9.3X62 for Cape Buffalo?

Hi, let me start off by saying I've not hunted Africa yet but I plan to. I want to get a CZ 550 this year and start getting familiar with it. I know the general concensus for a one gun plains game+Cape Buff hunt is to take a .375 H&H. And I have no problems with that as I've shot that cartridge some and I know I can shoot it accurately. But I'm hearing more and more talk on other sites about using the 9.3X62 on Buff and how well it does? Now I really like that round but it seems too small for Buff to me and I didn't even think it was legal?

Have killed a few Cape Buffalo with this round. More than any calibre in fact, and it has performed as well if not better than the others such as 470, 416 and 458.
I have found the 300grn Swift A Frame and 286grn Woodleigh Fmj bullets work well on Buffalo but am quite keen to try 286grn Northfork Cup Point and Soft nose bullets.

A couple taken with the 9.3x62;

Interesting. Maybe I've been underselling this round? I've always looked at it as a slightly more potent .35 Whelen and I wouldn't want no parts of a Cape Buffalo with a .35 Whelen. But it may be that there is a lot more difference between these two cartridges than I thought?

classicsafari have you had a chance to use the woodleigh hydrostatically stabalised bullets in 9.6x62?

moosemike you can use 9.6x62 successfully on buff , but it is illegal in most countries. it was originally developed for the german colonists in africa and has been used on everything up to elephant. it along with the 9.3x74r are 2 of my favourite calibres.

There is a reason why the .375 H&H is popular, because of it being the minimum legal caliber for dangerous game.
You can find the 9.2x62 in the CZ relatively cheap in the USA. Should be really deadly on all plains game.

[quote
classicsafari have you had a chance to use the woodleigh hydrostatically stabalised bullets in 9.6x62?]


Yes, I have used the Hydros from one of my 9.3's but feeding via the other 9.3, m98 rifle is a problem (also from my 458 and a friends Sauer 9.2). I received some with the new plastic cap to try out but found they increase the oa length. This would not be a problem for long cased cartridges though. They also work better with additional speed and in lighter weight which are two things I opt against.
The 9.3 may be illegal in some parts of Africa BUT are certainly accepted in Zim, Zambia , Mozambique, RSA, Namibia, Benin est which are the main hunting country's of Africa.
These so called laws have not even been enforced since Colonial days and even then, in places like Tanzania, the 9.3 was accepted with the 375.

In February of last year my son and I both took Buff with the 9.3x62.
In his case the first shot took the buff right through the boiler room, the Buf turned his backside toward my son and stood on wobbly legs while a second shot at a very sick buff's hip put him down permanently.
In my case the first shot ricoched off his leg bone and ended up tucked up under his spine. About seven hours later a head shot finally put the finishing touches on a long interesting day. PH said if my first shot had been one inch in any direction the chase would have been over in 5 minutes!
We used Swift A frame soft points for the first shots and Woodleigh FMJ's for all followup shots. (286 gr)

Minimum Equipment Requirements for Rifle Hunting in Africa by Country

Benin
There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Benin.
Benin does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Botswana
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Botswana is .222 caliber for any game other than dangerous game.
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Botswana is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting.
The maximum equipment allowed for rifle hunting in Botswana is .577 Nitro Express caliber.
Botswana does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Burkina Faso
There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Cameroon
For Group 1 - Small Game, the equipment requirement for hunting is .240 caliber or less, shotgun may be used as well.
For Group 2 - Medium Game, the equipment requirement for hunting is .240 to .354 caliber.
For Group 3 - Big Game, the equipment requirement for hunting is .354 caliber or larger.
Cameroon does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Central African Republic
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Central African Republic is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting.
Central African Republic does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Ethiopia
There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Mozambique
There is no minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Mozambique.
Mozambique does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Namibia
Smallest caliber allowed 7 mm (.284).
Minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity)
Big Game
5400 Joule
(Elephant, Cape Buffalo, Rhino, Lion, etc.)
Large Game
2700 Joule
(Greater Kudu, Cape Eland, Oryx / Gemsbok, Red Hartebeest, Blue Wildebeest, Black Wildebeest, Hartmann's Zebra, Burchell's Zebra, Giraffe, Sable Antelope, Roan Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, Leopard, etc.)
Medium to Small Game
1350 Joule
(Springbok, Impala, Blesbok, Gray Duiker, Steenbok, Ostrich, Caracal, Black-Faced Impala, Red Lechwe, Damara Dik-Dik, Klipspringer, Black-Backed Jackal, Warthog, Cheetah, Nyala, Chacma Baboon, Game Birds, etc.)

