Which caliber?

[handirifle]

I have a Savage long action, that is currently a 30-06.  Let me state, for ecomomy's sake the '06 is tops as far as my question is concerned, but I want more power for it's intended purpose.  That said, here is the question. 

I want to build a BIG game rifle, and by that I mean specifically moose and or elk.  For deer and smaller, I'll carry a 30 cal for many reasons, carry weight, recoil, economy of practice.  Keeping in mind in CA I'll be able to hunt ONLY with the non lead offerings out there, which are still pricey.

Would you select the 35 Whelen, the 300 Win Mag, or 338 Win Mag?  All three are doable and costs to convert are very close with all three.  In case you mention the 338-06, I already had one and it just didn't turn my crank.

So which would it be?

[Mikey]

Geez Handirifle - for Elk or Moose I'd recommend the 30-06. If you want more power load a heavier bullet ...................JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Sweet 6.5]

Hi

I think the 300 wm is just too close to the 30-06 for somebody that has a 30-06
so it must be between the 35 and the 338. I would go for the
338 wm if this was me - you can make the rabbit as slow as the tortoise but you can't
turn the tortoise into a rabbit!

[mcwoodduck]

35 Whelen would be the easiest to do out of the three since you do not have to open the bolt face.
You may want to look at 338-06 for the same reason, you can get 95% of what 338 WM does with the same projectiles.  338 Fed could be another option.
I think the 210 grain out of the 338-06
200 grain out of the 338 Fed
225 grain out of the 338 Win Mag would give you the power and range you want for elk and have the numbing shock on Moose or bear.
I have a 338 WM I use as my elk rifle and it works great for all game.  I think of the 338 WM as the American 375H&H, a do all one gun that will handle big game but not ruin meat on deer or other smaller animals.

[kyelkhunter3006]

Since you already tried the 338-06 and didn't care for it, I don't think that the Whelen will make you any happier, unless you're going for nostalgia.  With the Federal High Energy loads, you can basically turn your 30-06 into a .300 H&H Mag, performance wise, maybe even a little better depending on your gun.  You could buy the ammo, pull the bullets, and load another one in it.  Writer Sam Fadala does that quite a bit for his 30-06. 

You seem to be concerned about the pricey bullets you'll have to use in CA.  Then why bother getting a gun that's going to use a bigger, more costly bullet than what you already have to use?  Honestly, how often are you going to go moose hunting?  Elk, maybe I can see on a regular basis, but moose?   No moose in CA is there?  Or even that close to you?  I guess it depends on what your out of state options are.  Anyway, there isn't a moose or elk walking that can't be cleanly taken with a 30-06 and a good X-bullet load.  Load up a 200 or 220 grain X, you'll be close in power to the three you are asking about that it won't matter which one you use inside 300 yds.  I'll admit, the .338 Win Mag does have more juice, but is it worth having a gun that is expensive to shoot, that you won't shoot regularly, to out do your 30-06?  I don't think it is.

[nomosendero]

The good thing about the Savage is that you can just change the bolt head to go to the Magnums & it appears you already know that.
You mentioned 3 choices & I will sty with those, for now at least. All 3 will do the job, but you need to figure out what maximum range
you determine, the max. range for YOU, not the yardage that someone else thinks. If that is 300 & less, then the 35 Whelen
will do what you want, not that it won't further out, I am talking about the best for the job here. If you are proficient at longer ranges
then the 300 or 338 is fine. If you added Big Bears, Bison & other big stuff, the 338 would be my choice. If Elk & Moose only, a 300 with 200gr or the best 180 gr bullets or the 338 with good bullets will be fine & will be a matter of opinion at that point.
 

