Ugly question: 9.3x62 vs .338WM

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I saw an article by Don Heath where he/someone used a 9.3 to shoot a man eating lioness. Can't remember where it was though.

I prefer 9,3x62 from RWS with bullet soft point 285g (18,5gr) and from NORMA with bullet ORYX 285g (18,5gr).
All the best.
Witold

 

[larry4831]

My 338 weights 10.5 pounds and I love it, easy recoil with the heaviest of loads.

 

[stug]

Found the link to the article by Don Heath , it is a pdf so if you pm me your email I can send it to you.

Here is the relevant info from the article.

"Slow-expanding bullets like the Barnes TSX seldom open on a lion that is shot over bait and even less so on leopard.
I have enjoyed good success with the Norma Oryx bullet on lionfrom my 9.3 but, for the averageAmerican, would tend to recommend something along the lines of a Swift A-Frame or Nosler Partition.
They’re guaranteed to open and will also make it through under any situation from any angle. Neither of the cats requires a particularly powerful rifle, and a .300 Winchester Magnum would be my advice for leopard, and a .338 Winchester or .375 H&H is all anybody will need for lion.

Bullet impact speeds make a significant difference on cats. Ideally you want the bullet to land at over 2,250 fps (i.e., velocity at 80 yards must be over 2,250 fps rather than muzzle velocity). Like buffalo, this is an important
consideration for a client. It is always much more satisfactory for both PH and client to have theanimal go down virtually instantaneously where you can see it, rather than experience the joys of a terse follow-up. Clients may find a follow-up exciting, but for me the novelty has long since worn off. Bring a high-velocity round and dump the cat where I
can see it, please."

 

[Velo Dog]

I prefer 9,3x62 from RWS with bullet soft point 285g (18,5gr) and from NORMA with bullet ORYX 285g (18,5gr).
All the best.
Witold

I have heard nothing but good reports on the Norma "Oryx" bullet, from hunters with various calibers.
Compared to other bullet brands, not very many people where I live know of it but, among those who do use the Oryx bullet, all of them seem to "sing happy songs" about it.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I agree with you Paul.
Witold

 

[doodsangel]

I have heard nothing but good reports on the Norma "Oryx" bullet, from hunters with various calibers.
Compared to other bullet brands, not very many people where I live know of it but, among those who do use the Oryx bullet, all of them seem to "sing happy songs" about it.

My wife shoots Oryx with her 300H&H Magnum. It is an awesome round. Never failed her yet. She shoots 1/2MOA at 100m pushed at 2750 (if memory serves me right).

 

[Bruce]

I agree with BOTH Witold AND AZDAVE........ 3rd great mind?????

 

[larry4831]

My wife shoots Oryx with her 300H&H Magnum. It is an awesome round. Never failed her yet. She shoots 1/2MOA at 100m pushed at 2750 (if memory serves me right).

Love the 300 h&h

 

[Velo Dog]

My wife shoots Oryx with her 300H&H Magnum. It is an awesome round. Never failed her yet. She shoots 1/2MOA at 100m pushed at 2750 (if memory serves me right).

Hi Doodsangel,

The .300 H&H is my personal favorite long range hunting cartridge.
This is not to say it is anything less than a decent close range cartridge as well, provided the right bullet is used.
I've used it in the USA as well as in Namibia and just like your wife's experiences with it, it has never failed me.

No doubt that a tough 180 grain to perhaps 200 grain Oryx bullet from the good old classic "original .300 magnum" could be a serious contender for best one load to hunt all species of world wide thin skinned game in all conditions, open desert, grass veld and tundra to dense jungle and serious riverine forest.

Cheers,
Velo Dog.

 

[Velo Dog]

Love the 300 h&h

+1.

 

[bebo]

Hello again,
Thanks for all your answers, indeed. Interesting +++
What is the best distance to shoot a lion ?
and if you know min (without "danger") , average, max distance ?
I read your answers, but I want to be sure I understood : Can I trust in my 9.3x62 Mauser ( Oryx or H mantel or TUG 286grs) to shoot a lion ?

 

[bassasdaindia]

Hello again,
Thanks for all your answers, indeed. Interesting +++
What is the best distance to shoot a lion ?
and if you know min (without "danger") , average, max distance ?
I read your answers, but I want to be sure I understood : Can I trust in my 9.3x62 Mauser ( Oryx or H mantel or TUG 286grs) to shoot a lion ?

what distance is a personal opinion , I prefer hunting most of my quarry at as close a range as possible .
with regards to your 9.3 being suitable for lion , IMHO yes it is suitable and my choice would be a premium soft bullet in 286g .

