9.3x62 versus 35 Whelen or 375H&H?

[hansg/Ups]

Any opinions on the 9.3x62 versus the 35 Whelen and 375H&H?[SN:24" barrel,iron sights,medium scope]
I'm debating about rebarreling a 30/06 bolt action to 9.3x62 for North American game.
Thanks.

[Dixie Dude]

This would be doable for the 9.3 and 35 Whelen, but the 375 H&H would require a different bolt face because of the rim on the 375.  The same bolt can be used for the 9.3 and 35.  The 375 is longer so it might not fit your receiver.  The 9.3 or 35 should be ok.  Either can take anything in North America with the edge in power going to the 9.3.  With the 35, you can make brass out of 30-06 by just resizing it.  Don't know about the 9.3.  Neck might be too thin.  What brand of rifle are you thinking about? 

[hansg/Ups]

I'd only do a conversion/rebarrel on the 30/06 with a 9.3x62 or 35 Whelen-probably the Ruger K77 left hand[I'm a southpaw].
How does the 9.3x62 compare to the 375H&H? ,I know375H&H is longer than 30/06 receivers.
Thanks

[Dixie Dude]

From what I have read, the 9.3 is right up there with the 375.  Some African countries will not go smaller than 375 for dangerous game.  For plains game the 9.3 was highly recommended.  Leaves a big hole for easier blood tracking.  It is about .366 caliber, which is in between the 35 W and the 375 H&H.  It should be just a barrel conversion for your Ruger.  35 Whelen ammo can be found in the states, but 9.3 is just now begining to take hold.  From what I read it hits harder than the 35.  It is not a long range gun, 200-250 is realistic range.  The 375 has almost the same trajectory as a 30-06 180 grain.  You would need a longer action for the 375.  I have a 35 Whelen and a 30-06, both Mauser actions.  I have an 8mm Mauser I am thinking of converting to a 9.3. 

[hansg/Ups]

Being a southpaw,my choices are more limited.I prefer to go with a controlled["claw"]feed. For a push feed,I'd go with a Savage 116.

[gunner69]

I shot a buck and a doe this past deer season.   Both were with my 9.3x62, both were one shot kills.   The doe dropped where shot.   The buck, a difficult angle, ran ten yards and dropped dead.   I have reloaded 30-06 cases by running the cases through my 9.3x62 dies.   It can be done in a pinch but I would recommend that the cases not be used to reload over.   The reason is that there are slight case differences and further reloading may produce problems.   The 9.3x62 is a performer and once you have tried it you will be hooked.  A "bean field" rifle it is not but most anything within 300 meters will be an easy shot.

[RevJim]

 All are great choices, with the edge going to the 35 Whelen for availability and less recoil. I've had rifles in each, my current 35 Whelen is actually a Mod 700 Classic reamed out to the Ackley Improved. I bought my Marine SIL a CZ 550 FS in 9.3x62 and was with him when he shot a 300# hog that had designs on him. It was close range (around 20yds) and the 286gr TSX hit him in the left cheek, angling through the neck vertebrae, right shoulder and was found under the skin. Hog just dropped and never even kicked! I never shot game with the 9.3x62 but  I have taken both zebra and cow elk with both the 35WAI and the .375H&H, and up to 250yds I can't tell any difference in the field. I took a Black Wildebeast at 347yds with the Whelen AI and the 200X, one shot, easy cheezy. I used the Woodleigh 310 at 2400fps in the Whelen AI for a 200#  Eurasian sow, 30yds, could eat right up to the bullet hole, as they say! I can push it fast enough in the Improved chambering for the 1/16 to stabilize it. If I was rebarreling, I would choose a faster twist if I wanted to shoot the heavies all the time. Actually, I found the 200TTSX and the Nosler 250 Partition to cover it all in my Whelen. Nosler makes a 250 Accubond in the 9.3 that should be awesome.
   The 9.3x62 is a great round, and I bought a Mod 77 African in it, but it had headspace problems, in a fit of wild rage I traded it off, ha. I think either the 35 Whelen (better is the A.I. IMO) or the 9.3x62 will light your candle. Both rounds are so useful and pleasant to shoot/load for/kill anything they are a toss up. Good luck to you pard.

