35 Whelen vs 9.3x62

[expresshunt]

@WAB
Thanks mate and I do like your sense of humor especially in trying to make me think the 243 actually has a use. Makes me laugh all the time.
Bob

Love my 243.. but dont have a use for a 35 Whelan atm... Got a lovely mauser 9.3x62 sporter, buy some ammo, fire one, maybe 2 test shots every trip to Vic, fixes Sambar at any angle. All great Sambar rounds the 35W, 9.3 and 338WM, as effective close & far, through brush, and not a heavy rifle to carry up hills. For our backpacking Sambar hunts in mountains etc I then grab an ultralight 300WSM, much easier to climb and tote around, when all camp items etc are as light weight as possible.
Have seen the 35W, 9.3 and 338 all perform well on Water buffalo and Scrub bull too, with a tough bullet and perfect placement. I'm sure lots, and all sorts of game fell to the 318, 333, 8mm and 350s in past years.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Love my 243.. but dont have a use for a 35 Whelan atm... Got a lovely mauser 9.3x62 sporter, buy some ammo, fire one, maybe 2 test shots every trip to Vic, fixes Sambar at any angle. All great Sambar rounds the 35W, 9.3 and 338WM, as effective close & far, through brush, and not a heavy rifle to carry up hills. For our backpacking Sambar hunts in mountains etc I then grab an ultralight 300WSM, much easier to climb and tote around, when all camp items etc are as light weight as possible.
Have seen the 35W, 9.3 and 338 all perform well on Water buffalo and Scrub bull too, with a tough bullet and perfect placement. I'm sure lots, and all sorts of game fell to the 318, 333, 8mm and 350s in past years.

@expresshunt
Someone has to like the 243 but I can't come at it. Glad to hear you like your sambar hunting.
Where in OZ do you hail from. There's a lot of us on here.
Bob

 

[expresshunt]

My 243 Sako Varmint is my varmint, fox, rabbit, roo rifle.. dont like cleaning a 224 bore.. In WA, and venture to NT in dry season for safari work. Try to get on Sambar every year now, love it, and Africa calls us...

 

[PaulT]

I think if we can agree that powder capacity rules the day, then while the difference is small between the two, the larger capacity still wins if both are loaded to max in similar platforms with similar loads, same bullet weight, pressure etc. It cannot be otherwise.
And if the .35 Whelen can nip at the heels of the .375 magnum, well then load them both ups to max, and throw in the .338 win mag too and see who wins.
I used to consider myself a fairly adventurous reloader, but well, not anymore, especially as compared to some,, LOL.
Get well soon Bob!

Ses, now there you go injecting facts in to a purely subjective and emotional subject.

I will organise a full case of coolaide to be dispatched to your address immediately.

 

[expresshunt]

PaulT.. do you have a 35W or 9.3 for Sambar.? Your in that neck of the woods in Victoria.

 

[MS 9x56]

I have both and like both. The main difference at least here in the US is most rifles come in 1-14 twist which means a loss of accuracy with the longer bullets plus lack of heavier than 250 grain bullets where as you can get up to 320 grain bullets for the 9.3. Not that we have anything that requires those heavier bullets in North America. I do enjoy reloading, shooting and hunting with both. Good hunting gentleman.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

PaulT.. do you have a 35W or 9.3 for Sambar.? Your in that neck of the woods in Victoria.

@expresshunt
I used to use a 444 marlin on a No4 SMLE loaded with 280 grain Woodleigh RNSP @ 2,400 fps. I found this to much gun. Last one I shot was with a 270 loaded with the Australian 130grain ACPs. One shot bang flop.
Bob.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I have both and like both. The main difference at least here in the US is most rifles come in 1-14 twist which means a loss of accuracy with the longer bullets plus lack of heavier than 250 grain bullets where as you can get up to 320 grain bullets for the 9.3. Not that we have anything that requires those heavier bullets in North America. I do enjoy reloading, shooting and hunting with both. Good hunting gentleman.

@MS 9x56
Try midway last I heard they had 310 grain Woodleigh RNSP in stock in 358 cal.
They also do a 275grain
Bob

 

[bruce moulds]

bob,
why did you use a 444 rather than the whelen?
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

bob,
why did you use a 444 rather than the whelen?
bruce.

@bruce moulds
The Whelen got built after I shot a sambar with the 270.
Had to shoot something bigger with the 270 so I could say anything about it. Yeah the 270 works but I still don't like it. My 25 will do everything it does and more.
Bob

 

[PaulT]

PaulT.. do you have a 35W or 9.3 for Sambar.? Your in that neck of the woods in Victoria.

Hi Graham.

I have, and have had, all the calibers you mention, plus the 30/06, various 300 mags the .338, the 9.3x64 and the .375 and have used all of them on Sambar.

As you will appreciate, far more important to me than the caliber being used is the projectile being fired and where it is placed.
For me it is the projectile and not the cartridge that is doing the damage.
Thousands of an inch here or there are basically irrelevant if using an inappropriate projectile.

For my own use i have settled on a 220gn Corelokt from my 06' for most of my stalking and a 225gn from my .338 for my "glassing"/back-packing hunts where shots can be out to 350yds. Both have proven 100% effective and reliable.

 

[7x57Joe]

My 243 Sako Varmint is my varmint, fox, rabbit, roo rifle.. dont like cleaning a 224 bore..

