9.3 X 62 or .416 Rem mag for buffalo

AJS

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Hi, I need advice please. I can shoot a 9.3 x 62 without any problem (no problem with the recoil up to 286 grain bullets)) like wise I am comfortable with a .416 Rem mag up to 300 grain bullets (Peregrine VRG3). However I cannot handle the recoil of the400 grain bullets in the .416 Rem mag.

What would your advice be, please:
  • To hunt buffalo which rifle (and bullet there fore) would be the best.
  • The sectional density of a 286 grain 9.3 bullet is .305 and that of a 300 grain .416 bullet is .245 will the 9.3 necessarily penetrate better than the .416 in buffalo ?
  • Besides using these rifles for buffalo, which one rifle with the applicable bullet weight could also be used to hunt other game.?(Giraffe, eland, impala, warthog, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest and oryx)
I would sincerely appreciate advice from the forum.
Thank you in advance.
AJS
 
First - If not already said by others...Welcome to AH.

A few more specifics about the rifles would be appreciated.
Hunting Cape Buffalo is considered dangerous game and there are several here that would suggest certain traits over others.
Example : Controlled Round Feed, low power (1-8x) scope in detachable mounts, proper stock fit...etc.
Pictures of the rifles would be a nice touch as well.

For bullets, most PH's recommend premium soft bonded or mono-metal expanding like Swift A-Frame or Barnes TSX.
 
If you are comfortable with a 300 gr bullet but not a 400, then use a .375 to take advantage of that SD.
 
there is a bit of a sleeper in 9.3mm
it is the 300 gn swift aframe.
driven as hard as is safe, this could have something to offer the o.p.
it would probably bring the 9.3 x 62 in line with the 375 flanged, but with a higher s.d. bullet.
bruce.
 
AJS, I take my hat off to you for your honesty and character in being able to recognise and admit your recoil tolerance level, a major step in growth as an effective rifleman.

Well done, good luck with your future hunt plans.
 
This is an Easy One . Just get yourself a nice .375 HH Magnum ( I prefer a BRNO ZKK - 602 ) . Next , get yourself some swift A Frames and some Trophy Bonded Claw expanding bullets . If you like Solids ( which l used to Use for Australian Water Buffalo , until l was introduced to Swift A Frames by the other members here ) , then l would highly recommend the Cutting Edge Monolithic meplat brass Solids. With proper stalking , a good PH with a heavy rifle to back you up and a lot of patience, you can easily take a Buffalo out with your .375 HH Magnum and a double lung shot .
PS : On a personal note , if it was still in production , l would highly recommend the 11.2 × 72 mm Schuler . With it's 401 grain bullet , l think you would find the happy compromise between the 9.3 × 62mm and the .416 Remington Magnum.
 
what speed are you using the 300gr peregrines at?

i use a 300gr Barnes TSX hand loaded to 2700fps in my 416 RM and i would happily hunt buffalo with this load! i would prefer this over a 9.3x62 load any day as the velocity of the 416 will yield much more trauma then the slow moving 9.3mm.

-matt
 
Maybe might be worth trying a box of 325 Norma Oryx in the 9.3? Serious sectional density there...
 
Nothing like 400 grains fired from the 416.
Look at Woodleigh range of hydros or spritzers.
When an angry buffalo wishes to discuss matters, the 40O grain Bullets and the associated recoil won’t be a factor. Believe me!!
 
Maybe might be worth trying a box of 325 Norma Oryx in the 9.3? Serious sectional density there...

Or 320 gr Woodleigh PP. The one issue with both of those bullets is now you're down to about 2200 fps at the muzzle.
 
325gr and 320gr bullets from a 9.3x62? dear god kind of velocity are these things moving at?! i imagine just north of the speed of smell, heck id be surprised if you could even get 2000fps from most barrels.

the only Swift A-frame ive ever heard of failing (from a reliable source) was a 286gr A-frame fired from a 9.3x62. fact is that these heavy bullets fired from the 9.3x62 cartridge are just barely scooting along with any kind of real authority.

i own a 9.3x62 and love it, but i use 250gr Woodleigh RN bullets hot loaded to about 2500 fps in order to get proper expansion. i would never use any thing heavier then 286gr and even then i would be very careful of shot placement as bad angles could lead to bad expansion.

-matt
 
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416 Rem Mag op P14 aksie.jpg
First - If not already said by others...Welcome to AH.

