Medium Bore Dilemma

[Rell]

One rifle to rule them all, one rifle to better them, One rifle to round them all out, and in the darkness bind them; In the Land of Giant dangerous or delicious animals.

This quote is speaking about the magical 9.3x62 on a Mauser 98 action, quarter rib, express sights, barrel banded slings swivel, QR rings and bases and a 1.7-13.4x42 Swarovski z8.

There is nothing on the planet it can’t do with 232gr, 250gr, 286gr or 300gr bullets. Yes some rifles do some things better but it will do everything any reasonable rifleman asks of it.

 

[Rell]

PS the other thing you might be missing is a medium range, low recoil thumper.

A 338 Federal or 358 Winchester on a light, short action rifle might be just what’s missing.

 

[Tom Leoni]

The glorious history, the fine rifles chambered for it, plus the unbeatable terminal ballistics are the reasons why I own and cherish my .318. You'd have to search really hard to find a cartridge between .30 and .375 that outclasses it. A 250gr .330" bullet traveling at 2400fps has it all--moderate recoil, high sectional density, a flat enough trajectory, and tremendous killing power.

 

[MRBlack]

The glorious history, the fine rifles chambered for it, plus the unbeatable terminal ballistics are the reasons why I own and cherish my .318. You'd have to search really hard to find a cartridge between .30 and .375 that outclasses it. A 250gr .330" bullet traveling at 2400fps has it all--moderate recoil, high sectional density, a flat enough trajectory, and tremendous killing power.

Is your 318 original or is it a rifle you’ve built?

 

[Trogon]

My pick would be either 9.3x62mm or .35 Whelen. Seemingly many bullet choices (not withstanding the bullet/powder/primer difficulties of finding in-stock currently). I own a Ruger Hawkeye African in 9.3 Mauser, so biased to that cartridge as I really like the rifle.
My rifle cartridge and guns inventory for medium-size game plus is 6.5x55 Swede, 7mm Mauser, 7m Remington Mag, 300 Winchester Magnum, 9.3x62mm and .375 H&H Mag (not counting lever rifles in .30-30 Winchester, .35 Remington and .45-70 as they are good for where I hunt in woodlands, short range shots).
Your current battery sounds good to me, @MRBlack , but I have only a single trip to the Eastern Cape, and know nothing about other regions of SA, what the hunting conditions are.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m kinda leaning towards the 338 Winchester currently. Perhaps it and a 300 H&H. I feel it would make a great 2 gun battery in classy cartridges.

@MRBlack
The 338 won't do anything better out to sensible hunting ranges that the Whelen won't do. Two oldies from the same era not a late 50s 338
Bob

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

With a .30-06 and a .375HH, I think you're in search of a solution for which there is no problem. Having been guilty of that myself, if you just want something in between have at it. During normal times I'd probably recommend the .338, either flavor, presuming bullet selection was normal. But we don't live in normal times, so it may be a better decision to go with one of the somewhat lesser common calibers for which there may be less demand and thus supply may be available. Key words in that last sentence being "may."

 

[rigbymauser]

Interesting to observe these debates. Most of the recommended cartridges are pre ww1 inventions. It seems the perfect mediumbore cartridge was perfected before WW1. Adding better bullets it just become even better.

 

[ChrisG]

Interesting to observe these debates. Most of the recommended cartridges are pre ww1 inventions. It seems the perfect mediumbore cartridge was perfected before WW1. Adding better bullets it just become even better.

I wonder if thats because, for every possible situation a hunter or combatant could face, there had already been a smokeless rifle cartridge designed to meet that need before WWI (I would actually say WWII because some good designs came out of the 20's and 30's). But, for some reason, we could not leave well enough alone. So we produced nuanced versions of these cartridges, then marketed them as leaps and bounds ahead of their predecessors. Enough people were fooled by this fairly unsophisticated technique, and thats why we have 37 cartridges that all do the same thing, but each has its own ridiculously small nuance to separate it from the others.

