9.3x62 plains game

postoak said:

Absolutely you can always load the 9.3 x 62 faster than the .35 Whelen. The one caveat is that these loads shouldn't be fired in all the old mausers floating around out there. But these old African rounds aren't all about that. IMO the traditional loads were and are good enough.

Click to expand...

postoak
Agree there are still a lot of old rifles for both floating around and the old loads were good enough.
Surely there's nothing wrong with with making good enough into even better in a modern firearms.
If I can gain better performance I will take it any day as long as I get accuracy with it.
Cheers mate Bob

a 250 gn 9.3 bullet is not in the same class as a 250 gn 35 cal.
you need a heavier 9.3 bullet for apples vs apples at the receiving end.
bruce.

How so? Deeper penetration? Both have enough. Flatter trajectory? They're both flat enough. Larger diameter hole? They are only .008 inches apart.

BTW, I found a page on Europtics showing all the makes and models of 9.3 x 62s in production.

https://www.eurooptic.com/93x62-rifles.aspx

bruce moulds said:

a 250 gn 9.3 bullet is not in the same class as a 250 gn 35 cal.
you need a heavier 9.3 bullet for apples vs apples at the receiving end.
bruce.

Click to expand...

Bruce
I don't know of any 9.3X62 loads giving 4,000 to 4,300 fps of muzzle energy. I know my Whelen does. The 250grain Speer hotcore at 2,700fps is still traveling at almost 1900fps at 350 yards with close on 2,000 fps left at that range. Sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yards it zeros at 200yards at 300 yards the drop is only 9.5 inches and 350 a tad over 17 inches. That takes in a lot of distance with plenty of power for plains game including eland and giraffe. The 225 accubonds or Woodleigh bullets are even better and flatter.
Not bad for a Whelen.
Cheers Bruce
Bob

Bob Nelson 35Whelen said:

Bruce
I don't know of any 9.3X62 loads giving 4,000 to 4,300 fps of muzzle energy. I know my Whelen does. The 250grain Speer hotcore at 2,700fps is still traveling at almost 1900fps at 350 yards with close on 2,000 fps left at that range. Sighted in 2 inches high at 100 yards it zeros at 200yards at 300 yards the drop is only 9.5 inches and 350 a tad over 17 inches. That takes in a lot of distance with plenty of power for plains game including eland and giraffe. The 225 accubonds or Woodleigh bullets are even better and flatter.
Not bad for a Whelen.
Cheers Bruce
Bob

Click to expand...

My Whelen, is a modern Nosler 48. I'm not really happy with it. First of all the safety sucks. It is not safe at all. Comes off just because. Can't use it unless I'm about to pull the trigger. I contacted Nosler twice about it via email. No reply/ on ignore. Then last week the ejector pin broke. Now it's out of commission. Have to send it to Ontario to the CA Nosler rep to fix. The folks there said they were waiting for a resupply of those parts (???- really??)
I wish I could get a CZ or Winchester M70 in 35W. But no one is making them in a CRF action. Same as the 9.3x62 to the best of my knowledge, at least in Canada. Maybe Zastava, but I have no experience with them.

DmacD said:

I had good luck with the 9.3x62 on my plains game hunt. Would take it again without hesitation.

Click to expand...

What rifle do you have?

Rick Cox said:

My Whelen, is a modern Nosler 48. I'm not really happy with it. First of all the safety sucks. It is not safe at all. Comes off just because. Can't use it unless I'm about to pull the trigger. I contacted Nosler twice about it via email. No reply/ on ignore. Then last week the ejector pin broke. Now it's out of commission. Have to send it to Ontario to the CA Nosler rep to fix. The folks there said they were waiting for a resupply of those parts (???- really??)
I wish I could get a CZ or Winchester M70 in 35W. But no one is making them in a CRF action. Same as the 9.3x62 to the best of my knowledge, at least in Canada. Maybe Zastava, but I have no experience with them.

Click to expand...