Swift A Frame 286g would be my choice.

 

[bassasdaindia]

Your Norma Oryx 286g will also be suitable .

 

[Bruce]

9,3 is an excellent rifle. IF it is allowed for DG in that country where you will be hunting lion, GO FOR IT. remember, lions are soft skinned and you need to use a PREMIUM EXPANDING BULLET... Swift A Frame or similar and of course the shot placement is critical. I have shot lion with 375H & H 300gr swift A frame... no problem... also shot lion with 458WM!!
As for distance... how long is a piece of string??
My advice, keep a shooting distance where you won't end up getting bitten or clawed!!!

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I agree with Bassasdaindia.
Witold

 

[fsrmg1]

The 9.3 is a good one, so rest assured that you made a good choice, especially since your's sports a short 20" barrel. A 338 cut down that far would offer no practice advantage balistically and give one hell of a bark.

Also remember that you can always get a 338 with a longer 24" barrel set up for longer shooting on open PG. That way your covered for both close range and distant options. You can also give us all some good firsthand feedback on how you rate the two.

 

[Milan]

I agree with the above statement. I used to have a Sako Finnbear in a .338WM and loved it. Full stock, 20" barrel and very manageable in the bush. But it did kick and it did bark. However, the 2 or 3 deer I shot with it went down quick and never moved from the spot. I was using 230 gr Black Talon Winchester ammo at the time. The bullets opened up nicely and all the energy was spent inside the animal.

The CZ 550 9.3x62 I have now also has 20" barrel and full stock and feels even handier as I think it is lighter and I love it even more. It kicks less and barks less. However, on deer it seems to shoot right through them no matter what bullets I use and the deer seems to walk after being shot. They do die within 70m but in a bush it does sometime take some looking to find them if you do not see blood or tracks. One was shot through the heart and there was just a hole in it. I.e. the heart did not explode and the deer did not drop and it walked 50m. One lung was also collapsed from the shot. This is with Remington Core Lokt and Sellier&Bellot SP 285 gr bullets. In Africa, I used Norma Oryx 285 gr bullets. The impala dropped on the spot but they are tiny. Shot right through. The Oryx dropped right away, but I missed the vitals and he eventually got up and needed more lead. Again, relatively straight wound channels without too much damage around. The water buck was shot a bit back and also required additional shot, but that was may fault not the bullet's. The second shot was through the heart on a frontal, quartering shot. It went through the heart and again no heart explosion just a hole (about my pinkie size) cut clean through it. It bucked a lot after that shot, to a point of piercing itself with own horns. But at least it did not leave the spot. Both bullets were found on the opposing side of the animal and inch or two apart. Nicely deformed. Never weighed them so don't know how much they retained. But all this makes me believe that at soft skinned game I would want even faster expanding bullets. The shots at Oryx and Waterbuck were at about 170m and the deer 212 (ranged later), 140m and about 50m.

However, I had more trouble with the ballistics than the bullet performance. Due probably to the 20" barrel and my unfamiliarity with the cartridge. I also think the .338 out of 20" barrel does not gain you much ballistically but for will kick more and be louder. 24" Barrel might be much better on both and I wonder what the velocity gain on the 9.3 would do for me, but I love them shorter barrels for being so handy.

I would like to see this caliber perform on a moose or buffalo to have a comparison.

P.S. My plan next time is to shoot through bone (if possible) and see how the bullet does then on the lighter game. So maybe no softer bullets are really needed. Just more experience with the rifle and loads on my end.

 

[enysse]

I'd take a 9.3x62 in a 20 inch barrel any day over a .338 Win with a 20 inch barrel.

 

[bassasdaindia]

IMHO , 338 WM has no reason to be 20" , the caliber is predominantly a long shooter that can be downloaded to be used in the thicker bush ( I use one for this very purpose) .

9.3x62 is a fantastic bush rifle and will best perform at slower speeds with a 286g bullet in the thicker bush . ( mine is light and has a short barrel )

as earlier posted the 338 can do what the 9.3 does at slower speeds , however the 9.3 can not do what the 338 does - shooting longer distance .

They are completely different rifles !

 

[stug]

With the right load and shooter the 9.3 can be a long range rifle