It's nice to know someone else doesn't like cleaning .224 bore barrels. I absolutely detest cleaning them and I have such a nice, accurate .223.

 

[WAB]

It's nice to know someone else doesn't like cleaning .224 bore barrels. I absolutely detest cleaning them and I have such a nice, accurate .223.

I felt the same way and then I bought a .17. Now the .224 doesn't seem so bad!

 

[Laurie Colgrave]

Some facts fellas we all have favourites. I like to report on my observations rather than heresay.
The 9.3x62 has 5-6 grains more capacity, so given similar throat, barrel length etc. the 9.3 will be slightly better...
The 35 Whelen has been limited by its slower twist barrels (factory) designed for the US made 225-250grain bullets. This provides advantage to the 9.3 with its faster twist & heavier bullets... A 1/14" twist or better will even these two cartridges up plenty.....
I have two 9.3x62's & a .338W. The 9.3 is easier to shoot with less felt recoil. On big animals (scrub bulls) the 9.3 (my reloads) seems to put em down a bit quicker, even though both are very lethal. I feel the .338W would be stronger beyond 250m, I rarely shoot this far..
My 9.3 loads achieve 2620fps with a 286gn bullet & 2530fps with a 320gn bullet.
My .338W loads achieve 2830fps with 225gn bullets & 2690fps with 250gn bullets.
I know Bob Nelson has also achieved very powerful 35 Whelen performance!

Its about comparing apples with apples ....

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi Laurie,

Well said. I agree. Numbers, phisics and thermodynamics cannot be ignored....
I do not have or used the .338 Win Mag. But I used, a lot since 1992, for big deer and wild boar, and lesser animals, the .375 H&H. I have the 9,3x62 since 2017, and I have used it for a relatively few of that game animals. I cannot see until now, much differences between this two.
By the way, I would like to know your 9,3x62 loads and firearm plattform to reach those velocities!

Thank you!

CF

 

[MS 9x56]

@bruce moulds
The Whelen got built after I shot a sambar with the 270.
Had to shoot something bigger with the 270 so I could say anything about it. Yeah the 270 works but I still don't like it. My 25 will do everything it does and more.
Bob

I think when you compare performances of 2 similar cartridge sizes that the results reflect the rifle man more than the round. Performance wise a good rifle man will see very little difference while a weekend warrior who doesn't know his rifle or shoot as well will perceive a big difference. Just one old hunter and rifle loonies opinion.Good hunting.

 

[Laurie Colgrave]

I have attached pics of the 9.3x62 & 35 Whelen cases for comparison. The case capacities are 77-78 grains for 9.3x62 & 70-72 grains for 35 Whelen. Both grand cartridges,,,,,

 

[CoElkHunter]

Hi Graham.

I have, and have had, all the calibers you mention, plus the 30/06, various 300 mags the .338, the 9.3x64 and the .375 and have used all of them on Sambar.

As you will appreciate, far more important to me than the caliber being used is the projectile being fired and where it is placed.
For me it is the projectile and not the cartridge that is doing the damage.
Thousands of an inch here or there are basically irrelevant if using an inappropriate projectile.

For my own use i have settled on a 220gn Corelokt from my 06' for most of my stalking and a 225gn from my .338 for my "glassing"/back-packing hunts where shots can be out to 350yds. Both have proven 100% effective and reliable.

Just curious as to what brand of 225gr bullet do you use in your .338? Thanks!

 

[sestoppelman]

Just for giggles I did a little weighing of charges.

Using Hunter ball powder to fill cases, I have as follows;
.35 Whelen 70. 0 grs Rem case
9.3x62 75.0 grs "
8x64s 70.2 grs. S&B case
.375 H&H 93.7 Rem case
" 94.2 Win case

Claimed loads by Bob Nelson and Laurie Colgrave show .35 W and 9.3x62 loadings that equal or surpass what we might consider normal .375 velocities, even though the H&H has a 20 grain advantage in boiler room, and a bigger base to push on than either.
So it stands to reason that if the smaller rounds can achieve these extraordinary velocities, then the old H&H should be able to surpass them easily and so it can.
My Barnes manual shows top speeds of 2655 with a 300 gr TSX for about 4700 ME and shows the 300 gr Banded Solid at 2800 for 5223 ME which is .458 mag territory.
BTW the Ruger .375 in the same book does not show loads this fast.
I have been shooting and loading the .375 for many years but never felt the need to go much beyond standard loadings, think my hottest load pushed a 300gr Nosler to just over 2600 fps.
Same with the 9.3x62, standard speed loads work great, and likewise the great old Whelen. I was always happy to get 2500 fps with a 250 gr bullet and anything over 2600 fps with a 225 gr, seemed like good stuff to me.
I dont doubt the claimed speeds by some, but it just goes beyond where I have any real desire to go.

Lately enjoying working up loads for my 8x64s Mark X Mauser. I have some new Norma powders to try in it and that should be fun.

 

[Clodo Ferreira]

Hi sestoppelman,

Agree, of course about the real differences between 9,3x62/.35 Whelen and the .375 H&H. That 17%, roughly, means the potential velocity increase is around 200 f/s with similar bullets weights, all other being equal. By the way, with my .375 H&H with 25" barrel I can get 2800/2850 f/s with 250/260 grs bullets. With my 9,3x62 and 24" (almost, 23,7") barrel the 250 grs bullets cannot be loaded to more than 2600/2650 f/s.
Best!

CF