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As a custom gunsmith I have 2 basic trains of thought on such rifle. #1 is to cater to the shooters who love nostalgia and/or have an old rifle they want restored and know the value of a good restoration. Those men will want the old classic cartridges. The 318, and 333 both being outstanding in the game fields. #2 is to cater to those hunters who know the value of the ballistics of 33 35 and 36 caliber bullets at velocities from 2200FPS-2600 FPS, and are not as concerned with nostalgia, and are asking for a new rifle to be made from the action up, to suit their needs perfectly. These men are the ones that ask for the 338-06, the 35 Whelen and the 9.3X62 All 3 of these cartridges fulfill the nitch of the old 318 and 333 perfectly, or can even exceed the old ballistics just a bit. If you wish to fire very heavy bullets in the 338 or 358 bores, it’s best to have the barrels made with faster than normal twists, but that is no big trick. By twisting the 338 at 1 in 8.5”, and the .358 at 1-10” you can fire bullets in the 300 grain range with excellent accuracy, and the penetration is outstanding. I have owned and hunted with the 338-06 myself and used bullets from 210 to 275 in a barrel with a 1-10 twist. I could not ask for more than the rifle gave me, so for myself, I would probably not go with a faster twist, but that’s just my feelings on it. I have made probably 30 35 Whelen rifles in the past, and all I have made gave their owners the results they wanted, but in the .358” bore it’s important to make sure you get bullets that are strong for hunting anything of larger size. So of the .358 bullets made in the USA are a bit too soft for deep penetration. If used with Nosler Partitions or with Barnes Xs, the 35 Whelen is going to do anything you would reasonably ask it to do. Both sizes are made by Woodleigh and from all I have heard, those bullets are about perfect too. I believe the 9.3X62 is about right where it is, and needs no improvements. Is used with the correct bullets, I have never heard any negative criticism of any of these “mediums’--- from the 318 to the 9.3X62. I doubt there is any noteworthy difference on game between any of them from the 318 to the 35 Whelen. The 9.3 may be a bit out in front, but I have no information to prove it yet. I own a 9.3X74R (which gives about the same ballistics and I have been very happy with it so far. The Speer 270 grain bullet is not so good even though it’s SUPER accurate, but the Hornady and the Noslers are excellent so far.) |