The amazing .308?! The .300 savage did exactly the same job but for some ridiculous reason, wasn't acceptable whereas the .308 was.

For the past 100 years, gunwriters and cartridge marketers have perfected making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Tom Leoni]

Is your 318 original or is it a rifle you’ve built?

Original--it's a Cogswell & Harrison from circa 1930. Bore is as new!

 

[AZDAVE]

Well you have an interesting problem The same one many of us here have faced and some have dealt with it better than me. I mostly have from 22LR to 505 Gibbs in bolt guns covered. In the mid bore (8mm-375 my definition) most every time I have headed out the door the 9.3x62 follows me, while the 338,35, and 375 (My wife absconded with my 375) stay in the safe. Small rifles 6.5-30, (again my definition) the 6.5Creed,7x57, 30/06, and 300H&H get taken the most. The little guns the 22lr and 22 hornet win and in the big bore 40Cal+ we won't even go into that one.

Since yours is a want and not a need the 338, 35, or 9.3 will fit the bill.

In the need category use the money as a deposit on a safari and go hunt africa.

 

[fourfive8]

Following on the theme of over-full niche marketing. It's absolutely true that most every practical caliber and cartridge type has been made as a wildcat since the '20s. The only things that have evolved significantly since then are bullets and powders.

Another thing I don't quite follow is that somehow a romantic or metric cartridge with a name associated that really rolls off the tongue at campfire discussions- like Whelen or Westley Richards or Rigby is more ballistically capable or "hits harder" than the more mundane, modern decimal cartridges. I've heard folks actually say, "I don't know why, but the 416 Rigby hits harder than the 416 Remington". Never mind that the ballistics are identical Okiedoakie. Or that such cartridges as the 35 Whelen or 9.3x62 are equivalent to a 375HH. If that theory held true then a 223 would be equivalent to a 243 equivalent to a 257 equivalent to a 264 equivalent to a 270 equivalent to a 284 equivalent to a 308 and so on... therefore a 223 would be equivalent to a 308 ?... While I really am a romantic type at heart and study, eat and breath history, reality does occasionally get in the way and at some point romantic notions do become academic fantasies.

With the possible exception of Hawk Bullets, I have no idea where to find reliable quantities of modern design, premium hunting bullets for either a .333 or a .330 caliber much less in any variety to allow for meaningful testing or comparison. I constantly hear, "well Woodleigh makes 'em, etc., etc.,". Uh really? Hawk bullets are decent hunting bullets but they are by no means the best of modern technology- being of conventional, non-bonded cup and core design with a fairly thick jacket. Obviously there will be odd NOS boxes of bullets in various calibers by various manufacturers scattered all around the planet but good luck finding them and finding a reliable supply.

But there is no denying the attraction of a romantic caliber like the 375 HH or the 318 Westley Richards. Matter of fact no doubt in my mind, if Bell's 318 ammo was as reliable as his 7x57 ammo, the history of Bell's favorite ivory hunting cartridge would have been different. Bell stated he couldn't recall a misfire shooting his 7x57, 173 FMJ DWM factory ammo but had so many problems with the 318 WR factory ammo he had to abandon it for elephant even though it was his favorite. While disposing of the excess 318 ammo, he was witnessed shooting passing cormorants on the wing with the 318 and at a high percentage hit rate Near the end of his life he reportedly confessed that if given a do-over, he would probably select a Winchester Model 70 in 308 Win fitted with simple ghost ring rear sight. I think that allows for some reflection about so called "romantic" calibers, eh? I've never heard anyone refer to the 308 as a romantic caliber... save some who longed for the day of the M-14 as our primary military small arm.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Everyone has recommend another big game ctg. Reading the list of calibers you have I suggest a good old .222 Remington. The .223 will do a bit more than the .222 Rem, but the .222 Rem. is no slouch & has something like 20yrs of DOMINATING the benchrest game! It's "spooky" accurate, a real classic in its own rite, & off the chart fun! It's an honest 300yd squirrel gun & I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a wolf with it.
Check it out, you might be really pleased with one. It'll be different & a load of fun to shoot.