[mcwoodduck]

If I were to rebarrel a 30-06 to a new caliber.
I think I would pick either 35 Wheelan or 338-06.
for the selection of bullets for reloading and the availablity of loaded ammo out in the field.
338-06 is very close to 338 Win mag that is the perfect round for all of North America.
 

[jedman]

  I would go with the 35 Whelen or the Whelen Improved.  I own a 9.3 X 62 and its a great cal. but for a rebarrel job I dont know where you would find a barrel or even a blank.?   I would bet it would be much more costly to do the 9.3 than the 35 cal. but they are very close in ballistics. To have your barrel rebored to 9.3 is a option if the profile is large enough, Quickdtoo had a handi barrel rebored in 9.3 x 62 and it was quite reasonable in cost, probably much less than a rebarrel job.
      jedman

[Beau9.3]

The whelen is very good for almost anything, The 9.3x62 is a significant step up.  It is very easy to get hooked on this thing. It really is a very powerful hunting round. Very capable of despatching big game efficiently. When big becomes very big it is clearly more gun than my beloved .338 win Mag.  My CZ 550 American pushes the magnificent 250gr North Fork SS at better than 2700 fps with RL17.   The 375 is a very little bit more, but there really is bugger all in it.  I prefer the 9.3x62 & It would be my cartridge of choice for big Bears & any of the huge ungulates like Moose.  The best brass without doubt is Lapua & I believe that North Fork SS is as good as a bullet gets. With these components in my 9.3x62 there is no real difference in the field performance wise between it & the 9.3x64 Brenneke.
 

[mauser98us]

  I would go with the 35 Whelen or the Whelen Improved.  I own a 9.3 X 62 and its a great cal. but for a rebarrel job I dont know where you would find a barrel or even a blank.?   I would bet it would be much more costly to do the 9.3 than the 35 cal. but they are very close in ballistics. To have your barrel rebored to 9.3 is a option if the profile is large enough, Quickdtoo had a handi barrel rebored in 9.3 x 62 and it was quite reasonable in cost, probably much less than a rebarrel job.
      jedman

Lothar Walther has these, and I'm sure ER Shaw could acomodate.

[kombi1976]

The 9.3x62 is definitely closer in performance to the 35 Whelen than the 375 H&H.
BUT......the difference is that like alot of US designed cartridges there is a predominance in the Whelen toward light to medium weight bullets for calibre rather than heavy bullets.
The standard load for 9.3x62 is a 286gr SP doing around 2300fps.
I have a Tikka T3 Lite Stainless 9.3x62 and it absolutely murders game.
Smaller game get full penetration and bleed out fast.
Medium game tend to drop like a stone.
I use the Speer 270gr Semi-Spitzer because it's cheap, easy to load and dropping more money on Woodleighs or other premium bullets doesn't make the game any deader.
If I was using it on water buffalo (and it's well up to the task) I'd be using bonded core ammo and solids but on soft skin game up to and including elk I reckon the Speers are ideal for it's relatively slow velocities.
Lapua brass is excellent and I've had plenty of reloads out of it.
Having said that, if your aim is to shoot longer distances and you aim to really knock down game (whilst being willing to accept some pain on your end of the power) the 375 H&H is the next step up.
The 9.3x62 is a great African cartridge and there are now 232gr bullets available for plains game but it does not have the reach the 375 H&H has at distance.
9.3x62 can mix it up with the big boys under 200yds but it begins to drop quickly at about 240yds.
And it is not the equal of 9.3x64 Brenneke.
The Brenneke is an easy match for 375 H&H but it has a larger bolt face and is much more expensive to feed, even more than the H&H.
9.3x62 is definitely a ton of fun in heavy cover or shorter ranges though.
I call my 9.3x62 "The Judge" because it passes sentence......

