and their brass is superb.
Cons: As with the 35 Whelen it supposedly has headspacing issues unless brass if perfectly reformed.

9.3x64
Pros: 375 H&H level power in a standard length action, very powerful and efficient cartridge.
Cons: Cannot be formed from common brass and the brass is rare/expensive.

375 H&H
Pros: THE most respected and available big game rifle cartridge anywhere on the planet.
Cons: Very long action, belted brass, less efficient then some.

375 Ruger
Pros: highly efficient, fast, powerful, and advanced. Offers every advantage over the H&H
Cons: Wildly overpowerd for almost any game in north America. Recoil would probably require a muzzle break unless loaded down significantly.

Anyone load any of these, what are your thoughts on them?
 
I've used and hand loaded for the 338 Win Mag and 375 HH. The 375 is the minimum for dangerous game across the world. 338 Win Mag ok for all of North America. I guess it all depends on what you're loading for. For sheer enjoy enjoyment at the range, forget these and get something way smaller. If you're wanting a hunting rifle, what game species? They've both been around for a long time and components aren't a problem. Both are easy to reload.

What particulars were you looking for?
 
Another 375 H&H Pro = One of the slickest feeding big game cartridges ever invented.

None of the new short fat cartridges can hold a candle to it.

rc
 
I don't need massive knockdown for charging elephants, just a potent medium bore capable of comfortably taking anything in the states.
 
300 Win Mag, 30-06 or a 270 will drop anything in the US reliably.
 
170rg.jpg
Kachok,

I like your comments on the cartridges. After all this is supposed to be fun.

When I got my first .358 Win. in 1966 I made the 99f my woods rifle and took deer and other game in New England and PA.

It just felt good to have the .358. It made me confident of it's power.

I would shop for a rifle that's not too heavy and get a soft recoil pad on it.

If the .338 Fed. was out years ago it's bullets with better BC's might have influenced me however I never needed the BC in the woods.

Rifles can come and go. Search and find a medium and make it' yours.

Here is an old rifle in .358. They any good?
 
170rg.jpg
170rg.jpg
Kachok,

I like your comments on the cartridges. After all this is supposed to be fun.

When I got my first .358 Win. in 1966 I made the 99f my woods rifle and took deer and other game in New England and PA.

It just felt good to have the .358. It made me confident of it's power.

I would shop for a rifle that's not too heavy and get a soft recoil pad on it.

If the .338 Fed. was out years ago it's bullets with better BC's might have influenced me however I never needed the BC in the woods.

Rifles can come and go. Search and find a medium and make it' yours.

Here is an old rifle in .358. They any good?
 
I say get a .358 Winchester and shoot cast bullets. Don't get hung up on velocity. Jacketed bullets need high velocity to do the work of slower cast bullets.
 
My sons shoot large calibers at $2-$4 per round. I shoot my old reliable '06s that I hand load for at @ .50. There is nothing they can do that I cannot--and w/o that terrible recoil.
 
Lloyd Smale said:
you forgot my favorite. the 338-06.
Click to expand...
No I didn't, I just listed it new standardized name the 338-06 A-Square. That one has alot of appeal because I have a ton of 06 brass and that is probably the easiest to reform. Only gripe with that one is I wound probably have to re-barrel a Savage action to make a 338-06, factory rifles are few and far between, my brother would KILL me if I tampered with my Savage 110 he thinks that is the perfect rifle, so I would have to get a new donor action.
06 The cost of factory ammo is little concern to me, I shoot handloads almost exclusively. The difference in cost of handloads is minimal if the brass can be reformed from a common brass.
 
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I loved your comments on the various mid-bore thumpers. I have a 348 Win that was not listed, although both the 35 Whelen and 358 Win will outperform it, the 348 still makes a good short range Elk harvester in a very slick lever gun.
 
Don't want this thread to die: we need more fans of each of these cals mentioned!

I covet the H&H b/c of 1.History 2. Nothing can stand in its way. 3. I've heard tell that it shoots consistently and similarly to the '06. 4. Where ever you go that this cal is appropriate you will find ammo.

But as to the question: 'why med bore' the answer is b/c it is there. Do we need more than a 300 WM? Perhaps not. But might our neighbor win the lottery and take us to Africa? Ya never know!

Greg
 
A 30-06 or 300 mag loaded with 200-220 gr bullets outperforms the 338 Fed, 358, 338-06, and 35 Whelen on game, and both have less recoil than all but the 338 Fed. Some loads from this group show more energy up close, but the 30-06 will out penetrate all of them at all ranges, and by passes them in energy and trajectory between 150-200 yards from the muzzle.

The 338 magnum is only a very small step up in performance.

I have no experience with the 9.3's, but the 9.3X63 is so close to the 35 Whelen I cannot see it being any better.

I've owned and shot most of these. If you just want something different and are willing to go to the trouble to find components and load for them they work. But they don't offer any real advantages. There is a reason they are obscure rounds with a small, but loyal following. When I figured out I could outperform any of them with a 30-06 or 300 mag, get less recoil, and pick up reasonably priced factroy ammo anywhere, I sold my oddball calibers.

If I need more power than offered by a .30 cal., I'd step up to one of the 375's.
 
To be honest, I really have nothing but a 303 SMLE over .308 in my rifles. I simply never really saw a need.

That said IF I were going to go to something bigger it would most likly be one of the 338's or 35's based off the '06 case. For the most part it should handle anything I am EVER likely to encounter. Components are usually pretty easily attainable, and if not well I could go the cast route and still have plenty to hit the woods with.

Like you, I have a ton of '06 brass that I use for what ever is needed, if that is the case. I built my collection somewhat around that fact. Just about anything standard that can be made or loaded from the .308 cases or the 30-06 cases I have something in. I haven't had issues with any of the shortages other than wanting to try a new powder or two since I have been casting.

Also the custom route isn't a bad way to go. Once you figure out what your really wanting.
 
medim bores

Personally I'm enamored with the 9.3x62 for all of NA including the really "Big Brown Bears"; If the "Dark Continent" was in the travel plans the the 375 H&H is the starting point and probably more than I can handle. Just my opinion. :D
 
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