South Africa
Most provinces do not have a minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting and rely on common sense.
Some provinces require a minimum of .375 caliber for dangerous or big game hunting.
No provinces require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Tanzania
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Tanzania is .240 caliber for any game other than dangerous game.
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Tanzania is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting.
Tanzania does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Zambia
Zambia does not have a minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting plains game and rely on common sense. Caliber in the .270 range will be well suited for some of the smaller plains game in Zambia.
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Zambia is .300 caliber for dangerous game such as Leopard and Lion.
The minimum equipment requirement for rifle hunting in Zambia is .375 caliber for dangerous game or big game hunting such as Elephant, Buffalo and Hippo.
Zambia does not require a minimum energy (Eo - muzzle velocity) for calibers used.

Zimbabwe
Class A Game
5300 Joule
Minimum caliber 9.2mm in diameter
(Elephant, Hippo, Buffalo)
Class B Game
4300 Joule
Minimum caliber 7.0mm in diameter
(Lion, Giraffe, Eland)
Class C Game
3000 Joule
Minimum caliber 7.0mm in diameter
(Leopard, Crocodile, Kudu, Oryx / Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Wildebeest, Zebra, Nyala, Sable Antelope, Waterbuck, Tsessebe, etc.)
Class D Game
850 Joule
Minimum caliber 5.56mm in diameter
(Warthog, Impala, Reedbuck, Sitatunga, Duiker, Steenbok, Jackal, Game Birds, etc.)
Black Powder Rifles
Minimum caliber .40

Originally Posted by classicsafari

[quote
classicsafari have you had a chance to use the woodleigh hydrostatically stabalised bullets in 9.6x62?]


Yes, I have used the Hydros from one of my 9.3's but feeding via the other 9.3, m98 rifle is a problem (also from my 458 and a friends Sauer 9.2). I received some with the new plastic cap to try out but found they increase the oa length. This would not be a problem for long cased cartridges though. They also work better with additional speed and in lighter weight which are two things I opt against.
The 9.3 may be illegal in some parts of Africa BUT are certainly accepted in Zim, Zambia , Mozambique, RSA, Namibia, Benin est which are the main hunting country's of Africa.
These so called laws have not even been enforced since Colonial days and even then, in places like Tanzania, the 9.3 was accepted with the 375.

thanks for the info. i did wonder about feeding when i looked at the shape of them in the photos. same as you with speed and lighter weight. one more , if you have used them how do the protected point compare to the weldcore softs, this is in 9.3x62? as for using it on buff i think its whether the ph is ok with it, and if you shoot it well then i have a feeling there wouldnt be a problem, you might need a rifle on your permit showing minimum .375 to keep the authority issuing the hunting licences happy though, cheers mike p.s. just realised i put 9.6x62 , obviously meant 9.3x62....bit of brain fade me thinks........

Originally Posted by spike.t

t. one more , if you have used them how do the protected point compare to the weldcore softs, s.this is in 9.3x62? ..

As much as I love the Round nose soft, I personally consider them too soft for buffalo in calibres lower than .450. For Sub .450 on Buffalo the Protected Point is the way to go OR even Better still the Swift A Frames or Northfork softs or Cup point solids.

Here are some recovered Woodleigh 9.3mm, 286grn RN Softs, FMJ and 300grn Swifts;

Originally Posted by classicsafari

As much as I love the Round nose soft, I personally consider them too soft for buffalo in calibres lower than .450. For Sub .450 on Buffalo the Protected Point is the way to go OR even Better still the Swift A Frames or Northfork softs or Cup point solids.

Here are some recovered Woodleigh 9.3mm, 286grn RN Softs, FMJ and 300grn Swifts;

thanks, i might get kynamco to load me some protected points to try. he loaded the solids for me in x62, and x74r. and maybe some hydro ones in x74r for my double. interested to see how they work on the different sizes of animals.

Well I certainly think the 9.3 x 62 should be listed as a appropriate caliber for cape buffalo. If it was that beautiful gun I saw this last winter would be in the closet.

Originally Posted by enysse

Well I certainly think the 9.3 x 62 should be listed as a appropriate caliber for cape buffalo. If it was that beautiful gun I saw this last winter would be in the closet.

sure you dont need it anyway?

Originally Posted by spike.t

sure you dont need it anyway?

I thought the same thing.

Originally Posted by enysse

I thought the same thing.

if you aint got a 9.3 you need one!!

Originally Posted by spike.t

if you aint got a 9.3 you need one!!

I put a bid on one.

Originally Posted by enysse

I put a bid on one.

great...that didnt take much arm twisting...
must confess i have another 9.3x62 that has arrived at pauls, that he ordered for me.... a sako black bear

Originally Posted by enysse

Minimum Equipment Requirements for Rifle Hunting in Africa by Country

Namibia
Smallest caliber allowed 7 mm (.284).

There is no such law in Namibia.

I copied it from Jerome...we have bantered the topic around on AH before, but according to written law 7mm is the minimum.

Originally Posted by enysse

I copied it from Jerome...we have bantered the topic around on AH before, but according to written law 7mm is the minimum.

Thanks for taking the time to post the information enysse. Just Passing Through is correct, the minimum posted here is actually what NAPHA deems to be the minimum requirement...