9.3x62 plains game

Vanguard2279 · Jan 14, 2020

I've used my Forbes M24B 9.3x62 (rebarrelled from .270) on a grand total of one Sable and a friend used it on a Blesbok ram. Performance was fantastic. I load the 250-grain Barnes TSX in front of 57.5 grains of Varget (safe in my rifle/work up to this in yours) for a little over 2,500 fps and consistent 1" groups. The 250-grain TTSX works as well. I wouldn't hesitate to use this load on Eland, but would probably use a 285, 286-grain bullet first.
For my hunt with Spike. T in July, I'm hoping to develop a load with the 250-grain Nosler Accubond or the 285-grain Lupua Mega.
I love that you can find 9.3x62 ammo almost anywhere in southern Africa. I really wish that I had chosen this caliber over .338-06 when I had my NULA built. great caliber, but almost non-existent factory availability.

BeeMaa · Jan 14, 2020

IvW said:
268 grains was not aware they made.....

Good catch, I fat fingered that one.
How's this..

286 grains of Swift A-Frame performance will make a PH happy and PG very, very sad.

IvW · Jan 14, 2020

Fastrig · Jan 14, 2020

Vanguard2279 said:
I've used my Forbes M24B 9.3x62 (rebarrelled from .270) on a grand total of one Sable and a friend used it on a Blesbok ram. Performance was fantastic. I load the 250-grain Barnes TSX in front of 57.5 grains of Varget (safe in my rifle/work up to this in yours) for a little over 2,500 fps and consistent 1" groups. The 250-grain TTSX works as well. I wouldn't hesitate to use this load on Eland, but would probably use a 285, 286-grain bullet first.
For my hunt with Spike. T in July, I'm hoping to develop a load with the 250-grain Nosler Accubond or the 285-grain Lupua Mega.
I love that you can find 9.3x62 ammo almost anywhere in southern Africa. I really wish that I had chosen this caliber over .338-06 when I had my NULA built. great caliber, but almost non-existent factory availability.

Nosler’s 9.3x62 250 grain Accubond is doing 2550 fps. If you were going to shoot a lot in the 250 to 325 yard range, would think this would be a good choice. For something as big as an eland I’d want the 285 to 300 grain rounds. I’m sticking with the 285 grain Norma Oryx ammo and getting the Leopold custom turret that came with my scope built around this round dialed in at 200.

WAB · Jan 15, 2020

IvW said:
268 grains was not aware they made.....

286, it’s a typo.

Bert Reynolds · Jan 16, 2020

Timbo said:
Yep!! A jumped up little Hitler!! But I fear all airlines will follow suit in their policy against supporting any sport/trophy hunting activities. I suppose by tumbling empties, and using "clean" branded ammo boxes, reloads might pass as shiny new factory loads?

I’ll be leaving from Perth. I’ll remember this and put my reloads in a factory box

Bert Reynolds · Jan 16, 2020

bruce moulds said:
funny spitzers won't feed but round nose will.
it is usually the other way around.
bruce.

Feed ramp seems to guide the round into the back of the barrel. So the tip hits the flat part of the back of the barrel. I spoke to a gunsmith the other day who said it could do with a small chamfer on the champer and a slight change to the feed ramp.

Fastrig · Jan 19, 2020

Cleveland48 reported that the 230 grain Norma 9.3x62 Ecostrike has provided good results in the field on deer and hogs. That’s the first reliable first-hand report I’ve found on the round so started reviewing the Norma online ballistic calculator on it and the 285 grain Oryx, that later being what I’ve been running through my Mauser M12. Looking at the Ecostrike for a flatter shooting/longer range option for the 9.3x62. Hoping Norma produces a Bondstike Extreme round in this caliber someday.

I’d like to zero in my rifle so both rounds perform within an inch or so of each other at 50, 100, 150, and 200 yards. After reviewing the ballistic calculator it looks like a 150 yard zero would be the best choice to accomplish this. At 50 both are virtually flat, at 100 one is slightly less and one slightly more than 1” high, and at 200 one is 2.4“ low and one is 3.4“ low. Past 200 the two rounds start to spread apart in drop with the Ecostrike being viable out to 350 and the Oryx out to 275-300. Both are dropping pretty fast at the longer distance, 20” + drop. A 200 yard zero will give less drop out at these distances but in close you are 2.5-3” high at 100-125, which is more than I would like. Outside of maybe an eland, the 230 grain Ecostrike looks like it would be a good 9.3x62 PG round to get you out to 350 yards or so.

Scrumbag · Jan 19, 2020

Another advocate for the 9.3x62 here! Mine will head with me to Croatia next weekend to tangle with wild boar I hope.

Scrumbag · Jan 19, 2020

crudeoildude said:
question what is the 9.3x62 comparable to in US designation?

Closest to 35 Whelen I reckon. Canadians call is .366 Wagoner or some such

AfricanSniper915 · Feb 5, 2020

Bert Reynolds said:
Hi all. A friend has invited me on my first plains game hunt in South Africa later this year. I will most likely hunt Eland, kudu, wildebeest and maybe 2-3 smaller species. I have a 9.3x62 sako that I’m quite familiar with and shoot well. It has a 1.5-6x42 Zeiss Diavari with asv turret. I have loads for 250 grain Woodleigh round noses and 250 grain Nosler that group well. I have just ordered a 300 weatherby with a 26 inch barrel for for long range sambar shooting that will arrive before my trip. What rifle would you recommend?

