9.3x62 Ackley Improved

[Zas9.3]

Greetings everyone! I’m a huge AI fan (.22-250 AI, .280 AI and .30-06 AI) and have had great success. I have a 9.3x62 that’s getting ready to go in for some work and I got to thinking - I’ve never seen a 9.3 AI. Before I talk to the smith about reaming, has anyone done it or heard of it? Any reasons I shouldn’t? Thanks!

 

[Sarg]

While I believe the .280 AI shows significant increases in velocity over the standard .280 the 30/06 AI that I had couldn’t do much more than a well loaded standard 30/06 .

The 9.3x62 is darn near an improved case anyway & with proper loading will do anything you would want with that caliber I would think ?

I presume you will have different reasons for doing it ?

 

[Zas9.3]

While I believe the .280 AI shows significant increases in velocity over the standard .280 the 30/06 AI that I had couldn’t do much more than a well loaded standard 30/06 .

The 9.3x62 is darn near an improved case anyway & with proper loading will do anything you would want with that caliber I would think ?

I presume you will have different reasons for doing it ?

Truthfully, my reasons for doing it were to push it closer to the 9.3x64, thereby closing the gap between it and .375 H&H. What you said is precisely what I wasn’t sure on… the .22-250 and .280 got quite the boost from it. The .30-06 not so much. I do enjoy the added benefits when it comes to reloading, though. At the end of the day though my .280 AI and 9.3 are my travel rifles that will get more use than anything else, and more often than not won’t see factory ammo, so if I can squeeze a bit more out of it (while still justifying the cost of the reaming and a set of dies) I’m all for it, but I’m not willing to incur a huge bill for bare minimal gain, which is why I no longer have my .28 nosler

 

[HWL]

Ream it to 9,3x66,....you'll get the power you wanted and a factory cartridge.

HWL

 

[grand veneur]

The company Sako will thank you because the cartridge 9,3x66 is not very successful.

 

[Sarg]

Do you have a Zastava 9.3x62 ?

I have a few 9.3x62s & one is a Zastava very light but the recoil isn’t too bad, my barrel is incredibly thin, like a .410 shotgun .

 

[BlueFlyer]

I do enjoy the added benefits when it comes to reloading, though.

The only negative I see is possible resale. Other than that, all Ackley Improved cartridges are exactly that - Improved. Less body taper grips the chamber better putting less thrust on the bolt allowing you to load a bit hotter. Sharper shoulder means less brass flowing forward and the cases last longer. And if you are traveling and loose your ammo, then just go and buy some factory 9.3X62 and continue with your hunt!
Whats not to love about Ackley Improved chambers?

 

[mooze]

the 9.3x62 tapers 0.02 " from base to shoulder, the 30-06 0.03", the 280AI 0.015",

Let's say you want to keep a taper of 0.015 for sake of extraction, then the gain in powder capacity is minimal woth a 9.3x62. And you WANT reliable extraction in Africa ( or anywhere). Handloads can take you from 46k CUP to 52-54k or more and much closer to 375H&H levels ( 286 gr bullets from 2400 fps to 2550 fps), again that is Weatherby Magnum pressure levels.
there is no free lunch, I happily shoot a 9.3x375 Ruger for the 2-300 fps gain that it gives me over the 9.3x 62, but my x62 R. Martini Custom Mauser is also handicapped by a 20' barrel (great rifle though/because of this, but the 4' shorter barrel is also 100-150 fps I loose).
if you want more uummpf, the 375s are the next step ( or a 9.3 x64)

 

[grand veneur]

9.3x66 Sako​

History​

Released in 2003, the 9.3x66 was developed by the Finnish company Sako for their Model 75 rifle. With U.S cartridge designers inventing short fat cartridges for higher efficiency during the period of 2000-2003, designers of the 9.3x66 approached the design of the new medium bore cartridge from a different direction. The 9.3x66 case is simply the 9.3x62 case stretched to 66mm, the case has long base to shoulder dimensions with a relatively short neck. Sako marketed the 9.3x66 as having both superior ballistics and penetration than the .375 H&H Magnum in a small non belted case with superior handling and feeding qualities.

9.3x66 Sako

9.3x66 Sako cartridge data

www.ballisticstudies.com

 

[BFaucett]

According to John Barsness, the 9.3x62 can get fairly close to the 9.3x64.

Just my two cents... Cheers! Bob F.

 

[grand veneur]

As fans of the cartridge 9,3x64 Brenneke, we understandably have not a good opinion of the cartridge 9,3x66 Sako. But this is not an objective opinion, because Sako's thinking was certainly that it would be easy to ream a 9,3x62 chamber to a 9,3x66 chamber. There are factory loads from Sako for this cartridge.

 

[BFaucett]

9.3x66 Sako​

History​

Released in 2003, the 9.3x66 was developed by the Finnish company Sako for their Model 75 rifle. With U.S cartridge designers inventing short fat cartridges for higher efficiency during the period of 2000-2003, designers of the 9.3x66 approached the design of the new medium bore cartridge from a different direction. The 9.3x66 case is simply the 9.3x62 case stretched to 66mm, the case has long base to shoulder dimensions with a relatively short neck. Sako marketed the 9.3x66 as having both superior ballistics and penetration than the .375 H&H Magnum in a small non belted case with superior handling and feeding qualities.

