Mediums that perform

[Hunt anything]

Bob and I use our .243’s for mediums and I’m sure he’ll agree, they work well! At least up to Roan…

Them is fightin words! .243’s at 40 paces.

 

[ftrovato]

Well, my vote and usage has been a 340 Wby with 225/250 gr Nosler part. Used it on Alaska trips and as my PG rifle in Africa on several trips. Took all animals from Steenbok to eland in Africa and at ranges from a few yards to app. 250yds. I believe with a bonded bullet such as Swift etc it would handle Cape Buffalo.Waterbuck,gemsbok,sable zebra,wilder east we’re all one shot kills.Worked the same on cats.

The 340 gets it done near and far, big and small from 160 to 300 grain bullets. Hard to beat for everything smaller than African dangerous game.

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

.375 H&H takes care everything.

 

[RedTag]

Very interesting article by Terminal Ballistics Research on the 35 Whelen:

.35 Whelen

The .35 Whelen, history, loads and performance.

www.ballisticstudies.com

Terminal Ballistics Research is the Truth. You can’t go wrong with any of the information on that site. The book series is worth every dollar too.

 

[MS 9x56]

Bob and I use our .243’s for mediums and I’m sure he’ll agree, they work well! At least up to Roan…

Poke the bear much?

 

[Pirkan]

There's a certain sub culture of Swedish hog hunters that love to use this class of caliber to absolutely club year old pigs. They seem really effective for that purpose and ironically it's the 20-30 year olds keeping some calibers alive

 

[Badboymelvin]

I just love the .338WM and have owned a couple of them, both Winchester M70's.
Just a fantastic cartridge

Have never owned or fired one but I really like the 340 Wby too.
Looking at the ballistics what an absolute hammer.
A mate had one and offered to lend it to me so I could shoot it - and I declined, kicking myself now...
He also had a 460 Wby and offered me a shot of that and I also declined that as well... but I'm cool with that decision.

I also really like the 8mm Rem Mag. This stems after reading about it by the late, great Australian gun writer Nick Harvey.
After reading about it I've always wanted a synthetic stocked Rem 700 in 8mm Rem Mag... just a real pity the cartridge isn't really around anymore...

Russ

 

[ldmay375]

The 338 Winchester is one of my favorites. I also have a particular rifle in 338 Winchester. A buddy of mine said something similar to, that 338 just flat out kills stuff. I agree, with a proper bullet. It would still be my choice if I were a one rifle hunter for North American type game animals.

I was also intrigued by the 340 Weatherby and 8mm Remington. I bought a donor M70 stainless 375 H&H for a re-barrel to 340 WBY. I never did the project, still have the brass that I bought. I do like the cartridge. Another buddy had a WBY rifle it 340, it was and accurate rifle, and he killed a whopper of a brown bear with it.

The 8mm Remington had my attention when reading about its introduction. I don't have one, but do have a 325 WSM. The Kimber Montana in 325 makes for a fairly lightweight combination.

The only .35 that I have is a 358 Winchester. Maybe some day a Whelen. Bought a donor rifle for a Whelen conversion. Still have it, the dies and brass.

Most of my medium bores up to .375 get squeezed out of use by my 338 Winchester and 375 Ruger preference.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Very interesting article by Terminal Ballistics Research on the 35 Whelen:

.35 Whelen

The .35 Whelen, history, loads and performance.

www.ballisticstudies.com

@Kudurifle
I load the Whelen to its full potential eg 250s to 2,700fps so rang Nathan about the performance.
He said to read the performance of the 358 Norma mag for comparison as the Whelen loads were closer to a factory loaded Norma than a factory Whelen. Handloads turn the Whelen into an entirely different beast.
Nathan also regrets the loss of the 250gn Hornady Round nose as it was an outstanding bullet in the Whelen
The Whelen loaded properly is far better than anything that comes out of the factory.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Bob and I use our .243’s for mediums and I’m sure he’ll agree, they work well! At least up to Roan…

@NIGHTHAWK
The 243 is dynamite on paper targets, anything bigger or tougher than that forget it.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I just love the .338WM and have owned a couple of them, both Winchester M70's.
Just a fantastic cartridge

Have never owned or fired one but I really like the 340 Wby too.
Looking at the ballistics what an absolute hammer.
A mate had one and offered to lend it to me so I could shoot it - and I declined, kicking myself now...
He also had a 460 Wby and offered me a shot of that and I also declined that as well... but I'm cool with that decision.

