Well.....I did it again, Sako 85 9.3x62 OTW

[TOBY458]

Looks like I let my bidding finger get the best of me again. I have a Sako 85 Grey Wolf 9.3x62 on the way. I'm looking for this to be my plains game/Buffalo stand in rifle. I plan to take this rifle, along with a 416 Ruger or 416 Rem Mag on my combo Cape Buffalo/Lioness/ Eland and other plains game hunt this year. I think this will make a light, handy rifle for long walks for Plains game, and would stand in nicely for Buffalo, if they were encountered as well. Should come in at around 8lbs with a Leupold 2-7×33 Scope. I have some Barnes 250gr TSX bullets on the way as well. I think these will work great on Plains game and Lioness.
I've never owned a 9.3, so I'm looking forward to experimenting with it.

 

[jacques smith]

Toby
Does this translate to .366?
Congrats on a new Sako

 

[TOBY458]

Toby
Does this translate to .366?
Congrats on a new Sako

That is correct!

 

[AZDAVE]

I have had good luck with 250gr Accubon's and 286/300gr swift A-frames in my 9.3's. Congratz on a nice rifle.

 

[TOBY458]

I have had good luck with 250gr Accubon's and 286/300gr swift A-frames in my 9.3's. Congratz on a nice rifle.

I've read good things about the Swift 300gr bullets for buffalo. My PH said to use 250gr bullets for lioness, for the higher velocity. He said a lion has a nervous system that is effected heavily by high velocity.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Congratulations, this news comes as a shock to me! Lol. Great looking rifle!

 

[TOBY458]

Congratulations, this news comes as a shock to me! Lol. Great looking rifle!

Yea, I can tell you're very surprised! Haha! Now.....you sure you don't need that Sig 10mm???

 

[tarbe]

Yeah...I finally figured out that Cody and Toby are actually related after all!

 

[TOBY458]

Yeah...I finally figured out that Cody and Toby are actually related after all!

Our bankers have met.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Yeah...I finally figured out that Cody and Toby are actually related after all!

I think we may need to get in the same 10 step program

 

[tarbe]

I think we may need to get in the same 10 step program

Better make that at least 12 steps!

 

[Bullthrower338]

You’re right, ease into it!

 

[TOBY458]

I think we may need to get in the same 10 step program

Did someone say 10.....mm?

 

[AZDAVE]

@TOBY458 In 2013 I used the 250 Accubon in a TC encore 9.3x74 at 2550fps for diker, impala, kudu, blue wildebeest. My shot on the kudu was a ridge top to ridge top 310yard shot and the most telling shot was a quartering to shot on the wildebeest. It broke the right front shoulder and went the whole length of the body as was under the skin on the far side and it mushroomed perfectly and maintained 80% of the bullet weight. The last safari I shot klipspringer, civet, waterbuck, and mountain reedbuck with my 9.3x62 mauser at 2650fps. The civet for example the bullet exited with about a 1 1/2 wound. It expands quickly but holds together. I think it would be a great bullet for your big cat as it expands well and holds together. I don't have any experience with the barnes in the 9.3 except for punching holes in paper.

The 300 gr Aframe is a GREAT bullet. In 2015 I used my 9.3 double for Eland and Sable. The shot on the eland was around 75 yards broke both shoulders expanded just like you seen in a bullet AD and maintained 290gr bullet weight. As a backup gun for your416 the 300gr 9.3 would be able to fill in if you had a problem with your 416 in my opinion.

I am just finished load development for my double for the 286gr Aframe and now working on the 286gr swift break point solid.

 

[Shootist43]

Toby, your new 9.3 x 62 is a kissing cousin of my 35 Whelen. You will absolutely love it. You can use it in the States as well as Africa. My youngest son (that you haven't met) has relegated his '06 to the safe and takes one of my Whelen(s) for Whitetails. Photos and range results please.

 

[TOBY458]

@TOBY458 In 2013 I used the 250 Accubon in a TC encore 9.3x74 at 2550fps for diker, impala, kudu, blue wildebeest. My shot on the kudu was a ridge top to ridge top 310yard shot and the most telling shot was a quartering to shot on the wildebeest. It broke the right front shoulder and went the whole length of the body as was under the skin on the far side and it mushroomed perfectly and maintained 80% of the bullet weight. The last safari I shot klipspringer, civet, waterbuck, and mountain reedbuck with my 9.3x62 mauser at 2650fps. The civet for example the bullet exited with about a 1 1/2 wound. It expands quickly but holds together. I think it would be a great bullet for your big cat as it expands well and holds together. I don't have any experience with the barnes in the 9.3 except for punching holes in paper.

The 300 gr Aframe is a GREAT bullet. In 2015 I used my 9.3 double for Eland and Sable. The shot on the eland was around 75 yards broke both shoulders expanded just like you seen in a bullet AD and maintained 290gr bullet weight. As a backup gun for your416 the 300gr 9.3 would be able to fill in if you had a problem with your 416 in my opinion.

I am just finished load development for my double for the 286gr Aframe and now working on the 286gr swift break point solid.

Man! You have quite a bit of experience with the 9.3! I almost ordered a box of 250gr Accubonds when I ordered the TSX.
I'm just hoping I can get enough velocity out of the 9.3 to get good expansion with the TSX.

 

[TOBY458]

@TOBY458 In 2013 I used the 250 Accubon in a TC encore 9.3x74 at 2550fps for diker, impala, kudu, blue wildebeest. My shot on the kudu was a ridge top to ridge top 310yard shot and the most telling shot was a quartering to shot on the wildebeest. It broke the right front shoulder and went the whole length of the body as was under the skin on the far side and it mushroomed perfectly and maintained 80% of the bullet weight. The last safari I shot klipspringer, civet, waterbuck, and mountain reedbuck with my 9.3x62 mauser at 2650fps. The civet for example the bullet exited with about a 1 1/2 wound. It expands quickly but holds together. I think it would be a great bullet for your big cat as it expands well and holds together. I don't have any experience with the barnes in the 9.3 except for punching holes in paper.

The 300 gr Aframe is a GREAT bullet. In 2015 I used my 9.3 double for Eland and Sable. The shot on the eland was around 75 yards broke both shoulders expanded just like you seen in a bullet AD and maintained 290gr bullet weight. As a backup gun for your416 the 300gr 9.3 would be able to fill in if you had a problem with your 416 in my opinion.

I am just finished load development for my double for the 286gr Aframe and now working on the 286gr swift break point solid.

What velocity are you able to get out of the 300 gr Swift?

 

[Shootist43]

Toby, QuickLoad says 2323 FPS with 54.1 Gr. of RL -15 out of a 24" barrel. That is theoretical, I'd like to see how that compares to chronographed loads.

 

[TOBY458]

Toby, QuickLoad says 2323 FPS with 54.1 Gr. of RL -15 out of a 24" barrel. That is theoretical, I'd like to see how that compares to chronographed loads.

If that's a realistic number, that's pretty good! My rifle will have a 22 7/16" barrel, so shouldn't be off by much.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

Very good choice Toby.
I am using 9,3x62, cartridge from Norma with bullet ORYX 285 grains ( 18,5gram).
Good luck.