I shoot husqvarnas... I have a 9.3X62 that I love... and will use for nearly everything... However, I am thinking about a light caliber rifle but I do like heavy for caliber bullets 6.5X55 is one thought... 7x57 is another... but I already have a 308 or 30-06???? Is there any reason not to take a 308 or 06 as a lighter rifle? Is their any legitimate reason to get a 6.5 or 7mm instead? Being that I use swedish rifles I also thought of turning the 308 into a 308 Norma Mag... Easy to do and the rifle is just stamped "308" so it would be easy to add "NM" after it. Good swedish round in a swedish rifle. but the barrel is 23.5" - too short for 308 Norma mag? What do you think?
Aaron

Aaron,

You didn't say what's on the menu. Animals to be hunted would the determining factor for me.

Mark

Namibia... Eland, Kudu, Gemsbok, Red hartebeast, Zebra, springbok, jakal, baboon... etc.

Aaron - Save yourself some time, money and decision making and just take the 9.3 X 62. It will do everything very well from Springbuck up, unless you have ele on the plate? Good luck.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Sellers:
Aaron - Save yourself some time, money and decision making and just take the 9.3 X 62. It will do everything very well from Springbuck up, unless you have ele on the plate? Good luck.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

+1
Besides there will be other rifles in camp to shoot.
Unless--you simply have another favorite that MUST go for that reason.

What Larry said, plus one!
Maybe get a box of the Norma 232gr for the lighter stuff.

Rich
Buff Killer

Aaron, I agree that the 9.3x62 would be great for all of the game on your list, assuming that you'll limit your shots to 250 yards or so.

But having a back up rifle is always a good idea.

I have an FN 98 actioned Husqvarna in 8x57JS and would be tempted, if I were you, to keep my battery metric and German and take that one.

Still, your .308 or '06 would be fine as well.

We are exploring the possiblities of living there again... I plan on one light rifle, the 9.3, and a double 12 ga. Last time i lived there i had a 9.3X62 and a .222 Rem. But I think i'd go with somthing bigger than the .222... The 12 bore will be for some wing shooting.

I'd expect to see animals I'd want the 9.3x62 for at any time and simply take a backup for it rather than a dedicated light rifle. If you want a 308 Norma for aesthetics that would certainly work, otherwise I'd just use my '06.

Or you could get really exotic and chamber an 8x63 Swede

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Rust:
I shoot husqvarnas... I have a 9.3X62 that I love... and will use for nearly everything... However, I am thinking about a light caliber rifle but I do like heavy for caliber bullets 6.5X55 is one thought... 7x57 is another... but I already have a 308 or 30-06???? Is there any reason not to take a 308 or 06 as a lighter rifle? Is their any legitimate reason to get a 6.5 or 7mm instead? Being that I use swedish rifles I also thought of turning the 308 into a 308 Norma Mag... Easy to do and the rifle is just stamped "308" so it would be easy to add "NM" after it. Good swedish round in a swedish rifle. but the barrel is 23.5" - too short for 308 Norma mag? What do you think?
Aaron

I am planning a similiar hunt with my 9,3x62.

My plan is to use my 9,3x62 Mauser for everything and take a 458 along for everything else!

Take the '06.

Take either the 308 or the 30/06, which ever rifle you like the best, with a good 180gr bullet as a backup to your 9,3x62.

You could go 338/06 or 338 federal for fun to be quasi unique. Or, if you're worried about trajectory, you could turn your 62mm into a 64mm for a bit flatter trajectory. That said, a 9.3x62 is good for anything, even out past 250 if you know how to aim right.

You could spend some cash and get a QD mount system with two scopes; one sighted in for 286 grained boolitz, and the other for 250 grained boolitz etc, but that just be weird.

My opinion, take two 9.3's in case the first breaks or gets lost on the trip. (8x68S is another intriguing round as well).

and....a camera to take pictures of all the game you'll expertly shoot with your 9.3x62!

I'm takeing my 9.3x62 in 7 days but 250 yards will pull it up so I am borrowing my PH's .308 for the long stuff.

That about says it all. If your 6.5 shoots well to 300 - 400 yards. Take it as a second rifle. Otherwise the .308.

Go with the 9.3x62. good for everything as you can see

it seems that on the other site there is someyhing that reduce the photo dimension.
LLets try this.

Yes now it is better.

Steve - Great photo and congrats. I posted Springbuck and up, looks like it's Steenbuck and up!!

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by Aaron Rust:
I shoot husqvarnas... I have a 9.3X62 that I love... and will use for nearly everything... However, I am thinking about a light caliber rifle

For me the only one I could consider for a light rifle woul be a .270 Win.

I'd probably take a .338 Win Mag because I have an excellent one ... unless I had something that "needed" to go to Africa the first time

Aaron,

Boring it may be but for what you described the 30-06 is just going to be hard to beat.

