.338federal or .35whelen for lefties?

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wildphil24

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Hi guys,

For moose hunting I'd like to get a big-bore rifle, flat-shooting, standard recoil and no muzzle-brake. Repeating action, ideally semi-auto or pump. Under 1500$.
For calibers I believe my best bet are .338federal and .35whelen.
Sadly these are a little rare with the trend to short and ultra mag calibers. Left-handed versions then get pretty rare.

Which rifle would you suggest?
 
If you really want a semi, you can get the Rem 750 in .35whelen. Personally, I would get a LH Rugger M77 in .30-06 and kill just as many moose. :)
 
Neilm said:
You can get a left hand ruger in their short 338. Aliitle more than the 338 federal.
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Bolt action and an unknown caliber, I'll keep hunting with my M1A. Thanks anyways!

blargon said:
If you really want a semi, you can get the Rem 750 in .35whelen. Personally, I would get a LH Rugger M77 in .30-06 and kill just as many moose. :)
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Remington 750 are only right-handed I believe. With a Monte-Carlo stock, not really suited for a lefty.

Anyone know a LH semi/pump in .338federal or .35whelen?
 
Duffy said:
A pump 7600 in .35 whelen would work (I have one)

How about a Marlin lever action in .338 Marlin express. (google it)
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Good ideas but I'll pass. As pump/semi .338federal or .35whelen are not available with left-hand ejection, I'll go with my M1A. After-all, less guns = more practice.
I would just have taken extra punch in a lefty package.

Thanks everyone!
 
cam1936 said:
Since when did .338 or .358 become big bore?
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Heuh. Everything is relative. For a hunter or policeman in Quebec a rifle over .30 is rare enough to be called a big-bore. If I was in the west with brown-bear I could revise that to .375.

I guess for an african guide it starts from .45 and for a military sniper it start at .50.
For a muzzle-loader I guess a .45 is a small bore.

What is it for you?
 
GRiNGo said:
My only comment would be that you said flat shooting, and 338 federal is anything but. So on that I would pick the 35 whelen.
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In the Guns illustrated 2007, the ballistic tables says that .338federal has about the same trajectory than a .308, maybe a bit better. .35whelen seems a little bit less reaching. I don't have reloading books. Do you believe .35whelen shoots flatter than .308 and .338fed?

Traditionnally a .308 was flat-shooting. I meant I was looking for 3-400 meters hunting range, excluding .45-70 and such.

Slooshark1 said:
Buy a used 7600 .308 and send it to Steve Holborn for a rebore to .338 Federal.
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Nice idea...

But as I said, if I'm to use a right-handed rifle, it will be my M1A.
I was wondering if I could get a LH pump/semi in these caliber but it seems impossible so I'll go with my M1A.
 
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I would take a Rem 700 CDL in 35 Whelen and add a L/H Boyds stock for $92 US and yes they are even making L/H thumbholes now for R/H actions. They also make lefties for the Ruger 77 MkII.
 
FYI. according Boyds cross reference a 20ga Rem 870 stock will fit a 760 and the shot gun stock doesn't have the Monte Carlo. There's even a few on E-Bay
 
Don't forget the .358W. It will handle cartridges to 250 gr, and can be sighted in to be useful out to 300 yards. Look for one in a BLR, 99 Savage, Win 88, or ... you could find one of these, or another action you like in .308W and have it rebored or rebarreled to .358W. Heck, why not go the distance with a new stock - synthetic, walnut or laminate, and a refinish of your choosing on the metalwork. Get the cartridge you want in a sort of semi- custom rifle that suits your needs and your personal taste. We all have lots of ideas when spending someone else's money!
 
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