Another article I found interesting the latest edition of Petersen's Hunting is on medium bores "Stuck in the Middle".
The thread on Bigger Bores and Bullets has been a great conversation, that I think everyone has been enjoying, and I think this article on the medium bores and cartridges is very useful and enlightening.
The article talks about the performance of medium bore cartridges between the 30-06 and grand old 375 H&H. It highlights the 35 Whelen (and we know there are a number of fans here!), the 350 Rigby and the 9.3x62. There is mention of the 318 Westley Richards and the comparable 338-06.
While I do not own a 35 Whelen, I have used a friend's to take a cow elk in the past, and spent some time shooting his old Remington pump and helping him find a load that it liked. While not the most accurate platform out there, it did shoot acceptably well at his normal hunting ranges and served him well over the years.
I did consider the Whelen when I was looking to replace my trusty old 338 Win Mag during the height of my shoulder issues, and eventually settled on the 338-06, as I had plenty of 338 caliber bullets on hand for handloading and am a fan of the caliber. I also knew no one else who had one, which for me added to its appeal. I have been very happy with it since building one on a left handed Rem 700 action with a 22" King barrel bedded into a Wenig nutmeg laminated stock. It will shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards with both Wby's factory 210gr NP ammo and my handloaded 215gr SGK's, both doing 2750 fps. And is comfortable to shoot as compared to the 338 Win Mag.
It was after this that I acquired my pre-81 BLR in 358 Win which has become one of my favourite rifles and cartridges, and gets carried and used a lot, or at least taken along on most hunts as backup. My daughter harvested her first big game animal with it,a young mule deer buck. Also have a couple of 356 Win's; a 94 Big Bore that DrMike graciously gifted to me a number of years ago and a Marlin 336ER that I finally acquired after more than 24 years of searching for one.
I have been interested in the 9.3x62 for many years, and became even more so after my Dad guided John Barsness to a moose with one. John wrote the story up in a couple of hunting magazines, and wrote the bio for the cartridge in the Nosler Reloading Guide #6, where he reiterated my Dad's comments on the cartridge's effectiveness. I have finally acquired one in a left handed Sako 85 Hunter and it shoots the Nosler factory 250gr AccuBond ammo into 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I look forward to many years of hunting adventures with this rifle!
Not mentioned in the article, but is another favourite of mine, is the old 375 Win! Have used a Marlin 375S for years on moose and black bears with great results. The old girl is fondly referred to as "Thumper" as whatever she shoots, "thumps" the ground! LOL
My new to me 94 Big Bore should be here next week sometime!
Another great cartridge that I am enjoying is the 376 Steyr! Built on a left handed Ruger M77 with a 21" King barrel bedded into a full length Wenig pepper laminated stock, she will put 3 into 1/2 groups at 100 yards with the 260gr AccuBonds at 2632 fps. And she is a pussycat to shoot of the bench! I have harvested a bull elk and a bull bison with it to date, and can say that she is very effective!
There is just something satisfying when using these cartridges and their effectiveness on big game that appeals to me. Animals are harvested quickly and cleanly, without a lot of fuss, recoil and bloodshot meat. You just can't get any better than that!
The thread on Bigger Bores and Bullets has been a great conversation, that I think everyone has been enjoying, and I think this article on the medium bores and cartridges is very useful and enlightening.
The article talks about the performance of medium bore cartridges between the 30-06 and grand old 375 H&H. It highlights the 35 Whelen (and we know there are a number of fans here!), the 350 Rigby and the 9.3x62. There is mention of the 318 Westley Richards and the comparable 338-06.
While I do not own a 35 Whelen, I have used a friend's to take a cow elk in the past, and spent some time shooting his old Remington pump and helping him find a load that it liked. While not the most accurate platform out there, it did shoot acceptably well at his normal hunting ranges and served him well over the years.
I did consider the Whelen when I was looking to replace my trusty old 338 Win Mag during the height of my shoulder issues, and eventually settled on the 338-06, as I had plenty of 338 caliber bullets on hand for handloading and am a fan of the caliber. I also knew no one else who had one, which for me added to its appeal. I have been very happy with it since building one on a left handed Rem 700 action with a 22" King barrel bedded into a Wenig nutmeg laminated stock. It will shoot 1/2" groups at 100 yards with both Wby's factory 210gr NP ammo and my handloaded 215gr SGK's, both doing 2750 fps. And is comfortable to shoot as compared to the 338 Win Mag.
It was after this that I acquired my pre-81 BLR in 358 Win which has become one of my favourite rifles and cartridges, and gets carried and used a lot, or at least taken along on most hunts as backup. My daughter harvested her first big game animal with it,a young mule deer buck. Also have a couple of 356 Win's; a 94 Big Bore that DrMike graciously gifted to me a number of years ago and a Marlin 336ER that I finally acquired after more than 24 years of searching for one.
I have been interested in the 9.3x62 for many years, and became even more so after my Dad guided John Barsness to a moose with one. John wrote the story up in a couple of hunting magazines, and wrote the bio for the cartridge in the Nosler Reloading Guide #6, where he reiterated my Dad's comments on the cartridge's effectiveness. I have finally acquired one in a left handed Sako 85 Hunter and it shoots the Nosler factory 250gr AccuBond ammo into 1/2" groups at 100 yards. I look forward to many years of hunting adventures with this rifle!
Not mentioned in the article, but is another favourite of mine, is the old 375 Win! Have used a Marlin 375S for years on moose and black bears with great results. The old girl is fondly referred to as "Thumper" as whatever she shoots, "thumps" the ground! LOL
My new to me 94 Big Bore should be here next week sometime!
Another great cartridge that I am enjoying is the 376 Steyr! Built on a left handed Ruger M77 with a 21" King barrel bedded into a full length Wenig pepper laminated stock, she will put 3 into 1/2 groups at 100 yards with the 260gr AccuBonds at 2632 fps. And she is a pussycat to shoot of the bench! I have harvested a bull elk and a bull bison with it to date, and can say that she is very effective!
There is just something satisfying when using these cartridges and their effectiveness on big game that appeals to me. Animals are harvested quickly and cleanly, without a lot of fuss, recoil and bloodshot meat. You just can't get any better than that!