Rick did you look at my list of available 9.3 x 62 rifles? They list from $800 to $12000. Plus, there are Ruger Africans for sale on gunbroker for about $1100 but they have a ridiculous 9.05 pounds weight, although that would be okay if you were going to use open sights.

postoak said:

Rick did you look at my list of available 9.3 x 62 rifles? They list from $800 to $12000. Plus, there are Ruger Africans for sale on gunbroker for about $1100 but they have a ridiculous 9.05 pounds weight, although that would be okay if you were going to use open sights.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up. One issue is that I live in Canada, and importing rifles from the US is a pain. I will check it out though. There is a company here that imports guns and parts into Canada called GunRunner.com. I am not sure how they work but I need to check this out. I would prefer a CRF 35Whelen simply because you can get lighter bullets more easily and still have access to say 250 gr or more. The 9.3x62 is more restricted. Also I have a good supply of components and dies for the 35W. But after reviewing information on this thread I think I have to consider a 9.3x62 if it is a CZ or M70. After my experience with the Nosler I am going to stay with well proven brands based on a modern CRF action.

postoak said:

Rick did you look at my list of available 9.3 x 62 rifles? They list from $800 to $12000. Plus, there are Ruger Africans for sale on Gunbroker for about $1100 but they have a ridiculous 9.05 pounds weight, although that would be okay if you were going to use open sights.

Click to expand...

I just read through the list you submitted. I like the Sako models and as well they are something I could possibly afford. (I didn't find the Rugers) I say possibly, as my wife and I are currently in isolation with the flu. I suspect my plant is ready to shut or be shut down thanks to the Coronavirus, so at this time any gun purchase is an extravagance. I do appreciate the heads up though and as I said else where I need to get up to speed on what the business GunRunners.com does.

Rick Cox said:

My Whelen, is a modern Nosler 48. I'm not really happy with it. First of all the safety sucks. It is not safe at all. Comes off just because. Can't use it unless I'm about to pull the trigger. I contacted Nosler twice about it via email. No reply/ on ignore. Then last week the ejector pin broke. Now it's out of commission. Have to send it to Ontario to the CA Nosler rep to fix. The folks there said they were waiting for a resupply of those parts (???- really??)
I wish I could get a CZ or Winchester M70 in 35W. But no one is making them in a CRF action. Same as the 9.3x62 to the best of my knowledge, at least in Canada. Maybe Zastava, but I have no experience with them.

Click to expand...

RicCox
My Whelen is a Stevens 200 rebarreled to Whelan with a rifle basix trigger and a 25 inch stainless barrel 1in 12 twist. Extremely accurate.

I would bring the 9.3x62.
First because most rifles in this caliber are handy, have short barrels, quite light compared to magnum rifles, cause little meat damage and also......lighter recoil. But its real advantage is its "killing power". Don't ask me to explain or demonstrate. This is just my personnal experience.
I have been hunting for now more than 40 years in France and Africa. I used various calibers such as 243 W, 7X64, 270 W, 8x57 Mauser, 8x68 S (could be compared to 300 Weatherby magnum), 416 Rem magnum, 404 Jeffery... I have notticed that most of the animals (I'm saying more than 80%) killed with one shot, found less than 50 yards from where they were hit, with little meat damage, had been shot with my Sako 85 (using French made Sauvestre FIP battue lead-free 251 gr factory bullets) or my Oberndorf Mauser built in 1914 (using any first generation 286 gr bullets).
So now when I'm hunting (animals from Roedeer to Blue Wildebeast), I take one of my two 9.3x62.
Why such an efficiency: because they are both easy to carry (and when you are walking during hours and hours, each gram counts), because they are quite short and very pointable, because they are working at low velocity and thus penetrates so deep, because their recoil is milder than heavier or faster magnum calibers, because....
The only exceptions are hunting chamois in the French Alps (I use a Merkel single shot break action 270 W) or hunting DG (I then use the 404 J or 416 Rem M).
Once again, this is just my personnal experience.