9.3x66 Sako

9.3x66 Sako cartridge data

www.ballisticstudies.com

And paragraphs 2 and 3 from the link:

Unfortunately, Sako’s initial statements were somewhat optimistic and since this time, advertised speeds for factory loads have been heavily revised. This cartridge has the potential to produce velocities roughly halfway between the 9.3x62 and the 9.3x64 Brenneke. The 9.3x66 produces around 75fps higher velocity than the 9.3x62 and around 75fps lower velocity than the 9.3x64 Brenneke. The step up in power over the 9.3x62 will to many seem pointless, filling a gap that did not need filling.​

​

Negatives aside, the 9.3x66 is a relatively powerful medium bore cartridge which can be put to use on a wide range of game. Those interested in the similar .30-06 case might also find this design somewhat interesting. If you have ever wondered what might happen if you could stretch an Ackley improvement further, this might be the result.​

......<snip>......​

​

Closing Comments​

Since Beretta purchased Sako several years ago, there have been a great many rifle cost cutting operations. The 9.3x66 now seems almost like a last small hurrah of creativity for this once highly innovative company.​

I think the 9.3x66 had some potential when it was released but it just kind of fizzled out. (I have no experience with the cartridge.) How many different, but similar, cartridges can the market support? Personally, I've got a CZ 550 American in 9.3x62 and I'm very satisfied with both the rifle and the cartridge.

Just my ramblings and musings... Cheers! Bob F.

 

[1dirthawker]

for what its worth,

i wouldn't bother. the 9.3x62 is pretty efficient already. i don't think you could get an extra 100 fps out of the improved version.

my 9.3x62 shoots a 286 a frame at 2500 fps. any animal hit with another 25-75 fps won't know the difference and the holdovers for the "improved" version at hunting ranges, just wouldn't matter.

 

[Rick HOlbert]

Truthfully, my reasons for doing it were to push it closer to the 9.3x64, thereby closing the gap between it and .375 H&H. What you said is precisely what I wasn’t sure on… the .22-250 and .280 got quite the boost from it. The .30-06 not so much. I do enjoy the added benefits when it comes to reloading, though. At the end of the day though my .280 AI and 9.3 are my travel rifles that will get more use than anything else, and more often than not won’t see factory ammo, so if I can squeeze a bit more out of it (while still justifying the cost of the reaming and a set of dies) I’m all for it, but I’m not willing to incur a huge bill for bare minimal gain, which is why I no longer have my .28 nosler

Fact of the matter is, If you can find any RL-17 powder (in the 9.3X62) you'll just about equal 375 H&H Velocity. Also the 9.3X66. It's an interesting project but a bit of money for minimal gain. But if that's what makes your day, go for it.

 

[Antho9364]

Why reinvent the wheel?
9.3x62 or 9.3x74r
Or better, 9.3x64
The 9.3x66 is useless compared to the last three, but it's still useful.
A 9.3x65r Brenneke would be a miss.

 

[Zas9.3]

Do you have a Zastava 9.3x62 ?

I have a few 9.3x62s & one is a Zastava very light but the recoil isn’t too bad, my barrel is incredibly thin, like a .410 shotgun .

I do, and its fast becoming one of my favorite rifles, it packs amazingly well, is accurate and most importantly, fits me great. The barrel is quite thin, when it's time to rebarrel I most likely will go with a bit heavier contour, but thus far its given me no issues!

 

[Zas9.3]

The company Sako will thank you because the cartridge 9,3x66 is not very successful.

I had not heard of the 9.3x66 Sako before... I'll have to look into that!

 

[Zas9.3]

The only negative I see is possible resale. Other than that, all Ackley Improved cartridges are exactly that - Improved. Less body taper grips the chamber better putting less thrust on the bolt allowing you to load a bit hotter. Sharper shoulder means less brass flowing forward and the cases last longer. And if you are traveling and loose your ammo, then just go and buy some factory 9.3X62 and continue with your hunt!
Whats not to love about Ackley Improved chambers?

This was kind of my line of thinking, though again I'm not sure that it's worth the cost for a minimal gain. That's why I figured I'd ask here! Case life is the primary reason I was considering it... the performance gain was just a bonus. Then again, 9.3 cases seem to last a decently long while as is. What brought all of this about is, I have a friend that just had a .35 Whelen AI done, and that got me thinking why not AI a 9.3?

 

[Zas9.3]

Fact of the matter is, If you can find any RL-17 powder (in the 9.3X62) you'll just about equal 375 H&H Velocity. Also the 9.3X66. It's an interesting project but a bit of money for minimal gain. But if that's what makes your day, go for it.

I just so happen to have a line on a decent amount of RL-17... looking forward to working up some loads with it!

 

[Sarg]

I do, and its fast becoming one of my favorite rifles, it packs amazingly well, is accurate and most importantly, fits me great. The barrel is quite thin, when it's time to rebarrel I most likely will go with a bit heavier contour, but thus far its given me no issues!

Haha “time to rebarrel” well you aren’t going to wear that barrel out bud, maybe if you fell off a cliff ?

Is yours a wood stock or the Black Synthetic stock ?

A thing to watch on the Black Synthetic, I was in Namibia waiting up in a Kopje for a huge Gemsbuck Bull to move into a different position, this was a 45-6in Bull so spent most of the day in the baking Sun with Sweat Bees driving me insane, my rifles stock got too hot to hold one part !

So later long story short, I missed my shot which I rarely do, I was perplexed by this but upon checking my rifle it was shooting a foot to the left, looking at the stock it had warped so much in the heat that it was pushing the barrel to one side !

Heart breaking !