I also really like the 8mm Rem Mag. This stems after reading about it by the late, great Australian gun writer Nick Harvey.
After reading about it I've always wanted a synthetic stocked Rem 700 in 8mm Rem Mag... just a real pity the cartridge isn't really around anymore...

Russ

@Badboymelvin
Russ just get a 325WSM Nick said it was the 8mm REM mag in a smaller case.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

The 338 Winchester is one of my favorites. I also have a particular rifle in 338 Winchester. A buddy of mine said something similar to, that 338 just flat out kills stuff. I agree, with a proper bullet. It would still be my choice if I were a one rifle hunter for North American type game animals.

I was also intrigued by the 340 Weatherby and 8mm Remington. I bought a donor M70 stainless 375 H&H for a re-barrel to 340 WBY. I never did the project, still have the brass that I bought. I do like the cartridge. Another buddy had a WBY rifle it 340, it was and accurate rifle, and he killed a whopper of a brown bear with it.

The 8mm Remington had my attention when reading about its introduction. I don't have one, but do have a 325 WSM. The Kimber Montana in 325 makes for a fairly lightweight combination.

The only .35 that I have is a 358 Winchester. Maybe some day a Whelen. Bought a donor rifle for a Whelen conversion. Still have it, the dies and brass.

Most of my medium bores up to .375 get squeezed out of use by my 338 Winchester and 375 Ruger preference.

@Idmay375
Get that Whelen made, stoke it up with a snoot full of CFE223 and it will become your go to rifle for everything.
Bob

 

[DLSJR]

I got a 338 Winchester for a 1985 Brown Bear hunt on Kodiak and it quickly became my favorite rifle. It’s been modified quite a bit as it now has a fiberglass stock and stainless Lilja barrel, a Timney trigger. It’s the only Model 70 I own that isn’t a pre-64 but it’s the rifle I hunt with more than any other. After experimenting with bullets from 210-250 grains I’ve settled on 225 grains as ideal and mostly shoot TTSX’s or Bearclaws though I also like Nosler Partitions a lot for it.

My other medium is a 375 H&H, a pre-64 action that we built the rifle around. 24” Krieger Stainless barrel, fiberglass stock, Timney trigger. Both rifles topped with a VX5HD in 2-10x with Firedot reticle and CDS. I shoot 300 grain bullets exclusively, TSX, Bearclaw and A Frames, along with Cutting Edge solids.

With those 2, I don’t see a reason to ever have any other medium bore rifle.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Anyone else remember this performing medium?

 

[Bush Buck]

@Kudurifle
I load the Whelen to its full potential eg 250s to 2,700fps so rang Nathan about the performance.
He said to read the performance of the 358 Norma mag for comparison as the Whelen loads were closer to a factory loaded Norma than a factory Whelen. Handloads turn the Whelen into an entirely different beast.
Nathan also regrets the loss of the 250gn Hornady Round nose as it was an outstanding bullet in the Whelen
The Whelen loaded properly is far better than anything that comes out of the factory.
Bob

Since I started this thread, the 35 Whelen has become another favorite - alongside my 375 H&H.

I've taken 6 mature hogs with it. I've used both 180 and 200 grain ttsx and both worked well but the 180s killed a little faster.
What amazes me about the Whelen is the power relative to the recoil in a light, handy rifle (typical 30-06 size and weight).
I find it fun to shoot at the range with Barnes ammo and hand loaded equivalents.

If I was shooting 250 at 2700 fps I am sure that most of that fun would be gone!

On the other hand, 2700 fps using 250 ttsx is very tolerable and very effective in my 375 H&H which is built to handle more recoil.

Of course, if you built a heavier Whelen with a good recoil pad and a magnum contour barrel things would be different - the rifle matters too.

Bush Buck

 

[NIGHTHAWK]

@NIGHTHAWK
The 243 is dynamite on paper targets, anything bigger or tougher than that forget it.
Bob

Every now and then you may get a luck shot with the old .243 grade stake?

 

[ftrovato]

Anyone else remember this performing medium?
View attachment 679595

The only man that ever did late night right!

 

[DLSJR]

The only man that ever did late night right!

When Jay Leno took over, I thought he was a huge downgrade from Johnny. However, Leno grew on me over time. I completely quit watching late night with the current crop of losers the networks push on the public these days.

Leno was the prince but Johnny will always be the King.

 

[mauser98]

Every now and then you may get a luck shot with the old .243 grade stake?
View attachment 679629
View attachment 679628
View attachment 679624
View attachment 679623

What bullet do you use?

 

[fourfive8]

Carnac the Magnificent!