I have been agonizing over a medium-bore rifle for some time now and I don't want a magnum caliber. I want something that if I ever got the chance to go to Alaska or other place, where moose and elk may be an option and where brownies might inhabit, that it would be enough gun to do the job.
So here are the choices I've narrowed it down to:
Browning BLR Take-down in .358win 20" bbl
Sako 85 Synthetic Stainless in 9.3x62 22" bbl
Ruger No. 1 in .35 Whelen 24" bbl
Remington 7600 in .35 Whelen 22" bbl, if I can find one
CZ 550 FS 9.3x62 20.5" bbl
I know CZ makes the 550 FS in 9.3x62 but it has the full-length Mannlicher stock, 20.5" bbl and lacks a detachable mag, which is a feature I want. I'm leaning hard for a repeater for the off-chance of a bear encounter, pump being the fastest, followed by the BLR, the Sako and No. 1. I also get that the pump is probably the most complicated design followed by the BLR, No. 1 and Sako and would stand up to abuse and neglect the least.
I also plan to put a Leupold FX-II 4x33 or even the FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20 on it, but not sure how the ultralight would stand up to the heavy recoil over time.
Also .35 Whelen may be the cheapest and more available cartridge of the bunch. I know it will come down to personal preference, but I need to hear other points of view, hopefully from those with experience with any of the aforementioned rifles in these calibers in harsh conditions.