 

[ChrisG]

Everyone has recommend another big game ctg. Reading the list of calibers you have I suggest a good old .222 Remington. The .223 will do a bit more than the .222 Rem, but the .222 Rem. is no slouch & has something like 20yrs of DOMINATING the benchrest game! It's "spooky" accurate, a real classic in its own rite, & off the chart fun! It's an honest 300yd squirrel gun & I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a wolf with it.
Check it out, you might be really pleased with one. It'll be different & a load of fun to shoot.

+1! My old .222 remington would also keep the critter in the crosshairs during recoil so you could see the hit or miss through the scope. Virtually no recoil. My .223 doesnt kick much either but at 200 yards a woodchuck disappears from the scope for a moment when you fire. Not many sporter weight rifles can do that and actually hot as hard as a .222

 

[MRBlack]

+1! My old .222 remington would also keep the critter in the crosshairs during recoil so you could see the hit or miss through the scope. Virtually no recoil. My .223 doesnt kick much either but at 200 yards a woodchuck disappears from the scope for a moment when you fire. Not many sporter weight rifles can do that and actually hot as hard as a .222

Appreciate the recommendation! I forgot to mention I have a 22-250, 5.56 (223) in an AR, and 22 LR.

 

[MS 9x56]

What you need is a 35 caliber. Take your pick as there are many. Myself I like them all.

 

[Woodcarver]

I have a similar battery (more or less) you have except the calibers below .308 are just .223 and .22LR.

I am going to Africa this year for Buffalo and Tuskless (500 NE) and Zebra, Kudu, Sable and Lechwe (.300 RUM). I don't feel I am under gunned for any of the game.

If anything, you have too many calibers. .375 H&H is not needed, as it is a compromise caliber. You have true big bores, so it is not needed for DG and you have the .300 RUM which is good for any PG at any distance. Sell the .375 and get whatever you long to buy if that is your fancy.

Blasphemy!!!! On AH no less!!! One can never have "too many calibers". And to claim the 375 H&H as not needed?!? How much alcohol was involved before making such outlandish statements?

 

[Woodcarver]

@MRBlack , you are definitely lacking several calibers. My suggestion would be to acquire a 338WM initially, as they are readily available, then build a 350 Norma Mag. It would also be advisable to find a good, pre-war 9.3x62 to make sure you have the medium bore range covered. Putting a 35 Whelen in there wouldn't hurt either (I hear they can be moderately effective). Might be smart to put a 333J and 318WR in the safe as well.
Without these additions at a minimum, you will struggle to have the proper caliber for the assortment of game out there waiting to be pursued. A rifle for each species of animal is actually the best method to be sure and make the most humane kill possible.

(Btw-just show your wife this post to explain why these are needed)

 

[MRBlack]

@MRBlack , you are definitely lacking several calibers. My suggestion would be to acquire a 338WM initially, as they are readily available, then build a 350 Norma Mag. It would also be advisable to find a good, pre-war 9.3x62 to make sure you have the medium bore range covered. Putting a 35 Whelen in there wouldn't hurt either (I hear they can be moderately effective). Might be smart to put a 333J and 318WR in the safe as well.
Without these additions at a minimum, you will struggle to have the proper caliber for the assortment of game out there waiting to be pursued. A rifle for each species of animal is actually the best method to be sure and make the most humane kill possible.

(Btw-just show your wife this post to explain why these are needed)

I see you too are a man who is a “species-cartridge specialist”. No such thing as too many cartridges, just too little ammunition. Certainly lots of good advice here. This forum is the worst group of enablers I have ever encountered- and I wouldn’t change a thing.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Blasphemy!!!! On AH no less!!! One can never have "too many calibers". And to claim the 375 H&H as not needed?!? How much alcohol was involved before making such outlandish statements?

@Woodcarver
Can you play golf with 3 clubs, NO.
Can you hunt with with 3 rifles, yes BUT you still need MORE to makesure you have all bases both real and imaginary covered.
Bob