Mark

Geez. I just came up stairs from my loading room and found this thread. I was sitting on the floor with a 300 Wea, 35 Whelen, 375 H&H, 338-06 and 9.3x62 scattered all around me trying to decide which to take. I'm wheels up for Namibia in 3 weeks. I've used all in Africa except the 9.3, so I guess it'll be the one to go this year. Yet my favorite rifle is the 338-06. Or maybe the 35 Whelen. The restocked South Gate Weatherby M98 300 is pretty nice. And then there is the pre-64 Model 70 375. Gonna go back down stairs and think about it for awhile. Why does God make it so hard for us?

Aaron, the 62 should work for all, but I'd carry the '06 too.

in keeping with your metric fist choice a 7x 57 to go with it!

TWL - Send/bring everything but the 93 down to me in New Mexico (only 4 hours away) and you won't have to worry about making up your mind.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

quote:

Originally posted by TWL:
Geez. I just came up stairs from my loading room and found this thread. I was sitting on the floor with a 300 Wea, 35 Whelen, 375 H&H, 338-06 and 9.3x62 scattered all around me trying to decide which to take. I'm wheels up for Namibia in 3 weeks. I've used all in Africa except the 9.3, so I guess it'll be the one to go this year. Yet my favorite rifle is the 338-06. Or maybe the 35 Whelen. The restocked South Gate Weatherby M98 300 is pretty nice. And then there is the pre-64 Model 70 375. Gonna go back down stairs and think about it for awhile. Why does God make it so hard for us?

You Homres in the Jemez are all alike. A man riding through that country has got to watch his horse, wallet, and wife at all times. !!!!!!

1. No reason not to take a .308 or .30-06 as a lighter rifle.

2. 160 gr 6.5 mm or 175 gr 7mm is fantastic heavy for caliber bullets which beat the .308 but not an '06 with 200 or 220 gr bullets.

3. Love the .308 Norma Magnum. 23.5" barrel works.

I think it is a philosophy question of either wanting the calibers to overlap or wanting them fit for purpose i.e. 6.5 and 9.3 completely different or 9.3 and 7.62 which can overlap.

Thank you Larry, yes it is a very good steennbok, I took also a second one for the skin on request of the outfiter.

For sure we want to play as boys when we are on hunting trips, but 2 Rifles can mean a lot of weight less for the baggage. I took with me a 22Hornet, usefull to finish the wounded animals, that gave us a lot of amusement shooting hirax and other vermin, but the rifle bag was too heavvy near to 12 kg with the ammos for both rifles. Think if the calibers were a 9.3x62 and a 7x57...15kg minimum with the ammos.

Go with 1 rifle, 9.3x62, take care of it, don't worry and enjoy the trip.

Aaron, you should have kept that old double you had!

I'd take the 9.3 and the '06. Wide range of bullets and lots history to both! I hope you get a chance to hunt there again!

Personally I wouldn't consider going on such a long hunt so far from home without a spare rifle. The 30/06 that you already own, loaded with premium 200 gr. bullets would be excellent. I've seen the spare camp rifles in Africa and they normally leave a lot to be desired. Most African professionals aren't going to let clients use their good rifles. I believe some overlap is good on a hunt like this as you never know what might come along when you only have your light rifle in your hands.

A good companion to the 9,3 would be the 280 Rem/270 Win..

Metric

Aaron

Until recent;y I would have said without doubt that you should go with the .308 win as you kow you can get ammo and it is more than enough gun for all the plains game. Also you have one that you are familiar with. I shoot 130 gr gs custom HV's in mine and have taken up to Eland with it. Due to the HV's shooting at 3200fps, it is hard to beat

Recently I shot with a 257 weatherby. I was filming a hunt for one of the posters on the forum,"Ars", in the freestate where he was doing a plains game safari. Steenbuck through to Black wildebeest. His shooting was impeccable and the rifle was deadly accurate. The round is fast and flat shooting and with surprisingly little recoil. On the last day of the hunt he offered me a shot at a target set up for 500 yards. First shot with this well tuned combination was right in the bull. I was more than just impressed.
Loaded with good bullets you would be hard pressed to find a better rifle/cartridge combo that leans towards the lighter side, but still packs enough punch for the big game
Just my two cents, but from a guy who hated Weatherbys, this is about as much praise as I could hand out.
Good luck
Ian

The most practical choice might be a second 9,3x62 in case the first one breaks.

Seriously, I'm not sure why one needs a flat shooter. You are hunting after all....get closer.

My 9.3x62 took everything I aimed at from Springbuck at 90 meters to Black Wildebeest at about 200 to a Bontebuck at 224 meters.

For the smaller stuff I used 250gr BT's and for everything else, 286gr Partitions. Would do it again in a heartbeat.

For a second rifle if you really wanted to take a second one, agree with most of the others: a .30-06.

Don

I used my 9.3 for everything the last time... I guess i should do the same... and take a smaller rifle for the kids to shoot and for myself if I do some springbok hunting. Last time I took a .222 for the kids but they were younger then than the 2nd set of kids are now. I am thinking perhaps the 308 as it is the lightest recoiling rifle i have.... thanks to all.