Help and Advice from 9.3x62 Users

[Art Lambart II]

I would like to take my son on a black bear hunt in Canada in the spring of 2026. I plan on using my Zastava 9.3x62, I have two types of Buffalo Bore ammo on hand: the 286-grain Hornady Innerlock and the 250-grain Barnes TSX. I'm sure both loads will be great for a black bear hunt. I also have 200 286-grain A-Frames I could load and use for this hunt. What are your favorite factory or hand loads in the 9.3x62 for bear hunting?

 

[John Wasmuth]

The 286 gr swifts at 2450 fps will be great for black bear. The Hornadys will work but they tend to separate if pushed to hard. I’ve had better results at 2400fps for the interlocks. I’ve tried Lapua 286 but neither of my 9,3’s grouped well with them. PPU’s grouped well but they have thin jackets and come apart quickly. Best powders for my 9,3’s are PP 2000 MR and Ramshot Big Game but your mileage may vary.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

I would like to take my son on a black bear hunt in Canada in the spring of 2026. I plan on using my Zastava 9.3x62, I have two types of Buffalo Bore ammo on hand: the 286-grain Hornady Innerlock and the 250-grain Barnes TSX. I'm sure both loads will be great for a black bear hunt. I also have 200 286-grain A-Frames I could load and use for this hunt. What are your favorite factory or hand loads in the 9.3x62 for bear hunting?

For black bear, you will be well equipped with any of the factory loadings in 9.3x62.

My preference for factory ammunition would be to go the Lapua Megas or Norma Alaskas in 286, or the Lapua Naturalis in 250gr.

All of what you have on hand would be fine, with the caveat that I'm on the fence when it comes to the TSX - wisdom indicates that they need velocity to open. If you're in central Canada you're unlikely to have an issue, as these shots are generally well under 75 yards, but in BC I'm told and have read that bear are often taking spot-and-stalk at longer ranges, where velocity may be an issue.

 

[DrBob]

I would like to take my son on a black bear hunt in Canada in the spring of 2026. I plan on using my Zastava 9.3x62, I have two types of Buffalo Bore ammo on hand: the 286-grain Hornady Innerlock and the 250-grain Barnes TSX. I'm sure both loads will be great for a black bear hunt. I also have 200 286-grain A-Frames I could load and use for this hunt. What are your favorite factory or hand loads in the 9.3x62 for bear hunting?

This is black bear.... nothing exotic is needed. The Hornady will do just fine. If I were handloading I'd even go cheaper Partisan 286 or Speer 270s. Expansion is the goal here as penetration is obvious. The TSX needs something hard to expand on and black bear isn't that.

 

[DrBob]

For black bear, you will be well equipped with any of the factory loadings in 9.3x62.

My preference for factory ammunition would be to go the Lapua Megas or Norma Alaskas in 286, or the Lapua Naturalis in 250gr.

All of what you have on hand would be fine, with the caveat that I'm on the fence when it comes to the TSX - wisdom indicates that they need velocity to open. If you're in central Canada you're unlikely to have an issue, as these shots are generally well under 75 yards, but in BC I'm told and have read that bear are often taking spot-and-stalk at longer ranges, where velocity may be an issue.

Exactly.... penetration is obvious and expansion is all that is needed.

 

[Hunter-Habib]

The 286Gr Swift A Frames get my vote. In the past, I have also endorsed the old pattern 293Gr Brenneke TUG, but the new ones are not suitably constructed for hunting dangerous game.

 

[RedTag]

No need to over think this one. I’d go with the 286gr Inter Lock. As previously noted, penetration is not in question with any of these, and the TSX needs high velocity and/or greater target resistance to realize its advantages; that said the BB load has high velocity so it would be fine within 150-200 yards (they know what they’re doing) but the Inter Lock would most likely give better expansion at these velocities.
The A Frame really would be the best but it’s unnecessary, unless you really want to.

 

[MS 9x56]

I would second the recommendation for Privi partisans 286 grain. For Wild boar I use Nosler partitions 286 grain or norma 286 grain Oryx. For deer I like the Norma 232 grain alaskas.

 

[Beck]

A TSX is too hard for black bear in my opinion.

 

[sgt_zim]

So you got the feeding issue straightened out? Glad to hear it, I sorta feel bad for what you and your dad have gone through getting this thing working. I'd have never recommended Zastava if I'd have had the same issues you guys have.

As far as ammo for Canadian black bear over bait, I think it doesn't matter much. Anything that groups well from 2100 - 2500 fps will do what you need it to do at those distances. Interlocks shoot really well out of my zastava, just haven't killed anything with them yet.

If y'all are going with handloads, remember there's a lot of freebore in that rifle. Hornady's guidance on COAL is just stupid, IMO. You should be able to set Interlock to somewhere between 3.3 to 3.34 or 3.35

I have a box of Oryx and a box of Accubond if you want to try either of those. PM me if you want them.

 

[Redfishga1]

Bear are thin skinned. I would actually use the Hornady or reload the frames. For reference I used a 35 whelen with 225 accubonds and it left a fist size hole in the rib cage. The don’t bleed the best because of long hair and fat so make a big hole. I agree that tsx might push through too fast.

 

[R eight]

I think it would be hard to find a bad choice for a hunting projectile in the 9.3 x 62 for use on black bears. I readily admit my experience is almost negligible. I shot my one and only brown bear with Norma Alaska 286 grain factory ammunition.

 

[mark-hunter]

What are your favorite factory or hand loads in the 9.3x62 for bear hunting?

I dont hunt bears or black bears, but use 9.3x62 on boars.
I use 286 grain soft point, now at sako hammerhead.

Until recently most of factory bullets for 9.3x62 were soft points in 286 grains.
The rifles and twist rates are optimized for that bullet. No need to search for anything else. proven formula.

 

[Mats Bergholm]

I use Norma 9,3mm 325 grain Oryx or 320 grain Woodleigh at 2250 fps at Wildboar and even a Giraffe, works very well.

 

[AZDAVE]

I would pass on the ttsx and just shoot the factory load that groups best in your rifle. If reloads the 250gr accubonds would be my choice.

 

[Desperatezulu]

I know nothing about black bear beyond what I read but they don't sound especially large or tough. So I would stick with the proven formula for a 9.3 (which I do have lots of experience with).
Conventional cup & core 286gr at 2300ft/s is ample for any non-DG. I would caution against excessive speed unless using a premium. And a premium is really not needed and on softer game can be counter-productive in the 9.3.