Tough decisions on shuffling my gun collection

[pilar]

I have been chasing a buddies Browning Hi Power safari 30-06 for years and he has finally said yes , to make the deal finally happen I will need to shuffle out my 375ruger and a win m70 270 , the 06 will replace the 270 and I am thinking about a 9.3x62 for the 375 .
I know the 9.3 is very capable for my needs, yet it makes me nervous to drop a caliber/ power level!
Any thoughts on the pros and cons of this change up ?

 

[Beck]

Look at a 9.3x66 or don't sell the .375

 

[pilar]

Look at a 9.3x66 or don't sell the .375

I researched that

9.3x66 Sako

9.3x66 Sako cartridge data

www.ballisticstudies.com

 

[Russ16]

Not sure if the math in your deal and why you need to move the 375 ruger but if you have to move it I would replace with another 375. Probably H&H if it was me.

 

[Throwback]

Id do it, the Browning is a great catch. Only comment is obviously if you can adjust something, dont get rid of any of them. Keep em all!

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

The Browning Safari Grade is an outstanding factory rifle. They were not built for many years and I believe there are three grade levels. Take a look at the year of manufacture some have a salt-wood barrel pitting issue when Browning implemented expediting wood curing using salt to dry the wood. Unexpectedly at the time the wood absorbed the salt leading to the pitting of steel in contact with the stock. That doesn’t put me off but it is something you might want to be aware of. If anyway possible keep your .375 & .270.

 

[Desperatezulu]

Look at a 9.3x66 or don't sell the .375

Not sure a 9.3x66 is good advice unless an obscure (soon to be obsolete) calibre with unobtanium brass is the goal.

9.3 is hardly a drop in "power level" - especially for North American game. Other than legal requirements in some African countries for DG, in practical terms, if a 9.3 isn't man enough for the job, neither is a 375.

 

[pilar]

Not sure a 9.3x66 is good advice unless an obscure (soon to be obsolete) calibre with unobtanium brass is the goal.

9.3 is hardly a drop in "power level" - especially for North American game. Other than legal requirements in some African countries for DG, in practical terms, if a 9.3 isn't man enough for the job, neither is a 375.

I agree 9.3x66 sako is kinda obscure, worse than the 375ruger on ammo and brass selection.

 

[R eight]

Not sure a 9.3x66 is good advice unless an obscure (soon to be obsolete) calibre with unobtanium brass is the goal.

9.3 is hardly a drop in "power level" - especially for North American game. Other than legal requirements in some African countries for DG, in practical terms, if a 9.3 isn't man enough for the job, neither is a 375.

Exactly

 

[AZDAVE]

The 9.3x62 brass and ammo is easy to find the other 9.3 variants are much more difficult. If you are a handloader it is easy to get the x62 right on the heels of factory 375 ballistics.

The 06, and x62 along with a 416 of some flavor would make a fine 3 gun battery

 

[Flipper Dude]

“I need to get rid of a couple of guns so that I can get another one”, said no self-respecting Texan ever. Come on brother. Represent.

 

[hoytcanon]

Ditch the .375 Ruger, but replace it with the iconic .375 H&H... a .30-06 and a .375 H&H pretty much cover all the bases.

I had to do a huge downsizing after retirement, but I had to go from triple digits to double digits... the deeper the cuts, the harder the decisions.

 

[steve white]

Get the Browning, load down the 375 to cover any 9.3 range, get a heavy to fill that gap.
If you get rid of anything, you will only have to post about it later in a "guns I shouldn't have sold" thread, lol.

Then again, I am the guy in The Patriot, who said, "Eat the dog, drink the wine, use the books for musket loading paper"

 

[cash_tx]

I second hoytcanon's motion to get the Browning Safari 30-06, and pair it with a 375H&H. That is a timeless, do-anything combination that is also the easiest to feed.

 

[rifletuner]

I own, or have owned, rifles in 9.3x62, 9.3x66, 9.3x64 and 9.3x74.

The 9.3x66 case is only very marginally longer than the 9.3x62, with very little increase in case capacity. The 9.3x62 and 9.3x66 are ballistically about identical. Any claims the 9.3x66 is an equal of the 375 H&H is just marketing spiel, but in no way matches reality. I believe only Sako brass is offered in 9.3x66. Dies are available from RCBS, not sure about any others.

If you want a hot 9.3, the 9.3x64 is it, but the case head is an oddball between the "standard" 308 case head and the magnum. And cases are hard to get and expensive. My 9.3x64 is built on a standard bolt that was opened up to the correct case size. It was worth it to me to go to the effort required to build the 9.3x64, but it is a great deal more than just taking the easy route of a 9.3x62.

 

[txtrout75218]

Why do you want to move the 375 and move to a 9.3? I ask this for I think the 9.3x62 is great, but curious on your want to move to Ruger 375 and replace, for the 375 Ruger is a nice cartridge. Although 9.3x62 and 375 H&H are classic and easier to find ammo.

 

[WAB]

I have a Rigby in 9.3x62 and a custom M70 in .375 H&H. In the future, the .375 will only see use on buffalo as surgery on both wrists has forced me to retire my Lott. I’d probably hang on to the .375 if you plan to hunt buffalo in an area that won’t allow the 9.3. Otherwise, the 9.3x62 would be my choice.

I know it’s odd, but I will grab the 9.3 for a deer hunt. I do not grab the .375 for a deer hunt.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I have a Rigby in 9.3x62 and a custom M70 in .375 H&H. In the future, the .375 will only see use on buffalo as surgery on both wrists has forced me to retire my Lott. I’d probably hang on to the .375 if you plan to hunt buffalo in an area that won’t allow the 9.3. Otherwise, the 9.3x62 would be my choice.

I know it’s odd, but I will grab the 9.3 for a deer hunt. I do not grab the .375 for a deer hunt.

That totally socks hind teet on a boar hog that you had to retire yourself of the 458 Lott,. Because it is so versatile. Down load to light 45-70 up to (unofficial 45-70 maximum) or a 458WM to the 458 Lott max load.

The more I study the 458 caliber the more I am inclined it is the ultimate 1 caliber cartridge for hunting the tiny ten to ele to all NA big game providing the user is of a hunter mentality vs a shooter with a light- fast- flat long range super scope on high 50x power mentality.

The 458 may not replace the 30-06, but could questionably replace the 375H&H.

 

[Bonk]

There’s nothing a 30-06/375H&H(or 9.3x62) combo will do that your current 270/375Ruger combo can’t also do. I say that as a devoted 30-06, 9.3x62, 375H&H fanboy that doesn’t own a 270 or 375Ruger. Keep the two you have and figure out a way to get the Browning from your friend. Offer to mow his yard for a year. Whatever.

 

[Milan]

I'd go for the 9.3 thinking I'm not dropping power level as much as dropping muzzle blast and recoil some.