338-06 vs 8mm-06 vs 35 Wheelen vs 375 Wheelen vs 9.3x62 POWER!

[112Savage]

From personal experience using a 9.3x62 with 22" barrel
286gr swift a-frame 2536fps RS Big game and CCI250
250gr Accubond 2640fps CFE223 WLRM
These loads are maximum using long OAL to fit the magazine and lapua brass
An extra 100fps can be had with a 26" barrel.

This is still not a long range round, but quite powerful in a light package.

 

[lotech]

I've had a .338-06 (took my first bull elk with it thirty years ago), a couple of .35 Whelens, a .35 Whelen Improved, a .375 Whelen Improved, and a .411 Hawk. Lots of enjoyment working with all these and I learned a lot. Eventually got rid of them all and miss none of them. From a practical field perspective, I think an accurate and well-constructed 200 grain bullet in a .30-06 would pretty much do anything the bigger wildcats can.

 

[TRexF16]

I've had a .338-06 (took my first bull elk with it thirty years ago), a couple of .35 Whelens, a .35 Whelen Improved, a .375 Whelen Improved, and a .411 Hawk. Lots of enjoyment working with all these and I learned a lot. Eventually got rid of them all and miss none of them. From a practical field perspective, I think an accurate and well-constructed 200 grain bullet in a .30-06 would pretty much do anything the bigger wildcats can.

I still have my 9.3x62, 35 Whelen AI, and two .338-06s, yet I can't argue with the final sentence above, at least for North American game. I'm a rifle loony and just enjoy messing with those cartridges.
I got a lot of the Nosler 200 grain partition blems from SPS recently and have been playing with loads for the 30-06. H4831 will get you pretty close to 2700 FPS, but RL-26 will easily exceed that while staying under max. 60 grains does it for me in my 22" barrel, but that particular rifle always gets more pressure and velocity than most from a given charge, so I have learned to always start low and work up in it, expecting to hit max a grain or two below published. Most folks online have needed more than 60 grains RL-26 to get 2700 FPS.

We now return you to the celebration of the Medium Bores...

;o)
Rex

 

[shortgrass]

The 9.3 x 62 is reasonably 'new' to the US, been given attention by those who hunt Africa. The 9.3 runs right on the heels of the .375H&H and should be ideal for bears and critters the size of moose at the ranges they are hunted at. The 9.3x62 has been a popular in Europe and Africa since its creation.

 

[KMLampson]

I had an old Rem 700 ADL that I wanted to rebarrel. I had narrowed my choices down to the 338-06, 35 Whelen, and 9.3x62, and spent a lot of time comparing the merits of each cartridge. Almost think it comes down to personal preference, and at this point the availability of components is a factor. I went with the 338-06, and have zero regrets, but if I hunted in Africa I probably would have went with the 9.3x62.

 

[Hand Skills]

Improved or not, strictly from a Hunting perspective. We know the .338-06 Improved is astounding, but which is the Absolute Best for drop & power. Stats & Specs only from experienced users. (Please no short neck improved cartridges, KISS)

What do you mean by 'drop'?

 

[TRexF16]

What do you mean by 'drop'?

Good question. My 35 WAI "dropped" this old boy pretty well - through both shoulders and DRT. I reckon it has good drop.
;o)
Rex

 

[TRexF16]

And my Mauser 338-06 dropped this guy in MT last year, but unlike the elk, he did about a 75 yard dead-on-his-feet death run. Got to the fence and fell over. So I guess the 338-06 doesn't have as good of a drop as the Whelen
This was this rifle's first trip afield after I got it finished.
Nothing but lungs hit with the 200 gr Nosler Combined Tech. Ballistic Silvertip at a MV of 2850'. I'm thinking that load is a little hot and probably needs backing off.
I hope to use the 9.3 I'm finishing up for something this year, or soon. Pretty sure it'll have excellent drop.

Cheers,
Rex

 

[TRexF16]

Good question. My 35 WAI "dropped" this old boy pretty well - through both shoulders and DRT. I reckon it has good drop.
;o)
Rex

I should explain that pic of the bull and my rifle. I shot the bull first and hit him too far back. It was probably lethal and penetrated fully. The little bit of blood visible in the pic is leakage from the entrance side of that shot. Slightly angling away. It kind of hunched him up. He turned 180 degrees but then just stood there, broadside facing the opposite direction, at 150 yards. I settled down and put the second round right on the point of the shoulder. This was the 225 TSX over a less-than-max charge of 70 grains/PP 2000-MR at a MV of 2800FPS. It is the only Barnes X I ever recovered. It was under the hide on the off side after breaking both shoulders and dropping the bull so fast that neither I nor my buddy saw him fall. I was cussing myself thinking maybe I miffed the second shot as we walked over to where he'd been standing, then about halfway there we saw an 8-point antler sticking up - and there was much rejoicing!
I weighed the bullet. 225.0 grains. Amazing.

Cheers,
Rex

 

[freddiej]

I guess I will just tag in because I have some limited knowledge of a few cartridges listed.. I only have hunting/shooting experience with the 338 Win Mag, and 375 H&H. I have built a 35 Whelen AI, one 8MM-06, one 338-06 A-square AI, and one 375 Whelen AI. I have no real practical experience shooting them. as with the other 30-06 case creations, the 270 Win and the 25-06 I have lots of experience shooting and making game go down. no experience with the 280 Rem or AI, 6MM-06, 22-06, 321-06, or any other wildcatted 30-06 cartridge.

 

[Alibiiv]

This is a drop factor. This is a 235lb black bear shot at 60 yards, 35 Whelen, Barnes 225gr TSX; exit hole. This bear dropped 10 feet as it slid down a 10 foot hill. The second photo is an entry hole on a 180lb black bear shot at 60 yards, 35 Whelen, Barnes 225gr TSX

 

[TRexF16]

That's pretty good drop.

C'mon y'all let's see some more drop data with these cartridges!
Rex

 

[MagnumManiac]

I have a 338-06 custom I built for myself as my first ever gun I built on a Mauser 98.
Between that rifle, my buddies 35 Whelen and another buddies 9.3x62, the only difference I see is bullet weight and velocity.
The 338 has better BC bullets available and this shows up at 400 according to my ballistic app, but my longest shot was in NZ at a hair over 400, 412mtr laser measured.
Normally, I use 210g Partitions in the 338-06, but I was told shots could be 400mtr or more, so I developed a load with Nosler 200g BT's (discontinued). Glad I did, the shot was pretty easy being a 30° downhill shot.
The Whelen and 9.3 get some good trajectories too, but as bullet weight goes up, the trajectory gets a lot more arched and hits at longer range get more difficult.
It's more than likely that either of those rifles would have hit that elk too, but it was far easier with a high BC bullet.

There really isn't a lot of difference between them if you use the same bullet weights.

Cheers.

 

[Wild Monkey]

What do you mean by 'drop'?

Bullet drop over distance.