NitroX,

Your view is too utilitarian!

For as long as I can remember, the bolt gun mongers have argued ad nauseum about what is the best "all-around" caliber in any given cartridge class without resolving the issue.

Think of all the articles and arguments of whether the .30-30 is the "best" woods gun. They decided nothing.

The best light to medium caliber DR is that which most pleases its owner.

Undeniably the 9.3x74R is a fine caliber, and there are thousands of fine DR's chambered for it. On the other hand, some of the finest and most pleasing DR's I have encountered are chambered in such calibers as 9x57R, 8x57JR, 8x57JRS, 7x57R, 7x65R, and even various heretical rimless calibers. These rifles, when built by the more skilled artisans, are absolutely unequalled in fit, balance, and artistic appeal. Usually found with a claw-mounted scope, they weigh in at 7 1/2 to 9 pounds and are a joy to carry and shoot. They all kill effectively when in the hands of a skilled shooter.

Again, I emphasize, the best light to medium caliber DR is that which most pleases its owner. The choice is not just the caliber, but the entire package.

I've been gone from the forum for the last couple of weeks on a bear hunt in northern British Columbia in the vicinity of Telegraph Creek hunting with my "light to medium caliber" DR. I originally intended to take my 9.3, but its vintage scope came loose from the base during my preparatory shooting. It is now in the shop for repairs to the original Zeiss scope (re-solder the mounts to the scope tube) and to mount a brand new Leupold 1.5-5 VXIII in claws to fit the same claw bases, which will give me a modern fog-proof scope to use on my nearly 100 year old rifle, with no alterations.

Fortunatly for me, when the mount on the 9.3 failed I could reach into my gun box and pull out my J. Winkler double in .300 Win. Mag., which I had considered taking anyway. My load for it is the 220 grain Hornady round nose. you might argue that this is the functional equivalent to the 9.3. Up close that is virtually true, but I believe the .300 will reach out a little further. The bears would agree with you. They didn't know the difference.

Best regards,
Curl