[beemanbeme]

I like to shoot my hunting rifles year around to stay proficient with them and familiar with their level of recoil.  I have used the .338 to elk hunt but found it something of a chore to shoot regularly off the bench and from field positions when not shooting at game. Also, it didn't seem to kill elk any deader than a .300 Winnie with a 200gr Grand Slam.  Which I didn't mind shooting for practice. 
I killed my first elk with a 30-06 and a 200gr bullet. And there are probably a few tons or so of them killed every year with a 30-06. But if you have to travel to hunt your elk, you want to be able to take advantage of every opportunity and I think the .300 gives you a little more reach and a little more thump than the '06. 
I've never killed a moose.

[deltecs]

I have a Savage long action, that is currently a 30-06.  Let me state, for ecomomy's sake the '06 is tops as far as my question is concerned, but I want more power for it's intended purpose.  That said, here is the question. 

I want to build a BIG game rifle, and by that I mean specifically moose and or elk.  For deer and smaller, I'll carry a 30 cal for many reasons, carry weight, recoil, economy of practice.  Keeping in mind in CA I'll be able to hunt ONLY with the non lead offerings out there, which are still pricey.

Would you select the 35 Whelen, the 300 Win Mag, or 338 Win Mag?  All three are doable and costs to convert are very close with all three.  In case you mention the 338-06, I already had one and it just didn't turn my crank.

So which would it be?

Maybe the 9.3 X 66 Sako or the 9.3 X 62 Mauser.  The 9.3x66 Sako is a relatively new round and difficult to obtain here in the US.  Look at the 9.3 X 62 Mauser round.  It is plenty big enough for elk and moose at moderate hunting ranges.  It may not be the best round for shooting over 300 yards but it hits with authority.  You can shoot a 250 grain above 2500 fps and the 286 gr or higher are just amazing killers on BIG game.  Also, Barnes has good load data for its copper bullets.  The base is only slightly larger than the 30-06 for no loss in magazine capacity, yet the rim is only .003 smaller so no need to change bolt face in the Savage.

[Doesniper]

How about the .375 Whelen Improved?

[TNrifleman]

For both economy and performance, given your parameters, I'd recommend the 35 Whelen.

[kyelkhunter3006]

I agree with both the 9.3x62 and the .375 Whelen, if you are a handloader.  The 9.3x62 would probably be my choice for a hard hitting rifle for really big game with reasonable recoil.  In some African countries where the .375 H&H is minimum for dangerous game, I've read that they'll let proven experienced hunters use the 9.3x62 for dangerous game too.  That's quite a testimony to the effectiveness of the round on BIG game, much bigger than elk and tougher than moose.  That being said, I'm not sure how much it'll cost you to redo your Savage, but I think that you can still get the 9.3 in a CZ 550.  If the cost is around the same, I'd just by the CZ.  You can also get some factory loads in the 9.3, although they aren't easy to find in most locales.  Mail-order and the Net make just about any round easy to get now, if you don't mind shopping for them. 

If you are seriously thinking about wildcat rounds, you would also go with the .400 Whelen too. 

[nomosendero]

 

[handirifle]

If you are seriously thinking about wildcat rounds, you would also go with the .400 Whelen too. 

Maybe you misread my post, but a wildcat is NOT what I want.  I'd said the 338-06, although a legit round now, is still too much of a wildcat for me to travel from state to state with.  I never know what airline restrictions might come to, so I want to be prepared.

I think it might end up being the 300WM or 338WM.  Still need to decide.  I know the '06 is more than capable so it's not really a power issue, on those terms, but as I said, the '06 is too close to the 308.

And as for cost to convert my Savage from 30-06 to a 300 WM or 338WM, if I use either a Savage factory barrel, or an A&B level of barrel, total cost will be less than $200.  Kinda hard to pick up a new rifle for that.  That's the beauty of a Savage, and I can do it all myself.  I already have the tools I need, except headspace guages.

[handirifle]

Actually, I've settled on the 300 wm.

tHANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK.

[nomosendero]

Actually, I've settled on the 300 wm.

tHANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK.

Congrats !!! Excellent choice!!