Tell me about your favorite medium bore

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texas chase

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Title says it all pretty much. I'm thinking of getting a medium bore which for our discussion I'll define as 338 up to 375. I'm leaning towards 9.3x62 or 375
Ruger. I also have a pretty nice 338 win mag available for purchase but I feel like the 338 is teetering on the fence between the standards and medium bore.

Would love to hear your opinion.

Thanks
 
I too love my 338-378 but the 338 win mag is much more reasonable to own. My .375H&H is also fun but the bullets are hard to come by at most shops and are expensive.

The .338 win mag is the best if you dont reload just because of ammo availability and choices.
 
the 375 Ruger is interesting, of course the 375 Mag, but my favorite right now is the 375JDJ in pistol and rifle... It shoots the same bullets as the other 2 and is easy to load for with the straight walled 444 Marlin case necked down to .375...
 
I kinda like the classics like the 35 whelen and the 9.3x62. Plus I have a plethora of 30-06 brass I could conform into one of the two.
 
There is a decent Rem 35 Whelan posted for sale on this site right now. I have a thing for med bore's lately and my Ruger Whelan is one of the most accurate guns I have. I formed a bunch of brass from same HS, old military 30-06. Now that wins for inexpensive brass!!! Cheap 200gn Interlocks is all I will ever need for whitetail and they shoot less than 1moa with starting charge of 4064. #FunGun
 
If the .375 Ruger was older and more common, I'd say that would be one of the best. But since it is not, I'd go with the 9.3x62. But even between those, there is a world of difference in performance.
 
texas chase said:
I kinda like the classics like the 35 whelen and the 9.3x62. Plus I have a plethora of 30-06 brass I could conform into one of the two.
Click to expand...
That being the case, a 35 Whelen is an easy conversion from the 30-06 brass. It is also an easy cartridge for reloading and is a cast bullet wonder. Lots of molds available.

Personally, a step up tto the 40 Whelen is more interesting, or the 411 Hawk.

The advantage with any of the 06 variants, especially one of the blown out wildcats (ie 35 Brown Whelen), is the ballistics are close to magnum and you get one extra round in the magazine.
 
I inherited this Marlin 336A in 35 Remington. It had been my Uncle Larry's deer & bear rifle for many decades. Although well used, it's not scratched or dinged up badly. It shoots 2 inch groups at 100 yards with 200 grain Remington core-lokt ammo.

35 Remington hits a lot harder than mere paper charts would suggest.

TR

Marlin35.gif

760a.jpg
 
StrawHat said:
That being the case, a 35 Whelen is an easy conversion from the 30-06 brass. It is also an easy cartridge for reloading and is a cast bullet wonder. Lots of molds available.

Personally, a step up tto the 40 Whelen is more interesting, or the 411 Hawk.

The advantage with any of the 06 variants, especially one of the blown out wildcats (ie 35 Brown Whelen), is the ballistics are close to magnum and you get one extra round in the magazine.
Click to expand...

That's a good point about the cast bullets. And I enjoy casting tremendously.
 
I picked up a Savage 111 in 9.3x62 and I'm pretty sure I'm the only kid on my block with one. I'm sure the deer will be impressed... :what:

At this time ammo & components aren't sold at Walmart so it is pretty much a mail-order and/or reloading-only option. Graf's has what you need. Be aware that it's NOT a 35 Whelen necked up - the case is larger in diam. (by a few thou) and the shoulder is farther forward but I can still get four rounds in the standard-length Savage DBM unlike any magnum. :D
 
I shoot a '37 vintage Winchester 71 in 348 Win. This caliber packs a wallop. I used it for an Elk hunt a couple of years ago. While not the most practical, the Model 71 reeks with nostalgia.

I also shoot a 401 Winchester, but this is not really considered a medium bore.
 
.35 Remington in my Marlin lever gun and Remmy Model 8.Great short range cartridge for deer and black bear. 375 H&H for bigger beasties.
 
Well, I think I've narrowed it down to a 35 Whelen or the 9.3x62. I do have a 336 in 35 rem and another marlin lever in 444. ( I love old marlins btw ).

This gun will be a bolt gun. And hopefully a nice one
 
8mm ?

Is the 8x57 Mauser(.323) considered a medium bore? or does it start at the 338? I'll start with the 8mm mauser, and if that doesn't qualify,
I'll break out my Marlin 375 in .375 Winchester. Those two are the biggest I got, I'm thinkin about a 98 Mauser in 9.3x62 for Moose & Caribou !
course a .356 Whinny would be cool too !!
 
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338 would be my choise with your limitations but i would include the 8mms in that mix and would then pick the 8mag. Why? I dont know. Ive just allways had a soft spot for it and it kills like lightening.
 
My favorite medium bore is the .338 win mag. I shoot the Federal 250 gr. partition load with about 4000 ft.lb. at the muzzle. Shoots pretty flat, hits pretty hard. My rifle is a Ruger M77 stainless synthetic. Recoil is not horrendous and elk are DRT.
sany1000.jpg
 
medium bore which for our discussion I'll define as 338 up to 375
Click to expand...

That's a narrow range. Most folks I know consider medium to be over .30 cal but under .40 cal.

I have 5 mid bore rifles: A .32 Rem, an 8x57mm, an 8mm Rem Mag, a .350 Rem Mag and a .375 Ultra Mag. The 8mm Mag is the most versatile of them for North American hunting, with a very flat trajectory and bullets most appropriate for game from deer to big bears. It could be used for dangerous game with the 250 gr. Woodleighs, but many African countries have a .375" or .400" minimum, and the Ultra mag is more appropriate for the really nasty things. But the .375 Ultra is overkill for anything in the lower 48, and is quite abusive in my 7-1/2 pound 700 BDL. The .350 Mag is a good round, basically a short action .35 Whelen, but does not have the trajectory or horsepower of the 8mm Mag. The .350 is hard to beat as a hog gun, though. They're usually quite close, and it puts them down with authority, while having light enough recoil that I can use night vision without getting walloped.

Whether it's a 180 grainer screaming out at over 3,300 FPS for long shots on deer and elk, or a 220 gr. right at 3,000 for moose and other heavies, the 8mm Mag. is a fine cartridge that should have caught on, but didn't.
 
I don't have a need for one of the butt kicking mags here in the Ozarks so I would have to pick the 358 Win. Ruger has heir hawkeye chambered for it now. I WANT ONE!

If I had to pick a mag it would the 325 WSM.
 
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