I have hunted our local Canadian game that is bigger than deer with various .35 Whelen rifles for many years. For the last few years I have been using my Verney-Carron 9.3x62. I don’t find any practical advantage of one over the other cartridge at home. When hunting in Namibia, I had the unexpected and unplanned opportunity to hunt giraffe with my 9.3. I was grateful for the extra bullet weight and presumed extra penetration for an animal so large. My VC rifle is light, handy and extremely accurate. I got rid of my Remington 700 and Ruger #1 .35 Whelens. I did keep my SAKO AV .35 but it is heavier, longer, and not quite as accurate. I use 9.3 Norma Oryx 285 gr bullets primarily. Lapua sells an interesting all copper Bullet in their 9.3 220 gr. Plastic tipped Naturalis. It shoots well in my rifle but haven’t used it on game yet. It may increase the versatility of my 9.3 so much I wouldn’t actually need any other caliber for my Canadian hunting. And of course the 9.3 is a proven traditional performer for African hunting.
Tradeex sells the VC rifle I like so much. They also also sell a Mauser 98 type action Zastava 9.3 for less than half the cost of my VC.
https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/verney-carron-impact-affut-plus-bolt-action-rifle-93x62-1
https://www.tradeexcanada.com/content/zastava-commercial-m98-m70-93x62-0

weaver bases for an extra $100.00 sounds a bit steep, or am I just old.
bruce.

Another vote for the 9,3x62. And while you are at it stick with 286gr bullets. You will not gain anything from lighter bullets with a lower SD, and given it’s case volume 286gr is about as much as it can throw down range at a respectable velocity.

The 300 & 320gr bullets have their place in cartridges such as the x64 and x66. Specifically the .360 No 2 was usually regulated for a 320gr at 2100-2150 fps in a bouble.

I’ve never used my 9,3 over longer distances, as I use the old A-type Mauser with open sights, but I’ve never had a 286gr Nosler Partition, Rhino or Woodleigh fail me on plainsgame.

It is a well-known maxim that if you take cartridges of different bullet diameters based on the same design (for example the -06 line) that as you increase bullet diameter you get more velocity for the same weight bullet with equal pressure. For example the 120 grain bullet in the .25-06, 6.5-06, .270, .280, and .30-06. As you go up you will get more and more velocity. So too, you can use the 250 grain and run it in the 8mm-06, .338-06, and 35 Whelen.

Just to show how under-loaded the 9.3 x 62 and even the .35 Whelen are, I can easily get a 250 grain up to 2500 fps in my .338-06. So exceeding that speed in the .35 Whelen should be very easy and yet factory ammunition is often listed as only 2400 fps at that weight bullet. Some loading manuals, however show 2900 fps as achievable!

With the 9.3 x 62 they under-load even more since it is not only larger bore but has 10% greater case capacity. However some factory ammo is listed as only 2450 fps at that weight. But I guess that is why it is known for its mild recoil -- because it is so seriously under-loaded.

Very good point re: the recoil. My 9.3x62 is pretty light and 250gr Accubonds at 2600fps certainly give a kicking.

postoak said:

It is a well-known maxim that if you take cartridges of different bullet diameters based on the same design (for example the -06 line) that as you increase bullet diameter you get more velocity for the same weight bullet with equal pressure. For example the 120 grain bullet in the .25-06, 6.5-06, .270, .280, and .30-06. As you go up you will get more and more velocity. So too, you can use the 250 grain and run it in the 8mm-06, .338-06, and 35 Whelen.

Just to show how under-loaded the 9.3 x 62 and even the .35 Whelen are, I can easily get a 250 grain up to 2500 fps in my .338-06. So exceeding that speed in the .35 Whelen should be very easy and yet factory ammunition is often listed as only 2400 fps at that weight bullet. Some loading manuals, however show 2900 fps as achievable!