[8uck5nort]

Considering the same choice less the 375 H&H and this is what I have learned so far. From what I understand both the 35 Whelen and 9.3x62 will take almost anything in the world where game is concerned with a slight edge going to the 9.3x62 due to some caliber restrictions in Africa for the dangerous game. So if you are planning a African safari and want to hunt some of the meaner stuff you might want to look into the 9.3. They are almost identical in terms of ballistics again with ever so slight an edge going to the 9.3x62. So in my mind it comes down to shot placement no matter which caliber you choose. On paper it looks like the 9.3 has a slight edge however, I would choose the 35 Whelen. I thnk it has an edge in versatility when ammo is considered. If you reload you have a greater choice of commercial bullets all the way from 180 gr pistol bullets for plinking to the heavies designed for rifle velcities for killing game. If you don't reload at this time it appears ammo is more readily available in 35 Whelen, although the availibilty can change overnight it seems. After all what is the point of having a rifle if you can't get the ammo. One last note that I considered. If you live in the states you can get an in-expensive single shot in 35 whelen easier than a 9.3x62 as a backup rifle when on hunting trips. H&R, Rossi, and CVA make then in the under 300 dollar range. One ammo for both rifles and one breaks down for packing. Just my quirk I guess, but I always like to have a backup.

[Beau9.3]

Hey Kombi,  The 9.3x62 is closer to the 375 H&H than most believe.  Almost everyone underloads the 9.3x62. If loaded to the same pressures as the 375H&H, perfectly correct & safe in modern firearms, there is very little difference & only 100 fps behind the Brenneke. I know, I have both.
The CZ550 is a strong action & can be used for any cartridge that fits including the 257, 270 & 7mm Weatherby's. Your Tikka should be the same.
Lapua brass, WLR primers, RL17 in my 9.3 x 62 gives 2700 fps with the 250gr & 2545 fps with the 286gr. Accubond, Partition, North Forks, Woodleigh & A-Frames.
Loaded correctly to it's true capabilities in a strong modern rifle there is bugger all difference between the 9.3x62 & the 375 H&H. 
It really is a big step up from a 35 Whelen when the game is big, bad & ugly.

[kombi1976]

I don't doubt that loaded to 50,000+ CUP the 9.3x62 turns into a seriously nasty customer.
But my comments about the difference in philosophy between 35 Whelen & 9.3x62 are key here.
Yes, you can turn this cartridge into a fire breathing monster but it wasn't designed to scud across the sky at the speed of light.
Instead 9.3x62 was designed to be a stopper and that's why most factory loads use really heavy pills.
Woodleigh actually make a 320gr RNSN, Protected Point (Mag Tip) and FMJ and I've been told anyone hunting water buffalo in Northern Australia should, if they can, create some loads which push the 320 grainers to about 2200fps or there abouts.
The weight and slower velocity ensure better penetration & knockdown ability.
But that's for dangerous game.
I actually use a very mild load but I'm going to beef it up to improve it's trajectory & range.
If you're a US resident  and want to be shooting lighter projectiles as well as the moderate weight (BTW 250gr is moderate compared to the 9.3mm) then 35 Whelen is cheaper to feed.
But for a serious global hunting cartridge there are no other non-magnums like the 9.3x62.
It's a bit like finding out that after years of lusting after Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, Mercedes and BMWs that there's a classic European performance car older, more efficient and just as potent any of them which has impeccable prestige amongst the who's who of motor racing.