I’d take the 9.3x62. I used one last year for eland, Kudu, gemsbok, and Duiker performed amazing. But if you shoot little animals with it you plan to mount shoot behind the shoulder not directly on it may damage the hide.

Milan · Feb 18, 2020

A bit late but another vote for taking the 9.3x62. I do like the Norma 285gr Oryx loads.

TOBY458 · Feb 18, 2020

OP
What model Sako do you have that won't feed correctly? I have a Sako 85 Stainless that feeds everything I've tried in it so far. This includes 286 gr Nosler Partitions, 286 gr Norma Oryx, 250 gr TSX and 270 gr Speer. The fix could be as simple as tweeking the magazine spring to provide more or less tension on the back or front of the cartridge. Easy to play around with to see if it helps.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · Feb 19, 2020

Bert Reynolds said:
Hi all. A friend has invited me on my first plains game hunt in South Africa later this year. I will most likely hunt Eland, kudu, wildebeest and maybe 2-3 smaller species. I have a 9.3x62 sako that I’m quite familiar with and shoot well. It has a 1.5-6x42 Zeiss Diavari with asv turret. I have loads for 250 grain Woodleigh round noses and 250 grain Nosler that group well. I have just ordered a 300 weatherby with a 26 inch barrel for for long range sambar shooting that will arrive before my trip. What rifle would you recommend?

Bert Reynolds
I took the American version the 35 Whelen. Take the 9.3 you won't be disappointed.

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · Feb 19, 2020

Bert Reynolds said:
I’ve had 286 grain partitions. It shot them ok, but they did not feed. My next question, is the 250 grain Accubond good for impala?

Bert
I used the 225gn accubonds plenty for everything, a bit big for impala but won't tear them to pieces.
Use the accubonds on everything, it will get the job done

35 cal 225grain accubond after 5 and a half feet of penetration front to rear ham of a kudu bull
Cheers mate Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · Feb 19, 2020

sestoppelman said:
With some of the loadings quoted by some hand loaders more adventurous than I, it might also be compared favorably to the .338 Win mag.

Sestoppelman
I not that adventurous mate, I just like to see things work properly. Ha ha ha.
Adventurous to me now days is going hunting on the wife's birthday, now that's REAL GAME hunting. Ha ha ha
Cheers mate Bob

Milan · Feb 19, 2020

TOBY458 said:
OP
What model Sako do you have that won't feed correctly? I have a Sako 85 Stainless that feeds everything I've tried in it so far. This includes 286 gr Nosler Partitions, 286 gr Norma Oryx, 250 gr TSX and 270 gr Speer. The fix could be as simple as tweeking the magazine spring to provide more or less tension on the back or front of the cartridge. Easy to play around with to see if it helps.

I had a Sako 85 Kodiak in 375H&H...would not feed blunt nose bullets. Ended up polishing the ramp, bending the magazine lip holding the follower up at the front a bit, etc. Eventually it would feed anything. Ejection was another issue. Maybe filing the bolt stop would have helped but I sold the gun before trying that and went back to Mausers. This is the second time in my life I was trying manufacturers with action designs other than Mauser and clones. And second time I'm finding myself getting rid of them and keeping only the Mausers. I may even ditch the CZ550s (firing pin, cocking piece and triggers have way too many parts) and keep only Brno 21/22, VZ24, ZG and Mauser actions for hunting.
Sorry for the sidetrack...

Milan · Feb 19, 2020

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:
...
Adventurous to me now days is going hunting on the wife's birthday, now that's REAL GAME hunting. Ha ha ha
Cheers mate Bob

That's just plain risk taking. You adrenaline junkie?

Bob Nelson 35Whelen · Feb 19, 2020

Timbo said:
I agree with your comments using partition bullets in the 9.3x62 - and with the superb bullets available today IMO you'd be an idiot to use anything less than a well constructed bullet. I was amazed how PHs and those in the industry I've met hold it is still a very good client calibre - and especially for those conscious of heavy recoiling rifles - for use on buffalo. I repeat it is NOT a calibre to be used on aroused/wounded DG (aka "in a tight spot"). That said, I was staggered to read PH Dr Robertson's statement that his Brno 9.3x62 has taken over 600 cape buffalo!! He still uses it for recoil conscious clients to accurately place that all important first round.

My reasons for using my 9.3x62 was because upon departure the airport manager refused to permit me to check-in both my 458 and 9.3x62 reloads. So, I flew to Africa without ammo, only sourcing some 9.3x62 ammunition after arrival. Therefore, I had little choice in the matter of calibre to use. But, I was reassured by my PH and all those I'd met, that the 9.3x62 is an ideal client calibre in the right situations for buffalo.

As it was I hit my buffalo with a right frontal quartering shot. The 286gr bullet penetrated through all the ensuing shoulder muscles, lungs, blood vessels and heart and was found just under the skin behind the off rear rib: A straight line penetration of about 36-40". At the shot my buffalo immediately sagged, slowly walked 10yds, wobbled, and then rolled over. My 9.3x62 did the job perfectly, without fuss - and I couldn't be happier!!

View attachment 323838
View attachment 323842

Tomboy great bosses and big heavy horns. Congrats on a great trophy taken with a fine old caliber.
Cheers mate Bob

WAB · Feb 19, 2020

@Timbo that was our experience with my wife’s buffalo this year, although hers may have made it 100 yds before tipping over. It is a surprisingly effective caliber with very little recoil.

9.3x62 plains game

Vanguard2279

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IvW

Fastrig

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Bert Reynolds

Bert Reynolds

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Scrumbag

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Bob Nelson 35Whelen

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