With the 9.3 x 62 they under-load even more since it is not only larger bore but has 10% greater case capacity. However some factory ammo is listed as only 2450 fps at that weight. But I guess that is why it is known for its mild recoil -- because it is so seriously under-loaded.

Click to expand...

postoak
I get 2,900++ fps with a 225grain Woodleigh PPSP and
2,700+ fps for the 250grain Speer hotcore out of my Whelen. This is done safely and without stressing the rifle,cartridge or shooter.

Finally got my 9,2x62 R8 yesterday. I have to say there's a kick. At least compared to my +5kg/11lb 6,5x55 I shoot exclusively with suppressor. I had tried to gauge the recoil comparing it heavy loads on light shotgun but it isn't exactly comparable. Shotgun easily makes shouder hurt but the overall experience isn't as violent. Somehow the comb rises with recoil and feels like getting slapped on cheeck which I haven't experienced even with 338LM. Off hand the face slapping was less of an issue so I'm willing to put some blame on poor shooting support and position on bench but at least part of the experience might be due to coarse surface of the professional stock.

Weirdly my 100m off hand grouping went immediately from 40cm to 20cm despite the heavier recoil. Still lot of room for practice but short rifle and good trigger sure helps a lot. Long range shooter in me really itches to slap on a bipod and shoot a plate at 500m with it..

I'm planning on using 230gn Eco-strike on Moose next fall. 250gn E-tip and TTSX are also in consideration. I've got multiple sources for loading 250gn bullets up to 830m/s (2720fps). Eco-strike measures only 2540fps out of 20" barrel, so there's something to gain with hand loading. For usual dog hunting distances closer to 20 than 100 meters I don't think it matters but there are places where it might be useful to be able to shoot bit farther.

samu said:

Finally got my 9,2x62 R8 yesterday. I have to say there's a kick. At least compared to my +5kg/11lb 6,5x55 I shoot exclusively with suppressor. I had tried to gauge the recoil comparing it heavy loads on light shotgun but it isn't exactly comparable. Shotgun easily makes shouder hurt but the overall experience isn't as violent. Somehow the comb rises with recoil and feels like getting slapped on cheeck which I haven't experienced even with 338LM. Off hand the face slapping was less of an issue so I'm willing to put some blame on poor shooting support and position on bench but at least part of the experience might be due to coarse surface of the professional stock.

Weirdly my 100m off hand grouping went immediately from 40cm to 20cm despite the heavier recoil. Still lot of room for practice but short rifle and good trigger sure helps a lot. Long range shooter in me really itches to slap on a bipod and shoot a plate at 500m with it..

I'm planning on using 230gn Eco-strike on Moose next fall. 250gn E-tip and TTSX are also in consideration. I've got multiple sources for loading 250gn bullets up to 830m/s (2720fps). Eco-strike measures only 2540fps out of 20" barrel, so there's something to gain with hand loading. For usual dog hunting distances closer to 20 than 100 meters I don't think it matters but there are places where it might be useful to be able to shoot bit farther.

Click to expand...

Put around 40 rounds through my Mauser M12 Max 9.3x62 one day....was starting to flinch towards the end of that session. 9.3x62 definitely gives a sharp slap when the trigger is pulled. Congrats on the new rifle, enjoy!!

Dewald said:

Another vote for the 9,3x62. And while you are at it stick with 286gr bullets. You will not gain anything from lighter bullets with a lower SD, and given it’s case volume 286gr is about as much as it can throw down range at a respectable velocity.

The 300 & 320gr bullets have their place in cartridges such as the x64 and x66. Specifically the .360 No 2 was usually regulated for a 320gr at 2100-2150 fps in a bouble.

I’ve never used my 9,3 over longer distances, as I use the old A-type Mauser with open sights, but I’ve never had a 286gr Nosler Partition, Rhino or Woodleigh fail me on plainsgame.

View attachment 337913
View attachment 337914
View attachment 337915
View attachment 337916
View attachment 337917

Click to expand...

Simply a beautiful rifle complimented with beautiful trophies!!