[Beau9.3]

My very favorite bullet in the 9.3 is the 250gr North Fork SS. This bullet never fails or comes apart. Very deep penetration & always the perfect mushroom. The 286gr North Fork is more of a good thing.  These bullets are so good I now have 250gr, 270gr, 300gr & 350gr North Fork SS for my 375 Ruger (Win Model70 Safari Express  24")  For allround use on any game I favour the 250 North Fork in the 9.3 & 270gr in my 375.  Barnes X will not out penetrate these bullets & they never fail to mushroom.  For Wild Dog & Wild Pig down here in Aussie the 250gr Accubond is very good at 2700fps. I load these to 3.395" O.A.L in my CZ550. They do not intrude into powder space.
 
If I was going to use 9.3 on Buff, I would most likely use the 286gr North Fork CPS or FPS These are cup points & nothing penetrates deeper.. This out penetrates the Woodleigh 320gr several inches. Expensive they are but if trophy hunting or hunting dangerous game they are worth it & cheaper than cigarettes.

[RevJim]

 I think the 35 Whelen Ackley Improved ( or Brown Whelen type) are closer to the 9.3x62 than the standard Whelen, in my observations and chronograph work. Like Kombi, they both work better on the big stuff with heavier bullets at moderate velocities. I was very surprised at the velocity I achieved with the Woodleigh 310. However, as an American cartridge, with elk being about the biggest ( or big hogs for dense muscle, etc) the faster, lighter loads help with range and slipping a bullet through the pucker brush. I really enjoyed my hunts with the 375 H&H (the Remington 700 BDL SS was MUCH better in the mountains than the Mod 70 Express I used one year, wow, that sucker is like a truck axle!) I found that for me, the best of both worlds was my 35 Ackley. I still have had more FTF with the 9.3x62's sloping shoulder design (and a 404 Jeffry I had once) than any standard 35 Whelen. I'm just too anal and far too jumpy to hear that "click", ha. BTW, my SIL's 550 9.3x62 went "click" on his first shot at that hog! This was high dollar Vortex 286 TSX ammo. I figured if I was going to fireform and properly headspace my resized brass anyhow, I might as well do that with my Whelen Ackley, lol. I sure like the idea/concept of the 9.3x62 though, and my Whelen scratches that itch for me. Good luck to you.

[Beau9.3]

Yes indeed the Model 70 Safari Express is a big rifle, it ain't a mountain rifle that is for sure, but it excells in what it was designed for.  I love my Weatherby's but they are getting heavier as the year pass. My Remington 700 CDL 30.06 is my new light rifle.  My CZ550 American is dimensionally perfect. It is without doubt the most comfortable stock to quickly shoulder & align that I have ever owned. Nice & slim. 9.3x62 is probably my cartridge of choice for  mice to moose, blowflies to bear.       
A cartridge we don't hear much about is the truly splendid 375 Dakota. My personal favorite of the 375s. It has I believe the best case design of any big game cartridge.  It is perfect in my eyes. It is a shame they are so expensive.
Either way, be it 35 Whelen, or Brown,  9.3x62 or one of the 375s, we are well armed & in good company.  We certainly are fortunate that projectiles are so good now, we have in theory gone up a caliber.  These days I have thinned my armoury down to Weatherby Mark V Custom Ultramark.300Mag, CZ550 American 9.3x62, Remington 700 CDL 30.06, Winchester Model 70 Safari Express 375 Ruger. & a CZ 453 Premium 22LR. I don't think there will be anymore. The scopes will just get better. I have Zeiss on everything & I am updating the terrific Conquests to Victory HTs.  If for some reason I am ever reduced to one firearm, it will be my CZ550 9.3x62 with the 2.5-10 x50 Zeiss HT #6 in Warne Lever Mounts. With that I can hunt anything day or night.

[tomtomz]

I own two big Wby's: 378 and 30/378. Both recoil, even with long barrels and rifle weighing in at 10+ lbs.

Both have been hard on optics, scope mounts, shoulders, and eyebrows from scope bite.

How bad do you need a big bruiser like this? Get ready to suck it  up if you do. They are not friendly
In the field for many reasons. Brass is  expensive, Norma is good stuff if you cause get it.