A few more specifics about the rifles would be appreciated.
Hunting Cape Buffalo is considered dangerous game and there are several here that would suggest certain traits over others.
Example : Controlled Round Feed, low power (1-8x) scope in detachable mounts, proper stock fit...etc.
Pictures of the rifles would be a nice touch as well.

For bullets, most PH's recommend premium soft bonded or mono-metal expanding like Swift A-Frame or Barnes TSX.
Hi BeeMaa

Thank you for the welcoming me. As for more detail of the 2 rifles I give it below.
  • I inherited both rifles.
  • The 9.3 x 62 is a Husqvarna manufactured in 1927 in Sweden under licence from Mauser, it was bedded and free flow, it has 2 mercury recoil tubes in the butt, with a Pachmayr recoil pad, has a 4 x 14 (50 mm) Leupold verimark III telescope on. (Non-detachable) It is controlled round feed taking 4 rounds in the magazine, it has a Timney trigger on. The stock of the 9.3 is Beech wood (I am not sure of this translation, in my mother tongue Afrikaans it is called Beuke wood, it is how ever not Walnut wood)
  • The .416 Rem mag is a P14 British .303 that was changed to a .416 Rem mag. A new Mcgowen barrel in .416 caliber was fitted, it is bedded and free flow, it is also fitted with a Pachmayr recoil pad; has 2 Mercury recoil tubes in the but, the stock is a newly built synthetic stock, it is fitted with a 1 x 5 (25 mm) Leupold Verimark II telescope (non-detachable) it is also fitted with a Timney trigger. It takes 4 rounds in the magazine
  • I reload the ammunition myself. I only use Peregrine bullets due to the bullets being available in South Africa as it is manufactured here and it is sold in South African rand (ZAR) Currently R15.40 buys you one US Dollar !
  • I wanted to start reloading with Barnes TSX bullets but could not find any at the time (2017) in South Africa and the Gunshop contacted me after 14 months to inform me they received stock. With Peregrine the bullets are available and delivered to my door in 48 hours.
  • I do not have any experience in the availability of Swift, Woodleigh or any of the other premium bullets from the USA except my own experience with Barnes bullets not being readily available in South Africa. I made an in principle decision to use the locally produced Peregrine bullets for its availability, it is priced in ZAR, and Peregrine supported me in learning to reload these rifles. To the extent that one of the Founders of Peregrine came and sat with me at my home and guided me through the first reloading and testing of the loads.
 
If you are comfortable with a 300 gr bullet but not a 400, then use a .375 to take advantage of that SD.
Thank you fir the reply, a 300 gr bullet in .375 has the same sectional density as a 286 grain bullet in 9.3.
 
there is a bit of a sleeper in 9.3mm
it is the 300 gn swift aframe.
driven as hard as is safe, this could have something to offer the o.p.
it would probably bring the 9.3 x 62 in line with the 375 flanged, but with a higher s.d. bullet.
bruce.
Hi, thank you for the advice this is something I will look into. The 300gr bullet in 9.3 will deliver a sectional density of 0.32 vs a SD of 0.305 in 286 gr bullets.
As per my reply to BeeMaa I am unsure as to the availability and affordability of US bullets in South Africa. The ZAR / US dollar exchange rate is R15.40 currently.
I do appreciate you pointing in this direction (330 gr bullets)
 
what speed are you using the 300gr peregrines at?

i use a 300gr Barnes TSX hand loaded to 2700fps in my 416 RM and i would happily hunt buffalo with this load! i would prefer this over a 9.3x62 load any day as the velocity of the 416 will yield much more trauma then the slow moving 9.3mm.

-matt
Matt
Thank you this is really helping me.
I get 2600 fps from the 300 gr bullets in the .416 Rem mag and 2250 from the 286 gr bullets in the 9.3.
Thank you.
 
AJS, I take my hat off to you for your honesty and character in being able to recognise and admit your recoil tolerance level, a major step in growth as an effective rifleman.

Well done, good luck with your future hunt plans.
Hi Paul
Thank you, yes I am just honest with myself and if thus means I cannot hunt dangerous game like buffalo, well it will be sad, but I will obliged because I am responsible to myself, my family and co-hunters when we are hunting.
Regards
 
Maybe might be worth trying a box of 325 Norma Oryx in the 9.3? Serious sectional density there...
This offers a solution and I might take it up. Thank you
 

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