Your last rifle

powdergun

powdergun

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So I am at a point where my supplies should last me for the rest of my functional shooting life. I would like to pick up one more rifle for hunting purposes ( deer/moose). What I would like is a good bolt action chambered in something that fits the following:

1) Non magnum ( tired of looking for primers)
2) Reasonably tolerable recoil ( I am still pretty sturdy )
3) Relatively flat shooting out to 300 ish yards
4) No overbore cartridges
5) Larger than 30 cal

My current idea is looking at a 35 Whelen build but would like to hear some other suggestions and experiences.
 
9.3x62, 8x64, even 8x57 these would be my choices, I have one 9.3x62 and 2 8x57 all great calibers and as good as 35 Whelen for sure if not better!
 
Good choices mentioned above. I would also look at the 338-06.

Also hard to go wrong with a 9.3x62. Plenty rifles to choose from, factory ammo is decently affordable and available, reloading will give you near 375 H&H performance. 250gr at 2600-2700fps and a 286gr at 2400.
 
338-06 makes more sense in my mind than the whelan. 338 federal compares pretty favourably to the 308 out to 300 yards as well.
 
I have never owned a Whelan, I have a Husqvarna 1900 in 9.3x62, I refinished the stock and put a ghost ring sight on it, so not a 300 yard rifle, even with a scope 300 would be a stretch for me, I think the rifle would do it.
 
8mm06, 338-06, or 35 Whelen all sound like fantastic options for a One and Done gun that is over 30cal.

I'd lean towards the 8mm, only because I already shoot 6mm and 7mm rifles so the logical next step up is the 8. 35 Whelen is close enough to 9mm that I might need both though...lol
 
My choice would be the 338-06 all day long.

Greater velocity with any given bullet weight than the .35 Whelen using bullets with higher ballistic coefficients.
Very capable to the far side of 400 yards on moose and elk.
Kills deer without massive amounts of blood-shot meat.

338-06 210 TTSX (1).jpg
 

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Suther said:
8mm06, 338-06, or 35 Whelen all sound like fantastic options for a One and Done gun that is over 30cal.

I'd lean towards the 8mm, only because I already shoot 6mm and 7mm rifles so the logical next step up is the 8. 35 Whelen is close enough to 9mm that I might need both though...lol
Click to expand...

Yeah... need :D
 
My .35 Whelen pushes 250gr Hot Cores to 2632 FPS (average) using Speer published data. Stout! It's a total crusher. Haven't bothered with much else, it was kind of a one-and-done where I saw the data, decided to try it, laddered up to the published max and it was consistently accurate at the same time. That literally never happens for me, so this one is special and one of these days I'll make a point of building a Whelen to my exact specs.
 
I have so many 30-06 brass that a 8mm-06 would be cool! Hmmm 2 8x57, one could become a 8mm-06 maybe! Gunsmith with the right reamer, any suggestions?
 
If you're wanting bigger that 30, you don't gain anything by going to 8mm, and I have two "never sell" 8x57 (rimmed and normal)

I say go to 8.5 mm or 9.3

Why bother with 8/06 dgy? Make your 30-06 brass into 8x57 and keep the guns intact

As much as I hate to admit it as a 338 wm fan, the 338-06 is pretty close to perfect on several metrics
 
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